George Whitefield’s Theology of Sin and Salvation
George Whitefield held that no aspect of human nature remains unpolluted by the effects of the fallen nature every individual inherits from our first parents.
Articles on History
428 results found
Evolution Is a Question of Philosophy, Not Biology
One’s understanding of the universe’s origin (cosmogony), nature (cosmology), and age has a profound impact on one’s anthropology and theology. In these two fields Darwin’s work provoked the greatest crisis.
George Whitefield: “Occasional Theologian” and Lifelong Evangelist
By his own admission, George Whitefield was not a theologian—at least, not of the conventional sort. Indeed, he never aspired to be one.
Who Was Francis Grimké, and Why Is He Worth Reading Today?
It’s hard to understand the story of American Christianity, or the story of the Early Civil Rights movement, without at least knowing a little bit about who Francis Grimké was.
10 Things You Should Know About George Whitefield
Most of Whitefield’s evangelistic sermons feature three doctrines: conviction of sin, justification by grace through faith, and the necessity of experiencing the new birth.
When Did Hitler Replace Jesus as the Reference Point for Good and Evil?
When I teach students who are training to lead churches, I ask them to write a sermon about what they believe is the most powerful objection to Christianity. For me, it’s God's silence in the face of suffering.
How Celestia Ferris’s Prayerful Initiative Helped Found a Church on Capitol Hill
Although Celestia Ferris and her band of friends did not know all the difficulties facing the Baptists of Washington, they prayed to an all-knowing God who did.
Podcast: The Remarkable Legacy of Francis Grimké (Drew Martin)
Drew Martin discusses the life and lasting impact of Francis Grimké and how his ministry exemplifies a well-balanced and secure theologian that we can learn from today.
Podcast: The Life and Legacy of Tim Keller (Matt Smethurst)
Matt Smethurst explores the preaching, convictions, and pastorship of Tim Keller and his ongoing influence in evangelicalism today.
Grimké’s Theology of the Kingdom of God Was a Source of Hope for Racial Equality
The kingdom of God was the linchpin that connected the mission of Christ to the mission of God’s people in Grimké’s doctrine of the church.
The Woman Who Saved Capitol Hill Baptist Church
A sign of a church’s health is not simply how well the church’s leaders know their Bibles but how well the members do.
The Internet Perpetuates Our Spiritual Dementia
Spiritual dementia is incompatible with Christian faithfulness. As both a church historian and a pastor, I’m increasingly convinced that life in the digital age compounds the potential for losing our theological and ethical memory.
Mark Dever’s Vision for Pastoral Ministry in 4 Words
When Mark Dever came to the church as a pastoral candidate, they asked him what his vision for the church was. What was his plan for turning the church around? He had just four words.
The Irreplaceable Value of Prayer in Your Spiritual Formation
If Christians confess that God is personal, both capable and desirous of real relationship with his creatures, then to talk to him should be as natural as it is necessary.
We’re Living in the Dystopian Future That Neil Postman Predicted Forty Years Ago
Heads down. Phones out. Fingers scrolling. This is the humanoid posture of our age. We see it everywhere. Sit in a coffee shop and look around you. All eyes on devices.
What About Pagan Parallels to the Resurrection?
Skeptical scholars have claimed close connections between the resurrection of Jesus and the dying and rising of other religious and mythic figures. Why should anyone see Jesus as being distinct from such deities?
Grimké’s Vital Appeal to the Doctrine of God’s Image in the Post-Civil War South
Francis Grimké’s understanding of personal identity drew deeply from his conviction that all human beings are created in the image of God and therefore worthy of equal honor and respect.
Why You Should Know Francis Grimké
Francis Grimké, born enslaved on a plantation in South Carolina in 1850, was one of the most remarkable pastor-theologians of American history.
Kevin DeYoung clarifies confusing aspects of the Nicene Creed and highlights how it has played a central role throughout much of church history.
The Story of God’s Faithfulness to Capitol Hill Baptist Church
Jesus’s promise that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church (Matt. 16:18) was not given to any particular church but to the church universal.
How Not to Handle a Pastoral Succession
On September 17, 1944, a relatively unknown pastor named Kenneth Owen White arrived at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. (later known as Capitol Hill Baptist Church), eager to prove himself.
Podcast: The Surprising Impact of One Church in the Nation’s Capital (Caleb Morell)
Caleb Morell traces the story of Capitol Hill Baptist Church and how God sovereignly worked through history to both build his church and bring himself glory.
How Can a World Full of Evil and Suffering Be a Part of God’s Plan?
Can this fallen, brutal, cruel world really be God’s plan? What is God’s answer to our many, fervent prayers?
Podcast: What We Can Learn from the Prayers of Church History (Zach Carter and Jonathan Arnold)
Zach Carter and Jonathan Arnold help us understand and engage with written prayers throughout church history.
How to Be Confident in the Resurrection: Look to Its First Witnesses
How can anyone be confident that the resurrection really happened? The first followers of Jesus didn’t claim their leader rose from the dead because of gullible ignorance or blind faith.
Prayers of Old Remind Us That We Are Not Alone
Looking at prayers that came from those before us was just an opportunity for me to personally dive into where the church has been and to understand that we’re not alone.
Reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son on the Shoulders of Giants
Read the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 and reflect on the magnificence of this story from Jesus along with commentary notes from gifted teachers throughout church history.
Podcast: John Owen’s Advice for Killing Your Sin (Kelly Kapic)
Kelly Kapic discusses John Owen and his insight into the corruption of the human heart and the gospel’s power to change us from the inside out.
Is Christianity Good for the World?
Some claim that Christianity is oppressive and toxic, but in this video, Dr. Sharon James argues that a biblical worldview is essential for human freedom, flourishing, and fulfillment.
The Story of the Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom
Christian freedom, as Luther taught, wasn’t about moderation in these things. It was about resting in Christ and serving and loving your neighbor. Nothing we do can make God love us more.