Topic Archives: Arts & Literature

This second half of the address by the most eminent of all Calvin’s biographers was delivered in the ‘Salle de la Reformation’, at Geneva, in April 1902. It was translated and printed in the Princeton Theological Review, October 1909, from which source it is here reprinted with very slight abridgement. Emile Doumergue (1844-1937) was, at this […]

This address by the most eminent of all Calvin’s biographers was delivered in the ‘Salle de la Reformation’, at Geneva, in April 1902. It was translated and printed in the Princeton Theological Review, October 1909, from which source it is here reprinted with very slight abridgement. The allusions at the opening of the Address are […]

There are two verses in the New Testament which highlight the battle for the mind of man; a battle which was going on in the days of the Apostles and is going on today; a battle which shows clearly the power of the written Word. The first verse brings to us a poignant picture. Paul […]

The substance of this article was first given in the form of a lecture on behalf of The Reformation Translation Society. * * * ON the night of October 30th, 1517, at his castle in Schweinitz in Germany, the Elector Frederick of Saxony had a peculiar dream. Germany was then just on the threshold of […]

‘If Spurgeon has been a blessing to your soul, would you consider writing a brief testimonial,’ they said. Not an easy task, because Spurgeon has been such a blessing to me, but to begin with, there are the Sermons, in which Spurgeon takes a small phrase of Scripture and uses it as the key to […]

The writings of Mr. Bunyan need no recommendatory preface. The various editions they have passed through, and the different languages into which many of them have been translated, sufficiently prove that the gifts of God which were in him, have, by the divine blessing, been made very acceptable and useful to the churches. Though he […]

It was that title that caused me to read a book review and then purchase the book. I had never heard of Marilynne Robinson but was informed that she had been raised in a Presbyterian home, and had become a writer of sharp, subtle, moving prose, internationally acclaimed and a Pulitzer prize-winner. In the book […]

When Charles Spurgeon wanted to help Susannah with her spiritual growth, involve her in his sermon study, or spend time with her for mutual encouragement, he looked to books. Perhaps you will likewise use good books to bless others and for your own edification. What books/authors did Spurgeon choose? The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. […]

I have just completed the best book I have read for years, or perhaps in all my life. It is hard to be sure of that, of course, but it must be up there with the most life-changing books that providence has brought my way. It is the book that I hope will be read […]

Roger Hitchings talks to us about the books that have impacted his life and faith. * * * The book that I am currently reading… Actually, I am reading two. The first is The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon by Stephen Lawson. This is part of a series of books that are all quite excellent. The […]

If we had access to an ordinary Christian’s bookshelf in nineteenth-century Scotland we would perhaps be surprised at what we would see. In addition to a well-used Bible, we would see books such as John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Richard Baxter’s The Saints’ Everlasting Rest, Thomas Boston’s Human Nature in its Fourfold State, Memoirs and Remains […]

Tim Trumper, Murungi Igweta, and Malcolm Maclean agree to talk to us about the books that have impacted their lives and faith. * * * Tim Trumper recently ended his ministry as pastor of Seventh Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan to found From His Fullness Ministries. Murungi Igweta is the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, Nairobi. […]

John J. Murray, Michael Butterfield, and Kees van Kralingen agree to talk to us about books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Iain Murray is one of the founders of the Banner of Truth Trust. He is currently reading Mozley’s Coverdale and His Bible. Books that have helped him grasp more of what […]

Richard Holst, Terry Johnson, and Gerard Hemmings agree to talk about books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Richard Holst is a retired Presbyterian minister from Cardiff. Terry Johnson is a Presbyterian minister of Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Georgia. Gerard Hemmings is the Baptist pastor of Amyand Chapel, Twickenham, London. * […]

David Ellis, Mark Johnston, and Dewey Roberts agree to answer questions on the books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * David Ellis is a retired missionary and pastor who recently moved to Stradbroke, Suffolk. Mark Johnston is the pastor of a Presbyterian church in Cardiff. Dewey Roberts is the minister of a PCA congregation […]

Stephen Turner, Philip Eveson, and Geoff Lloyd agree to answer questions on books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Stephen Turner is a retired Baptist pastor in Auckland New Zealand. Philip Eveson is the retired principal of the London Seminary and a former minister in the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Geoff Lloyd is the […]

Derek W. H. Thomas, Guy A. Davies, and Steve Martin agree to answer questions on books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Derek W.H. Thomas is the minister of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. Guy A. Davies pastors two Baptist churches in Rural Wiltshire. Steve Martin has been appointed the dean of students […]

Paul Levy, George Macaskill, and Billy McCurrie agree to answer questions on the books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Paul Levy is a Welshman and the pastor of the International Presbyterian Church in Ealing, London. The church is currently involved in a massive building program. George Macaskill is a retired pastor in […]

Keith Underhill, Andrew Roycroft, and Hugh Ferrier agree to answer questions on the books that have impacted their life and faith. * * * Keith Underhill now lives in Liverpool but was a minister for over forty years in Nairobi, Kenya. Andrew Roycroft is a baptist minister in Northern Ireland. Hugh Ferrier is a Free Church minister […]

Mack Tomlinson, Gary Brady, and Gary Williams talk to us about books that have impacted their life and faith in this new series. * * * Mack Tomlinson is a pastor and author in Denton, Texas. Gary Brady has pastor of Childs Hill Baptist Church, London, NW2, for thirty years. Gary Williams is the director of Pastors’ Academy, […]

Bill Hughes, Alec Taylor, and Robert Letham agree to answer questions about books that have impacted them in their faith. * * * Bill Hughes was raised in Liverpool and served a number of churches in England, Scotland and Florida. He has now retired from pastoring one congregation, but continues to preach extensively. Alec Taylor had a long […]

Robert Strivens, Austin Walker, and Mike Iliff agree to answer questions about books that have impacted them in their faith. * * * Robert Strivens is the pastor of Old Baptist Church, Bradford on Avon, and former principal of London Seminary. Austin Walker is the retired pastor of Maidenbower Baptist Church, Crawley, Sussex. Mike Iliff of Aberystwyth is […]

I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees (Ecclesiastes 2:5-6). The Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem writes of the futility of living life ‘under the sun’,1 that […]

I am, apparently, something of a book nerd. I did not realise this, but it does occasionally get pointed out or exposed (for example, when someone makes a passing reference to some musty volume, and my instinctive response is, ‘Which edition?’ or something of that order). It feels very normal to me. But there we […]

Joel Beeke, what three books have been most helpful to you as a Christian and as a minister? The first book that comes to mind is the Letters of Samuel Rutherford, which I kept on my nightstand for decades. Whenever I was discouraged, I would sweeten my mind with a morsel of Rutherford before I […]