East of Eden considers Jonathan Edwards’s sermon, “Blessed Struggle,” which was delivered in 1735.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

East of Eden considers Jonathan Edwards’s sermon “The Sorrows of the Bereaved Spread before Jesus,” which was delivered in 1741.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

East of Eden considers the Theology and experiential application of Jonathan Edwards’s sermon “Self-Examination and the Lord’s Supper” from 1 Corinthians 11:28–29 and delivered first March 21, 1731.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

The panel discusses Jonathan Edwards’s sermon, “A Divine and Supernatural Light” delivered at Northampton and subsequently published in 1734.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Nick Batzig, Jeff Waddington, and David Filson discuss a sermon by Jonathan Edwards circa 1747.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

In this episode, Nick, Jeff and Dave sit down to discuss Jonathan Edwards’s sermon, “Joseph’s Great Temptation and Glorious Deliverance” based on Genesis 39:12. In this sermon Edwards unpacks the theology drawn from the narrative of the temptation of Joseph by Potiphar’s wife while in his house. It explores the greatness of the temptation, the inner life of Joseph in the midst of the temptation and the way in which he overcame it. You can find a copy of the sermon at http://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/temptation.htm

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Reformed Forum contributor Nick Batzig speaks about Jonathan Edwards: “Preaching Christ in the Song of Songs.” This talk was given at the 2014 Jonathan Edwards for the Church conference.

http://www.edwardsconference.org/media

Participants: Camden Bucey, Nick Batzig

Dr. William Schweitzer speaks about Jonathan Edwards: “Faithful Ministers are Conduits of the Means of Grace.” This talk was given at the 2014 “Jonathan Edwards for the Church Conference.”

http://www.edwardsconference.org/media

Participants: Camden Bucey, Nick Batzig, William Schweitzer

Dr. Douglas Sweeney speaks about Jonathan Edwards on the Divinity, Necessity, and Power of the Word of God in the World, from the 2014 “Jonathan Edwards for the Church Conference.”

http://www.edwardsconference.org/media

Participants: Camden Bucey, Douglas Sweeney, Nick Batzig

In “The Peace Which Christ Gives His True Followers,” Edwards calls us to listen in on the most affectionate and affecting discourse Christ gave (Jn 14:27), in which he promised to give his disciples, not just peace, in the sense of a generic feeling of well-being, but his very own peace. This peace he secured for us by his own fulfilling of the covenant. It is a peace that is given to us as a gift to be enjoyed with the Giver – Christ, himself! In this sermon, we are invited to leave aside the idols that cannot satisfy, and seek our “better portion” in Jesus.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Jonathan Edwards preached “What Is Believing in Christ?” to his congregation of three hundred Native Americans in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The sermon on Mark 16:15-16 is characteristic of Edwards’ pastoral sensitivity to his Stockbridge congregation. The sermon is divided into two parts, 1. What it means to believe in Jesus Christ, and 2. How believing in Jesus Christ will save you.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

East of Eden continues a discussion of the life and ministry of Jonathan Edwards.

See here for part 1 of this discussion.

Biographies of Edwards: Jonathan Edwards: A Life, and A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards, by George Marsden; Life of Jonathan Edwards, by Samuel Miller

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

East of Eden discusses the life and ministry of Jonathan Edwards, including a survey of biographies of Jonathan Edwards.

Follow up in a couple weeks for Part 2.

Biographies of Edwards: Jonathan Edwards: A Life, and A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards, by George Marsden; Life of Jonathan Edwards, by Samuel Miller

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

An interview with Kyle Strobel regarding his recently released Jonathan Edwards’s Theology: A Reinterpretation.

Participants: Jeff Waddington, Kyle Strobel, Nick Batzig

Jonathan Edwards preached “Christ the Spiritual Sun” in May 1739. It was based on Malachi 4:1-2. The doctrine of the sermon was “that the same spiritual Sun, whose beams are most comfortable and beneficial to believers, will burn and destroy unbelievers.” Edwards unpacked the sermon in four heads, showing that Christ was the spiritual Sun of the world; showing what might be represented by the beams of the Sun; showing how the beams of the Sun will be most pleasant and profitable to believers; and how these same beams will destroy the wicked.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Originally preached in April 1738, Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Jesus Christ: The Same Yesterday, To-day, and Forever” expounds Hebrews 13:6. Edwards draws out the doctrine that Jesus Christ is the same now that he ever has been and ever will be. Specifically, Christ is unchangeable in his divinity, in his office as Mediator, and his blood is as sufficient now as when it ran warm from his wounds, and so the covenants of redemption and grace stand forever. In light of the stability of Christ’s person and work for us, he is therefore fit to be our surety. While our profession of faith may wax and wane, Christ has not changed. The Jesus who invites you to come to him is he who accepts you. In the end Christ’s love is as strong now as it was when he went to the cross.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

This week the East of Eden crew examine Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Safety, Fullness, and Sweet Refreshment, to be Found in Christ” based upon Isaiah 32:2. In this sermon Edwards unpacks the types of a man who provides cover from the wind, of a river in a dry land, and a great rock that casts a shadow in a weary land. Each of these point to some facet of Christ’s person and work of redemption. Christ Jesus provides a foundation of peace and safety for those who live in fear and danger. He provides satisfaction and full contentment for the needy and thirsty soul. Our Lord also provides quiet and sweet refreshment for him who is weary. All in all this is a deeply comforting sermon.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

In this episode of East of Eden, Dr. Sean Michael Lucas discusses his helpful new volume on the theological vision of Jonathan Edwards. In God’s Grand Design: The Theological Vision of Jonathan Edwards, Dr. Lucas gives serious consideration to the redemptive-historical foundation of Edwards’ theology.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, Sean Michael Lucas

In 1730 Jonathan Edward preached a sermon on Matthew 5:8 in which he gave consideration to the redemptive blessing which God bestows upon the pure in heart, namely, an all satisfying sight of God Himself.

In this typical substantive fashion, Jonathan Edwards undergirds his sermon on Matthew 5:8, “The Pure in Heart Blessed,” with a rich array of biblical, systematic and experiential theological elements. He deals specifically with what theologians have called the “beatific vision” and the great reward that the believer receives in a sight of God Himself. Edwards distinguishes between the natural and the spiritual sight. This sermon has a strong eschatological focus to it, placing it among the best of Edwards’ sermons on glory.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

In February 1740, at the heat of the first Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards preached The Character of Paul an Example to Christians. In this sermon on Philippians 3:11 Edwards unpacked Paul’s exhortation to “Follow my example.” Edwards set the apostle’s words in the redemptive context of Philippians 3 and called his hearers to be steadfast in pursuing Christ, His righteousness and the final salvation of their souls in the same manner as that of the apostle Paul.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

In 1739, at the brink of the Great Awakening in Northampton, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon in which he challenged his congregation with regard to their own commitment to a careful and thorough study of divine truth. Appealing to the words of the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 5:12), Edwards’ develops his exhortation on the foundation of the biblical and systematic theological truth of this text. In addition to the theological foundation Edwards gives a careful philosophical discussion of the difference between speculative and spiritual knowledge. In this episode, the panelists give consideration to Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “The Importance and Advantage of a Thorough Knowledge of Divine Truth,” also known as “Christian Knowledge.”

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Originally preached sometime in 1739, Jonathan Edwards’ sermon Christ’s Agony provides a deep analysis of Luke 22:44 and Christ’s agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Edwards notes that Christ could not suffer in his divine nature, but most assuredly did so in his human nature. There is profound theological and pastoral insight as well as practical application in this moving message. Christ’s saw what was coming with regard to his crucifixion and wrestled with the taking on himself of sin and the consequent break in fellowship with the Father. Christ went to the cross with eyes wide open.

Participants: David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

In this episode we interview Dr. Ken Minkema, the executive editor at the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University, with regard to the formation of the Center and the resources available there. We also briefly spoke with Dr. Minkema about his doctoral dissertation on the history of the Edwards’ family, The Edwardses: A Ministerial Family in 18th Century New England. We hope that this will wet our listeners’ appetite with regard to pursuing further studies in Edwards’ history and corpus of writings.

Participants: Jeff Waddington, Kenneth Minkema, Nick Batzig

Originally preached in Northampton in 1735, and then preached again in 1752, The Most High, a Prayer Hearing God was preached on a fast appointed on the account of epidemical sickness at the eastward of Boston. In this sermon, Edwards focuses on the benefit of prayer as a blessing of the redemption that we have in Christ. Edwards develops the idea that God delights to hear and answer prayer.

Participants: Craig Biehl, David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Originally preached in Northampton in the fall of 1730, and later preached at Boston for the Harvard convocation week Thursday lecture on 8 July 1731, God Glorified in Man’s Dependence was Jonathan Edwards’ first published writing. In it, Edwards issued a clarion call for a biblical and Calvinistic understanding of redemption. Specifically Edwards shows the Trinitarian basis of salvation. Man depends upon God the Father for the initiation of redemption, on the Son for the accomplishment of redemption, and on the Holy Spirit as the one who works faith in him, thereby uniting him to Christ. In other words, believers have all their salvific good from God, through God, and in God.

Participants: Craig Biehl, David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig

Participants: Craig Biehl, David Filson, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig