Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
BOOK REVIEW: RENIHAN, EDIFICATION AND BEAUTY
Professor James Renihan's new book, Edification and beauty: The practical ecclesiology of the English Particular Baptists, 1675-1705 (2008), represents a landmark in the historical study of Baptist history, and a significant step forward in the ongoing recovery of a fully biblical identity for contemporary churches.
Professor Renihan's book addresses a theme that has fallen on evil days. Ecclesiology - the doctrine of the church - has historically been given enormous importance. But not in the early days of the twenty-first century, when churchmanship often appears at a discount, and in situations where the biblical teaching on the church is hardly known and could not be defended.
Edification and beauty begins with a brief overview of the emergence of the earliest Particular Baptist churches, and subsequent chapters move on to discuss the nature of the church, the government of the church, the officers of the church, the worship of the church, and the "communion" between churches. This is, by definition, an historical study, and Robert Oliver, in the foreword, is quite correct in arguing that the book does not provide "a blue print to be slavishly followed." But it does compel us to evaluate the various perspectives it represents - and therefore calls us back to Scripture, which ought to be the foundation of church life, in our modern world quite as much as in the seventeenth century.
MISSION::IRELAND CONFERENCE
The Mission::Ireland conference, held annually in Abbeyleix, co Laois, has just finished.
The speakers this year were Jim Harrison (Red Mills Baptist Church, Mahopac Falls, New York) and Ron Baines (Grace Community Church, West Bath, Maine). About 30 missionaries and pastors gathered to hear Jim preach two messages on "What a piece of work is man": humankind in its four-fold state in creation, the fall, redemption and glory. Ron addressed the topic of guidance - an always controversial issue - and called us to consider what the Bible teaches about the means by which God guides the believer through life choices that bring glory to God. Jim blogs here (though not very regularly!) and you can hear more of his preaching here. You can hear more of Ron's preaching here.
The conference sermons will likely be posted on the Mission::Ireland website.
Monday, June 8, 2009
CONFERENCE AT SOUTHERN SEMINARY
The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies is hosting the third annual conference devoted to Baptist History. This year the conference is titled, “Baptist Spirituality: Historical Perspectives.” It is being held August 24-25, 2009 on the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The theme of the 2009 conference is “Baptist Spirituality: Historical Perspectives.” Featured speakers will include: Crawford Gribben, Michael Haykin , Robert Strivens, Greg Thornbury, Kevin Smith, Tom Nettles, Greg Wills, Gerald Priest, Jason Lee, and Malcolm Yarnell. Other established Baptist History scholars, as well as several Ph.D. students will be presenting papers on the conference theme during the parallel sessions.
Monday, June 1, 2009
M.A. IN HISTORICAL THEOLOGY OPPORTUNITY
The contributors to this blog have frequently highlighted opportunities for theological education, whether by seminars, audio lectures, or distance learning courses. Here's one of the best opportunities to date.
Mark Jones, a PCA pastor in Vancouver, Canada, maintains a blog devoted to Thomas Goodwin. He has posted on this site in the past. Mark has just published a post offering the possibility of MA studies in historical theology - for next to nothing and from an accredited South African institution. Full details can be found here.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
New books: Thomas Manton's Works
"The renowned Thomas Manton (1620-1677), whose writings have long been prized by thousands, was known first and foremost as a great preacher. In a day when good preaching is sorely lacking, we need the reprint of his Complete Works, in which twenty of his twenty-two volumes are sermons. These sermons are the legacy of a powerful preacher devoted to the systematic teaching and application of God's Word. Whether he is expounding the Lord's Prayer, Psalm 119, Isaiah 53, James, or Jude, Manton presents us with the best that English Puritans had to offer in careful, solid, warmhearted exposition of the Scriptures." - Dr. Joel R. Beeke
"A MOUNTAIN OF SOUND THEOLOGY." - C.H. Spurgeon on The Works of Manton
This 22 volume hardcover set is smyth-sewn, shrink-wrapped on acid free paper and boxed as a complete set in a double wall container for special protection. Speaking with John Gowan and others they reckon that of all the puritans Manton is the one who sticks tightly to the text. In these 22 volumes Manton covers the great truths and themes of Scripture. The indices and Bible verse index at the back of the set runs for almost three hundred pages. This alone makes this set very valuable for a minister. If you do not have any puritan works this complete set I suggest would be worth having. They are selling from Evangelical Press, with delivery included, for about €260.euro…
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