Starting after the first of the year we will be utilizing this forum to discuss the book Overcoming Sin and Temptation which is a lightly edited and updated compilation of three of John Owen's classic works. We’ve attempted this in the past, but due to some technical difficulties as well as a our moderator moving to Florida it fell apart. Nevertheless, we’re going to give the old college try once again.
In this round we will be reading the first book in OST which is Owen’s work Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers. Our goal is to work through this book over the course of about three months. This means that we will be tackling roughly one chapter a week. The chapters are not lengthy, but I think “meaty” would be an understatement.
For those of you in the area we will taking a little bit of time to discuss this book in our bimonthly Entrust Meetings at Calvary. If you would like more information about this feel free to contact me. If you who are not familiar with John Owen, he was a 17th century Puritan pastor and unquestionably one of the theological heavyweights of all time (perhaps super heavyweight).
Since Owen's works are quite substantive and since he wrote nearly four hundred years ago, this study will be no walk in the park; in fact, it seems that even those in Owen's own day did not consider him to be light reading. Nevertheless, we will press on, for there must be a good reason why Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers is still considered the gold standard on the topic, and I think that it is safe to assume that it is not the catchy title. Needless to say, I think Mr. Owen still has a good deal to teach us today.
In future posts I'll be seeking to address some of the specifics as to why we are dusting off this work as well as speaking a bit about the man behind the writing. However, if I have already sufficiency wet your whistle and you're up for the challenge we have a few copies of the book available at our bookstore here at Calvary. If you would like one just zip me an email at pastor.ryan@cbcjoliet. Or if you would like to get one on your own you can go to one of many online bookstores and pick one up (Here's a link to Westminster Bookstore , usually their prices are pretty competitive).
I'm looking forward to this interaction as I am sure it will be a stretching experience for all who get involved, but before I bid you adieu let me leave you with some words from the man himself. Perhaps this will serve as an appetizer before the main course:
“If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: ‘God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.’ When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.” - John Owen
I do believe this man can help us.