Therefore the Truth I Speak: Scottish Theology 1500–1700 (book review)
Donald Macleod’s beautiful new book, Therefore the Truth I Speak is an engaging look at Scottish theology that mines the past and brings it into the present.
Church History
John Berridge’s Advice to Gospel Preachers
John Berridge was born in 1716 to a wealthy farmer who hoped Berridge would follow in his footsteps. Instead, Berridge became a minister due to his natural giftedness in reading and scholarly endeavors. Yet, he was not converted until after he became vicar of Everton in Bedfordshire, England in 1755. J.C. Ryle notes that “As … Read more
The Drunkenness and Repentance of Brother Johnnathan Osburn
I have a book I received as a gift from Plum Creek Baptist Church in Taylorsville, KY. This book tells the story of the church’s inception to its 175th anniversary in 1985. I am grateful for my brief time serving there as Youth Pastor for portions of 2008 and 2009. Included in this book are … Read more
Augustine vs. Pelagius
The Debate In the 5th century — the early 400s — there was a controversy in the church between two men, Augustine and Pelagius, over God’s grace in salvation. Pelagius essentially argued in such a way that would minimize the necessity of regeneration. He taught against men being guilty because of Adam’s sin and against … Read more
A Primer on Jacob Arminius, John Wesley, and Charles Finney
Jacob Arminius and John Wesley Jacob Arminius (1560-1609), in response to William Perkins, wrote, “No one believes, without the exercise of his will. But the actual exercise of the will to believe is a different thing from the ability to will to believe; the latter belongs to all men, the former to the regenerate only, … Read more
A Short Recounting of George Whitefield’s Conversion
Before Lifeway, there was the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the Mid-20th Century, this board put out a series of studies for churches to use with their parishioners. One such study was called Soul-Winning Doctrines by J. Clyde Turner (1943). In his section on regeneration, he gives a short recounting of George Whitefield’s … Read more
Nine Day Queen of England – Book Review
In October of 2018, I took our church through a Sunday Night Series entitled “Church History Profiles.” We looked at various people of the Reformation and sought to explain their significance and how we might learn from them. As an aside, I think this is something I will try to do every year. I think the … Read more
Why I Hope You’re Celebrating October 31st
Post Tenebras Lux It means ‘after darkness, light’ and it’s hanging on the wall in my Study and features the pictures of John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, William Tyndale, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. I’m all for free candy, and I think it is certainly permissible for children to dress up and pretend (although I certainly … Read more