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- Heart Aflame for God, A: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation
Heart Aflame for God, A: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation
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- $47.99
Heart Aflame for God, A: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation
1 review
|
- $47.99
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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
368 pages
“In our current historical moment, rife as it is with digital noise, doctrinal shallowness, and irreverent worship, some professing Christians have moved away from the biblical faith in search of ostensibly soul-satisfying alternatives. Turning to denominations like Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy, many crave the stillness, theological intricacy, and spiritual gravitas that are promised by those traditions but that, when weighed in the balances, are found wanting. Matthew Bingham returns to the old paths by examining the sound doctrine and experiential piety of the Reformed tradition, a faith whose theologians of previous centuries—whether the English Puritans, the Dutch Nadere Reformatie divines, or the Old Princeton theologians—were masters of the craft of vibrant spiritual formation. Bingham examines how the Reformed tradition promotes spiritual growth through the disciplines of Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer, as well as through self-examination, worship, and Christian fellowship. This is a very helpful exposition and affirmation of Reformed experiential piety.”
Joel R. Beeke, Chancellor and Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; Pastor, Heritage Reformed Congregation, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“In a time when many evangelicals are experiencing great spiritual anxiety and discontentment, Matthew Bingham retrieves a distinctively Reformed account of spiritual formation. This book is like food in a time of hunger. Many are leaving evangelicalism in search of a greater depth of spiritual practice. Bingham helps us see how this need can be met within the resources of our own tradition. Drawing especially from the Puritans, he builds a robust theology of prayer, Scripture reading, meditation, self-examination, relationship, and even nature and the human body. Rich in both theology and spiritual insight, A Heart Aflame for God will serve and edify readers at multiple levels. Highly recommended!”
Gavin Ortlund, President, Truth Unites; Theologian in Residence, Immanuel Nashville, Tennessee; Visiting Professor of Historical Theology, Phoenix Seminary
M
Martin Williams If you’ve ever found yourself longing for a faith that is both deeply rooted and vibrantly alive, Matthew Bingham’s A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation is a book you simply must not miss. In a time when so many Christians—perhaps you among them—are searching for spiritual depth, often looking to other traditions for richer practices or a more profound experience of God, Bingham warmly invites us to rediscover the treasures of our own Reformed heritage. He shows, with both conviction and care, that the Reformed tradition offers a robust, biblical, and life-giving approach to spiritual formation-one that can set our hearts aflame for God.
What sets this book apart is its insistence that spiritual formation is not a peripheral concern, nor something we must import from elsewhere, but is woven into the very fabric of Reformed theology and practice. Bingham draws us back to the “old paths,” reminding us that the Reformers and Puritans were not only masters of doctrine but also profound guides for spiritual growth. Their writings, often overlooked today, pulse with a living faith that shaped not just what they believed, but how they lived, prayed, and communed with God.
Central to Bingham’s vision is what he calls the “Reformation Triangle”—the interconnected disciplines of Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer. These are not three separate tasks to tick off a spiritual checklist, but rather a dynamic, ongoing conversation with God. The Lord speaks to us through his Word, we ponder and internalize his truth in meditation, and we respond in heartfelt prayer. Bingham shows how this rhythm, so characteristic of Reformed spirituality, is the very heartbeat of Christian maturity. Heroes of the faith like Calvin, Owen, and Edwards exemplified this pattern, demonstrating that the path to a heart aflame for God is not through novelty, but through a deepening of these foundational practices.
But Bingham doesn’t stop there. He widens the lens to include practices that are often neglected in modern evangelicalism—self-examination, wonder at God’s creation, and deep Christian fellowship. Particularly striking is his encouragement to recover the discipline of encountering God in the natural world. In an age of screens and distractions, he gently challenges us to step outside, to listen as the heavens declare the glory of God, and to allow the beauty of creation to kindle worship and awe. This, too, is part of a Reformed approach to spiritual formation—one that engages the whole person, heart and mind, body and soul.
What I appreciate most about A Heart Aflame for God is its blend of theological depth and practical wisdom. Bingham is sensitive to the Reformed tradition’s historical hesitancy to lay down detailed rules for spiritual disciplines, yet he recognises the genuine need for guidance. He avoids both legalism and vagueness, offering clear, scripturally grounded pathways for cultivating a vibrant spiritual life. Whether you are well-versed in Reformed theology or just beginning to explore its riches, you will find here both encouragement and direction.
This book is a breath of fresh air for anyone weary of shallow spirituality or anxious about the state of their soul. Bingham’s writing is accessible and engaging, yet never simplistic. He draws deeply from the wells of the past, but always with an eye to the needs of today’s church. If you have ever wondered whether the Reformed tradition has anything to offer those hungry for spiritual growth, let this book assure you: the resources are here, waiting to be rediscovered.
A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation is a resource I will gladly share with my congregation, students, and friends. It is a book to savour slowly, to discuss with others, and to return to again and again. May it help you, as it has helped me, to see that a heart aflame for God is not only possible within the Reformed tradition—it is its very goal and glory. Let Bingham guide you back to the riches of our heritage, and may your own journey of spiritual formation be deepened, enriched, and set ablaze.
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M
Martin Williams If you’ve ever found yourself longing for a faith that is both deeply rooted and vibrantly alive, Matthew Bingham’s A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation is a book you simply must not miss. In a time when so many Christians—perhaps you among them—are searching for spiritual depth, often looking to other traditions for richer practices or a more profound experience of God, Bingham warmly invites us to rediscover the treasures of our own Reformed heritage. He shows, with both conviction and care, that the Reformed tradition offers a robust, biblical, and life-giving approach to spiritual formation-one that can set our hearts aflame for God.
What sets this book apart is its insistence that spiritual formation is not a peripheral concern, nor something we must import from elsewhere, but is woven into the very fabric of Reformed theology and practice. Bingham draws us back to the “old paths,” reminding us that the Reformers and Puritans were not only masters of doctrine but also profound guides for spiritual growth. Their writings, often overlooked today, pulse with a living faith that shaped not just what they believed, but how they lived, prayed, and communed with God.
Central to Bingham’s vision is what he calls the “Reformation Triangle”—the interconnected disciplines of Scripture reading, meditation, and prayer. These are not three separate tasks to tick off a spiritual checklist, but rather a dynamic, ongoing conversation with God. The Lord speaks to us through his Word, we ponder and internalize his truth in meditation, and we respond in heartfelt prayer. Bingham shows how this rhythm, so characteristic of Reformed spirituality, is the very heartbeat of Christian maturity. Heroes of the faith like Calvin, Owen, and Edwards exemplified this pattern, demonstrating that the path to a heart aflame for God is not through novelty, but through a deepening of these foundational practices.
But Bingham doesn’t stop there. He widens the lens to include practices that are often neglected in modern evangelicalism—self-examination, wonder at God’s creation, and deep Christian fellowship. Particularly striking is his encouragement to recover the discipline of encountering God in the natural world. In an age of screens and distractions, he gently challenges us to step outside, to listen as the heavens declare the glory of God, and to allow the beauty of creation to kindle worship and awe. This, too, is part of a Reformed approach to spiritual formation—one that engages the whole person, heart and mind, body and soul.
What I appreciate most about A Heart Aflame for God is its blend of theological depth and practical wisdom. Bingham is sensitive to the Reformed tradition’s historical hesitancy to lay down detailed rules for spiritual disciplines, yet he recognises the genuine need for guidance. He avoids both legalism and vagueness, offering clear, scripturally grounded pathways for cultivating a vibrant spiritual life. Whether you are well-versed in Reformed theology or just beginning to explore its riches, you will find here both encouragement and direction.
This book is a breath of fresh air for anyone weary of shallow spirituality or anxious about the state of their soul. Bingham’s writing is accessible and engaging, yet never simplistic. He draws deeply from the wells of the past, but always with an eye to the needs of today’s church. If you have ever wondered whether the Reformed tradition has anything to offer those hungry for spiritual growth, let this book assure you: the resources are here, waiting to be rediscovered.
A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation is a resource I will gladly share with my congregation, students, and friends. It is a book to savour slowly, to discuss with others, and to return to again and again. May it help you, as it has helped me, to see that a heart aflame for God is not only possible within the Reformed tradition—it is its very goal and glory. Let Bingham guide you back to the riches of our heritage, and may your own journey of spiritual formation be deepened, enriched, and set ablaze.
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