Church History
Quoting Justin Martyr’s description of a church service in the second century. (Pulpit Magazine)
Thinking about the Crusades. (The Upward Call)
David Helm on Charles Simeon, who endured 30 years of opposition while he preached at Holy Trinity Church at Cambridge.
For nearly ten years the congregation refused to listen to Simeon’s sermons by locking their pews so that even visitors would not have a place to sit. When Simeon rented chairs at his own expense and placed them in the aisles, the churchwardens threw them out into the street, forcing visitors to stand while he preached. Opposition to Simeon continued for another 20 years and even included incidents of student’s hurling bricks through his windows while he was preaching.
Read the whole thing. (Between Two Worlds)
Clarifying the controversy around Isaac Watts and his hymns. (Religious Affections Ministries)
Theology
Twelve reasons for believing that the Bible affirms that Adam was a real, historical person. (Analogical Thoughts) HT: Between Two Worlds
J. I Packer’s Concise Theology is online. Are you as excited as I am?
Hymnody
Counting down more hymns on the top 100 list (Semicolon):
- Beneath the Cross of Jesus (26)
- Blessed Assurance (25)
- In the Garden (24) Hmmm…one of the few hymns on the list so far that I actually dislike, and apparently I’m not alone.
- All Creatures of Our God and King (23)