The Magazine Podcast

The Bonar Brothers (1/3): John James

The first of three episodes inspired by David Campbell's mini-series on three remarkable brothers who ministered in 19th Century Scotland.

This week we consider the life, ministry, and faithfulness of John James Bonar. Not as well known as his brothers Horatius and Andrew, his ministry unveils a steady commitment to parish ministry that eshewed distraction and worldly ambition.

 

Featured Content:

– 'John James Bonar—The eldest of the three Bonar brothers', David Campbell, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 721, October 2023.

– Excerpt from A Scottish Christian Heritage, by Iain H. Murray (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 2006), pages 160-161.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/history-biography/a-scottish-christian-heritage/

– 'Going Home', a hymn of Dr. John James Bonar, which appears in the Parting Memorial of John James Bonar, D. D., First Minister of Saint Andrew's Parish and Congregation, Greenock, Being some Record of Services in Connection with his Funeral (Greenock: James MacKelvie & Sons, 1892).

 

'Going Home'

 

'I'm going home!' the Saint exclaimed;

Bright grew his closing eye;

He thought of Jesus and his rest,

And did not fear to die.

 

'I'm going home! I'm winged for flight

To yonder peaceful clime;

Prepared to go, I only wait

My God's appointed time.

 

I'm going home, to dwell with Him

Who bled and died for me;

For He hath said that where He is

There shall His servants be.

 

'I'm going home, transporting thought!

Lord Jesus, quickly come,

And bear my ransomed soul away

To her celestial home!'

 

'I'm going home!' the Saint exclaimed;

Bright grew his closing eye;

He thought of Jesus and his rest,

And did not fear to die.

 

We are grateful to Mr. Jack Adair for singing this hymn. The featured tune is 'Wallace'.

 

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Loving the Confessions

Confessions of faith, such as the Westminster Confession of 1646, play a celebrated role in Reformed, evangelical Christianity. This week we consider the value of such documents, and the way in which they often result from a period of pressure or crisis, which leads God's people to give fresh expression to their faith, in order to assist believers in its defense and propagation, and their unity in the truth.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Loving the Westminster Confession and Catechisms', David B. Calhoun, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 651, December 2017.

– Excerpt from B. B. Warfield, 'The Significance of the Westminster Standards as a Creed' in Princeton and the Christian Ministry, volume 2, pages 457—459 (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2012).

– 'Confessions and Crises in Church History', John R. De Witt, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 50, September/October 1967.

 

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The Andy Murray Interview

Andy Murray is a social worker and church deacon who blogs about leadership, the church, and the 19th Century Scottish gospel minister Thomas Guthrie, among other subjects. We sat down with Andy and talked about some of his passions, including the reunion, in the churches, of gospel passion and concern for the poor. We also asked him how the Highland game of shinty is played.

 

Resources Mentioned:

– https://thomasguthrie.org/ (includes a link to Andy's booklet, A Mission of Mercy: The Life and Legacy of Thomas Guthrie)

– http://raggedtheology.blogspot.com/

– 'Thomas Guthrie and the Ragged Schools', previous podcast episode:

https://bannermagazine.podbean.com/e/he-was-all-the-father-i-ever-knew-thomas-guthrie-and-the-ragged-schools/

 

 

Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org

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The Threefold Division of the Law

How should we think of the Law of God? Is it all one, or are there distinctions to be made between different subdivisions of law? How does the way we think of the Law shape our Christian lives?

These fundamentally important questions, and others, are addressed in this week's episode, with the help of Maurice Roberts and Samuel Bolton.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Three Forms of Law', Maurice J. Roberts, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 519, December 2006.

– Excerpt from The True Bounds of Christian Freedom, by Samuel Bolton (First pub. 1645; first Banner edition 1964; latest Banner of Truth edition: 2024), pages 51–53.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/christian-living/the-true-bounds-of-christian-freedom/

 

 

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Thomas Guthrie and the Ragged Schools

Thomas Guthrie lived to share the truth and love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Living through a time of spiritual challenge and social transformation, he had eyes to see the poorest of the poor, a heart to care for them, and the organisational flare to set up a 'Ragged School'. Far from being the outworking of a 'social gospel', Guthrie's work was animated by a genuine love for these at-risk children, expressed supremely in teaching them the Scriptures, by which they could be made wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ. This week's episode introduces this remarkable man, and some of the ways in which he became a channel of God's grace to the most vulnerable.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Thomas Guthrie: Preacher and Philanthropist', Andrew Murray, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 597, June 2013.

– Quotes sourced from https://thomasguthrie.org/ragged-schools/

 

For more on Thomas Guthrie:

– https://thomasguthrie.org/

 

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The Bountiful Blessing of Biblical Meditation

Meditation is to the Christian life what digestion is to the body: without it, the processes which sustain life are greatly hampered - even rendered impossible. The Puritans held an extremely high view of the necessity of meditation. They saw it as one of the primary means by which we take the great truths of the faith and appropriate them, applying them to our hearts in order that we might love and treasure God more.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Kindling the Fire of Meditation', Dillon Thornton, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 591, December 2012.

– Excerpt from Charles Bridges, Psalm 119 (First pub. 1827; latest Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 249–251.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/commentaries/psalm-119-5/

– Excerpts from The Golden Treasury of Puritan Quotations, compiled by I. D. E. Thomas (First pub. 1975 [Moody Press]; latest Banner of Truth edition: 2022). Quotes mainly sourced from entries on 'Meditation'.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/devotionalsdaily-readings/the-golden-treasury-of-puritan-quotations/

 

 

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All That God Has Spoken: Balance in the Christian Life

Many errors of faith and life stem from focusing on just one part of the Bible's teaching, to the exclusion of other things clearly taught in Scripture. This week, with help from Stephen Clark and C. H. Spurgeon, we look afresh at the importance of pursuing a faith and a life that reflects all that the Lord has spoken.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Context, Nuance and Balance: Why They are Essential to Christian Living', Stephen Clark, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 728, May 2024.

– Excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Practical Wisdom: Plain Advice for Plain People (Original 1869, Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 21–26.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/spurgeons-practical-wisdom/

 

 

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A Foray into the Fourth Century

The Fourth Century was, theologically speaking, a century of conflict and clarification. Heretical teachings concerning the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Persons of the Trinity were widespread and backed by powerful churchmen. Faithful, biblically-rooted theologians contended for the truth, and two church councils (in 325 and 381) helped to clarify orthodox doctrine in the face of these onslaughts.

This week's episode introduces one of the theologians who, from the mid to late 4th century, gave eloquent expression to orthodox Christology and Trinitarian theology: Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390). As well as introducing this quiet, pensive man, we read a section from William Cunningham's newly republished Historical Theology on the question of how the Persons of the Holy Trinity are properly to be distinguished.

 

Featured Content:

– 'Shapers of Christianity: Gregory of Nazianzus', Nick Needham, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 706, July 2022.

– Excerpt from William Cunningham, Historical Theology (Banner of Truth rep. 2024), pages 309–312.

Purchase: https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/historical-theology-3/

 

 

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