The Whole Counsel

We spent the previous several weeks discussing Charles Spurgeon’s small work on the weighty responsibility of parents and Sunday school teachers. While we covered everything Spurgeon said in that series, we wanted to leave the topic with an example of how we can speak to our children about eternal issues. To that end, we pull help from a contemporary of Spurgeon, an Anglican bishop named J. C. Ryle. Dr. John Snyder is joined again by his wife Misty as they look through a book of sermons for children preached by Ryle. The book is published under several titles and it is linked below. But the particular sermon they focus on is called “Seeking the Lord Early.” In this sermon, we see many of the principles discussed during earlier weeks but applied in ways that make our appreciation of Ryle grow deeper. He utilizes the character of God, the promises and warnings of Scripture to draw children’s hearts to Christ. We pray the content of this episode is an encouragement to you to read the sermons and consider afresh how to help your children seek Christ early. Show Notes: J. C. Ryle Addresses to Children: https://www.christianbook.com/two-bears-and-other-addresses-children/j-c-ryle/9781583391051/pd/391052 Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland: https://www.wtsbooks.com/products/leading-little-ones-to-god-marian-schoolland-9780802851208 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Stephen Yuille, Director of Puritan Publishing at Reformation Heritage Books, dives into the vital mission of sharing Puritan literature with modern readers. He unveils a new Summer Reading Challenge featuring daily chapters from George Swinnock’s accessible work. Yuille discusses strategies for making historical texts approachable and highlights the contributions of Puritan figures like John Cotton and Thomas Watson. The conversation also touches on a devotional series inspired by Puritan insights, aiming to deepen faith and understanding of Scripture.

Explore the weighty responsibility of teaching children about faith and the eternal impact of our words. Discover three crucial admonitions emphasizing the privilege of imparting God’s truth. Delve into the concept of ‘teaching the fear of the Lord’ and how it shapes young minds through humility and reverence. Gain insights into the awe of God's majesty and the serious consequences of sin. Ultimately, learn how instilling these vital truths early on lays a strong foundation for their spiritual journey.

Misty Snyder, wife of John Snyder and a devoted teacher, joins to discuss Charles Spurgeon's pamphlet 'Feed My Lambs.' They explore the delicate task of teaching children about God's warnings, emphasizing balance between grace and truth. Misty shares personal anecdotes, like childhood lessons on integrity, while highlighting the joyful role parents play in guiding faith. They stress imparting God's standards rather than mere behavior modification, reminding listeners that true spiritual awakening rests in God's hands.

Misty Snyder, a devoted mother and experienced Sunday school teacher, shares her insights on instilling faith in young hearts. She emphasizes the necessity of genuine love and personal experience in teaching children about God, inspired by Charles Spurgeon's principles. Misty discusses the importance of parents actively participating in their child's spiritual education, stressing that prepared, heartfelt lessons resonate more than mere words. The conversation encourages listeners to reflect on the transformative power of nurturing a close relationship with Christ while educating the next generation.

Misty Snyder, a dedicated teacher for young believers and co-creator of Behold Your God studies, joins her husband John to explore effective ways to present the gospel to children. They discuss the importance of communicating at a child's level, emphasizing clarity over simplification. Misty reflects on the need for churches to embrace children’s faith journeys without unrealistic expectations of maturity. They also critically examine baptism discussions, insisting that genuine spiritual transformation is vital, urging communities to nurture the little ones in their faith.

Misty Snyder, coauthor of *Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early* and wife of Dr. John Snyder, discusses the crucial role of evangelism for children. She emphasizes the importance of communicating spiritual truths at a level they can grasp, not just simplifying language. Misty draws from Charles Spurgeon's teachings, highlighting how churches can nurture young believers through inclusivity and discernment. They explore the lasting impact of early spiritual commitments and offer resources to effectively teach children about faith.

On this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder hosts a former member of Christ Church New Albany, Josephine Rose. Josephine began coming to CCNA while she was in college. It was during her time in the fellowship there that God revealed Himself to her and rescued her. After graduation, she came down with a serious illness that forced her to move back in with her parents. Bedridden and anxious, she and her mother prayed for God to show her something useful she could do with her time. The next day, she opened her laptop and began blogging.From the simple act of sharing the realities of God that she was learning through her illness, Josephine was approached by numerous ministries to write for them. She accepted, and doors continued to be opened for her. Recently, LifeWay published a Bible study written for teenage girls focused on prayer. The title is Talking to God: A Bible Study on Prayer. The study is based upon the foundation of God’s attributes and the Lord’s Prayer. We pray the testimony of God’s faithfulness to Josephine and the conversation between her and John encourage you to seek afresh a close communion with God as our Father. Show Notes: See Josephine’s Blog: https://josephinedrose.com/ Talking to God: A Bible Study on Prayer - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/talking-to-god-teen-girls-bible-study-book-P005847913 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week's sermon is the final in our series of revival sermons from Rev. Vernon Higham. Isaiah saw the need for revival in his day, and he cried out for it. We are also in great need of revival, and we hope the previous episodes have led you to cry out to God for it. In this final sermon, Rev. Higham shares with us the hope for revival from Isaiah 64:8-12. This hope is not the hope the world has. It is a solid, tangible thing because crying out for God’s ungrieved presence among us is a prayer that pleases him. Dr. John Snyder ends this week’s episode, as he has several others, with a book recommendation. He opted to leave you with a book edited by Richard Owen Roberts. If you have participated in the Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically study, you know Mr. Roberts. His book is titled Scotland Saw His Glory and recounts accounts of revival going back to the Scottish Puritan era. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Scotland Saw His Glory by Richard Owen Roberts https://www.rorbooks.com/index.php/product/scotland-saw-his-glory-a-history-of-revivals-in-scotland/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week’s podcast is the third of four sermons on revival preached by Reverend Vernon Higham in 1984. Rev. Higham felt the need for revival in his own land, and his desire for revival is expressed throughout this powerful sermon based on Isaiah 64:1–7. We pray this series benefits you and burdens you to pray for revival in your own soul, family, church, and land. If you would like to hear more sermons from Rev. Higham, you can see the link in the show notes below for the Vernon Higham Trust. Show Notes: W. V. Higham Trust: https://www.wvhigham.org/ The Turn of the Tide by W. Vernon Higham: http://churchawakening.com/product/the-turn-the-tide/ Lectures of the Revival of Religion, by Ministers of the Church of Scotland edited by W. M. Hetherington https://www.abebooks.com/Lectures-Revival-Religion-Ministers-Church-Scotland/31027820289/bd Free ebook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lectures_on_the_revival_of_religion_by_ministers_o?id=T-kDAAAAQAAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app