In years past we have given you long lists of books we recommend to fill your next year’s reading plan. This year, our list is short. The reading, however, is not. The list is only two books and they have been available previously. However, they have recently be republished and we believe they are done so well they are worth discussing. If you already have a copy of these on your shelves, you might want to look at getting an updated copy. If you don’t already own these titles, we believe they will be a great help in the coming year.
Sign up for the giveaway:
Books listed:https://www.mediagratiae.org/sign-up
Blessed and Boundless God - https://heritagebooks.org/products/the-blessed-and-boundless-god-puritan-treasures-for-today-swinnock.html
The Incomparableness of God - https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/theology-books/the-incomparableness-of-god/
Studies in Christian History and Thought: Puritan Spirituality by Stephen Yuille - https://www.christianbook.com/puritan-spirituality-affective-theology-george-swinnock/j-yuille/9781556358678/pd/358678
The Existence and Attributes of God - https://www.christianbook.com/existence-attributes-god-updated-unabridged-volumes/stephen-charnock/9781433565908/pd/565900?event=ESRCG

2023 Book Recommendation

John Snyder, host of the Behold Your God Study and an elder of Christ Church New Albany, walks us through the realities of the Christian life with an emphasis on experiential Christianity. We love books on our podcast, so we tend to find great help in old books written by church fathers, puritans, and others. John has a plethora of guests to come on the show and share different insights into the books we discuss.

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

Union with Christ doesn’t begin after we have reached a certain point of spiritual maturity. Jesus doesn’t wait until we know Him “well enough” to unite Himself with us. Our union with Him was decreed by the Father in eternity past and is experienced by every Christian from the moment of conversion, through every scene of life, upon death, and into our eternal rest.
Focusing on Ephesians 1:3-4, Dr. John Snyder and Acey Floyd put on their thinking caps (make sure to check out the YouTube channel!) to discuss this glorious mystery. Whether you want to use the word foreknowledge, predestination, or election, the reality the duo discusses this week is like a mountain whose peaks are obscured by clouds too high for us to see clearly. We cannot understand every aspect of it. However, God has revealed enough for us to know His choosing is sourced solely in Himself.
This gracious choosing of the Father should drive us to worship Him and tell every person united to Adam to turn to Christ as their only hope.
 
Show Notes:
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
Blog Post: https://www.mediagratiae.org/blog/union-with-christ-iii-the-origin-of-our-union
Scripture to meditate on after this podcast:
Luke 22:22
Acts 2:23
Acts 4:27-28
1 Peter 1:2
Ephesians 2:8-10
2 Timothy 1:9
John 6:37
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Union with Christ III: The Origin of Our Union

The Scriptures are filled with metaphors and descriptions of the Christian’s union with Christ. Each of them expresses a different reality of that union. But even with all the words dedicated to explaining and describing that union, it still holds a mystery that escapes even the best theologians.
But the existence of the mystery should not stop us from taking our time to study, examine, and meditate on our union with Christ. In fact, it should motivate us. So this week, Dr. John Snyder and Acey Floyd spent time doing exactly that, discussing what we can know of our union with the second Person of the Trinity.
We pray this episode will lead you to a time of sweet worship and communion with our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Show Notes:
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
Blog Post: https://www.mediagratiae.org/blog/union-with-christ-ii-the-nature-of-our-union

Union with Christ II: The Nature of Our Union

Dr. John Snyder is joined this week by Acey Floyd, co-elder of Christ Church New Albany and Media Gratiae’s Office Manager, to start a new series discussing the Christian’s union with Christ. This doctrine is central to the letters of Paul in the New Testament and should therefore be central in our lives.
Union with Christ can be seen as the central hub of the wheel that is the Christian life. If we put that hub as anything else, the wheel will become warped and our progress will be slowed.
For this first episode, John and Acey focus on the Who we are united to. We are united to the only Being in history to have two distinct natures. Jesus Christ is truly the Godman. If He is not God, as some have claimed, our union with Him would be worthless. If He is not human, as others have claimed, our union with Him would be impossible.
Show Notes:
Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts
You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Union with Christ I: The Most Important Word

Jeremy Walker, pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, England (a town just south of London) is a long-time friend of Media Gratiae. We turn to him when we have difficult questions and value his wisdom and godliness.
Several months ago, while Jeremy was preaching in Lusaka, Zambia, he was approached by a man who was burdened for the orphans on the streets of Lusaka. This man had been seeking a way to help educate, evangelize, and disciple these children. After a short conversation, Jeremy understood the need and decided he had to become involved in the ministry himself.
Currently, The Hope Project is seeking to provide education so the children can learn to read Scripture for themselves. While meeting their spiritual needs, the team behind The Hope Project is also working to meet their physical needs.
We pray this special episode of our podcast will pique your interest, and you will begin praying for The Hope Project. If the Lord enables you to financially support the ministry, a link to where you can do that is provided below.
 
Show Notes:
Project Hope
Go Fund Me - Help the Hope Project Care for Vulnerable Children
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-hope-project-care-for-vulnerable-children
Learn more about The Hope Project here:
https://hopeprojectzambia.org/the-great-commission/
See more from Jeremy Walker here:
From the Heart of Spurgeon: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/from-the-heart-of-spurgeon
A Word in Season: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts-1/a-word-in-season
Through the Eyes of Spurgeon: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/products/through-the-eyes-of-spurgeon-feature-edition-dvd-package

The Hope Project with Jeremy Walker

This week, Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James will wrap up our series on a talk given by Hudson Taylor to several missionaries in the late 19th century. His main emphasis throughout the talk was the significance of the missionaries living a life that aligns with their teaching.
While we are focused on living consistent lives, we also have to be aware of the contradictory nature of the Christian life. But the contradictions aren’t between teaching and life. They are between what is happening to us and how we respond.
As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:8-10, “We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”
So, as we strive for consistency in our lives, let us also embrace those contradictions the Lord brings for the glory of His name and the growth of His kingdom on earth.
And if you haven’t taken the time to read Hudson Taylor’s short talk to his missionaries, let us encourage you to do so at the link below. We pray you will find it beneficial.
Show Notes:
Days of Blessing in Inland China: Being an Account of Meetings Held in the Province of Shan-Si
Digital: https://www.brethrenarchive.org/bookshelf/missionary/china/days-of-blessing-in-inland-china/
sPhysical: https://www.amazon.com/Days-Blessings-Inland-China-Meetings-ebook/dp/B00MW7YMRG
Hudson Taylor Biography
https://www.davidsonpublishing.org/hudson-taylor.html
Poor Richard
https://issuu.com/omf_international/docs/poor_richard_gospel_tract#google_vignette
Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts
You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

2023 Book Recommendation

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