Revived Thoughts

Origen is a church father born in 185. He has led a life of controversy, and Joel and I discuss some of these. But he also is one of the most passionate defenders of the faith that you have ever heard of. His sermon from a series on Ezekiel goes after false teachers and challenges us all to make sure that we do not follow into heresy. He reminds us that the gift of discernment was given to us by G...

Thomas Watson was a Puritan from the 1600s who suffered a lot in the name of Christ. Between multiple imprisonments, surviving the different laws passed against Puritans, and the loss of four children, his life was far from perfect. Yet his sermon, "The Christian Joy," explains the importance of finding joy in our walk with God. A man who did not live a life that we would measure as "good" tells u...

John Calvin is one of the most famous figures of the Reformation. Although often remembered for the great deeds he did in Geneva, Troy and Joel take a look at his life in his younger years in this episode. His sermon, "The Passion Of The Christ," takes a look at what Jesus Christ goes through on the cross and discusses the moment of the passion of Christ. Calvin's insights into that moment give th...

Andrew Murray lived in Europe and South Africa during the 1800s. Famous for his ministry and revival in South Africa, and his work with the Dutch, he left a powerful mark on the Earth. His devotional on prayer is still widely read to this day. His sermon, "The Power Of Persevering Prayer," convicts us to go to God in prayer repeatedly and regularly. He asks us not to give in but to choose and purs...

Richard Baxter lived through the 17th century and is a man who is hard to describe in any one word. He fashioned himself a peacemaker but got into more conflicts than most preachers on our show. After the brutal English Civil War he would be persecuted for his faith but he never caved in his desire to preach Jesus Christ. His sermon, "Why Self Denial Is Necessary For Salvation," challenges us to g...

Revived Thoughts Deep Dive: Salem Witch Trials Joel and Troy are excited to give you a preview of our Revived Thoughts Deep Dive episode! This story of panic and fear, magic and ministers, and courtrooms and children is one that is often overlooked by Christians. How did good, God-fearing Puritans fall into a witch killing frenzy? If you'd like to listen to the full length episode then become a Pa...

Jonathan Edwards is one of the most famous preachers in American history and he was famous for the Great Awakening and revivals in America. Edwards life was not easy and he had a lot of conflicts with his church. His sermon, "Pardon for the Greatest Sinners," reminds us that God's forgiveness is for everyone. This is such a simple concept but it is something that we as believers often need to be r...

John Wycliffe, "the Morning Star of the Reformation," lived in the 1300s. He helped translate the Bible out of Latin. He wanted to see reforms happen in the church. And this was all rooted in his experience with the black plague. His sermon, "The Spiritual Battle," takes us back to what it is that causes us to sin. Our flesh not being properly disciplined and our lack of focus on the next life. Th...

Richard Sibbes was a largely influential minister in the early 1600s. He is known for his "affectionate theology" and his elegant words on one's relationship with Christ. He was a member of the church of England but would get in trouble at times for his ties to the puritans. His sermon, "I Am My Beloved, And My Beloved Is Mine," takes Song Of Solomon allegorically and puts Christ in the place of S...

Hudson Taylor is one of the most famous missionaries that have ever lived. He went to China with the China Inland Mission and their work there changed the world. At the Shanghai conference on missions in 1890, Hudson Taylor preaches this sermon to encourage the missionaries to reach every part of China. His sermon, “Compassion On The Multitude,”goes through the second time Christ fed the multitude...

Jean Gerson lived in France during the late 1300’s and early 1400s. He is most famous for his role at the Council of Constance and ending the Great Schism. He was a man who desperately wanted to see reforms go through in the Catholic Church and who also wanted to help average people grow closer to God. His sermon, “Walk While You Have The Light,” was preached in 1415 during a pivotal moment at the...

Theodore Cuyler was the pastor of the biggest Presbyterian church in New York City. He knew or met almost every person of importance that came through the United States of America in the 1800s. And yet his story is almost completely forgotten. His sermon, "The Value Of Human Life," is one that is both timeless and remarkably poignant in our era. In a time when people often struggle with purpose an...

Christmas Evans was born in Wales in the mid-1700s. He went from unable to read and write to a powerful preacher who preaches in a very unique and imaginative style. He would end up being one of the most famous preacher in Welsh history. This sermon was delivered in the mid 1930s and covered the subject "The Fear Of God." Too often we fear men or the opinions of man and do not properly fear and un...

J. Gresham Machen lived and preached in the early 1900s through the 1930s. He became responsible for fighting for conservative Christianity in the Presbyterian church against the tide of liberalism that was sweeping the denomination. In this episode, we focus on how the flood of liberalism at the seminary level led to a problem on the mission field. This sermon was delivered in the mid 1930s and c...

Hugh Latimer lived in the early part of the Reformation and was partially responsible for the Church of England's split from Catholicism. He was also a powerful preacher who ended up being burned at the stake by the vengeful Queen Mary. This sermon would have been delivered in the 1530's around the middle of his life. He speaks about the armor of God and doing for God what is owed to Him. He also...

E. K. Love (Emmanuel K. Love) was a preacher at the famous First African Baptist Church of Savannah, Georgia. He was also a huge supporter of missions, a newspaper editor, a school starter, and deeply invested in politics. This sermon was delivered as a dedication ceremony at another church in the late 1800s. At this point he was already a pastor but he was dedicating the site of a new church, and...

Oswald Chambers was a preacher who lived during World War 1. He died of a botched surgery in Egypt but before he did, he preached many sermons that were copied down by his wife. His wife took these and turned these into devotionals, the most famous of which is, "My Utmost For His Highest." In this sermon we look at where our identity should be in this world. God is the only one who we should put o...

Chrysostom was one of the most prominent church fathers of the ancient Roman Empire. His name meant "Golden-Mouthed," and his ability to speak was unparalleled. Despite living in Rome during a time of luxury, he emphasized living a simple life and fighting corruption. This sermon is the oldest one done on the show yet. It talks of the devil and the desire of people to blame the devil when they sho...

Hudson Taylor is one of the most famous missionaries in human history. The mission he led to China changed the Chinese church forever, leading to thousands converted in his time and the creation of a mission agency that is still around today, Overseas Mission Fellowship. He took the revolutionary route of not forcing western culture on the people he was trying to reach out to, but to adopt the cus...

DL Moody was one of the most famous evangelists of the 19th Century (a century filled with famous evangelists). Yet in this episode we take a look at his final campaign in Kansas City, and do an on-location look at the place where he preached his final campaign. This sermon, "Last Sermon," is the last sermon he preached in his hometown. He reviews the 91st Psalm and the "I Will" statements that Go...

John Bunyan wrote one of the most famous books of all time, Pilgrim's Progress. But many people forget that he was also a preacher. And a soldier and a prisoner for Christ. We explore the life of this seventeenth century preacher who was not expected to be much of anything in life. This sermon, "Last Sermon," is the last sermon he ever preached. Preached 12 days before he died he makes the case th...

Charles Spurgeon is one of the most famous preachers of all time. Living and preaching in the second half of the 19th century he earned the nickname, "The Prince Of Preachers." In this episode we ask the question, "Did he earn this title?" This sermon, "Compel Them To Come In," is a passionate plea to ask people to come to Christ. He changes approaches throughout the sermon but his end goal is to...

Christopher Love was a puritan who lived during the English Civil War. He would be executed at the end of this civil war and only lived to be 33 years old. Despite that, he lived a life that impacted the world with his passion for Jesus Christ. This sermon, “Pray With Violent Zeal,”discusses the importance of passionate prayer before our God. As a man who lived through and fought against many obst...

Andrew Gray was a preacher who lived in the 1600’s. The one thing about his life that stands out is that his life was short. He died before his 24th birthday. But in those 2 and a half years he preached he made a huge impact. This sermon, “Faith,” talks about what our faith is in God. He defines it and describes it and helps us to better understand this important but sometimes abstract concept. He...

Alexander Maclaren is a preacher who was considered one of the best preachers of his era. But unlike so many preachers, he was a quiet man who did not become famous for book-writing or big ministry projects. He just enjoyed preaching and really believed what he preached. This sermon, “Why Does Love Delay?” Maclaren asks the question, “Why doesn’t God always answer our prayers?” Or why does he wait...