It's almost Christmas, and the song "Joy to the World" is playing everywhere! But did you know that its author, Isaac Watts, never meant it as a Christmas song? And did you know that he faced some opposition when he proposed that Christians can sing more than just the biblical Psalms? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Grace, Isaac, and Sean talk with our expert, Rev. Jonathan Landry Cruse, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, MI, and author of many books.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at 10ofThose Publishing, we are pleased to offer our listeners a copy of Jonathan Cruse's book, Sing in Exultation: A Christmas Devotional Exploring Our Favorite Carols. Enter here to win. 

Show Notes:

Several past episodes of Kids Talk Church History were mentioned today. Check out our website to listen to some of them: https://alliancenet.org/broadcasts/ktch/

More Jonathan Cruse books: https://reformedresources.org/authors/jonathan-cruse/

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and we usually hear two different types of stories about the early European settlers in America. Some are about a group of pious and peaceful Pilgrims who came to find religious freedom. The others are about greedy Europeans who used Christianity to take advantage of Native Americans. Join Trinity, Sean, and Grace as they explore the true story of the relations between Puritans and Native Americans with their guest, Dr. Matthew Tuininga, Professor of Christian Ethics and the History of Christianity at Calvin Theological Seminary in Michigan, and author of the book, The Wars of the Lord, The Puritan Conquest of America’s First People.

Show Notes:

Here is a link to Dr. Tuininga’s book if you’d like to find out more about this fascinating topic!

Many of us have heard of Jonathan Edwards and the American revival known as the Great Awakening. Usually remembered for his sermon with the scary title: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," there is so much more to say about Jonathan Edwards. He was not just a pastor and theologian. He was also a missionary, a biographer, and the president of a college. Today, he is regarded as one of North America's most brilliant minds. Find out more about Jonathan Edwards as Trinity, Grace, and Sean talk with Dr. Oliver Crisp, Professor of Analytic Theology at the University of Saint Andrews, Scotland.

Thanks to the generosity of Reformed Fellowship, we are pleased to award a copy of Simonetta's biography of Jonathan Edwards, written for young readers, to Dana T. from Leesburg, VA. Congratulations!

Reformed Fellowship is dedicated to the publication and distribution of Reformed materials, and they are excited to offer a line of children's materials for the first time since their founding in 1951.

Show Notes:

Dr. Crisp’s favorite book by Jonathan Edwards is The Freedom of the Will. 

In addition to being a learned scholar, Dr. Crisp is a talented artist. In fact, the painting of Jonathan Edwards used for our episode today was actually created by Dr. Crisp!

When we think about the 18th-century church, we think of famous preachers like John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards. Few people know there were also black pastors preaching the gospel. One of these, Lemuel Haynes, was probably the first African American

ordained by a mainstream Protestant Church in the United States. Join Sophia, Linus, and Sean as they ask Dr. John Saillant, author of Black Puritan, Black Republican: The Life and Thought of Lemuel Haynes, to tell us more about this important pastor who was well-respected as a preacher and author in his day.

Show Notes:

Episode #82 about William Carey and missions to India was mentioned several times during this episode. Listen here if you’re interested in hearing more:

https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/

Most of us have heard of William Carey. He’s often known as the Father of Modern Missions and is famous for his mission to India in the 18th century. But he was not the first protestant to go to India, and he didn’t go alone. So why is he known as the Father of Modern Missions? And why did so few Protestants go out as missionaries before him? Join Sophia, Linus, and Sean as they discuss the history of early missions to India with Dr. Michael Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Show Notes:

Our episode about the Moravians was mentioned several times during this episode and you might want to check it out if you haven’t already listened.

https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-moravians/

Can a simple question and a forgotten book change the direction of a national church? It's hard to imagine, but it's exactly what happened in 18th-century Scotland. Join Emma, Grace, and Sean as they ask Dr. Stephen Myers, professor of systematic and historical theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, to shed light on these men, the events they participated in, and what they mean for us today.

Show Notes:

Simonetta Carr's latest book is all about Thomas Boston, one of the Marrow Men. You can purchase a copy at Reformed Resources:  

https://reformedresources.org/thomas-boston-christian-biographies-for-young-readers-hardcover/

We often hear about the Enlightenment. Some ideas were born during this period of time, and others were called into question. But what actually was the Enlightenment, and how much does it influence the way we think today? What influence, if any, did it have on the church? Join Emma, Grace, and Sean as they ask Dr. Michael Lee, professor of Early American History and chair of the History Department at Eastern University, to tell us more about this important time in history.

Show Notes:

Previous episodes of Kids Talk Church History referenced in this episode:

Episode 37 – Martin Luther

https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/martin-luther-and-the-recovery-of-the-gospel/

Episode 39 – John Calvin

https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/john-calvin/

Most Christians are familiar with John and Charles Wesley, as well as George Whitefield, who were among the leading promoters of the English Revival. However, there is much more to discover about that period of church history. Listen as Trinity, Christian, and Mina talk to Rev. Lee Gatiss, director of the Church Society, about these and other remarkable people and significant discussions of this period in history.

Show Notes:

Church Society: https://www.churchsociety.org

Other episodes mentioned during the discussion of the English revival:

Episode 73 – The Moravians: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-moravians/

Episode 78 – Phillis Wheatley: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/

Episode 52 – The Canons of Dort: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-canons-of-dort/

How did a seven-year-old girl who was brutally taken from her family and sold as a slave grow up to become the first African American woman to have her poems published? Join Trinity, Mina, and Priscilla as they listen to Professor Vincent Carretta, author of Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage, recount the fascinating story of this intriguing poet. Learn how her poems helped to change some of the mistaken opinions many people in Europe and the American colonies held about Africans.

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to award a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography of Phillis Wheatley to two of our listeners. Congratulations to Mari L. from Post Falls, ID and Jim Paul D. from Jackson, MI!

While William Cowper is widely regarded as one of the greatest evangelical poets of the 18th century, he was, in fact, one of the greatest of all the 18th-century poets. His poems reflect a profound faith in God and God's providence and presence in every aspect of life. Many became hymns and are still sung today. Join Grace, Sean, and Emma as they discuss Cowper's life, faith, and works with Dr. Andrew Newell, Junior Research Fellow (J.R.F.) in Literature & Theology at Wycliffe Hall and the English Faculty at the University of Oxford.  

Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to award a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography of John Newton, which references William Cowper, to one of our young listeners. Congratulations Darren R. from Owensboro, KY!

Show Notes

Andrew Newell’s favorite hymn: https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_whereer_thy_people_meet

William Cowper’s poem about the rabbits: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50599/epitaph-on-a-hare

William Cowper’s poem about the death of his mother: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44031/on-receipt-of-my-mothers-picture

The Task (book referenced by Andrew Newell as his favorite of William Cowper’s writings): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3698/3698-h/3698-h.htm