A leading exponent of the new moderate Calvinism that brought new life to many Baptists, John Rippon (1751-1836) helped unite Baptists during his lifetime. Reared in the West Country and trained at Bristol Academy, Rippon served for over sixty years at the London church where John Gill had been minister. Through his 'A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors', Rippon exerted a powerful influence on Baptist worship and devotional life. Through his Baptist Annual Register (1790-1802), the denomination's first periodical, Rippon recorded the denomination's growing maturity, encouraged a strong missionary commitment, and promoted links between Baptists in Britain and America. With a keen sense of English Protestant history, which he helped preserve, and an active leadership in many Baptist organizations, Rippon helped conserve the heritage of Old Dissent and stimulated the evangelicalism of the New Dissent.

Following up on his acclaimed Redeemer in the Womb, John Saward returns to the mystery of Christ's Incarnation. He draws upon the rich traditions of the Church, as well as the writings of the great Christian mystics, to create a work that is both new and old, revolutionary and orthodox. This profoundly moving meditation will aid any contemplation on the life of Christ.The subject of this book is the objective and divinely revealed truth of the Nativity of Christ, as proclaimed by His infallible and immaculate Bride. It is the splendor of this truth, of Love's noon in Nature's night, which for two millennia has captivated the Fathers and Schoolmen, and activated the genius of poets, painters, and musicians. Illustrated with eight color paintings.

Venture deeper into the heart of the classic bestselling novel Redeeming Love with this six-week study and discover life-changing Bible truths. Through Redeeming Love, millions of readers have experienced the captivating love story of Angel and Michael Hosea that illustrates God’s power to redeem even the most lost among us. Redeeming Love: The Companion Study invites you to enter more fully into both the classic novel’s eternal message and the biblical story that inspired its writing. Each week’s readings include: • a personal reflection by Francine Rivers about the writing of Redeeming Love and the power of God’s Word • key scenes from Redeeming Love, selected to illustrate God’s loving pursuit of you • Bible study lessons that creatively blend story and Scripture to glean fresh insights • thoughtful reflection questions designed to inspire you to a deeper experience of God Perfect for both individual reflection and group discussion, this study will draw you deeper into the life-transforming love celebrated in Redeeming Love.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1882.

Baptists have a long and rich heritage of congregational song. The hymns Baptists have sung and the books from which they have sung them have been shaping forces for Baptist theology, worship, and piety. Baptist authors and composers have provided songs that have made an impact not only among Baptists in America but also across denominational and geographic lines. Congregational singing continues to be a key component of Baptist worship in the twenty-first century. Beginning with an overview of the British background, this book is a survey of the history of Baptist hymnody in America from Baptist beginnings in the New World to the present. Its intent is to help the reader better understand the background against which current Baptist congregational song practices operate. Unlike earlier writings on the subject, this book provides both comprehensive coverage and a continuous narrative. It gives thorough attention to the major Baptist bodies in America as well as calling attention to the contributions of significant smaller groups. The British Baptist background is dealt with in an introductory section. The book also includes many texts and tunes as illustrations of the topics being discussed and focuses on some of the contributions of Baptist authors and composers to the repertory of congregational song. Book jacket.

With Playing God, Andy Crouch opens the subject of power, elucidating its subtle activity in our relationships and institutions. He gives us much more than a warning against abuse, though. Turning the notion of "playing God" on its head, Crouch celebrates power as the gift by which we join in God's creative, redeeming work in the world.

Anne Steele (1717-1778) originally wrote her hymns to be sung in the Baptist congregation pastored by her father. The foremost female contemporary of hymn-writing giants Charles Wesley, John Newton, and William Cowper, her hymns are infused with spiritual sensitivity, theological depth, and raw emotion. She eventually published her hymns under the pseudonym, Theodosia, which means "God's Gift." She believed God had given her a gift to share. Steele's work was warmly received in her own day. Pastor and publishing pioneer of the modern English hymnal, John Rippon, included more than fifty of her hymns in the various topical sections of his wildly successful Selection of Hymns. Rippon's hymnal was popular on both sides of the Atlantic, but was especially influential during the nineteenth-century revival and renewal of English Particular Baptists. This book introduces Steele's hymns in the context of her life and times and of Rippon's hymnal. It illustrates that Steele's approach to hymn-writing is a model of biblical spirituality. Each hymn as printed in Rippon's hymnal, and thus sung by congregations and used as devotional literature, is considered. The sung theology of these congregations is a gift to the church universal and worth rediscovering in the twenty-first century.