Resources on History – Church
Last night I finished reading David Robertson’s Awakening: The Life & Ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne, a fine account of the life of the godly and often quoted 19th century Scottish minister. I am personally indebted to McCheyne. For most of my adult life I’ve used and recommended his Bible Reading Calendar. I suppose there are other good plans for reading scripture, but McCheyne’s has served me well.
Read MoreJohn Stott reflects on the life of Charles Simeon, one of my heroes of Christian ministry. In 1985 I ran across Simeon’s name for the first time while reading Stott’s Between Two Worlds. He referenced Simeon several times, so I bought Hugh Evan Hopkins Charles Simeon of Cambridge to learn more. Later I read the fine biographies of Moule and Carus, and many of Simeon’s sermons. During his 54 years at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge (1782-1836) some 1100 future ministers sat under his ministry. Distinguished historian Thomas Macauley observed that his influence was greater than any English bishop or archbishop. Any student preparing for ministry will benefit by studying the life of this remarkable pastor and preacher.
Read MoreAugustine of Hippo (354-430)
No person contributed more to the development of Western Christianity than Augustine of Hippo, born November 13, 354. On this anniversary of his birth, why not read John Piper’s excellent biographical sketch? If you would like to read some of Augustine’s works, begin with his Confessions, perhaps the world’s most influential theological and spiritual autobiography. My favorite biography is Augustine of Hippo by Peter Brown. Last year, I reread this splendid book to prepare for my book club’s discussion of The City of God. I also read with profit Henry Chadwick’s Augustine of Hippo: A Life, a much briefer biography than Brown’s and an excellent introduction to his life and work. From Augustine: “Two cities have been formed by two…
Read MoreIn the first half of the 20th century, millions of Russians disappeared into the gulags of the Soviet police state. Many of these were condemned on trumped up charges. Unjustly declared enemies of the state, they became victims of communism’s cruel tyranny. Still, in the midst of horrible evil, faithful men proclaimed Christ. And one extraordinary encounter changed not only a man but also the world. James Montgomery Boice recalls: “One of the inmates of the notorious Russian prisons was a Jewish doctor by the name of Boris Nicholayevich Kornfeld. He was a political prisoner of the Stalinist era. But he was treated better than most simply because doctors were scarce. Guards got sick as well as prisoners, and no…
Read MoreMartin Luther was born November 10, 1483. On this anniversary of his birth enjoy these reflections of John Piper on Luther’s life and work. If you are interested in reading one of Luther’s works, I would recommend starting with Bondage of the Will. My favorite biography of Luther is Luther: The Reformer by James M. Kittelson. I’ve also profited from reading Roland Bainton and Heiko Oberman’s biographies. Martin Luther exhorted ministers of the word: “Some pastors and preachers are lazy and no good. They do not pray; they do not read; they do not search the Scripture … The call is: watch, study attend to reading. In truth you cannot read too much in Scripture; and what you read you…
Read MoreA critical question in the historic controversies regarding the Lord’s Supper is: Where is Christ’s physical body when the Supper is served? The Western Church puts forward three major answers. First, Rome teaches that the body and blood of Christ are present not only in heaven, but also physically in the bread and wine. At the time of their consecration at the Mass, the bread becomes the actual body of Christ and the wine becomes the actual blood of Christ. The outward appearance of the bread and wine remain unchanged, but their substance (what the elements really are) is changed into Christ’s body and blood. This view is known as “transubstantiation.” (See Westminster Confession of Faith, 29.6). Second, Lutherans reject…
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