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Serious Joy

Serious Joy

Reflections and Devotions on Jonathan Edwards' Seventy Resolutions

byJoey Tomlinson

$19.98
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Serious Joy

Serious Joy

Joey Tomlinson

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Serious Joy

Joey Tomlinson

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Serious Joy, introduces readers to the seventy Resolutions Jonathan Edwards wrote when he was only nineteen years old, showing how they are directly relevant and needful for Christians today.

Each resolution is expounded on in a way that helps the… Read more

Endorsements

  • By demonstrating the biblical thinking out of which each resolution arises, Tomlinson provides us not only insight into Edwards’ mind but also opportunities to have our own shaped more practically by Scripture. I highly commend this book to all who aspire to do whatever would bring God most glory and bring to themselves their greatest good, profit, and pleasure.

    Tom Ascol

    Tom Ascol

    President of Founders Ministries

  • Joey Tomlinson has written a wonderful introduction and guide to Edwards’ Resolutions, wisely expounding and pressing them into the corners of our lives. I’m glad to commend this little book on Serious Joy.

    Joe Rigney

    Joe Rigney

    Fellow of Theology, NSAC

  • I am so thrilled that another generation of Jonathan Edwards scholars has discovered the Resolutions. Written when the great revivalist pastor was just 19 years old, the seventy resolutions have inspired believers for 300 years now to ‘Live with all my might while I do live!’ I am thankfult hat Joey Tomlinson has taken the time to study this inspiring private document from America’s greatest theologian.

    Dr. Matthew Everhard

    Dr. Matthew Everhard

    Pastor of PCA

Endorsements

Serious Joy

Serious Joy

Joey Tomlinson

Jonathan Edwards is arguably the greatest mind ever produced on the North American continent. His writings cover a wide range of topics from theology to philosophy to nature and natural science. But infused in them all is his sense of reverence and awe to be living before the presence of his God. That Edwards wrote seventy resolutions as a teenager to govern his life is commonly known to those who have spent much time studying his life and work. Few, however, have taken the time to read those resolutions carefully, much less to meditate through them. In this work, Joey Tomlinson has made doing both much easier. By demonstrating the biblical thinking out of which each resolution arises, he provides us not only insight into Edwards’ mind but also opportunities to have our own shaped more practically by Scripture. I highly commend this book to all who aspire to do whatever would bring God most glory and bring to themselves their greatest good, profit, and pleasure.

Tom Ascol

Tom Ascol

President of Founders Ministries; Pastor of Grace Baptist Church

I distinctly remember encountering the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards in college. Some of them I can still quote by heart. ‘To live with all my might, while I do live.’ ‘To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.’ ‘To never suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.’ Joey Tomlinson has written a wonderful introduction and guide to Edwards’ Resolutions, wisely expounding and pressing them into the corners of our lives. I’m glad to commend this little book on Serious Joy.

Joe Rigney

Joe Rigney

Fellow of Theology, New Saint Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho

I am so thrilled that another generation of Jonathan Edwards scholars has discovered the Resolutions. Written when the great revivalist pastor was just 19 years old, the seventy resolutions have inspired believers for 300 years now to ‘Live with all my might while I do live!’ I am thankfult hat Joey Tomlinson has taken the time to study this inspiring private document from America’s greatest theologian. I hope the Lord uses this book to help people discover the writings of this God-glorifying colonial pastor.

Dr. Matthew Everhard

Dr. Matthew Everhard

Pastor of Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church (PCA), Valencia, PA

Description

Serious Joy, introduces readers to the seventy Resolutions Jonathan Edwards wrote when he was only nineteen years old, showing how they are directly relevant and needful for Christians today.

Each resolution is expounded on in a way that helps the reader establish a regular rhythm of private worship by pointing them to the Scriptures that underpin each resolution and further harmonizes the resolutions with other writings of Edwards that bring them into better focus. The goal of this book is to exalt Christ, foster meditation and prayer, and demonstrate how serious joy in Christ leads to growth in Christlikeness. All of this is accomplished by tethering the reader to the theology of Jonathan Edwards. In so doing, Serious Joy succeeds in bringing a fresh approach to the writings of Edwards by making them more approachable for the Christian who wants to understand the significance and importance of Edwards’ contribution to Christian theology.

Listen to a podcast interview on The Sword & The Trowel with the author here.

Table of contents

Serious Joy

Serious Joy

Joey Tomlinson

Foreword by C.R. Wiley

Introducing Jonathan Edwards

The Preamble: Sustenance for the Journey

Resolutions 1 & 2: The Glory of God

Resolution 3: Repent Quickly

Resolution 4: Disown Yourself

Resolution 5: Redeem the Time

Resolution 6: We are Dependent Creatures

Resolutions 7, 9, 10, & 17: Suffering and Death

Resolution 8: Hate Your Sin First

Resolution 11: Are You Interested in God?

Resolution 12: Theology and Doxology

Resolution 13: Strategic, Cheerful Generosity

Resolution 14: Vengeance Belongs to God

Resolution 15: The Blasphemous Nature of Our Anger

Resolutions 16, 31, & 36: When and How to Wound (Part 1)

Resolutions 18, 19, 50, 51 & 55: Eternity-Driven Focus

Resolutions 20 & 40: Moderation

Resolutions 21: Don’t Do What You Despise

Resolutions 52 & 54: Awareness and Humility

Resolutions 22: Violence is Required

Resolutions 23 & 24: Finding Your Roots

Resolutions 25 & 26: The Accuser

Resolution 27: Sins of Omission

Resolution 28: Study the Scriptures

Resolution 29: True Evangelical Prayer

Resolution 30: A Higher Religion

Resolution 32: Faithfulness

Resolution 33: He Made Peace

Resolution 34: Guard Your Mouth

Resolution 35: Anxiety and Assurance

Resolution 37: Confession of Sin and Forgiveness in Christ

Resolution 38: The Lord’s Day

Resolution 39: Blameless

Resolution 41: An Example, Yet Cautionary Tale

Resolution 42: Considering Your Baptism.

Resolutions 43 & 44: We are Not Autonomous

Resolution 45: Holy Emotions

Resolution 46: Honor Thy Father and Mother

Resolution 47: Pride and Humility

Resolutions 48 & 49: Assurance

Resolution 53: Eternal Safety

Resolution 56: Do Not Despair in Your Fight Against Sin

Resolution 57: Misfortunes, Adversities, & Personal Responsibility

Resolutions 58 & 59: Dealing with Anger

Resolution 60: Self-Control

Resolution 61: Listlessness

Resolution 62: Cheerful Work

Resolution 63: Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy

Resolution 64: Dependency on the Holy Spirit in Prayer

Resolutions 65 & 68: Transparency with God

Resolution 66: When and How to Wound (Part 2)

Resolution 67: Suffering

Resolution 69: Christ Has Authority, So Get to Work

Resolution 70: Benevolence

Conclusion

Appendix: Categories

About the Author

Scripture Index

Product details

Page count
210
Audiobook runtime
5h 52m
Dimensions
5.5" x 1" x 8.5"
Printed in
United States
Publication year
2023
Published by
Founders Press

Joey Tomlinson

Pastor of Deer Park Fellowship; Author, Serious Joy & Why We Gather

Joey Tomlinson is the pastor of Deer Park Fellowship (dpfellowship.org) — a confessionally Reformed (1689) church in Newport News, VA. He holds a BS in Religion from Liberty University, an MDiv from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and a DMin in Biblical Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Joey is the author of The Day of Trouble: Depression, Scripture, and the God who is Near. He regularly writes articles and records podcasts at broadoakpiety.org. Joey is married to Brayden, and together they have 3 boys — Henry, Owen and Ames.

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