For Me to Live Is Christ

Since the time of the Reformation and especially during the era of the Puritans, Christians have derived great benefit from reading edifying sermons. Christians today would do well to imitate godly saints of the past by supplementing their devotional diet with preaching in print.

As Joel R. Beeke says, “Though books of sermons do not tend to sell well today—unlike in Puritan times when nearly all their books were repackaged sermons—the reading of edifying sermons can still be a great blessing to God’s children today.”

This book presents thirty-six choice sermons from a veteran preacher who has also spent his career training ministers to faithfully preach God’s Word. These sermons cover a wide range of texts from Genesis to Revelation and treat a host of pertinent topics. Nevertheless, one grand theme resounds from each of them: Jesus Christ and how to live in Him, by Him, and out of Him. Each is spiritually beneficial, meant to help readers grow in spiritual maturation to the glory of the triune God.

Like Paul, the goal of every faithful preacher is to proclaim nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). This volume is evidence that Beeke’s two favorite things in life are to know Christ and to preach Christ. And as you read, by the Spirit’s grace, your love for Christ will deepen so that you shout from the heart, “For me to live is Christ!”

Endorsement

“His sermons are consistently Christ-centered and Christ-exalting, give evidence of careful textual exegesis and exposition, exemplify the experiential emphasis he has been consistently promoting throughout his entire ministry, are discriminatory in the rich Puritan tradition he so passionately promotes, and are filled with helpful and compelling applications that are extracted from the text. In short, given his lengthy tenure as homiletics professor, Dr. Beeke practices what he preaches!”
—Bartel Elshout, pastor of Kalamazoo Reformed Church

Contents

Foreword
Preface

1. The Creation of the Woman
2. Advent and the First Gospel Promise
3. Joseph and His Brothers
4. Seeing God’s Glory
5. Following God Fully
6. National Repentance Needed
7. Why Do the Nations Rage?
8. The Satisfying and Nourishing Word of God
9. The Shepherd’s Gift of Rest
10. God’s Holiness
11. The Tenth Anniversary of 9/11
12. Our Nation Laid in the Balances
13. Daniel’s Separation from the World
14. Matchless Mercy for God’s Heritage
15. The Spirit of Grace and Supplication
16. The Glory of God as Father
17. Christ Forsaken!
18. Fighting Unbelief
19. Jesus Touches the Open Coffin
20. Christ’s Tears over Jerusalem
21. Like Father, Like Son
22. Empty Grave Clothes
23. Pentecost: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
24. Crying Out to the God of Providence
25. Felix Under the Preaching of the Word of God
26. Our Reformation Heritage
27. All Things Working Together for Good for God’s People
28. The Only Way to Live and Die
29. The Glory of the Son’s Purchase
30. Zero Tolerance for Lust
31. Using, Not Abusing the World
32. Holding Fast to Christ Who Holds Fast to You
33. Precious Blood
34. Worldliness
35. God Is Love
36. Seals Five and Six