The history of the church is filled with stories. Stories of triumph, stories of defeat, stories of joy, and stories of sorrow. These stories are a legacy of God's faithfulness to His people. In this book, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols provides postcards from the church through the centuries. These snapshots capture the richness of Christian history with glimpses of fascinating saints, curious places, precious artifacts, and surprising turns of events. In exploring them, Dr. Nichols takes the reader on a lively and informative journey through the record of God's providence to encourage, challenge, and enjoy. This is our story--our family history. "THE CENTURIES OF CHURCH HISTORY GIVE US A LITANY OF GOD'S DELIVERANCES. GOD HAS DONE IT BEFORE, MANY TIMES AND IN MANY WAYS, AND HE CAN DO IT AGAIN. HE WILL DO IT AGAIN. AND IN THAT, WE FIND COURAGE FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW."
Charles Simeon ministered for over fifty years in one parish at the heart of Cambridge during the bleak period of English national life between the French Wars and the passing of the Reform Bill. He was considered by Lord Macaulay to have had greater influence on the life of the church than any primate. Soundly converted in his first term at King's College, he was appointed Vicar of Holy Trinity in 1782, combining the incumbency with a Fellowship and various academic posts. Highly unpopular at first on account of both his message and his manner, scorned and abused for many years, he carried on regardless of other's opinions until in the end he became perhaps the best known and best respected name in Cambridge. Hot-tempered but warm-hearted, impetuous but infinitely patient, a man of imposing, even remarkable appearance, he was a "character," about whom the most entertaining stories are eagerly recounted. As a Christian of independent mind and strong convictions, he found his spiritual strength in a lifetime of deep devotion and strict personal discipline; as a biblical preacher he was the first for many generations to see the possibility and importance of teaching others how to expound the Scriptures; as a pastor and evangelist his work with both town and gown was marked by a rare faithfulness and zeal. Limited all his life to the one center of spiritual activity, he yet was the moving spirit in the formation of the Church Missionary Society, and an enthusiastic supporter of the Bible Society and of work among the Jews.
This short book, magnificently researched, brings a wealth of insight into one of the most important figures in modern church history, Charles Simeon (1759-1836), a contemporary and friend of William Wilberforce, who was vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, for over fifty years. He left an indelible mark on the Church of England, and on world mission, and his legacy stretches down to us today. Intervarsity/USA, Inter-Varsity Canada, and the American and Canadian Bible Societies trace their roots back to him. More than 150 years later, John Stott would say that Simeon taught him to preach.
Warm-hearted mini-biographies of John Newton, Charles Simeon and William Wilberforce, 18th-19th century evangelicals whose lives demonstrated invincible perseverance in the cause of the gospel and offer inspiration to the contemporary reader.
This short book, magnificently researched, brings a wealth of insight into one of the most important figures in modern church history, Charles Simeon (1759-1836), a contemporary and friend of William Wilberforce, who was vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, for over fifty years. He left an indelible mark on the Church of England, and on world mission, and his legacy stretches down to us today. Intervarsity/USA, Inter-Varsity Canada, and the American and Canadian Bible Societies trace their roots back to him. More than 150 years later, John Stott would say that Simeon taught him to preach. ""Charles Simeon was the most influential evangelical in the age of Wilberforce--a powerful influence over successive generations of Cambridge ordinands. Here is an attractive vignette of a great preacher and a great man."" --David Bebbington, Professor of History, University of Stirling ""Charles Simeon's commitment to expository preaching, personal godliness, and global mission is inspiring. I pray it will continue to influence evangelical ministry for generations to come."" --Vaughan Roberts, Rector, St Ebbe's Church, Oxford ""Charles Simeon's galvanizing life can be summed up by his passion: 'to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' Julia Cameron's accessible introduction allows us to taste of Simeon's devotion to prayer, preaching, and future generations. Cameron gives us a marvelous framework of Simeon, his essence as a follower of Jesus, and an essential, compressed narrative to appreciate Simeon's role in how God advances His work in this world."" --Benjamin K. Homan, President, Langham Partnership USA (formerly John Stott Ministries) ""Julia Cameron's short book is a good introduction to Charles Simeon of Cambridge, whose decades-long commitment to excellent preaching powerfully influenced the early nineteenth-century English Church struggling for relevance in a society both ignorant and contemptuous of biblical Christianity. This book will thus encourage today's Christians everywhere. Her emphasis that renewed vitality in the church is inseparable from commitment both to biblically faithful theology and to the global Church is welcome and timely."" --Steven Van Dyck, Executive Director, Langham Partnership Canada Julia Cameron (Aberdeen) was Director of Publishing for EFAC. She served for twenty-five years as an obituarist for The Times and The Independent and is a contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. She lives in Oxford, and is author of John Stott's Right Hand: The Untold Story of Frances Whitehead (2014) and the Oxford and Cambridge Reformation Walking Tour (2018).
What makes for good preaching? In this accessible volume—written for preachers and preachers in training—pastor David Helm outlines what must be believed and accomplished to become a faithful expositor of God's Word. In addition to offering practical, step-by-step guidance for preachers, this short book will equip all of us to recognize good preaching when we hear it. Part of the 9Marks: Building Healthy Churches series.
