The Magazine Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This summer the Trust brought out a new, retypeset edition of William Cunningham's Historical Theology (1863). This week we read its new introduction by Banner Trustee Donald John MacLean, to find out why this work is of unique value to the 21st Century reader.

Read Material:

– 'William Cunningham's Historical Theology – An Introduction', Donald John MacLean, in William Cunningham, Historical Theology (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1960 and 2024). First edition 1863.

Buy the work (2 volumes): https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/historical-theology-3/

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org

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The second of three episodes inspired by David Campbell's mini-series on three remarkable brothers who ministered in 19th Century Scotland.

This week we consider Horatius Bonar (1808–1889), pastor, author, and hymnwriter. We read David Campbell's article on him, an excerpt from Iain H. Murray, and then read a piece by Bonar himself critiquing the idea of 'religion without theology'. We close with a rendition of Bonar's hymn, Everlasting Light.

Featured Content:

– 'Horatius Bonar—The second of the three Bonar brothers', David Campbell, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 722, November 2023.

– Excerpt from 'Horatius Bonar (1808–1889) and his Writings', Iain H. Murray, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 314, November 1989.

– 'Religion Without Theology' (taken from the preface of Catechisms of the Scottish Reformation, edited by Horatius Bonar, London 1866), featured in the Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 93, June 1971.

– 'Everlasting Life', a hymn of Horatius Bonar (public domain).

Featured Hymn: Everlasting Light

1 O everlasting Light! Shine graciously within; Brightest of all on earth that's bright, Come, shine away my sin.

2 O everlasting Truth! Truest of all that's true; Sure guide of erring age or youth, Lead me, and teach me too.

3 O everlasting Strength! Uphold me in the way; Bring me, in spite of foes, at length To joy, and light, and day.

4 O everlasting Love; Wellspring of grace and peace, Pour down Thy fullness from above, Bid doubt, and trouble cease.

5 O everlasting Rest! Lift off life's load of care; Relieve, revive this burdened breast, And ev'ry sorrow bear.

7 Thou art in heav'n our all; Our all on earth art Thou; Upon Thy glorious name we call: Lord Jesus, bless us now.

We are grateful to Mr. Jack Adair for singing this hymn.

Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org

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Many errors of faith and life stem from focusing on just one part of the Bible's teaching, to the exclusion of other things clearly taught in Scripture. This week, with help from Stephen Clark and C. H. Spurgeon, we look afresh at the importance of pursuing a faith and a life that reflects all that the Lord has spoken.

Featured Content:

– 'Context, Nuance and Balance: Why They are Essential to Christian Living', Stephen Clark, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 728, May 2024.

– Excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Practical Wisdom: Plain Advice for Plain People (Original 1869, Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 21–26.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/spurgeons-practical-wisdom/

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

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The Fourth Century was, theologically speaking, a century of conflict and clarification. Heretical teachings concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Persons of the Trinity were widespread and backed by powerful churchmen. Faithful, biblically-rooted theologians contended for the truth, and two church councils (in 325 and 381) helped to clarify orthodox doctrine in the face of these onslaughts.

This week's episode introduces one of the theologians who, from the mid to late 4th century, gave eloquent expression to orthodox Christology and Trinitarian theology: Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390). As well as introducing this quiet, pensive man, we read a section from William Cunningham's newly republished Historical Theology on the question of how the Persons of the Holy Trinity are properly to be distinguished.

Featured Content:

– 'Shapers of Christianity: Gregory of Nazianzus', Nick Needham, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 706, July 2022.

– Excerpt from William Cunningham, Historical Theology (Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 309–312.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/historical-theology-3/

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine

Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

What are mortification and vivification? What role do they play in our Christian lives? How can we encourage men in the church to grow, in a cultural environment which in various ways undermines attempts to pursue godliness? These are questions about which the subject of this month's interview has thought deeply. Joe Barnard is Lead Pastor at Holyrood Evangelical Church in Edinburgh, and it was our great pleasure to sit down with him earlier this year to talk life, ministry, and books. We trust you'll be encouraged as you listen in. 

Books and Authors Mentioned:

Barnard, Joe, The Way Forward: A Roadmap of Spiritual Growth for Men in the 21st Century

https://www.christianfocus.com/products/2863/the-way-forward

Barnard, Joe, Surviving the Trenches: Killing Sin Before it Kills You

https://www.christianfocus.com/products/3032/surviving-the-trenches

Barnard, Joe, Hymn Workouts: 100 Exercises to Set Your Heart Ablaze

https://www.christianfocus.com/products/3056/hymn-workouts

Chalmers, Thomas, The Letters of Thomas Chalmers

https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/letters/letters-of-thomas-chalmers/

Owen, John, Spiritual-Mindedness (available in Puritan Paperback or unabridged in Volume 7 of Owen's Works)

https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/christian-living/spiritual-mindedness/

https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/owen-books/the-works-of-john-owen-7/

Ryle, J. C., Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians

https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/christian-living/practical-religion-2/

Helpful Links:

Holyrood Evangelical Church - https://holyroodevangelical.org/

Cross Training Ministries - www.xtrainingministries.com

Watch the interview on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/wLuSaRRBtVY

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

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'It is good to give thanks to the Lord,     to sing praises to your name, O Most High;  to declare your steadfast love in the morning,     and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp,     to the melody of the lyre.' – Psalm 92:1–3

Evening worship on the Lord's Day is neglected by many churches today. This week's episode constitutes a case for and a call to the practice of evening worship, to the glory of God and for the good of souls.

Note: if you haven't listened to our recent episode, 'Eric Liddell and the Freedom of the Sabbath', it would make a good prelude to this episode. Listen here: https://bannermagazine.podbean.com/e/eric-liddell-and-the-consecration-of-the-sabbath/

Featured Content:

– 'Preserve Evening Worship Services!', Michael G. Brown, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 529, October 2007.

Text: https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2024/a-call-to-preserve-evening-worship-services/

– 'Why Not Give Evening Worship a Try?', Mary Beth McGreevy, personal blog, July 2017. Read here with permission.

Text: http://marybethmcgreevy.blogspot.com/2017/07/why-not-give-sunday-evening-worship-try.html

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine

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We've a short 'extra' this week, as we mark 362 years since the infamous 'Black Bartholomew's Day' of 24 August, 1662.

25% off Sermons of the Great Ejection (for one week, to 30 August 2024) with code 'anniversary362':

- https://banneroftruth.org/store/church-ministry/sermons-of-the-great-ejection/

Purchase the Banner of Truth 2025 Calendar (in stock, UK and World; coming soon to North America):

- https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/calendar/banner-2025-calendar/

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine

Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

Many, perhaps most, evangelical churches today separate children from the main congregation for the preaching of the word of God. This week's episode asks at what cost we do this, challenging deeply-rooted assumptions about our practice of public worship.

Featured Content:

– 'Children and the Sermon', Iain H. Murray, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 108 (September 1972).

– 'Ten Benefits of Corporate Worship for Our Children', Matt Purdy, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 675 (December 2019).

Cited material:

Seat card from Heritage Presbyterian Church, Warrenton, Virginia, cited with permission.

– https://x.com/warne/status/1821658894927851709/photo/2

– https://heritage-pca.org/about/

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

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A little more than 100 years ago, a Scotsman by the name of Eric Liddell made a stand for the Lord's Day. It was a very public stand, since he was a member of the British Olympic team sent to the Paris Olympics of 1924, and his decision to honour the Lord's Day entailed not running in one of his chosen races (the 100m)–the heats for which were to be held on a Sunday–and training instead for the 400m (he also ran the 200m).

While Liddell is well-known, the stand he took is one that many evangelicals today would deem unnecessary, even misguided. Many evangelicals do not consider Sundays to be particularly special or 'set-apart'. The observance of the Lord's Day as a special day of rest and worship has fallen on hard times in the churches.

With Liddell's witness in mind, we explore the subject of the Christian Sabbath in this week's episode. Are Christians to observe Sundays as a special day of rest and worship? Are we called to obey the Fourth Commandment, along with the other nine? How does the Christian Lord's Day differ from the Jewish Sabbath? We touch on all these questions this week with contributions from David Campbell, W. J. Grier, and Rebecca VanDoodewaard.

Featured Content:

– What Price Honouring God? Article by David Campbell (North Preston Evangelical Church), which was republished on the Banner website in July 2014:

https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2014/price-honouring-god/

– 'The Development of the Lord's Day from the Jewish Sabbath', W. J. Grier, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 517, October 2006.

– 'The Freedom of Sabbath', Rebecca VanDoodewaard, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 687, December 2020.

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

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This week we begin a three-part 'mini series' on the great subject of public worship. We begin by considering just why it is that public worship is so crucial for the church. Why should we do it? How should we view it? To do that, we enlist the help of Warren Peel, Peter Barnes, and the Puritan David Clarkson.

Featured Content:

– 'The Primacy of Public Worship', Warren Peel, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 722 (November 2023).

– Selections from The Works of David Clarkson, Volume 3, sermon entitled 'Public Worship to be Preferred Before Private' (on Psalm 87:2), p. 187. N.B. At time of podcast release, the three volumes of this set are being reprinted.

– 'Participating in Public Worship', Peter Barnes, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 526 (July 2007).

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine

Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast