The Whole Counsel
John Snyder and Chuck Baggett, co-elders of Christ Church New Albany, host a weekly podcast discussing ancient truths of Christianity with contemporary applications.
Episodes
Letters of Samuel Rutherford X: Entertain Christ Well
Samuel Rutherford’s letters are often remembered for their soaring descriptions of the beauty and loveliness of Christ. But Rutherford was not content merely to comfort sleepy Christians. He also knew how to awaken them.
In this final episode on Samuel Rutherford, Dr. John Snyder examines a series of Rutherford’s letters written to stir believers out of spiritual lethargy and call them to earnestn
Letters of Samuel Rutherford IX: Small Souls and a Boundless Christ
Samuel Rutherford knew suffering, imprisonment, isolation, and loss. Yet from his prison cell came some of the richest descriptions of communion with Christ ever written.
In this episode of Dr. John Snyder continues exploring Rutherford’s letters by focusing on one central theme: the nearness of God. Drawing from Rutherford’s prison correspondence, Dr. Snyder examines the different ways Scripture
Letters of Samuel Rutherford VIII: Make Your Choice
This week we continue our study through the letters of Samuel Rutherford by looking at the cost Rutherford paid for following Christ faithfully. Dr. John Snyder gives an overview of Rutherford’s turbulent life, including his imprisonment, exile from his congregation, work at St. Andrews, influence at the Westminster Assembly, and his final years under house arrest awaiting trial for treason.
From
Letters of Samuel Rutherford VII: When Christ Comes with a Cross
Samuel Rutherford’s letters are filled with counsel for Christians walking through suffering, affliction, persecution, and grief. Having endured imprisonment, bereavement, sickness, and deep ecclesiastical conflict, Rutherford wrote not as a detached theologian, but as a pastor acquainted with sorrow.
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, we examine Rutherford’s teaching on Christian suffe
Letters of Samuel Rutherford VI: The Love and Loveliness of Christ
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder returns to the letters of Samuel Rutherford to consider a central theme of his writings, the love and loveliness of Christ.
Drawing from The Life of Samuel Rutherford by Andrew Thompson, this episode highlights Rutherford’s emphasis on experiential Christianity, where truth is not only understood but lived.
Rutherford presents Christ as
Letters of Samuel Rutherford V: Am I What I Say I Am?
We appreciate you giving us time to prepare new studies and to let you know about the study with Dr. Stephen Yuille that we just released. You can find more information about that study in the show notes.
But this week Dr. John Snyder returns to the letters of Samuel Rutherford. As Dr. Snyder says, those we read can become lifelong friends and counselors who speak truth to us in times of need. Thi
Kingdom Life: A New Study from Media Gratiae
For the past two weeks, we’ve mentioned an upcoming study with Jeremy Walker. This week, we’re pleased to announce that our new study with Dr. Stephen Yuille is now available.
Dr. Yuille’s study focuses on the longest recorded sermon of Jesus Christ—the Sermon on the Mount. In this episode, Dr. John Snyder asks Dr. Yuille about the personal impact this portion of Scripture has had on his life and
Praying Together III: Priming the Pump (Originally Published 4.10.25)
As we mentioned last week, Media Gratiae is currently producing a new study with Jeremy Walker. We’re excited about this project and will share more details with you in the coming months. This week we bring you the final conversation between Jeremy Walker and Teddy James on the corporate prayer service. While last week’s episode focused on preparing the heart for gathered prayer, this week turns t
Praying Together I: Digging the Well (Originally Published 03.27.25)
This week, we began work on a new Media Gratiae study by Jeremy Walker on the topic of killing sin. We always find Jeremy’s teaching careful, warm-hearted, and helpful. We are excited to start this new project with him.
Last year, Jeremy joined Teddy James on our podcast to discuss a sermon series Jeremy preached to his congregation at Maidenbower Baptist Church in England. The theme was the corpo
Letters of Samuel Rutherford IV: Assurance of Faith
This week we continue reading from the prison letters of Samuel Rutherford. Though he was suffering under house arrest, Rutherford never lost his pastoral concern for his people.
Many in his day had been baptized into the national church and assumed themselves to be Christians. Yet Rutherford recognized that outward identification did not necessarily mean true conversion. As a result, many were le
Letters of Samuel Rutherford III: Dark World, Fair Jesus
In this week’s episode, John Snyder continues exploring the letters of Samuel Rutherford. Rutherford is known for his poetic descriptions of Christ. Even when his life was difficult, he continued to speak of Christ’s worth and beauty.
In this letter to a young Christian, Rutherford gives counsel in two main areas. He urges him to seek Christ early. He also shows why Christ is worthy to be followed
Letters of Samuel Rutherford II: No Poison in Christ’s Cup
This week on The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues our series on the great letterwriters in Christendom: Letters of Samuel Rutherford. After introducing the Scottish Puritan pastor last episode, we now focus on his deep friendship with Marion McNaught, a godly woman who encouraged her family, supported Rutherford during trials, and even mentored others amid persecution.
Marion traveled far
Letters of Samuel Rutherford I: Six People Who will Benefit
This week, Dr. John Snyder continues exploring classic Christian letters by focusing on one of the greatest Puritan letter writers, Samuel Rutherford. If you’re new to Media Gratiae, don’t worry—we welcome you!
Samuel Rutherford was a Scottish Puritan pastor who endured intense persecution, the loss of several children, and the deaths of two wives. His letters on faith, holiness, and the beauty of
Letters of John Calvin VI: The Final Farewell of the Reformer
This week, we conclude our journey through the letters of John Calvin, exploring the final days of the Magisterial Reformer. Dr. John Snyder shares the accounts of Calvin’s last words, showing his heart for the church, his love for Christ, and his enduring impact on the Reformation.
Throughout his life, Calvin addressed disloyalty, royalty, the joys of marriage, and the sorrows of losing loved one
Letters of John Calvin V: Letters of John Calvin V: The Reformer’s Love and Loss
This week Dr. John Snyder continues our series on the letters of John Calvin, one of the most influential figures of the Protestant Reformation. In this episode, we take a different approach: instead of reading a single letter, we explore an article by Michael Nelson in Credo Magazine (link below) that sheds light on Calvin’s marriage and personal life.
Nelson’s article traces Calvin’s search for
Letters of John Calvin IV: On a Royal Conversion
What happens when a queen discovers Christ in the midst of wealth, luxury, and political turmoil? John Calvin’s letter to the Queen of Navarre offers timeless wisdom for every believer.
In this episode of the Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder explores a 1561 letter from John Calvin to a recently converted queen. Learn how God’s mercy transformed her life and the lessons Calvin shares for all
Letters of John Calvin III: John Knox, Queen Mary, and Reformational Clarity
This week, the Media Gratiae team is back at work. We are grateful for the patience and kindness many of you showed as we navigated the aftermath of the recent ice storm.
In this episode, we continue our series on the letters of John Calvin. Last time, we looked at a letter Calvin wrote directly to John Knox. This week, Knox again stands at the center of the discussion, though the letter itself is
Fighting and Killing Sin II: Watch and Pray (Originally published 10.20.22)
As we continue to recover from the winter storm that affected northeast Mississippi, we’re grateful for your patience and prayers. We didn’t want to leave you without encouragement this week, so we’re returning to the second episode in our series on John Owen’s Mortification of Sin, originally published on October 20, 2022. We trust the Lord will use it again to strengthen and steady your walk.
Ro
Fighting and Killing Sin I: Temptation and Testing (Originally published 10.13.22)
You may have heard about the significant ice storm that has swept through northeast Mississippi. Like many in our area, the Media Gratiae team has been affected, and the disruption has made it difficult for us to release a new episode this week. Still, we didn’t want to leave you without encouragement.
So this week we’re returning to one of our most well-received series, originally published on Oc
Letters of John Calvin II: Reconciliation and Encouragement toward John Knox
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel podcast, Dr. John Snyder continues reading from the letters of John Calvin. As he noted in the previous episode, Calvin’s correspondence was addressed to an impressively diverse range of individuals—prisoners, pastors, fellow reformers, nobles, and monarchs. For those interested in church history and the Protestant Reformation, Calvin’s letters offer a r
Letters of John Calvin I: Encouraging the Persecuted
This week we begin a new series of letters, this time reading directly from John Calvin. We often read about Calvin—about his theology, his controversies, or the defense of his legacy—but we wanted to slow down and listen to Calvin in his own words, particularly to see his pastoral heart.
For our first letter, we read a piece Calvin wrote to Protestant believers imprisoned and persecuted in Cathol
Winter of the Soul III: Why Faithful Servants Grow Weary
This week, Dr. John Snyder continues reflecting on spiritual weariness by returning to a lecture Charles Spurgeon delivered to ministerial students on what he called “the fainting fits” of a servant of God. Though Spurgeon addresses pastors directly, the wisdom he offers speaks to every Christian who has known seasons of exhaustion, discouragement, or the quiet temptation to lose heart.
Drawing fr
Winter of the Soul II: Why Faithfulness Doesn’t Prevent Depression
This week on The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues a thoughtful discussion on seasonal depression—whether that season is influenced by winter’s effect on our mood and mental state, or by a particularly difficult chapter of life. In the previous episode, Dr. Snyder introduced this theme through a candid letter from John Newton. In this episode, he turns to pastoral wisdom from Charles Spurge
Winter of the Soul I: January Outside and Inside
We often remember John Newton for his wisdom, joy, and enduring hymns. But like every Christian, Newton knew seasons of profound sadness and spiritual coldness. We know this because he wrote candidly to his close friend John Berridge—the author of “The Means of Grace are in My Hands”—confessing that he was experiencing what he called a “January inside and outside.”
In this opening episode of our n
Advent Meditations III: Helping You Conquer Your Sin
Merry Christmas from Media Gratiae. In this special episode, Jordan and John conclude their series on meditating on the incarnation of Jesus. They explore what it means that Christ took on our flesh without sin, how the incarnation shapes our reconciliation with the Father, and much more.
Of particular focus is a practical application that has been especially meaningful to Jordan: how the incarnat
Advent Meditations II: Isaac Ambrose’s Practical Observations
The incarnation is one of the most familiar doctrines in Christianity—and yet one of the most overlooked. This week, Dr. John Snyder is joined again by Jordan Thomas to slow down, look closely, and recover the awe that Scripture invites us to feel as we consider the eternal Son taking on human flesh.
Last week they walked through key biblical passages on the incarnation. This week they turn to the
Advent Meditations I: The Mystery of the Incarnation
25 Meditations on the Incarnation:
https://shop.mediagratiae.org/pages/advent-meditations
This week, Dr. John Snyder is joined by Jordan Thomas, a familiar voice to longtime Media Gratiae listeners. Jordan contributes to the Behold Your God study series, is the author of Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church, and has appeared on the podcast several times.
In
A Word in Season: A New Devotional from Jeremy Walker
In this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder welcomes pastor and author Jeremy Walker to discuss his new devotional, A Word in Season: 50 Days of Hope for Hard Times. Many of you will know Jeremy from his two Media Gratiae podcasts—From the Heart of Spurgeon and A Word in Season.
In this conversation, Jeremy shares the story behind both projects, the pastoral concerns that first prompted the daily A Wo
Getting the Incarnation Right: Athanasius on the Deity of Christ
In recognition of the upcoming 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, we are presenting a special episode from our Navigating the Classics series.
Dr. John Snyder is joined by attorney and elder Steve Crampton and pastor Jamie Crampton to discuss Athanasius’s classic work On the Incarnation. Together, they trace the historical context of the writing, the theological debate that prompted it, and
2025 Supporter Update
As this year comes to a close, we want to present to you a report on what the Lord has guided Media Gratiae to accomplish over the course of 2025. This week, Dr. John Snyder highlights new Bible studies, books, and expanded translations of our material. He also discusses the relaunch of our Media Gratiae Online and our growing podcast reach. We are grateful for your prayers and support.
With every
2025 Book Recommendations
It’s one of our favorite episodes of the year—sharing new Christian books worth reading and giving. In this 2025 edition, Dr. John Snyder highlights an updated commentary, a missionary biography, a devotional from Jeremy Walker, and more. Perfect for Christmas gifts or planning your 2026 reading list. Find links to every book below!
Every year around this time, we take a look at recent Christian
Letters that Continue to Speak XI: Final Letter to Mrs. —
John Newton’s final letter to Mrs. — reminds believers that suffering is never wasted. Dr. John Snyder explores Newton’s insights on sanctification, God’s glory in affliction, and Christ’s inexhaustible compassion.
In this final episode on John Newton’s Letters to Mrs. —, Dr. John Snyder explores Newton’s tender counsel to a believer walking through prolonged difficulty. Newton reminds her — an
Letters that Continue to Speak X: Humility Over Blessings
Dr. John Snyder continues the Letters that Continue to Speak series with John Newton’s Letter 5.
In this pastoral letter, Newton teaches how God uses trials to cultivate humility, Christlikeness, and dependence on Him alone. He warns that comforts can quietly divide our hearts, but through trials, Christ—the perfect Teacher—draws us back to Himself.
Newton closes with four exhortations: gratitude
Letters that Continue to Speak IX: God’s Kindness in Our Trials
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues our series on Christian letters from the past, focusing on Letter 4 to Mrs. —, written by John Newton. These letters, though centuries old, still speak powerfully into our lives today.
This week’s letter reveals Newton’s pastoral heart as he guides a friend through illness and spiritual struggle. He addresses a question many be
Letters that Continue to Speak VIII: Fighting Without; Fears Within
Last week, we introduced “Mrs.. —.” She is a lady whose name is lost to history, but John Newton’s “shepherding through the post,” as Dr. John Snyder phrased it in the first episode of this series, is timeless to her. Newton wrote a series of eight letters to Mrs.— and this week is the second letter. In it, John Newton helps her see the battle of the Christian life. New believers may be surprised
Letters That Continue to Speak VII: Dust and Divinity
This week, we return to our series of Christian letters from history. Previously, we have looked at letters John Newton wrote about stages of the Christian life and a letter he wrote concerning corporate prayer. This week, we begin looking at a series of eight letters Newton wrote to a “Mrs. . —.” We do not have her name, as Newton removed most identifying information from the letters when he pub
Study Preview Special: Christ Our Treasure
This is our final week of previewing studies Media Gratiae has produced through the years. If you have been through Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically, or Behold Your God: The Weight of Majesty, you have seen Jordan Thomas. He contributed to the interview segments of those two studies.
When we started producing smaller studies, we knew we wanted Jordan to make one. We approached him and as
Study Preview Special: The Nature and Practice of True-Hearted Discipleship
We are continuing our special series highlighting studies Media Gratiae has produced through the years, and this week, we are presenting to you one of our newer studies. Published in 2024, The Nature and Practice of True-Hearted Discipleship was written and taught by Dr. Ian Hamilton.
If you are unfamiliar with Dr. Hamilton, we highly encourage you to seek out his books and preaching. His style is
Study Preview Special: The Weight of Majesty
We are taking a break from our series on letters from Christian history to give Teddy James and his family a short break while they care for their new addition, Jack. During this time, we are presenting to you the first session from several studies that Media Gratiae has produced over the years. This week’s special is Behold Your God: The Weight of Majesty, which is a follow-up to our first study.
Study Preview Special: Rethinking God Biblically
We are celebrating an addition to the Media Gratiae family over the next few weeks. If you have listened to The Whole Counsel for a long time, you may remember Teddy James. His family is welcoming their newest addition, Jack. To give Teddy some time to focus on his home needs, we are running a series of special episodes highlighting some of the studies produced by Media Gratiae over the years.
Fir
Letters That Continue to Speak VI: Thoughts on the exercise of Social Prayer
Public prayer, whether it is praying in a corporate setting or simply asking a blessing over a meal with friends, can cause many Christians to feel uncomfortable. It may be easy to think we are the only ones who feel awkward in the practice, but this has been a reality for much longer than we think. In this week’s letter from the past, Dr. John Snyder reads a helpful correspondence from John Newto
Letters That Continue to Speak V: The Full Corn in the Ear
Dr. John Snyder has spent the last two weeks looking at John Newton’s seasons of the Christian life, which he likens to a growing stalk of corn. The Christian life starts as a blade sprouting from the soil. Then there is a small, immature, but very real fruit showing. Lastly, the season we are discussing this week is the mature Christian life. Each stage has its distinguishing marks, and this seas
Letters That Continue to Speak IV: Grace in the Ear
We are doing a giveaway. You can sign up for it here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway The book we are giving away can be seen here: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/letters/select-letters-of-john-newton/
If you have been following The Whole Counsel for the last few weeks, you know we are looking at helpful letters throughout Christian history. We aren’t taking the letter
Letters That Continue to Speak III: Grace in the Blade
We are doing a giveaway (that we will announce next week). You can sign up for it here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/the-whole-counsel-giveaway The book we are giving away can be seen here: https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/letters/select-letters-of-john-newton/
Last week we looked at a letter from John Newton to a student studying for ministry work. This week’s letter is also from Newton, but it
Letters That Continue to Speak II: Letter to a Student of Divinity
John Newton is best known today for his hymn, Amazing Grace. But in his day, he was better known for his letters. Christians, pastors, and others would write to him for pastoral advice. In our ongoing series about timeless letters from the past, we will spend a large percentage of our time reading his letters. In part because he was so prolific in his letter-writing. But lots of people have writte
Letters That Continue to Speak I: How to Benefit from Reading Letters
We are beginning a new series this week on The Whole Counsel. It is a series our team has wanted to make for a long time, but we have finally decided on the best way to deliver it to you. For much of his Christian life, Dr. John Snyder has benefitted from the letters of Christians throughout history. These are far from historical curiosity or museum exhibits to be visited from time to time. They a
Overcoming Obstacles to the Puritans
This week we have Dr. Stephen Yuille in the studio again. During his last visit, he told us about a reading challenge through George Swinnock’s The Blessed and Boundless God.
Today, Dr. Yuille and Dr. John Snyder have a broader discussion in mind. Because of his profession and experience, many people ask Dr. Yuille how they can read and benefit more from the Puritans. He sought to develop a concis
Studies for Christ’s Under-Shepherds I: Introducing a New Study
This week, we are happy to announce a new project from the personal study of Dr. John Snyder. This study originated from a desperation within John’s own heart. It deals with the life of a person whom God trusts with leadership in his kingdom.
Titled Studies for Christ’s Under-Shepherds, this 11-week study is a series of talks by Dr. Snyder to a group of ministers local to New Albany, Mississippi.
J. C. Ryle Children’s Sermon: Seeking the Lord Early
We spent the previous several weeks discussing Charles Spurgeon’s small work on the weighty responsibility of parents and Sunday school teachers. While we covered everything Spurgeon said in that series, we wanted to leave the topic with an example of how we can speak to our children about eternal issues. To that end, we pull help from a contemporary of Spurgeon, an Anglican bishop named J. C. Ryl
Reformation Heritage Book and a Puritan Reading Challenge
On this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder is joined by Dr. Stephen Yuille. Dr. Yuille has been with us before when he produced a study on the book of Galatians (https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/gospel-realities-lessons-from-galatians).
He is in the studio this week with us because he just filmed a new study focusing on the Sermon on Mount. Make sure you are following us
Leading Little Ones to God V: Three Final Admonitions
This week we conclude our series based on Charles Spurgeon’s pamphlet Feed My Lambs. In these final segments, Spurgeon gives us three admonitions: remember whom you are teaching, remember that you are teaching on behalf of God, and remember that your children need this teaching. Keeping these things in mind will be a help in both preparing and in teaching theological matter to children.
Spurgeon l
Leading Little Ones to God IV: In Faith to Faith
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel, John and Misty Snyder come together again to continue discussing the small pamphlet Feed My Lambs written by Charles Spurgeon. He wrote this small work with Sunday school teachers in mind, but John and Misty find particular help for parents in this week’s segments.
When it comes to presenting the warnings of hell to children, we must do so carefully. To
Leading Little Ones to God III: Teach from Love and Life
In this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder and his wife Misty continue discussing Charles Spurgeon’s small pamphlet, Feed My Lambs, focusing on teaching the gospel to young children. Today they focus on getting the most out of Sunday school. Some argue the practice is worse than unnecessary but claim it is bad. Provided that the Sunday school teacher is converted, we, along with Charles Spurgeon, dis
Leading Little Ones to God II: Avoiding Ditches
This week we continue our series on presenting the gospel to children in our churches and families with Dr. John Snyder and his wife, Misty. The pair has spent years considering the topic, not just as parents, but as the authors of Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early, a curriculum that aims to present the realities of the gospel to children on their level.
We are continuing to get help from Charles
Leading Little Ones to God I: Feeding the Lambs
This week we begin a new series with a new guest, Misty Snyder. Misty is the coauthor of Behold Your God: Seeking Him Early and the wife of Dr. John Snyder.
For help in this series, we are looking to Charles Spurgeon and J. C. Ryle. Spurgeon’s little work, Feed My Lambs, was written for Christian parents and Sunday School teachers. This week, we focus on the opening section where Spurgeon hones in
Josephine Rose: Talking to God
On this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder hosts a former member of Christ Church New Albany, Josephine Rose. Josephine began coming to CCNA while she was in college. It was during her time in the fellowship there that God revealed Himself to her and rescued her. After graduation, she came down with a serious illness that forced her to move back in with her parents. Bedridden and anxious, she and her
W. V. Higham IV: The Hope for Revival
This week's sermon is the final in our series of revival sermons from Rev. Vernon Higham. Isaiah saw the need for revival in his day, and he cried out for it. We are also in great need of revival, and we hope the previous episodes have led you to cry out to God for it.
In this final sermon, Rev. Higham shares with us the hope for revival from Isaiah 64:8-12. This hope is not the hope the world has
W. V. Higham III: The Burden for Revival
This week’s podcast is the third of four sermons on revival preached by Reverend Vernon Higham in 1984. Rev. Higham felt the need for revival in his own land, and his desire for revival is expressed throughout this powerful sermon based on Isaiah 64:1–7.
We pray this series benefits you and burdens you to pray for revival in your own soul, family, church, and land. If you would like to hear more s
W. V. Higham II: The Cry for Revival
“Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah? This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? ’It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’” Isaiah 63:1
This week’s podcast continues the sermon series by Reverend W. V. Higham. Mr. Higham was the pastor of John Snyder and his family while he spent time in Wales working on
W. V. Higham I: The Need for Revival
While Dr. John Snyder was in Wales pursuing his doctorate, he and his family attended Heath Evangelical Church, where Mr. W. Vernon Higham was the pastor. Mr. Higham was also a close friend of Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones and his wife. Through the years spent at Heath Evangelical, John and his family benefited greatly from Mr. Higham’s preaching, but there has been one series that John has gone back to
Praying Together IV: Engage in Prayer
Sitting in the prayer service of a church can feel like a passive experience. But it does not have to be. As we conclude our series on the corporate prayer service, Jeremy Walker preaches to his local flock at Maidenbower Baptist Church in Crawley, England about the practice of engaging with the prayer service. It may seem there isn’t much to do with your head bowed and eyes closed, but nothing co
Praying Together III: Priming the Pump
We’ve now spent two weeks focusing on the corporate prayer service. It is our prayer that, if you are not participating in your church’s prayer service, or if your church does not have one, you will find a way to begin this sweet means of grace.
In this episode, Jeremy Walker and Teddy James discuss some helpful resources on learning to pray, both privately and corporately. Teddy also asks Jeremy
Praying Together II: Leading in Prayer
This week we continue our series on the corporate prayer service. As stated last week, we are sharing the first of two sermons Jeremy Walker preached to his congregation on corporate prayer. Taken from 1 Corinthians 14:16 and Acts 4:24, Jeremy seeks to give practical counsel for those leading out in the prayer service. He discusses how we can come into the service prepared to pray. He also hits on
Praying Together I: Digging the Well
Recently some of our team members listened to a sermon series preached by Jeremy Walker on the corporate prayer service. We were so blessed by it that we wanted to share it with you. But Jeremy preached those sermons for his own church where there is already a foundational understanding of the purpose and focus of the corporate prayer service. To better help our audience, we thought it would be be
Labor in Prayer III: Praying for Rescue
We have spent the last several weeks discussing the life of prayer in the Christian. Only those who have cried out to the Lord for the salvation of a child, parent, spouse, or other loved ones know the desperation one can feel in this situation. We are regularly tempted with the whisper of the enemy that our prayers aren’t working. We continually pray, but that loved one seems to only put more dis
Labor in Prayer II: Praying in Faith
How do Christians pray when we aren’t sure God is going to answer positively what we pray for? That is the heart of the discussion this week between Dr. John Snyder and Hugh Morrison, pastor and HeartCry missionary in Canada.
As Hugh says in the podcast, our role in prayer is to ask; God’s role is to answer. So how do we ask? We bring questions God has told us to ask. He has told us to pray for th
Labor in Prayer I: Learning to Linger
In one sense, prayer is the simplest thing for a Christian. It is simply a child going to his father and talking. But it is also mysterious because it is a relational transaction between our soul and the only uncreated being in the universe. We can have communion with the Redeemer of our souls. We can walk into the presence of almighty God to have his attention. Hugh Morrison, you may remember his
Gospel Realties Session 1: Christ Alone
If you would like some help in studying Galatians, consider Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians.
Watch the study trailer here: https://youtu.be/HlAIb5uSBOI
Find more information here: https://www.mediagratiae.org/gospel-realities-lessons-from-galatians
This week we present to you session one of Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians. In this session, Dr. Yuille focuses on the intent of the
Gospel Realities: Interview with Dr. Stephen Yuille
Media Gratiae is pleased to announce our newest, Gospel Realities: Lessons from Galatians, written and taught by Dr. Stephen Yuille. Yuille is the professor of church history and spiritual formation at The Southerwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the preaching pastor of a local church, and serves as a content director and editor at Reformation Heritage Books.
We at Media Gratiae found the writ
Given to Prayer and Study II
Several weeks ago, Canadian pastor and HeartCry missionary Hugh Morrison came to visit New Albany. While here, he preached to our congregation a number of times. We also asked him to speak to local ministers on prayer.
His talk was so beneficial to us that we wanted to share it with you. Because the talk was so long, we opted to split it for you. So this week, we present to you the second half of
Given to Prayer and Study I
A few weeks ago, Christ Church New Albany hosted Hugh Morrison, a missionary pastor in Canada and invited him to preach to our congregation. During his visit, he also recorded a few podcasts with us and spoke to local ministers.
His ministerial talks were so helpful and broadly applicable that we decided to publish them. So, for the next two weeks, we will deliver his talk to ministers, focusing o
A Command to Remember IV: The Object of Our Focus
For the last several weeks, we have considered the sweet command of Hebrews 12:2: looking, fixing, focusing our eyes upon the author of finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ. Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James have previously discussed the foundational principles necessary for obeying this command. Today, they will address whom we are blessed to look towards. Have you considered what a blessing it is t
A Command to Remember III: Look Away from the Bad…and the Good
Last week we looked at the Greek word apherontes eis, which translated literally is “away from look toward.” And we shared how we must look away from certain things if our eyes are going to focus on Jesus Christ. This week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James share specific things we must look away from.
First on the list is the temptation to long for the old life. This common refrain is found in the b
A Command to Remember II: Away From Look Toward
Last week Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James introduced our new series that will, by the grace of God, help us walk closer to Jesus in 2025 than we did in 2024. We will spend a great deal of time focusing on that sweet command to "look unto Christ."This week we are still getting help from Isaac Ambrose's book "Looking Unto Christ" (details on the giveaway linked below).
In order to look toward an obj
A Command to Remember I: Intentionality Required
Even the sweetest commands from our King are still commands. We may be tempted to view commands such as "Do not kill" as more weighty than the command "Look unto Christ." But both are spoken from the same authority, God himself. Therefore, they are worthy of the same attention, effort, and obedience.
For the next few weeks, we will be discussing the command to look unto Jesus. There are several pa
Union with Christ- Finishing Well II
"If my God preserves you, and preserve you he must, or else you are not his; if he will keep you, and keep you he will if you have committed your souls to his faithful guardianship, that an honor awaits you!" These words by Charles Spurgeon perfectly summarize the objective promise for every believer in Christ.
God has promised that every Christian will finish this life clinging to Christ. He has
Union with Christ- Finishing Well I
Last week we mentioned a new series with Teddy James and Jeremy Walker. This week we decided to postpone that series because Dr. John Snyder and Teddy James recorded a two-episode series for the conclusion of 2024 and beginning of 2025. John and Acey Floyd recorded a series focusing on Union with Christ several months ago. As we said during those episodes, there was much more we could say on the t
The Altogether Lovely One IV: The Sanctified Bride of Christ
See Jordan’s study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas
Over the last three weeks, Dr. John Snyder and Jordan Thomas have been discussing the ultimate jewel of the Christian life. We all know that Christ is to be the precious treasure of our individual and corporate Christian lives, but sometimes we mu
The Altogether Lovely One III: Seeing Scripture Christocentricly
See Jordan’s study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas
If we are going to see growth in our Christian lives, we must learn to see Christ through the entirety of the Bible. When the New Testament was written, the writers constantly pointed back to the Old Testament to make Jesus known. When Paul tells
The Altogether Lovely One II: He is not the Problem. We Are.
See Jordan’s study, Christ Our Treasure: Enjoying the Preeminence of Jesus in the Local Church - https://shop.mediagratiae.org/collections/jordan-thomas
This week we continue our series with Jordan Thomas discussing the greatest treasure of the Christian life. If our eyes are fixed on anything other than Christ, we are looking in a fatal direction. While this sounds very noble and spiritual, it is
