Recommended Books (Love for God)

Our Love for God

The Religious Affections

Jonathan Edwards
1703-1758

Edwards teaches us to avoid the two extremes of cold intellectualism and mindless emotionalism. True Christianity is grounded in the truths of Scripture, but will also produce the emotional elements of joy, peace, love, hatred of sin, humility, faith in God, etc.

Well worth reading!

**Contents**
Publisher's Note Introduction Author's Preface Part I - Concerning the Nature of the Affections and their Importance in Religion 1. True Religion largely consists in Holy Affections 2. Evidence that True Religion lies much in the Affections 3. Inferences from the Doctrine Part II - Showing what are No Certain Signs that Religious Affections are Truly Gracious, or that They are Not 1. That Religious Affections are very great is no Sign 2. Great effects on the Body are no Sign 3. Fluency and Fervour are no Sign 4. That they are not excited by us is no Sign 5. That they come with Texts of Scripture is no Sign 6. That there is an appearance of Love is no Sign 7. That Religious Affections are of many kinds is no Sign 8. Joys following in a certain Order is no Sign 9. Much Time and much Zeal in Duty are no Sign 10. Much expression of Praise is no Sign 11. Great Confidence is no Sign 12. Moving Testimonies are no Sign	Part III - Showing What Are Distinguishing Signs of Truly Gracious and Holy Affections Introductory Remarks 1. Gracious Affections are from Divine Influence 2. Their Object is the Excellence of Divine Things 3. They are founded on the moral Excellency of Objects 4. They arise from Divine Illumination 5. They are attended with a Conviction of Certainty 6. They are attended with Evangelical Humiliation 7. They are attended with a Change of Nature 8. They beget and promote the Temper of Jesus 9. Gracious Affections soften the Heart 10. They have beautiful Symmetry and Proportion 11. False Affections rest satisfied in Themselves 12. Religious Affections have their fruit in Christian Practice (1) Christian Practice is the chief Sign to Others (2) Christian Practice is the chief Sign to Ourselves

Desiring God

John Piper
Contemporary

Click <here> to read the book online.

It is not wrong to seek pleasure... but true, lasting pleasure is to be found in God alone. This revolutionary book shows us that our worship and service does not please God if it is motivated by slavish obedience to God's commands.God is pleased with our efforts only to the extent that they are motivated by our delight in Him. As John explains: "God is most honored in us when we are most delighted in Him."

You must read this book!

**Contents**
Preface Introduction: How I Became a Christian Hedonist 1. The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism 2. Conversion: The Creation of a Christian Hedonist 3. Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism 4. Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism 5. Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism 6. Prayer: The Power of Christian Hedonism 7. Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism 8. Marriage: A Matrix for Christian Hedonism 9. Missions: The Battle Cry of Christian Hedonism 10. Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism Epilogue: Why I have Written This Book: Seven Reasons Appendix 1: The Goal of God in Redemptive History Appendix 2: Is the Bible a Reliable Guide to Lasting Joy? Appendix 3: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained that Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine Decrees Appendix 4: How Then Shall We Fight for Joy? An Outline Appendix 5: Why Call It Christian Hedonism?

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