Kids Talk Church History

As more and more authors began challenging the Bible and its teachings, Christians needed to respond with honesty and clarity. Some Christian writers rose to the task, leaving an example for others to follow. One of these was B.B. Warfield, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. And his life is very interesting, as you will see! Join Linus, Grace, and Sean as they discover more about Warfield and his answers to these challenges, with the help of Dr. Kim Riddlebarger, pastor emeritus of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, California. Thanks to the generosity of Reformed Fellowship, we are pleased to offer a copy of Simonetta Carr’s Biography for Young Readers about B.B. Warfield. Enter here to win.

During Herman Bavinck's life and for many years afterward, he was well known mainly in the Netherlands, where he was born. But today, people around the world are discovering his writings and realizing their importance. Why is that? In part, it's because Bavinck faced new challenges with honesty and humility, without compromising his Christian beliefs. Today, as we face many new challenges, we can learn a lot from Bavinck. Join Linus, Leia, and Sean as they share their excitement about this great theologian with Dr. John Bolt, professor emeritus of Systematic Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Thanks to the generosity of Reformed Fellowship, we are pleased to offer two copies of Herman Bavinck by Simonetta Carr. Enter here to win. Show Notes: Dr. Bolt had some additional notes about Bavinck to share with our listeners:

The Industrial Revolution brought much progress but created greater poverty and harsh living conditions for the workers, and the church could not look away. A man who led the church in a program of relief for the poor was the Scottish pastor Thomas Chalmers. Find out how he was able to do this as Linus, Grace, and Sean talk with Sandy Finlayson, author of Chief Scottish Man: The Life and Ministry of Thomas Chalmers. Thanks to the generosity of Evangelical Press, we are pleased to offer two copies of Chief Scottish Man: The Life and Ministry of Thomas Chalmers by Sandy Finlayson. Enter here to win.

In the eighteenth century, three men's teachings changed the way many people thought about life and the world. These teachings still have a huge influence today. Who were these men, and what do these teachings mean for us? Join us as Grace, Sean, and Isaac explore the answers to these questions with Dr. Michael Lee, professor of Early American History and chair of the History Department at Eastern University.

Did you know that as late as 1850, people in Italy could still be arrested for owning a Bible and imprisoned for giving Bibles to others? This is what happened to a Florentine couple who were arrested for owning two copies of the Bible, and were imprisoned under suspicion that they were reading it or distributing it to others. And this was not an isolated story. The Roman Catholic Church could even kidnap children from Jewish or Protestant families! How did Protestants survive this difficult time, and when did it end? Find out answers to all this and more as Grace, Sean, and Isaac talk with Dr. Mario Cignoni, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Italy and author of many books. Show notes Articles written by Simonetta Carr about this time period: https://placefortruth.org/francesco-and-rosa-madiai/ https://placefortruth.org/bible-italy-council-trent-italian-republic/

Have you ever heard Roman Catholics say that the pope is infallible? It sounds like something they always believed, but in reality, this became their official teaching only in 1870! What did they believe before then, and why did they add this to their list of teachings? And why did the Roman Catholic Church oppose Bible societies? Explore these questions and more with Grace, Sean, and Isaac as they talk with Dr. Leonardo De Chirico, pastor of the church Breccia di Roma, in Rome, Italy, and Vice Chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance. Show Notes https://www.brecciadiroma.it/

Our young hosts have just finished their exploration of church history in the 18th century and have a lot to say about their discoveries and lessons learned. Like other wrap-up episodes, it is great fun for everyone involved! It's also an occasion to welcome our new host, Isaac, and to say goodbye to three pillars of the podcast: Emma, Trinity, and Sophia, who have just turned 18 or will turn 18 soon. Feel free to send a note to these lovely young ladies, and we'll be sure to pass it along!

It's almost Christmas, and the song "Joy to the World" is playing everywhere! But did you know that its author, Isaac Watts, never meant it as a Christmas song? And did you know that he faced some opposition when he proposed that Christians can sing more than just the biblical Psalms? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Grace, Isaac, and Sean talk with our expert, Rev. Jonathan Landry Cruse, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, MI, and author of many books. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at 10ofThose Publishing, we are pleased to offer our listeners a copy of Jonathan Cruse's book, Sing in Exultation: A Christmas Devotional Exploring Our Favorite Carols. Enter here to win. Show Notes: Several past episodes of Kids Talk Church History were mentioned today. Check out our website to listen to some of them: https://alliancenet.org/broadcasts/ktch/ More Jonathan Cruse books: https://reformedresources.org/authors/jonathan-cruse/

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and we usually hear two different types of stories about the early European settlers in America. Some are about a group of pious and peaceful Pilgrims who came to find religious freedom. The others are about greedy Europeans who used Christianity to take advantage of Native Americans. Join Trinity, Sean, and Grace as they explore the true story of the relations between Puritans and Native Americans with their guest, Dr. Matthew Tuininga, Professor of Christian Ethics and the History of Christianity at Calvin Theological Seminary in Michigan, and author of the book, The Wars of the Lord, The Puritan Conquest of America’s First People. Show Notes: Here is a link to Dr. Tuininga’s book if you’d like to find out more about this fascinating topic!

Many of us have heard of Jonathan Edwards and the American revival known as the Great Awakening. Usually remembered for his sermon with the scary title: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," there is so much more to say about Jonathan Edwards. He was not just a pastor and theologian. He was also a missionary, a biographer, and the president of a college. Today, he is regarded as one of North America's most brilliant minds. Find out more about Jonathan Edwards as Trinity, Grace, and Sean talk with Dr. Oliver Crisp, Professor of Analytic Theology at the University of Saint Andrews, Scotland. Thanks to the generosity of Reformed Fellowship, we are pleased to offer to our listeners a copy of Simonetta's biography of Jonathan Edwards, written for young readers. Reformed Fellowship is dedicated to the publication and distribution of Reformed materials, and they are excited to offer a line of children's materials for the first time since their founding in 1951. Register here to win a copy. Show Notes: Dr. Crisp’s favorite book by Jonathan Edwards is The Freedom of the Will. In addition to being a learned scholar, Dr. Crisp is a talented artist. In fact, the painting of Jonathan Edwards used for our episode today was actually created by Dr. Crisp!

When we think about the 18th-century church, we think of famous preachers like John Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards. Few people know there were also black pastors preaching the gospel. One of these, Lemuel Haynes, was probably the first African American ordained by a mainstream Protestant Church in the United States. Join Sophia, Linus, and Sean as they ask Dr. John Saillant, author of Black Puritan, Black Republican: The Life and Thought of Lemuel Haynes, to tell us more about this important pastor who was well-respected as a preacher and author in his day. Show Notes: Episode #82 about William Carey and missions to India was mentioned several times during this episode. Listen here if you’re interested in hearing more: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/

Most of us have heard of William Carey. He’s often known as the Father of Modern Missions and is famous for his mission to India in the 18th century. But he was not the first protestant to go to India, and he didn’t go alone. So why is he known as the Father of Modern Missions? And why did so few Protestants go out as missionaries before him? Join Sophia, Linus, and Sean as they discuss the history of early missions to India with Dr. Michael Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Show Notes: Our episode about the Moravians was mentioned several times during this episode and you might want to check it out if you haven’t already listened. https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-moravians/

Can a simple question and a forgotten book change the direction of a national church? It's hard to imagine, but it's exactly what happened in 18th-century Scotland. Join Emma, Grace, and Sean as they ask Dr. Stephen Myers, professor of systematic and historical theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, to shed light on these men, the events they participated in, and what they mean for us today. Show Notes: Simonetta Carr's latest book is all about Thomas Boston, one of the Marrow Men. You can purchase a copy at Reformed Resources: https://reformedresources.org/thomas-boston-christian-biographies-for-young-readers-hardcover/

We often hear about the Enlightenment. Some ideas were born during this period of time, and others were called into question. But what actually was the Enlightenment, and how much does it influence the way we think today? What influence, if any, did it have on the church? Join Emma, Grace, and Sean as they ask Dr. Michael Lee, professor of Early American History and chair of the History Department at Eastern University, to tell us more about this important time in history. Show Notes: Previous episodes of Kids Talk Church History referenced in this episode: Episode 37 – Martin Luther https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/martin-luther-and-the-recovery-of-the-gospel/ Episode 39 – John Calvin https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/john-calvin/

Most Christians are familiar with John and Charles Wesley, as well as George Whitefield, who were among the leading promoters of the English Revival. However, there is much more to discover about that period of church history. Listen as Trinity, Christian, and Mina talk to Rev. Lee Gatiss, director of the Church Society, about these and other remarkable people and significant discussions of this period in history. Show Notes: Church Society: https://www.churchsociety.org Other episodes mentioned during the discussion of the English revival: Episode 73 – The Moravians: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-moravians/ Episode 78 – Phillis Wheatley: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/ Episode 52 – The Canons of Dort: https://kidstalkchurchhistory.podbean.com/e/the-canons-of-dort/

How did a seven-year-old girl who was brutally taken from her family and sold as a slave grow up to become the first African American woman to have her poems published? Join Trinity, Mina, and Priscilla as they listen to Professor Vincent Carretta, author of Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage, recount the fascinating story of this intriguing poet. Learn how her poems helped to change some of the mistaken opinions many people in Europe and the American colonies held about Africans. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to offer a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography of Phillis Wheatley to two of our young listeners. Enter here to win!

While William Cowper is widely regarded as one of the greatest evangelical poets of the 18th century, he was, in fact, one of the greatest of all the 18th-century poets. His poems reflect a profound faith in God and God's providence and presence in every aspect of life. Many became hymns and are still sung today. Join Grace, Sean, and Emma as they discuss Cowper's life, faith, and works with Dr. Andrew Newell, Junior Research Fellow (J.R.F.) in Literature & Theology at Wycliffe Hall and the English Faculty at the University of Oxford. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to offer a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography of John Newton, which references William Cowper, to one of our young listeners. Enter here to win! Show Notes Andrew Newell’s favorite hymn: https://hymnary.org/text/jesus_whereer_thy_people_meet William Cowper’s poem about the rabbits: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50599/epitaph-on-a-hare William Cowper’s poem about the death of his mother: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44031/on-receipt-of-my-mothers-picture The Task (book referenced by Andrew Newell as his favorite of William Cowper’s writings): https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3698/3698-h/3698-h.htm

Most people are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace." According to statistics, it is performed approximately 10 million times worldwide every year. And that's just public performances. It doesn't count all the times when it's sung in churches. However, not everyone is familiar with the author of this hymn, John Newton, and his role in helping to abolish the slave trade while faithfully preaching the gospel. Join Grace, Sean, and Priscilla as they discover more about this great pastor and hymn-writer with Rev. Jonathan Aitken, a priest in the Church of England and author of the biography John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to offer a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography about John Newton to one of our young listeners. Enter here to win! Show Notes Jonathan Aitken’s book about John Newton: https://www.crossway.org/books/john-newton-tpb/?srsltid=AfmBOoo2PE361YLSqCvoHZ0mX2pBxBonxnQkicsZIkDDXuCS3ezGIt6e The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis: Áitken's favorite hymn: https://hymnary.org/text/glorious_things_of_thee_are_spoken

At a time when Protestants were fiercely persecuted in France, a young woman named Marie Durand was imprisoned for her faith and remained in prison under terrible conditions for 38 years. Her letters to pastors and influential people were instrumental in closing the prison, and her letters to her niece express the faith that helped Marie stay true to Christ. Join Sophia, Emma, and Grace as they discuss Marie Durand and the Huguenots with their guest, Rev. Campbell Markham, minister of Scots' Church in Fremantle, Western Australia, and author of an upcoming book on Marie Durand. Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Reformation Heritage Books, we are pleased to offer a copy of Simonetta Carr's biography about Marie Durand to one of our young listeners. Enter here to win! Show Notes Rev. Markham's research updates: https://substack.com/@campbellmarkham Rev. Markham's translation of Adolf Monod's book (mentioned in the episode): https://www.amazon.com.au/Christian-Suffering-translation-classic-dAdolphe-ebook/dp/B0787XS8VT

Music has played an important role in church history. In previous episodes, we've talked about many composers who wrote hymns specifically for the church. However, there were also musicians like Bach who wrote sacred and secular music for the glory of God. Bach's compositions covered a wide range of emotions and were filled with theological insights. Join Sophia, Trinity, and Linus as they talk to Dr. Paul Grime, professor of Pastoral Ministry and Mission at Concordia Theological Seminary, about this important composer and his faith. Show Notes: Bach's pieces that were mentioned in the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nifUBDgPhl4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XTCZ1iUQeQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzWJsRjanC4