Clearly the demand for Charles Simeon’s brand of biblically-centered preaching is far from dead. Just over a week ago, as I reported here, Logos agreed to place Horae Homileticae on their pre-publication list. The deal is, when enough people pledge to buy it to cover their initial costs, they will hit the “go” button. Today, in what might even be record time, the Logos site reports enough of you have bought it already. You need to move fast now if... Read more
In the introduction to the 1859 volume of Spurgeon’s sermons we find the following provocative few paragraphs: In the history of the Church, with but few exceptions, you could not find a revival at all that was not produced by the orthodox faith. What was that great work which was done by Augustine, when the Church suddenly woke up from the pestiferous and deadly sleep into which Pelagian doctrine had cast it? What was the Reformation itself but the awaking... Read more
“In both [England and America] an essential part of the ordination exam ought to be a passage from some recognized theological work set for translation into vulgar English—just like doing Latin prose. Failure on this exam should mean failure on the whole exam. It is absolutely disgraceful that we expect missionaries to the Bantus to learn Bantu, but never ask whether our missionaries to the Americans or English can speak American or English. Any fool can write learned language. The... Read more
I have a clear memory from a number of years ago of reading a sermon by Spurgeon in which he broke off into an extended passage in which he predicted what he believed would happen in the church in the UK. I remember that he spoke of a period when the Evangelical faith would almost seem to be vanquished. He went on to predict, however, that a future significant move of God would occur that would dwarf anything he had... Read more
Have you experienced something like this? Does reading this make you long for more? If so, join me in crying out to God that we, too, might experience the love of God poured out into our hearts to this extent. Suddenly I felt my heart melting within me like wax before a fire, and love to God for my Saviour. I felt also not only love and peace, but a longing to die and be with Christ. Then there came... Read more
It is time once more to raid my electronic version of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ materials, which is produced by Logos Bible Software. Today’s quote is more from the Doctor on revival – this time it is a list of vital doctrines that are neglected outside of times of revival, yet find their central place during revival. Read them slowly, and carefully, then get a hold of Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book on revival (electronically or in paper form) and read them in... Read more
Back in March of 2006, I wrote a long post which referred to John Piper’s article about Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I thought I would use this Piper Friday to highlight Dr. Piper’s article once more. You can read Piper’s whole article over on his website. Piper begins by sharing two quotes that in some ways seem contradictory. Unless, that is, you are a preacher. For many of us the passion of our life is to preach in such a way that... Read more
UPDATE Logos have now posted a large number of scanned pages from Simeon’s Sermons. Go and read them, they will thrill your heart and I trust stir your desire to obtain these amazing volumes Back in November last year, I discovered a biographical article by John Piper on Charles Simeon. The article made a great impact on me and so I made extensive quotes from it in a post entitled Piper Friday – Charles Simeon and John Wesley. In the... Read more
UPDATEMuch of the discussion on this issue is now occurring over at blogs belonging to Thabiti Anyabwile and Justin Taylor – Why not pop over and join in? John Piper is never one to shy away from controversy or difficult subjects. This week has been no different. He has sent out an e-mail entitled How and Why Bethlehem Pursues Ethnic Diversity that is also published on his website—the main point of which is that he is looking specifically for non-white... Read more
Was watching an interview with Terry Virgo on video this evening with my two oldest children and my wife. We were all really caught up with and interested in his story. But there was one line that stuck out for its simplicity, but profoundness. When talking about his early experiences of “boring” church, Terry then defined church as it ought to be as follows: “What is Church? Church is where the presence of God is.” — Terry Virgo Was that... Read more
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