A Heart Aflame for God

Description

How 21st-Century Evangelicals Can Pursue Spiritual Growth through Early Modern Puritan Piety Keep your heart (Proverbs 4:23). Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Scripture beckons Christians toward obedience and maturity, but many modern approaches to spiritual formation are less than biblical. In A Heart Aflame for God, Matthew C. Bingham studies God-ordained spiritual practices modeled by the 16th- and 17th-century Reformers. Primarily drawing from Puritan tradition, Bingham shows readers how to balance belief in salvation through faith with a responsibility for one s personal spiritual growth. He studies biblical practices including meditation, prayer, and self-examination from a Protestant perspective. Blending historical analysis and practical application, this edifying study cultivates a greater understanding of Reformed theology and an ever-growing relationship with God. Puritan Tradition for Modern Evangelicals: Shows readers how classic Protestant traditions including prayer, meditation, and appreciation for the natural world steer wayward hearts toward Christ Rich Reformed Perspective: Presents spiritual formation practices that are consistent with the 5 solas of the Protestant Reformation Intermediate-Level Study: Written for theological students, pastors, and Christians interested in early modern Reformed theologians