“The fact is that you simply cannot understand the history of Scotland unless you know something about the Protestant Reformation. It is the key to the understanding of the history of your great country in the last four hundred years.” So said, Martyn Lloyd-Jones in his short work, John Knox and the Reformation.
Lloyd-Jones and Iain Murray combine forces to commend the life and ministry of John Knox in a book that should be read by young and old alike.
Lloyd-Jones sets the context for the Protestant Reformation and alerts readers to the cultural and theological landscape that God sovereignly placed John Knox. Lloyd-Jones considers Knox to be the founder of Puritanism and makes a cogent case for this thesis.
Knox is painted as a man of ability, energy, and shrewdness. He was a godly man; an original thinker; a man filled with courage. These combined qualities helped propel him onto a stage in world history that shaped a nation for the glory of God.
Murray’s contribution to this volume is more specific in nature as he discusses how God prepared Knox to serve in the Scottish Reformation. Murray maintains:
- Knox became a man of prayer.
- Knox’s long exile made him an international Christian.
- It was during Knox’s exile, and especially in the final years in Geneva, that the master principles which governed his thought on Reformation came to maturity.
Life lessons are drawn from the example of John Knox making this a fascinating and encouraging read. I commend this little work to students of church history and Christ-followers who battle timidity. Surely the example of John Knox will embolden the most fearful saint.
Dr. David Steele has been in pastoral ministry since 1991. He holds BS and MA degrees from Multnomah University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary and a D. Min from Bakke Graduate University. Following graduation from Multnomah University, he served eight years as Pastor to Students at Lacey Chapel. In 2000, he became the Pastor of Theology at First Baptist Church in La Grande, Oregon where he served for over eleven years. In 2012, he became the Senior Pastor at Christ Fellowship in Everson, Washington.
He is the author of Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther, A Godward Gaze: The Holy Pursuit of John Calvin, and The White Flag: When Compromise Cripples the Church.
At Christ Fellowship he leads the staff, serves as the Pastor for preaching and vision casting, and oversees Veritas (adult theological education) and Iron Men (men’s leadership development).
His personal mission is to positively influence people, impact the world one person at a time and to glorify God by enjoying him forever. His passion in ministry is preaching, teaching, and leadership development. Specifically, his aim is to educate the mind, engage the affections, equip the whole person, and encourage God-centered living that treasures Christ above all things.
He and his wife, Gerrene were married in 1991 and they have two children.
