Common Places

Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces our 2022 Florida Regional Convivium. Our theme was "Classic Wonder for Contemporary Minds."

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustice and promoting the common good. Finally, some Christians are “Great Commission people” who are passionate about spreading the gospel to the spiritually lost and promoting mission work among the unreached.

While this sort of division is overly simplistic, we are always tempted to overemphasize some elements of the Christian life at the expense of others. In William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and his close friends, the so-called Clapham Saints, we have a historical example of holistic Christian faithfulness that embraced the importance of both doctrine and piety, both justice and evangelism.

Some Christians are “doctrine people” who are deeply committed to orthodox theology and ethics shaped by Scripture and the best of the Christian tradition. Other Christians are “piety people” who are mostly concerned with walking closely with Christ and pursuing personal holiness and spiritual maturity. Still other Christians are “justice and mercy people” who are committed to challenging injustice and promoting the common good. Finally, some Christians are “Great Commission people” who are passionate about spreading the gospel to the spiritually lost and promoting mission work among the unreached.

While this sort of division is overly simplistic, we are always tempted to overemphasize some elements of the Christian life at the expense of others. In William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and his close friends, the so-called Clapham Saints, we have a historical example of holistic Christian faithfulness that embraced the importance of both doctrine and piety, both justice and evangelism.

The world known to the sciences spans a vast range of phenomena that often seem strange and unfamiliar compared to the ordinary everyday world in which we live. Furthermore, many people think that science and Christian faith conflict with one another. The two talks of this series look at how we might think about these matters holistically using the resources within the Christian tradition. The first talk, “Word,” will examine some characteristics of contemporary science and look at the similar yet different ways we come to knowledge in the scientific and Christian communities. The second talk, “Fire,” will look at the classical philosophical/theological notion of creation ex nihilo, drawing especially upon the perspectives of Thomas Aquinas to articulate the relation between God and the world. The created order in which we participate is a gift where the different knowledge from the sciences and from revelation can cohere and all things hold together in Christ.

The world known to the sciences spans a vast range of phenomena that often seem strange and unfamiliar compared to the ordinary everyday world in which we live. Furthermore, many people think that science and Christian faith conflict with one another. The two talks of this series look at how we might think about these matters holistically using the resources within the Christian tradition. The first talk, “Word,” will examine some characteristics of contemporary science and look at the similar yet different ways we come to knowledge in the scientific and Christian communities. The second talk, “Fire,” will look at the classical philosophical/theological notion of creation ex nihilo, drawing especially upon the perspectives of Thomas Aquinas to articulate the relation between God and the world. The created order in which we participate is a gift where the different knowledge from the sciences and from revelation can cohere and all things hold together in Christ.

Confidence without Pride: Redeeming the Virtue of Magnanimity, Noah Parisi by Davenant Institute

The Victorian Crisis of Faith as Past and Prologue, Moses Bratrud by Davenant Institute

A mini-conference, sponsored by The Davenant Institute and Bethlehem College and Seminary, about how the trials and triumphs of our Protestant forebears can teach us how to walk faithfully today in an age of anxiety.

A mini-conference, sponsored by The Davenant Institute and Bethlehem College and Seminary, about how the trials and triumphs of our Protestant forebears can teach us how to walk faithfully today in an age of anxiety.

A lecture with Q&A by Davenant Hall teaching fellow, Rev. Danny Hyde, entitled "The Impact of Eschatology on John Owen’s Call to Parliament to Evangelize the Nation(s)."

John Owen is remembered mainly for his works on the atonement and the Christian life. Yet the great Puritan also preached on eschatology and political theology during the tumult of the Civil War, Protectorate, and Restoration. What lessons can be learnt today from these neglected aspects of Owen's thought?

In this lecture, Rev. Daniel Hyde examines Owen’s early political sermons, in which he issued a call to action for England’s Parliament to take responsibility for evangelizing England and other nations beyond. The sermons are situated within the wider social context of England, as well as Owen's particular eschatology, giving a clearer insight into the theopolitical vision of Owen himself, the Congregational movement, and the Republican party.