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In this episode, we step into the high-stakes theological and historical battlegrounds of 19th-century American Presbyterianism to confront a quiet piece of historical revisionism. Writing in the shadow of the 1837 Old School–New School split, Princeton's Charles Hodge sought to defend church order in his Constitutional History by painting the First Great Awakening—and particularly the raw, energetic ministry of a young George Whitefield—as a primary engine of fanatical pride and ecclesiastical disorder. But when we look past Hodge's Old School apologetic to the primary record, Whitefield's own humbled, edited 1756 journals, and the eyewitness conversion narratives gathered by contemporaries like William McCulloch, a vastly different picture emerges. Join us as we reassess Hodge's critique, uncover the pastoral wisdom of Archibald Alexander and Jonathan Edwards, and defend the honor and enduring legacy of one of history's most gifted young heralds of the Gospel.

In this study on Richard Baxter's approach to soul care, his writings on melancholy—most notably in The Right Method for a Settled Peace of Conscience, The Christian Directory, and his Cripplegate discourse The Cure of Melancholy—offer a remarkably compassionate and holistic vision of the human person. Operating far ahead of his time, Baxter recognized that true spiritual distress is often deeply entangled with physical, neurological, and emotional exhaustion, viewing "melancholy" not merely as a lack of faith or a moral failing, but as an organic bodily affliction that warps the mind's perceptions. By distinguishing between voluntary sin and the involuntary, dark intrusive thoughts generated by a diseased brain, he instructed pastors and families to treat afflicted believers with gentle gospel assurances, medical care, physical labor, and brief devotions rather than demanding intense self-examination. In bridging the gap between bodily "physick" and spiritual counsel, Baxter provides a battle-tested historical model for understanding how physiological weaknesses affect religious experience, reminding us that caring for the soul often begins with having deep compassion on the physical frame.

This introductory discussion offers a brief tour through the massive 12-volume Collected Works of Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680), one of the premier theologians and pastors of 17th-century English Puritanism. A leading figure at both the Westminster Assembly and the drafting of the Savoy Declaration, Goodwin combined rigorous Reformed scholasticism with an extraordinarily tender, experiential care for the Christian soul. By examining a select handful of his most enduring titles—including The Return of Prayers, The Child of Light Walking in Darkness, The Heart of Christ in Heaven Towards Sinners on Earth, his exhaustive treatise on regeneration in Volume 6, and his sobering study on the punishment of sin in Volume 10—we catch a glimpse of the sheer scope, psychological depth, and pastoral warmth that made Goodwin a titan of practical theology and a lifelong favorite of Puritan scholars like Dr. Joel Beeke.

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This is the story of my trip to Montana, most likely to see my mom for the last time in this life. Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division." Jesus is explaining to His disciples that following Him would require strong commitment, which could lead to sharp disagreement or division—even among close family members—between those who accept His message and those who reject it.

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A cause from creation for the praise of God is listening to the singing of birds. Listen to the Lord through the Singing of Birds.

Session 3: Book One, Chapters 5-7 The Spirit and the Church, from the Puritan Paperback series (Banner of Truth), is an abridged version of Owen's treatment of the Holy Spirit. The unabridged version is found in The Complete Works of John Owen (Crossway) volumes 7 and 8, entitled "The Holy Spirit- the Helper" and "The Holy Spirit- the Comforter". In this 12-session class, Kevin Morris covers the various topics on the Holy Spirit presented by John Owen. Some of these topics include: How we believe the Scripture to be the word of God How the Spirit helps us understand the mind of God in His word How the Spirit helps us to pray How the Spirit comforts the church by His gifts and graces