Luke H. Davis Livres

1485–1600   Throughout the Christian lands of Europe, there was darkness. Not a physical darkness, but a spiritual one. For many years, the clarity of God’s grace given through Jesus Christ had dimmed. A system of human effort designed to achieve God’s favor meant people were confused about Scripture, about salvation, and about the purpose of life.   But in those dark times, light dawned. Brave individuals challenged long–held teachings that had drifted from Scripture. Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Thomas Cranmer led movements of reformation in their nations, calling their followers to the clear teaching of the Bible, to Christ, to faith, to grace, to live to the glory of God. Others, such as Patrick Hamilton, William Tyndale, and Lady Jane Grey, sought to continue this enterprise, sometimes at the cost of their lives.   These bold Christians―called Protestants for their protest against the established and wayward Church practices of the day―sought to be faithful to Christ in their world, and in the process they offered in a new world that endures today.

During the Middle Ages the church laboured to build a community of faith. Benedict, Columba, and Francis organized communities in which the Gospel could be preached. Theodulf, Anselm, and Bernard of Clairvaux answered the call to reform that community and theology. And when the church’s leaders drifted from the authority of Scripture, a first wave of reformers in Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, and John Hus arose to call God’s people back to the grace of God. This was a Church that sought to reign, love and conquest, a Church that wanted to secure freedom, and proclaim the gospel. When that Church fell into corruption it undertook its own reform. Which one of these is the medieval Church? They all are! And in that we can find hope in the God Who loves His Church as we seek to live in His name.

Short, accessible chapters 'What', 'So What?' & 'Now What' chapter sections Group discussion questions

1600-1890 The Protestant Reformation had redrawn the map of the Christian world. Now the Church sought to take the hope of the Christian Gospel where it had not been before. The nearly three centuries covered in this volume give us a picture of the incredible energy and great expansion of the Church throughout the world, and the people who led the way through a variety of abilities that God gave them. Harry Hosier, William Wilberforce, Emilie Mallet, and Sojourner Truth took bold stands against wrongdoing and injustice. Cyril Lucaris, John Owen, John Bunyan,and David Brainerd suffered well as they faithfully shared the goodness of Christ. Great preachers arose in the form of Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and Charles Spurgeon, all of whom communicated the Gospel with clarity and passion. And God stirred the hearts of missionaries like Robert Moffat, Hudson Taylor, and Dwight Moody to offer hope in Christ to those who were walking in spiritual darkness. The result was a Church that, by the end of this era, had expanded to lands previously unreached, bringing glory to the Lord who continued to guide His Church.

Part of new 'Risen Hope' church history series

1890-2023 Almost 2000 years ago, Jesus promised his followers "I am with you always, to the end of the age." In recent years, those words have become very precious and durable to Christians the world over. Jesus' Church is a family that must endure onward. Within these pages, we find Christians who will do just that. Whether they seek to make new followers of Jesus, combat evil and injustice, defend the truth of the Bible, or endure intense persecution, these men and women exhibit a faith of deep resolve.