The Magazine Podcast

A little more than 100 years ago, a Scotsman by the name of Eric Liddell made a stand for the Lord's Day. It was a very public stand, since he was a member of the British Olympic team sent to the Paris Olympics of 1924, and his decision to honour the Lord's Day entailed not running in one of his chosen races (the 100m)–the heats for which were to be held on a Sunday–and training instead for the 400m (he also ran the 200m). While Liddell is well-known, the stand he took is one that many evangelicals today would deem unnecessary, even misguided. Many evangelicals do not consider Sundays to be particularly special or 'set-apart'. The observance of the Lord's Day as a special day of rest and worship has fallen on hard times in the churches. With Liddell's witness in mind, we explore the subject of the Christian Sabbath in this week's episode. Are Christians to observe Sundays as a special day of rest and worship? Are we called to obey the Fourth Commandment, along with the other nine? How does the Christian Lord's Day differ from the Jewish Sabbath? We touch on all these questions this week with contributions from David Campbell, W. J. Grier, and Rebecca VanDoodewaard.   Featured Content: – What Price Honouring God? Article by David Campbell (North Preston Evangelical Church), which was republished on the Banner website in July 2014: https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2014/price-honouring-god/ – 'The Development of the Lord's Day from the Jewish Sabbath', W. J. Grier, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 517, October 2006. – 'The Freedom of Sabbath', Rebecca VanDoodewaard, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 687, December 2020.       Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

This week we begin a three-part 'mini series' on the great subject of public worship. We begin by considering just why it is that public worship is so crucial for the church. Why should we do it? How should we view it? To do that, we enlist the help of Warren Peel, Peter Barnes, and the Puritan David Clarkson.   Featured Content: – 'The Primacy of Public Worship', Warren Peel, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 722 (November 2023). – Selections from The Works of David Clarkson, Volume 3, sermon entitled 'Public Worship to be Preferred Before Private' (on Psalm 87:2), p. 187. N.B. At time of podcast release, the three volumes of this set are being reprinted. – 'Participating in Public Worship', Peter Barnes, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 526 (July 2007).   Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast    

Speaking for the first time at our Youth Conference this year was Joseph Mangahas (Mang-AH-hass), one of the pastors at Cubao Reformed Baptist Church, Manila.   Joseph sat down with us to discuss gospel work in the Philippines, his conversion and Christian growth, and the many and varied ministries of Cubao Reformed Baptist Church. It is an episode to encourage all who delight to hear about the Lord's work in countries about which we hear little in the West.   For Cubao Reformed Baptist Church: https://www.crbc-ph.org/ About Grace Ministerial Academy: https://www.evangelical-times.org/grace-ministerial-academy-philippines/   Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

Few things are more difficult than seeing a beloved child turn his or her back on the Lord. What is the Christian mother or father to do in this situation? This week's lead article, from Lipe Cortial (original article misattributed to Cilas De Menezes), gives a number of helpful pointers for parents, and encouragement to seek the Lord's glory in what may seem like an impossible situation. Our second segment is a reading on walking with God through dark times from Theodore L. Cuyler's book 'God's Light on Dark Clouds'.   Featured Content: – When a Child Turns Away from God's Ways, Lipe Cortial (Banner of Truth Magazine: June 2021, Issue 693). – Excerpt from God's Light on Dark Clouds by Theodore L. Cuyler sourced from pages 27 to 32 of that book (First published in 1882, Banner of Truth ed., 2008, rep. 2022). Buy the book: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/gods-light-on-dark-clouds/   Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast  

This week we finish Stuart Olyott's article exploring the nature and practice of 'corrective discipline', a subject utterly essential in our non-judgemental age. He shows us that the work of such discipline must always be focused on the restoration of the erring member, and carried out with great humility and wisdom. We also read the testimony of B. R. Basted, who found himself in a situation in which he could not, as a gospel minister, exercise the basic church discipline of preventing unbelievers from accessing gospel ordinances. It is a salutory reminder of the need for ministers to be resourced and supported in the work of church discipline.   Featured Content: – Second part of 'Church Discipline', Stuart Olyott, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 163, April 1977. - 'Discipline at the Local Level – The Real Problem', B. R. Basted, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 80, May 1970.     Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast  

Church discipline is a gracious institution of the Lord Jesus Christ for the honour of His name, the purity of His Church, and the eternal salvation of His people. This week's episode focuses on this neglected topic. An excerpt from Jeremy Walker helps to unpack some of the reasons why church discipline matters. Drilling down on 'corrective' or 'restorative' discipline, we read a section from Stuart Olyott's article 'Church Discipline' to help guide us through a difficult area.   Featured Content: – Excerpt from 'Called to be Holy' by Jeremy Walker sourced from pages 19 to 24 of that booklet. Buy the booklet: https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/christmas-bulk/called-to-be-holy/ – First part of 'Church Discipline', Stuart Olyott, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 163, April 1977.     Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast  

We live in trying times, when it often seems as if the 'foundations are destroyed' (Psalm 11:3). How are believers called to live in a dark day? This week's readings, from Mauric Roberts and John Flavel, address dark days and preparations for trial.    Featured Content: – 'The Believer's Duty in a Dark Day', Maurice Roberts, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 678, March 2020. – Excerpt from Chapter 4 of John Flavel's 'Preparations for Sufferings, Or, The Best Work in the Worst Times' (Puritan Paperback, 161 pages). Buy the book: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/preparations-for-sufferings/   Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast  

We had the great pleasure of talking with Stuart Olyott at the Banner of Truth Ministers' Conference. A much-respected Bible teacher and pastor, Stuart discusses his formative years, his time at London Bible College, and subsequent journey in ministry. He even has occasion to describe a Homburg hat for the benefit of the uninitiated!   Banner Books by Stuart: – I Wish Someone Would Explain Hebrews to Me! (https://banneroftruth.org/store/sermons-and-expositions/i-wish-someone-would-explain-hebrews-to-me/) – Ministering Like the Master: Three Messages for Today's Preachers (https://banneroftruth.org/store/church-ministry/ministering-like-the-master/) – Preaching That Gets Through: God's Words and Ours (https://banneroftruth.org/store/church-ministry/preaching-that-gets-through/) – Reading the Bible and Praying in Public (https://banneroftruth.org/store/church-ministry/reading-the-bible-and-praying-in-public/) – You Must Read: Books That Have Shaped Our Lives, Various Authors, Stuart writes an entry on reading Spurgeon's Revival Year Sermons. (https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/you-must-read/)   Other Resources from Stuart: – Stuart's sermons for download: www.knowyourbiblerecordings.org – Preaching: Pure and Simple (https://epbooks.org/product/preaching-pure-and-simple-by-stuart-olyott/)   Watch the interview on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lyEr8S0da2U   Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast    

The ministry of John Angell James, favoured though it was, marked the end of an era at Carrs Lane Congregational Church. When it came to ministerial handover, we observe a weakness of judgement in James which made room for a less than orthodox ministry at the church. The upshot was that sadly James's ministry legacy was not extended and built on with gospel vision by his successor, R. W. Dale. From noting this sad turn of events, we remind ourselves of the crucial nature of truth in a victorious Christian pilgrimage with a reading from Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.   Featured Content: – 'John Angell James', Peter Seccombe, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 220 (January 1982).  - Excerpts concerning Mr Valiant-for-truth from 'Part the Second' of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (Banner of Truth ed., 1977, current ed., 2017), pages 348–350 and 373.   Buy The Pilgrim's Progress: https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/pilgrims-progress/     Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

Pastor, author, and missionary motivator, John Angell James (1785–1859) was one of the most gifted and respected of Independent church ministers in 19th-century Britain. From humble beginnings as a draper's son in Dorset, he went on to become minister of Carr's Lane Congregational Church in Birmingham. His ministry there was greatly blessed, as were his literary labours, with over 3 million copies of his works being published within his lifetime. Angell James's ministry was marked by earnestness, a note sounded in the title and text of his book on ministry, 'An Earnest Ministry: The Want of the Times'. In this week's episode we look at the life of this outstanding servant of God, and consider his abiding interest in the work of gospel advance in China.   Featured Content: – 'John Angell James', Peter Seccombe, Banner of Truth Magazine, appearing in two parts in Issues 219 and 220 (December 1981 and January 1982, respectively). – 'John Angell James', Alec Taylor, Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 619 (April 2015). – 'God's Voice from China', John Angell James, reproduced in the Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 166 (July/August 1977).     Explore the work of the Banner: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us a voice message: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast