Format: | Hardcover w/ Jacket |
Page Count: | 368 |
Size: | 6.0 in x 9.0 in |
Weight: | 10.0 ounces |
ISBN-10: | 1-4335-9262-2 |
ISBN-13: | 978-1-4335-9262-1 |
ISBN-UPC: | 9781433592621 |
Case Quantity: | 52 |
Published: | April 15, 2025 |
How 21st-Century Evangelicals Can Pursue Spiritual Growth through Early Modern Puritan Piety
“Keep your heart” (Proverbs 4:23). “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Scripture beckons Christians toward obedience and maturity, but many modern approaches to spiritual formation are less than biblical. In A Heart Aflame for God, Matthew C. Bingham studies God-ordained spiritual practices modeled by the 16th- and 17th-century Reformers.
Primarily drawing from Puritan tradition, Bingham shows readers how to balance belief in salvation through faith with a responsibility for one’s personal spiritual growth. He studies biblical practices—including meditation, prayer, and self-examination—from a Protestant perspective. Blending historical analysis and practical application, this edifying study cultivates a greater understanding of Reformed theology and an ever-growing relationship with God.
- Puritan Tradition for Modern Evangelicals: Shows readers how classic Protestant traditions—including prayer, meditation, and appreciation for the natural world—steer wayward hearts toward Christ
- Rich Reformed Perspective: Presents spiritual formation practices that are consistent with the 5 solas of the Protestant Reformation
- Intermediate-Level Study: Written for theological students, pastors, and Christians interested in early modern Reformed theologians
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Foundations
Chapter 1: “Spiritual Formation”: A Simple Concept with a Complicated History
Chapter 2: Spiritual Formation in a Reformation Key
Part 2: The Reformation Triangle
Chapter 3: Scripture: Hearing from God
Chapter 4: Meditation: Reflecting on God
Chapter 5: Prayer: Responding to God
Part 3: Widening Our Scope
Chapter 6: Looking Inward: Self-Examination
Chapter 7: Looking Outward: The Natural World
Chapter 8: Looking to One Another: Christian Relationships
Part 4: Challenges
Chapter 9: But What about the Body?
Chapter 10: When Things Go Wrong
Epilogue