Helpful Resources (Part 2)

Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,

In our continuing preaching series on the Letters to the Seven Churches in Revelation, last week we looked at the church at Pergamum.  Pergamum was a city filled with many pagan cults, temples dedication to idols, and worship of the Roman Emperor.  It was a very challenging environment for the church there.  The failure of the church in this city wasn’t that they denied the faith or rejected Christ, but that they compromised.  Instead of holding steadfastly to the Gospel of Christ and only the Gospel of Christ, they allowed into their fellowship those who adhered to the false teaching and immoral practices of the pagan cults.

As we all know, this is a challenge for the church today.  There are voices within the church at large that would compromise the faith – not deny it but water it down, or add other things to it that are reflective of modern culture.  If we are to avoid the temptation to compromise, we must have a solid foundation in just what the Christian Gospel is.

Last week, I shared some resources that are helpful in assuring us of the trustworthiness of the Christian message.  This week I want to suggest some resources that are helpful in understanding just what the Gospel is.  Whether you are new to the faith or have been a follower of Jesus for many years, it is always good to review the basics, the core of the faith – both so we can be secure in our faith, and so we can give a sound explanation of what we believe to anyone who should ask.  So please try to take advantage of at least one of the following books.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Bob

Basic Christianity by John Stott

Knowing God by J. I. Packer

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Know What You Believe by Paul Little

The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl