A Heart Aflame for God - by Matthew C Bingham (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book introduces and commends a distinctively Reformed Protestant vision of Christian growth for twenty-first-century evangelicals. Throughout its pages, the book draws on historical resources from the Reformed tradition, especially the English Puritans, and brings them into conversation with the needs of Christian today"--

Book Synopsis

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

About the Author

Matthew C. Bingham (PhD, Queen's University Belfast) is vice president of academic affairs and associate professor of church history at Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, Arizona. He is the author of Orthodox Radicals: Baptist Identity in the English Revolution and has served as a pastor in the United States and Northern Ireland. Matthew is married to Shelley, and they have four children.