Monday 20 June 2016

Sermons and Talks from the Jonathan Edwards Conference 2016

The Jonathan Edwards Conference this year was most helpful. As a minister of the gospel, I returned home greatly refreshed, sharpened and exhorted. The theology of Jonathan Edwards is rich, expansive, Calvinistic and stimulating. I was asked as part of panel 'what is one thing that stands out in my mind of Edwards' theology?'. I could have said more, but his sermon titles stand out as a memorable feature. Just consider this. 250 + years after he preached it, titles such as "The Justice of God in the Damnation of Sinners"; "Heaven is a world of love" or "Hypocrites deficient in the duty of prayer" are still remembered and discussed. Now this is remarkable and I cannot think of many other preachers in church history where we can say the same of their sermon titles. This alone is a marvellous feature that should stir contemporary preachers to choose theologically rich titles, ones which in themselves convey a world of truth.

The talks and sermons from the 2016 conference are now being downloaded onto the website and the link is as follows:

http://www.edwardsconference.org/media/2016-talks-sermons

I hope that these talks will stimulate further study of holy Scripture and with that the reading of the works of Jonathan Edwards. I have been informed recently that all his works and sermons are available online through Yale University and the link to these free resources is: http://edwards.yale.edu/research/sermon-index/canonical

This is a canonical index of Edwards' sermons.

We live in an age of information overload, therefore we need to be good stewards of our time and of our minds, to guard what comes into our soul to influence us. I commend the fresh reading of Edwards to strengthen you spiritually and to promote personal and church holiness.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil".

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