A Long Line of Godly Men Profile Series

From Ligonier Ministries

      Hearts are astounded. Souls are arrested. Christians are convicted, encouraged, and invigorated in their faith. These are the effects that the Holy Spirit produces when God's Word is accurately expounded and earnestly proclaimed. This was the kind of preaching that marked the ministry of John Calvin, the great Genevan Reformer.

      What was it about Calvin's sermons that made him a leading figure in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation? Why do his biblical expositions continue to rivet and edify Christians to this day? The answer becomes clear when we look at Calvin's approach to the preaching of sacred Scripture.

      In The Expository Genius of John Calvin, Dr. Steven Lawson delves into the commitments, practices, and techniques that made Calvin such an effective preacher. He identifies thirty-two distinctives of the Reformer's pulpit ministry, providing comments from Calvin's writings, quotations from Reformation scholars, and examples from Calvin's own sermons. In the end, Dr. Lawson calls on a new generation of pastors to follow the Reformer's example of strong expository preaching.

      This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.

        During the Protestant Reformation, God awakened His church as His Word thundered from pulpits throughout Europe. One of the leading preachers during this time was Martin Luther, the man regarded as the father of the Reformation.

        Luther devoted his life to restoring the truth of the Bible to the heart of the church. He spent long hours writing commentaries and treatises explaining the Scriptures. He delivered countless lectures in the classroom and engaged in public debates to defend biblical teaching. But nowhere did the fire of Luther's zeal for the gospel blaze more boldly than from the pulpit. Through this man's preaching, God ignited a renewal in the church that left the world forever changed.

        This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.

        The eighteenth century was a time of remarkable missionary activity. As the British Empire expanded around the world, Christian missionaries followed in the wake of merchants and explorers to bring the gospel to places where Christ had never before been named.

        At the heart of this global missionary movement was William Carey. From humble beginnings in England, Carey journeyed halfway around the world to preach the gospel on the Indian subcontinent. Known as the founder of modern missions, Carey is often portrayed as a solitary trailblazer and pioneer. But that isn't the full story.

        In The Missionary Fellowship of William Carey, Dr. Michael Haykin explores Carey's life and introduces us to the band of brothers who labored with him to spread the gospel on a global scale. As we follow their stories, we discover how God uses Christian friendship to advance His kingdom, and we're encouraged to nurture Christ-honoring friendships in our own lives.

        This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.

        Isaac Watts is known to history as the father of English hymnody. He wrote some 750 hymns, including beloved classics like "Joy to the World" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." Today, however, Watts' work is increasingly forgotten as many churches follow the latest innovations in worship to the neglect of the great hymns of the faith.

        In The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts, Douglas Bond argues that the grandeur, beauty, and joy of Watts' lyrics, with their rich biblical and theological content, can help the church regain a sense of wonder at the majesty of God, leading to a reform of worship. This book demonstrates how Watts used his poetic gifts in multiple ways for the good of the church in his day.

        In an age of simplistic and repetitive worship songs, the church must not forget Isaac Watts. By taking his words as our own, Christians today can share in his wonder at Christ and the glories of the world to come, learning how to better praise God.

        This book is part of the Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, edited by Dr. Steven Lawson.

        Communion with Our Triune God

        The writing and teaching of John Owen, a 17th century pastor and theologian, continues to serve the church. Daily communion with God characterized his life and equipped him for both ministry and persecution.

        In The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen, the latest addition to the Long Line of Godly Men series, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson offers careful reflection and insight for Christians today as he highlights Owen's faith in the triune God of Scripture. We're reminded that regardless of our circumstances we can know God, enjoy Him, and encourage others.

        Communion with Our Triune God

        The writing and teaching of John Owen, a 17th century pastor and theologian, continues to serve the church. Daily communion with God characterized his life and equipped him for both ministry and persecution.

        In The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen, the latest addition to the Long Line of Godly Men series, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson offers careful reflection and insight for Christians today as he highlights Owen's faith in the triune God of Scripture. We're reminded that regardless of our circumstances we can know God, enjoy Him, and encourage others.

          During the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, the Reformers’ most effective tool was the pulpit, and all of the Reformers were gifted preachers. This was especially true of Martin Luther, the man regarded as the father of the Reformation.

          Luther used every legitimate means to make known the truths of Scripture. His strategies included writing books, tracts, pamphlets, and letters, as well as classroom lectures, public debates, and heated disputations in churches and universities. But his chief means of producing reform was the pulpit, where he proclaimed the truths of God’s Word with great courage. In a day when the church greatly needed to hear the truth, Luther’s pulpit became one of the most clarion sounding boards for God’s Word this world has ever witnessed.

          In The Heroic Boldness of Martin Luther, Dr. Steven J. Lawson shows the convictions and practices that fed Luther’s pulpit boldness, providing an example for all preachers in a day when truth once more is in decline.

          In an age of simplistic and repetitive choruses, many churches are rediscovering the blessing of theologically rich and biblically informed songs. In the latest addition to A Long Line of Godly Men Profile series, Douglas Bond introduces us to Isaac Watts, "the father of English hymnody." Douglas Bond urges Christians to delight in the grandeur, beauty, and joy of Watts' poetry. Hardcover.

          The eighteenth century was a time of remarkable missionary activity. As the British Empire expanded around the world, Christian missionaries followed in the wake of merchants and explorers to bring the gospel to places where Christ had never been named.

          At the heart of this global missionary movement was William Carey. From humble beginnings in England, Carey journeyed halfway around the world to preach the gospel on the Indian subcontinent. Known as the founder of modern missions, Carey is often portrayed as a solitary trailblazer and pioneer. But that isn’t the full story.

          In The Missionary Fellowship of William Carey, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin explores Carey’s life and introduces us to the band of brothers who labored with him to spread the gospel on a global scale. As we follow their stories, we will discover how God uses Christian friendship to advance His kingdom and be encouraged to nurture deep, long-lasting, Christ-honoring friendships in our own lives.

          To Present an Example of intentional, faithful, and passionate Christian living, Dr. Steven J. Lawson paints a portrait of eighteenth-century pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards, who structured his relationship with God by composing and following seventy heart-searching resolutions. Edwards, often remembered for his sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, is revealed here as a man with a heart for God's glory above all things. To help himself pursue that goal, he composed a set of resolutions to guide his conduct in all areas, from his battle against sin to his use of time. In Edwards' singleminded pursuit of God, Dr. Lawson sees an unparalleled example for modern Christians.