We understand from the testimony of Scripture that there is a correlation between thankfulness/gratitude and worship. The grace of God revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ evokes gratitude in Christians which in turn leads us to worship our great God.

Happy Thanksgiving 2019!

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

This reading marks the fourth and final part of J.C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men. Part 4 holds Special Rules for Young Men. The first rule is this: “For one thing, resolve at once, by God’s help, to break off every known sin, however small.”

Ryle outlines the tragedy of a life where sin is not dealt with.

He traces sin from its beginnings and shows how no one ever sets out to be wicked. Rather, their downfall began with little transgressions which in turn led to something greater.

Ryle then goes on to remind us there is no such thing as little sins. He vividly paints a picture of two ways to come down from the top of a church steeple and likens that to two ways of going to hell. In both cases you can jump down or come down by the steps. Ryle suggests more people choose to descend into hell one step at a time.

He closes by reciting the words of Jeremy Taylor who described the progress of sin in a man as follows: ‘First it startles him, then it becomes pleasing, then easy, then delightful, then frequent, then habitual, then confirmed! - then the man is impenitent, then obstinate, then resolves never to repent, and then he is damned.’

The Banner of Truth Trust

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

The Comics

RefToons is a free-to-read webcomic, inspired by theology and church history.

RefToons was born out of a desire to revive the “old dead guys” from church history in the form of humorous and thought-provoking comic strips.

In an effort to preserve their legacy, and bring clarity to some of their teachings through visual storytelling, I’ve attempted to bring the “old dead guys” to life in the modern world through the medium of comic strips.

The Artist

Paul Cox is a freelance illustrator/cartoonist living and working out of southern Wisconsin with his wife, four kids, and four chickens.

Visit RefToons.com

RefToons on Instagram

RefToons on Facebook

Pilgrim’s Progress: A Poetic Journey - purchase here

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

This is the final reading from Part 3 of J.C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men which holds General Counsels to Young Men. The sixth counsel in this section looks at the importance of choosing your friends based on their love of God.

Ryle discusses the importance of choosing friends because of the potential harm that can come from choosing ungodly friends.

He points out that we are creatures of imitation; that our friends influence our tastes and opinions.

He says, “Health, unhappily, is not contagious, but disease is.” and challenges his hearers to ask themselves, ‘Will this be a useful friendship to me or not?’

Ryle points out the benefits of good, godly friends and highlights the probability of ones wife being chosen among the connections of their friends.

The obvious conclusion here is that your wife will have an immense impact on your future spiritual condition.

Ryle closes with this profound thought, “But depend on it, bad company in the life that now is, is the sure way to procure worse company in the life to come.”

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Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

This episode of Reclamation: Worship is dedicated in loving memory of Leila Judith Grace. Leila the Evangelist!

Rev. Dr. Jonathan Gibson (PhD, Cambridge University) is associate professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Gibson previously served as associate minister at Cambridge Presbyterian Church in England.

Dr. Gibson’s academic interests include biblical theology, covenant theology, Genesis chapters 1–3, inner-biblical allusion and exegesis within the Old Testament, Pauline soteriology, and the doctrines of grace.

The Moon Is Always Round - Dr. Jonathan Gibson

“Why We Need a Children’s Book About Death” - Jackie Gibson

The Child’s Story Bible - Catherine F. Vos

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

Part 3 of J.C. Ryle’s Thoughts for Young Men holds General Counsels to Young Men. The fifth counsel in this section looks at the importance of Scripture.

He says, “For another thing, determine as long as you live to make the Bible your guide and adviser.”

To Ryle, owning a Bible is important but merely owning a Bible serves no purpose if you don’t read it, “Determine that you will not only have a Bible, but also make time to read it too.”

He then briefly outlines how these young men were to read their Bibles:

- Read it with prayer - asking the Spirit to grant grace to “make you understand it.”

- Read it reverently - paying mind to it being the very word of God and being “sure that every practice in your life which is contrary to Scripture, is sinful and must be given up.”

- Read it regularly - Ryle reminds us regular reading of the Bible makes one, ‘mighty in the Scriptures’. We are encouraged by Ryle where he says, “Texts will rise up in your hearts in the moment of temptation; Commands will suggest themselves in season of doubt; Promises will come across your thoughts in the time of discouragement”

Ryle concludes by saying, “I dwell on these things more because this is an age of reading. Of making many books there seems no end, though few of them are really profitable.”

What would Ryle think of the number of books being published today?

He finishes with a challenge to put God’s Word first and warns of reading bad books saying, “Take heed what you read. I suspect there is more harm done to souls in this way than most people have an idea is possible.”

A final help for measuring other reading material, “Value all books in proportion as they are agreeable to Scripture. Those that are nearest to it are the best, and those that are farthest from it, and most contrary to it, the worst.”

The Banner of Truth Trust

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

Ben Gibbons is a member of St. Paul’s Castle Hill where he serves as a volunteer with City Alight. City Alight is the music ministry of St. Paul’s. They write songs with biblically rich lyrics and simple melodies for the Christian church to sing.

Ben is also a primary school teacher and sees his work there as worship to the Lord.

Learn more about City Alight here

Learn more about St. Paul’s Castle Hill here

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

In Ryle’s third section which holds General Counsels to Young Men, Ryle exhorts his readers to remember it is possible to be a young man and yet to serve God.

Ryle challenges his readers to focus on serving God at a young age. Ryle sees that the world wants to give young people a pass. But, he answers this by asking, “Where will you find anything of all this in the word of God? Where is the chapter or verse in the Bible, which will support this talking and reasoning of the world?”

He allows for the difficulties the young face but sees this as no excuse to disobey God. He encourages the reader with examples from Scripture of the young people God used who served Him despite the pull of the world’s influence on them.

Ryle says, “Young men, try to serve God.” What a simple exhortation for all of us. How active are we in our sanctification? How active are in fighting sin and confessing sin so that we may serve God?

He closes this reading by reminding us of the Lord’s promises to help us in our trying, ‘Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you’ (Mat. 7:7)

How can we encourage our children to try to serve God? Obviously, we must teach them they are not saved by works. This means the Gospel does not allow for “trying harder” in order to please God. He is pleased by His Son and His righteousness that extends to those who place their faith in Him.

The Gospel reminds us that we have the privilege of trying to serve God as a result of our salvation and not as a means of our salvation.

The Banner of Truth Trust

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

Pat Daly serves as the North American manager of Banner of Truth. He is a husband and father and serves his local church. He holds degrees from The University of Western Ontario and Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Visit The Banner of Truth here

The Godly Man’s Picture can be purchased here

Maturity can be purchased here

John G. Paton’s autobiography can be purchased here

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson

Remaining in Ryle’s third section which holds General Counsels to Young Men, we consider the importance of our soul.

I do take issue with Ryle in this reading over his interpretation of 2 Peter 3:10 as well as his understanding of the purpose of our bodies.

I believe a more biblically faithful way of understanding 2 Peter 3:10 is one which allows for renewal of the earth rather than annihilation.

Ryle’s main point should not be lost on us however and that’s that we must inspect our soul and determine where we stand before God. Ryle says, “He [God] measures all men by one standard, one measure, one test, one criterion, and that is the state of their souls.”

Ryle concludes with this critically important statement, “Believe me, the day is fast coming when the soul will be the one thing men will think of, and the only question of importance will be this, ‘Is my soul lost or saved?”

Have you surveyed your soul? Have you taken inventory of your soul? Do you care for your soul more than anything else in your life?

The Banner of Truth Trust

Intro created and performed by Isaac Johnson