Overcoming Sin and Temptation – Life in the Midst of Battle: John Owen's Approach to Sin, Temptation, and The Christian Life

This chapter is an introduction to John Owen and his most important works on sanctification. Sanctification meant for Owen that Christians are called to learn the art of battle. To fight the battle of faith Owen wants his readers to understand the nature of sin, the complexity of the human heart, and the goodness and provision of God.

Acting the Miracle – Incentives for Acting the Miracle: Fear, Rewards, and Multiplicity of Biblical Motivations

This chapter wants to correct a too-narrow focus on motivations for sanctification. DeYoung believes that preachers and counsellors are too limited in the tools available to encourage biblical holiness. He feels that commands, gratitude, and duties are unhelpful on their own. Believers are motivated in different ways. He illustrates from Colossians 3 that there is a wide array of motivations for holiness.

With Reverence and Awe – The Church and the World

Chapter 1 is an exposition of Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 21, Q&A 54. The authors seek to understand from the Catechism what the relationship between the church and the world is in worship. Should the aim of the church be to make worship accessible to the world? Should worship be one occasion where the church displays her otherworldliness?

Concerning the Holiness of the Church

Church discipline is one of the keys to maintaining the holiness of the church. In this article, the author looks at the scriptural teaching for the foundation of discipline in the church. Arguing from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the author states that God has always set ways of maintaining the holiness of the church against the destructive power of sin.

The Long Pursuit of Holiness

What does it mean to be holy? After offering some brief commentary the biblical concept of holiness, this article specifically calls upon elders to be engaged in the pursuit of holiness in the congregation, for the church is to be holy as God is holy. The author offers some practical ways for elders to do so: expose sins such as bitterness and sexual immorality, and focus on people's heart-priorities.