Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation by Joel R. Beeke and William Boekestein (Review)

Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation

by Joel R. Beeke and William Boekestein

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Christian / Nonfiction

Published by- Reformation Heritage Books

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 160

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback (ISBN: 978-1-60178-268-7, $12.00)

Do you think of Christ only as a child or do you think of him also as a grown man?  This book focuses on 31 different things that the Lord came to do for us. 

Some of the subjects discussed are:

• “To Serve”
• “To Bring Peace”
• To Bind of Broken Hearts” 
• “To Reign as King”

About the authors-

Joel R. Beeke is currently the pastor of the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Michigan.  He is also the president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

William Boekestein is currently a pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Pennsylvania.

My thoughts- Whenever I am feeling down, I know now that I can turn to Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation, by Joel R. Beeke and William Boekestein.  This book shared 31 meditations on what Christ came to do.  I know that he came for me, but this book can give me the specifics about why He came, like to serve, bring peace, and bring judgment.

The preface of this book discusses how we, as a society think about the Christ of the Christmas story.  There is of course more to Christ and that is what this book is all about.  This book discusses 31 different reasons why Christ was on this earth for us, not just the Christmas story.

This is definitely a book that is for all Christians, but I would certainly recommend it for new Christians.  They can get 31 concrete reasons on what Christ has done for us.  Please find a copy today.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation, by Joel R. Beeke and William Boekestein, for free through Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.

Prepared By Grace, For Grace by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley

Prepared by Grace, for Grace: The Puritans on God’s Ordinary Way of Leading Sinners to Christ 

by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley

(I received this book for review purposes.)

Genre- Religion / Christian Theology / History

Published by- Reformation Heritage Books

Copyrighted- 2013

Number of pages- 298

Age Group- Adult

Description of book- paperback (ISBN 978-1-60178-234-2, $25.00)

Prepared by Grace, For Grace, by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley, is filled with information on how to understand preparatory grace.  They use many different sources, like Jonathan Edwards, John Bunyan, William Guthrie, and Jeremiah Burroughs.  Beeke and Smalley show how the Puritans disagreed with each other and show how it has continuity with the Reformed tradition.

About the authors-

Joel R. Beeke is a pastor at the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation and a professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

Paul M. Smalley is an assistant for Dr. Beeke.

My thoughts- I had read about the Puritans in my American history classes in elementary and high school and I thought they were stiff and very religious.  After reading, Prepared By Grace, For Grace, I decided that I really like the way that Thomas Hooker, Thomas Goodwin, John Cotton, William Pemble, and the other Puritans thought about how God gives us grace and prepares us for accepting him in our hearts.

I enjoyed reading the quotes of the various Puritans, but it took a lot of concentration, because these people wrote many years ago.  I thought Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley could have written this book in an easy to read format, because it might be difficult for the average person to read.  It would work well for a college text.

I would recommend this book, because we need to know the different ways people think and how God can lead us to Christ.

Disclosure of Material Connection- I received Prepared By Grace, For Grace: The Puritans on God’s Ordinary Way of Leading Sinners to Christ by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley for free from Cross Focused Reviews.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.  All links were current when posted.