Listening to the Giants

***The article was taken and adapted from  David Brainerd: A Constant Stream  by David B. Calhoun, Ph.D. Brainerd’s influence grew remarkably within the transatlantic evangelical community through The Life of David Brainerd , Edwards’s most frequently reprinted and widely read book. It was the first American biography to reach a large European audience. It became the best-selling religious book in nineteenth-century America (with more than thirty different editions) and remains in print to the present day. John Wesley prepared an abridged version of Edwards’s book and recommended it with the words:  “Let every preacher read carefully over The Life of David Brainerd. Let us be followers of him, as he was of Christ, in absolute self-devotion, in total deadness to the world, and in fervent love to God and man.” In 1769 John Newton wrote:  “Next to the Word of God, I like those books best which give an account of the lives and experiences of H...

David Brainerd was special. Not because he was a missionary (every Christian is a missionary), but because of how he lived as a missionary. His words below reveal his heart:  "All my desire was the conversion of the heathen... I declare, now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world." I want to live like David Brainerd. I want to love others like David Brainerd. I want to have the heart of God for the lost. Do I need a specific people group to do this, to "live on mission"? Nope. Just obey and follow Christ. He was very clear before He left to tell His followers what we should be doing until He returns.  Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. " Recently, I wrote the post below for a friend's blog. In it, I dealt with a few practical ways to engage our culture. Sometimes we need ju...

Throughout the next few weeks, this blog will examine certain “snapshots” of George Whitefield, which I hope will bring a deeper appreciation for this servant and a greater love for the God whom he gave his life to. Here is one of the snapshots: In 1738, George Whitefield stepped onto the Whitaker, employed as the chaplain of the ship, and eager to begin his journey. It was recorded that the young preacher declared to the staff (on the first day) that his intention was “to know nothing among them save Jesus Christ and Him crucified”. The zeal of the new chaplain was not well-received by the crew, who proceeded to ridicule their “religious leader”. The living conditions on such a vessel were undoubtedly wretched. Whitefield had brought with him many tasty items of food and several medicines, and since there was much sickness among the passengers, he went among them every day dispensing of his supply and giving encouragement. Each morning and evening he read prayers on the open d...