Having broken with the Roman Catholic Church in the sixteenth century, Protestants faced the threat of deepening divisions among themselves in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In spite of threats from without and within, the Reformed church pressed forward. In this series, respected church historian W. Robert Godfrey describes the rise of the Puritans from England to New England.
The Protestant Reformation did not end with the deaths of leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin. In the first part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey explains the challenges faced by the heirs of the Reformation as they sought to be faithful witnesses in an ever-changing world.
Although their writings are often challenging, the scholastic theologians can greatly benefit Christians today. In the second part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey surveys the piety and precision of the scholastic movement.
The church is constantly threatened by external obedience masking a heart that is apathetic to the Lord. In the third part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey discusses how the Puritans sought to maintain sincere, heartfelt devotion to the Lord.
The Puritan movement began with a concern for the souls of men and women, but it also became a political force. In the fourth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey considers the attempts of the Westminster Assembly to reform the state church in England.
Many Reformed churches today trace their roots back to the English Puritans. But many people in those churches would be very unfamiliar with Puritan worship. In the fifth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey explains why the Puritans worshiped the way they did and also discusses what the Puritans thought about the end times.
One significant difference that sharply separates Roman Catholics from Protestants is whether we can have assurance of our salvation. In the sixth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey examines how the Puritans understood conversion and how they ministered to Christians who struggled with assurance.
When the Puritans arrived in the New World, they had no intention of establishing a new religion. Instead, they brought their religious ideals into reality. In the seventh part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey evaluates the spiritual foundations of the American colonies.
During the Enlightenment, some attempted to reconcile the Christian faith with modern ideas while others tried to separate themselves from Christianity entirely. In the eighth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey shows how the church navigated through the challenges of this new movement.
From the end of the seventeenth century to the beginning of the eighteenth, England had become spiritually dry. In the ninth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey tells of the revivals that God brought about through the preaching of George Whitefield and John Wesley.
In New England, a significant spiritual revitalization took place that spread throughout the American colonies. In the tenth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey expounds on the history of what is known as the Great Awakening and introduces several of its key figures.
Jonathan Edwards is often considered one of the most influential people in American history. In the eleventh part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey explains how the Lord used Edwards' brilliant mind and religious devotion to play a key role in the Great Awakening.
The American and French Revolutions left an enduring impact on Western history. In the twelfth part of this series, W. Robert Godfrey reflects on how the ideals behind these two movements took very different turns with significant effects.