Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon (Long Line of Godly Men Profiles)
William Gadsby (Bitesize Biographies)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: In the Midst of Wickedness (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
As Dietrich sang the German national anthem, he contemplated the devastation Hitler and the Nazis were perpetrating on Europe. Dietrich would do whatever he could to stop them, even if it meant pulling the trigger on the fuhrer himself. He had thought about it from every angle, and his conscience was clear.
Born into a loving family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer pursued a life as a pastor, teacher, theologian — and spy. He spoke out about the trouble in Germany when Adolph Hitler came to power, urging the Christian church to rescue disparaged people groups and resist Hitler’s evil empire.
Accused of being a troublemaker, Dietrich continued on fearlessly in the midst of wickedness. His work as a spy in the German resistance and participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler led to imprisonment and eventual execution. But the lesson of his life story remains: “Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
Billy Bray: Saved From the Deepest Pit (Trailblazers)
John Newton: A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers)
Robert Murray McCheyne: Life Is An Adventure (Trailblazers)
As he stood and stared at the looming tenements of Edinburgh he saw what would become a large part of his life’s work throughout his own country of Scotland. “For years I’ve looked at these tall buildings,’ he told a friend, ‘but it never occurred to me to go into them and visit the people there who don’t know that Jesus has died to save them. There are children huddled together in there to keep warm. The poor things are nearly naked,” his voice caught in his throat with the emotion.
And that was what Robert Murray McCheyne was – an emotional, passionate preacher for Christ – a young man who longed to bring others to the Saviour who had loved him and died for him.
George Whitefield: Voice That Woke the World (Trailblazers)
Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Trailblazers)
Caught in a snowstorm one night Charles snuck into the back pew of a dusty country chapel. He had no idea that as well as escaping the freezing temperatures outside he would be faced with the most important decision of his life.
A wrinkled old man started to preach. Charles thought it would be a thoroughly boring service – but with the words “Look unto Jesus and be saved!” a cold and grumpy teenager began to realise that God’s word can change you, completely!
The simple country lad became a man who mixed with princes and beggars. He spoke words that touched the hearts of rich and poor alike. His fame became so widespread that it is reputed that even Queen Victoria attended one of his sermons. The Queen of England came to listen to the Prince of Preachers. But Charles was more concerned about the King of Kings – Jesus Christ.At night I’ve been reading my kids a biography of Charles Spurgeon by Christian Timothy George. It’s in the Trailblazers series for children published by Christian Focus. They have biographies of great saints from Church history ranging from Jonathan Edwards and John Calvin to Bill Bright and Martyn Lloyd Jones…I’m impressed by the books that Christian Focus is putting out.
John Knox: The Sharpened Sword (Trailblazers)
He began his theological life as a body guard to George Wishart – and it was when that young man was put to death by the religious authorities that John Knox was finally persuaded of the need to awaken his country from the death of injustice and spiritual poverty that afflicted it.
He was never built for a quiet life and when he ran from one danger, he often found himself headed straight for another.
Escaping from the authorities brought him straight into a castle siege and from there he ended up as a galley slave on a French frigate.
No wonder he appreciated liberty when he had felt the grasp of slavery’s chains and the cut of the enemy’s whip.
But his thirst for true freedom came from his longing for God’s Word to be preached. John knew that true liberty only came from being in service to God and his Kingdom.
Many stood against him and they still do today… but he gave much to his country and to his God and the church and Scotland owe John Knox – they owe him thanks as they owe the God he served thanks for calling such men to be his preachers.
