Gwen and Roger Kirk have put together an amazing set of books and study Bibles (in the sanctuary) for our edification and christian growth. Gwen writes here to tell us more about the biographies we have available:

October 31st is celebrated by most Americans as Halloween, but many Christians around the world know it as the date Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenburg church door, exposing blatant corruptions of the Roman Catholic Church, thus sparking the German Reformation. Luther’s plan was to reform the church; instead he became its #1 enemy, threatened with death. Kidnapped and hidden away by his friends, Luther translated the Bible into German so the people could read the truth for themselves. Next year Christianity will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther’s bold and courageous stand for truth.

An esteemed papal notary [lawyer], John Knox of Scotland came under gospel influence in the mid-1500’s. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 was the solid rock to which he anchored himself by faith alone. As he grew in grace and studied the Scriptures, Knox confessed, “It pleased God to call me from the puddle of Papistry.” His association as bodyguard to another staunch reformer drew dangerous attention to himself when that friend was burned at the stake. Knox eventually became a renowned teacher and preacher of extraordinary ability. From St. Andrews castle, he was once captured and spent 19 months as a galley slave rowing a French battleship, but God restored this servant to fearlessly thunder forth His truth in Scotland and England. Steven Lawson wrote “If Martin Luther was the hammer of the Reformation and John Calvin the pen, John Knox was the trumpet.” It was reportedly said by Queen Mary, “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than the combined armies of Europe.”

Browse the book table to read more of these great men, along with John Calvin, the French reformer, who considered their temporal afflictions as light and momentary and looked forward to the things which are not seen, eternal in the heavens.

--Gwen

1689 London Baptist Confession
Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures

1. The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation.3  Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
12 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; 2Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; 3Hebrews 1:1; 4Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20

1689 London Baptist Confession
Chapter 13: Of Sanctification

1. They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue, by His Word and Spirit dwelling in them; the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
( Acts 20:32; Romans 6:5, 6; John 17:17; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:24; Colossians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14 )

2. This sanctification is throughout the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a continual and irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 7:18, 23; Galatians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:11 )

3. In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them.
( Romans 7:23; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1 )

1689 London Baptist Confession
Chapter 9: Of Free Will

Para. 3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. 
( Romans 5:6; Romans 8:7; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Titus 3:3-5; John 6:44 )

Para. 4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil. 
( Colossians 1:13; John 8:36; Philippians 2:13; Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23 )