J. I. Packer

J. I. Packer's Classic Resource on EvangelismIf God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all? J. I. Packer shows in this new edition to the popular IVP Classics how both of these attitudes are false. In Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, readers will find: A careful review of the biblical evidence, Packer's explication of how a right understanding of God's sovereignty is not so much a barrier to evangelism as an incentive and powerful support for it, andPowerful illustrations and applications that bring biblical wisdom into everyday life. With over 100,000 copies in print, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God is truly a classic that should be read by every Christian.

Seeking God's guidance is a focus for many believers. We want to know what God has planned for our lives. Are we making the right decision? Are we in his will? For some people, knowing God is guiding their lives makes them relax and enjoy the ride. But others fear making the wrong choice and find themselves paralyzed as they wait for signs from above. J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom answer these fears with God's Will. With solid biblical footing, they shed light on the notion of God's guidance in response to the many misunderstandings well-meaning Christians can have. Readers seeking God's will in major life decisions, as well as anyone interested in understanding how God guides us, will welcome this practical and inspiring book.

Qu es lo que define a la Iglesia de Inglaterra? Tienen los Treinta y nueve Art culos alguna relevancia hoy en d a? El Anglicanisimo, seg n Jim Parker, posee "la m's verdadera, m's sabia y potencialmente la m's rica herencia en toda la Cristiandad con los Treinta y nueve art culos en el centro de su coraz n. Estos art culos captan la esencia y el esp ritu del cristianismo b blico magnificamente bien, y tambi n proporcionan un modelo excelente de como confesar la fe en medio de una cristiandad dividida. En este estudio, Parker tiene como objectivo mostrar como los Art culos del siglo diecis is deben ser vistos en el siglo veinte y uno, y como pueden enriquecer la fe de Anglicanos en general y en particular de Anglicanos evang licos. Parker demuestra por qu los art culos una vez m's deben tener una voz dentro de la Iglesia, no solo como una curiosidad hist rica, sino como una declaraci n con autoridad doctrinal. Roger Beckwith ofrece diecisiete Art culos Complementarios, en un ap ndice que stimula relecci n y discuten teol gicamente asuntos que los ha llevado a un sitio de prominencia desde que los Art culos fueron originalmente compuestos. Este folleto, fu publicado por primera vez hace m's de veinte a os, se mantiene en mucha demanda y tan oportuna como siempre. Ha demostrado ser uno de los estudios m's populares y perdurables publicados por The Latimer House, y es ahora publicado en una segunda edici n, traducida aqui al espa ol. Jim Packer est en la Junta Gobernadores, Categr tico de Teolog a en Regent College, en Vancouver. Roger Beckwith fue bibliotecario y Director de Latimer House, en Oxford Inglaterra durante m's de treinta a os. What defines the Church of England? Are the Thirty-nine Articles of any relevance today? Anglicanism, according to Jim Packer, possesses "the truest, wisest and potentially richest heritage in all Christen dom" with the Thirty-nine Articles at its heart. They catch the substance and spirit of biblical Christianity superbly well, and also provide an excellent model of how to confess the faith in a divided Christendom. In this Latimer Study, Packer aims to show how the sixteenth century Articles should be viewed in the twenty-first century, and how they can enrich the faith of Anglicans in general and of Anglican evangelicals in particular. He demonstrates why the Articles must once again be given a voice within the Church, not merely as an historical curiosity but an authoritative doctrinal statement. A thought-provoking appendix by Roger Beckwith offers seventeen Supplementary Articles, addressing theological issues which have come into prominence since the original Articles were composed. This booklet, first published more than twenty years ago, remains much in demand and as timely as ever. It has proved one of the most popular and enduring Latimer Studies, and is now issued in a second edition, translated here into Spanish. Jim Packer is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College, Vancouver. Roger Beckwith was librarian and warden of Latimer House, Oxford for more than thirty years.

This book sets out in short compass what seems to me to be the permanent essentials of Christianity, viewed as both a belief system and a way of life ... Theology is for doxology and devotion - that is, the praise of God and the practice of godliness. It should therefore be presented in a way that brings awareness of the divine presence. Theology is at its healthiest when it is consciously under the eye of God of whom it speaks, and when it is singing to his glory.' - J. I Packer Packer's classic summary covers nearly one hundred subjects, from a Reformed perspective. Brief, easy-to-understand chapters offer precise descriptions without sacrificing depth. The four main sections present God revealed as Creator, Redeemer, Lord of grace, and Lord of destiny.

As eldest son and heir to a fortune, John Charles Ryle had a hopeful future in Britain's Parliament until the day his father declared bankruptcy. In a single moment he was stripped of everything. Ryle was devastated. And yet, had this not happened, J. C. Ryle would likely not have entered the clergy and become one of the most influential evangelical leaders of the nineteenth century. From his ministry Ryle went on to publish many important works and vigorously defend the purity of Reformed faith. Most significantly, Ryle's personal tragedy led to a steadfast faithfulness and holiness in his life. Presented here is a newly repackaged and republished edition of J. I. Packer's brief biography of the life of J. C. Ryle alongside the great preacher's classic work Holiness. Admiring Ryle's passion for God's Word, Packer aims to open up the life of this godly man for a contemporary audience. Readers new to Ryle's work will especially benefit from a first encounter with his essay on holiness.

If the modern world can be characterised by one thing it is probably the enormous increase in the number of words around – but that increase has also been accompanied by a seemingly corresponding decrease in understanding. J. I. Packer is a master wordsmith. He is also gifted with the ability of showing where truth lies in complicated reasoning. These skills combine to make 18 Words a fascinating read – and a life–changing one.

If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all? In this classic study, J. I. Packer shows how false both these attitudes are. In a careful review of the biblical evidence, he demonstrates how a right understanding of God's sovereignty is not so much a barrier to evangelism as an incentive and powerful support for it.

A moving and challenging exploration of the teachings and beliefs of the Puritans, this book calls today’s Christians to move from spiritual superficiality and follow the Puritans’ example of spiritual maturity.

Why does the church teach? And what should it teach? In recent years, traditional Sunday school and education programs have declined in influence and effectiveness. Education in the church is often sidelined by other competing priorities, and our efforts become haphazard and random. As a result, many Christians have not learned the fundamental doctrinal content of the faith. As a response, a growing number of church ministries have moved toward an emphasis on Christian spiritual formation. But churches must hold together education and formation, the teaching of the faith and the forming of the faithful. In this comprehensive text, Gary Parrett and Steve Kang attend to both the content and process of educational and formational ministries. They set forth a thoroughly biblical vision for intentional teaching of the Christian faith, with a holistic concern for what and whom is taught as well as how and why. Fully apprised of developments in educational theory and pedagogy, Parrett and Kang propose a core curriculum for recovering the full scope of Christian proclamation and reinvigorating the teaching ministry of the church. Their vision has implications not merely for catechesis, but for preaching, worship, children's and youth ministry, and much more. The body of Christ can become all that God intends it to be, through intentional practices that foster personal and corporate formation. Here is guidance for individuals and congregations on that journey.

Next to Scripture, Knowing God could be the most significant book you will read this year.

"There was a time," writes renowned theologian J. I. Packer in this classic book on biblical holiness, "when all Christians laid great emphasis on God's call to holiness. But how different it is today! To listen to our sermons and to read the books we write, and then to watch the zany, worldly, quarrelsome way we behave, you would never imagine that once the highway of holiness was clearly marked out for Bible-believers." In this revised and updated edition of Rediscovering Holiness, the highway is once more clearly marked out for a new generation of readers, pointing to true freedom and joy, both now and in eternity.

What does it mean to be an Anglican? And Evangelical? Can these two identities be held together with integrity? Where the church seems to be fragmenting, how should we relate to the rest of the Anglican Church? Thirty years ago two influential Anglican thinkers, J. I. Packer and N. T. Wright, addressed these questions in short and provocative Latimer Studies. Their work remains stimulating and important, and is republished here for a new generation, with fresh prefaces from each author reflecting on recent developments. "The Evangelical Anglican Identity Problem" (Packer, 1978) addressed Anglican evangelicals who were unsure whether it was warrantable to continue as Anglicans. "Evangelical Anglican Identity: The Connection Between Bible, Gospel & Church"(Wright, 1980) builds upon Packer's study, addressing Evangelical attitudes to the church. "A Kind of Noah's Ark?" (Packer, 1981) had in view clergy and laity who were baffled and discouraged by the continually broadening spectrum of tolerated unorthodoxies within the Church of England, and in particular the hesitations felt by young men called to be pastors who were unsure whether it made sense to pursue their vocation as Anglicans. All three pieces were thus tracts for the times, but are astonishingly relevant today. J. I. Packer is Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is one of the most important evangelical theologians of the last fifty years. N. T. Wright is Bishop of Durham and a highly respected New Testament scholar, publishing at both academic and popular levels.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." John 15:9Before Jesus left this world he gave specific encouragement and instructions to his disciples on what to expect and how to live after he had gone. These words still apply to his disciples today. In this eight-session LifeGuide(R) Bible Study, trusted guides J. I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom lead you through a study of Jesus' farewell to his disciples in John 14-17 to help you discover what it means to abide in Christ during the time between Christ's departure and his second coming. For over three decades LifeGuide Bible Studies have provided solid biblical content and raised thought-provoking questions--making for a one-of-a-kind Bible study experience for individuals and groups. This series has more than 130 titles on Old and New Testament books, character studies, and topical studies.

James I. Packer, the son of a Gloucester railway clerk, rose to become one of the most influential evangelical, theological and spiritual writers of the twentieth century. He is widely admired as a theologian with a rare gift of being able to communicate his ideas with clarity and passion to a wide variety of audiences. Many Christians have identified him as one of the greatest influences of their lives. Packer has authored more than 300 works over fifty years of his writing ministry. From this massive body of literature, Alister McGrath has selected sixteen core writings, faithfully representing both Packer's personal interests (such as the authority of Scripture, the relationship of theology and spirituality, and the importance of 'great tradition' Christianity), and the various phases of his career. Each of these writings is carefully introduced and set in its theological, historical and biographical context, and is followed by questions for further study to help readers interact with the texts. The work also includes an informative introduction to the life and career of J. I. Packer. ALISTER McGRATH is Professor of Theology, Ministry and Education, and Head of the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture at King's College, London. He is the author of numerous books, including J. I. Packer: A Biography.

The Apostles' Creed is the oldest, most beautiful succinct summary of Christian beliefs. Though often recited in unison during worship services, the creed begins with the phrase "I believe," making it a deeply personal profession of faith. But when was the last time you examined it closely? In Affirming the Apostles' Creed, an excerpt from Growing in Christ, noted Bible scholar and author J. I. Packer explains the meaning and implications of each phrase of this great creed. Each concise chapter serves as an invitation to dive further into the creed-and as a result, into the essentials of the Christian faith-by concluding with discussion questions and Bible passages for further study.