Publications

Towers | November 2014

Table of Contents (Summer 2014)

Editorial: The Life and Legacy of George Whitefield (1714-1770)

This year marks the 300th anniversary of George Whitefield’s birth. Whitefield is important for a number of reasons, all of which deserve our attention as evangelical Christians. As a man committed to the preaching of God’s sovereign grace and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is probably no better example of an individual…

The Christian Life in the Thought of George Whitefield

The Christian Life in the Thought of George Whitefield ((Earlier versions of portions of this article appeared as “Defenders of the faith: George Whitefield and the nature of Christian perfection”, Evangelical Times 32:10 (1998): 23; “Evangelical piety: grounded in justification by faith alone”, Evangelical Times 34:1 (2000): 14; “Christ, our wisdom and our righteousness”, Evangelical…

Who is the Greatest Preacher? The Life and Legacy of George Whitefield

Who is the Greatest Preacher? The Life and Legacy of George Whitefield If asked who is or was the greatest preacher since the time of the apostles it is likely that most people would choose someone from the last hundred years, perhaps Billy Graham or Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Those with a greater sense of history…

George Whitefield’s Doctrine of Christ

George Whitefield’s Doctrine of Christ Introduction George Whitefield (1714-1770) is generally known as a renowned preacher and one of the leading revivalists in eighteenth-century En­gland. ((On Whitefield’s life see Stuart C. Henry, George Whitefield: Wayfaring Witness (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957).)) However, it is a mistake to evaluate him solely on the basis of these two…

George Whitefield — The Angelican Evangelist

George Whitefield—The Anglican Evangelist It is wonderful this year to be celebrating the 300th birthday of the great English evangelist, George Whitefield. Whitefield is remembered as a great evangelical. By those who (somewhat mistakenly) consider evangelical religion to have begun only in the 1730s, he is hailed as a founding father of evangelicalism. ((I refer…

Writing to George Whitefield: A letter from Anne Dutton on Sinless Perfection

Writing to George Whitefield: A Letter from Anne Dutton on Sinless Perfection George Whitefield was a consummate “networker.” By the warmth of his personality and his penchant for friendship, he was able to not only traverse the Atlantic to yoke together like-minded evangelicals but also cross the great divide of denominations. In Great Britain and…

George Whitefield Sermon: “The Indwelling of the Spirit the Common Privilege of all Believers”

George Whitefield Sermon: “The Indwelling of the Spirit the Common Privilege of All Believers” ((From George Whitefield, Sermons on Important Subjects (London: Thomas Tegg, 1833), 430–440.)) George Whitefield first preached this sermon on John 7:37–39 at St. Mary the Virgin, the parish church of Bexley, Kent, on Pentecost Sunday, 1739. It was later published at…

George Whitefield Sermon: “Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption”

George Whitefield Sermon: “Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption” George Whitefield was not only a remarkable communicator, but he and his preaching were also solidly grounded in biblical theology, as this sermon clearly reveals. “Christ, the Believer’s Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption” reflects Whitefield’s deep indebtedness to the theological certainties trumpeted forth at…

The SBJT Forum: George Whitefield

SBJT: Why is it important to remember George Whitefield as a preacher? Robert Vogel: Agree with what he said or not, one could not ignore the preaching of George Whitefield. Benja­min Franklin, one of America’s promi­nent Deists, was fascinated by White­field and his preaching, and though Franklin was never converted, he and Whitefield were fast…

Book Reviews (Summer 2014)

Paul and the Faithfulness of God: Christian Origins and the Question of God. By N. T. Wright. 2 vols. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013. Xv + 1,696 pp., $89.00 paper. N. T. Wright continues to be amazingly productive. In this two volume work on Paul, Wright, resumes his multi-volume work on “Christian Origins and the Question of…

Suffering in seminary: ‘A demonstration of God’s resurrection power’

“Do you have the kind of trust in God that allows you to face death?” Boyce College professor Denny Burk posed that question in Alumni Memorial Chapel on Sept. 18, 2012, saying that “God can transform your pain into someone else’s comfort.” The sermon preyed on my conscience throughout the day. I questioned whether or…

‘Between two good things’: Shawn Wright chose the seminary classroom

From “nowhere and everywhere,” with a heart set on missions, Shawn Wright did not expect to stay long-term at Southern Seminary. Born in France, with a father in the Air Force, Wright grew up constantly moving. At the age of 10, while living in England, Wright professed faith in Jesus Christ. Twoyears later, he was…

The sufferings of Christ: Reflections from James P. Boyce

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18 KJV).  No chapter heading in James P. Boyce’s Abstract of Systematic Theology directly addresses the topic of suffering. This does…

Settled in the faith: George Martin publishes letters for new believers

EDITOR’S NOTE: In what follows, George H. Martin, professor of Christian missions and world religions, discusses his new book, Letters to a New Believer, with Towers news writer RuthAnne Irvin.  RAI: In the book you say that you originally sent these letters to new believers earlier in your pastoral ministry. Why did you do that?…

Feature book review: George H. Martin’s ‘Understanding Your New Life in Christ’

Understanding Your New Life in Jesus Christ: Letters to a New Believer, George H. Martin (Rainer 2014, $9.97) In the study of history, letters are some of the greatest artifacts that remain today for our education. We write letters to friends, family, husbands, wives, children, even future employers. Scripture is full of letters to churches…

Book reviews: ‘Eight Twenty-Eight,’ ‘For the Glory of God,’ ‘God’s Design for Man and Woman’

Eight Twenty-Eight: When Love Didn’t Give Up, Ian and Larissa Murphy(B&H 2014, $15.99)   Review by RuthAnne Irvin Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn’t Give Up is a redemptive story of God’s faithfulness, life’s sorrows intermingled with joy, and one couple’s devotion to Jesus that points people to Christ’s never-ending love. The book is an…