FORTHCOMING TITLE, ETA JUNE 2025
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.
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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
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Rich Reformed Perspective: Presents spiritual formation practices that are consistent with the 5 solas of the Protestant Reformation
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Intermediate-Level Study: Written for theological students, pastors, and Christians interested in early modern Reformed theologians
368 pages
Heart Aflame for God, A: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation is in the following collections:
