The Puritan Pulpit

Minicast: The Puritans vs. The Pope

Tue, 05 May 2026 15:43:23 GMT

Was identifying the Pope as the "Man of Sin" just a 17th-century insult, or a technical theological necessity? This week on The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the radical convictions that defined a movement. We’re diving into why the Puritan divines viewed any human claim to supreme authority over the Church as "spiritual high treason" and why they branded the Roman system a "spiritual Egypt".

From Jonathan Edwards’ imagery of the Papacy being consumed like a garment by a "moth" to John Owen’s "practical love of truth" as the only lasting defense against superstition , we uncover the redemptive-historical vision that shaped the Puritan worldview.

Special Episode: The Crescent and The Cross - A Primer on Islam

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:29:07 GMT

In this special episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin moves beyond the 17th-century perspective to trace the long, turbulent history of the encounter between Christianity and Islam. From the desert sands of seventh-century Arabia to the besieged gates of Vienna, this episode explores the fundamental theological and historical wedges that have defined thirteen centuries of conflict.

Join us as we pull back the curtain on the garbled gospel of the East, the mechanics of stealth oppression, and the brave spiritual warriors who sought to win the soul of the Sultan with the Word rather than the sword. It is a journey through shadows and light, ultimately pointing toward the only Truth that offers a certain hope.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Islam

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:20:39 GMT

In this minicast episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the sophisticated and often apocalyptic worldview of the 17th and 18th-century Puritans regarding the global rise of Islam.

Far from seeing it as a mere political force, figures like John Owen and Jonathan Edwards integrated the Ottoman power into a meticulous "History of the Work of Redemption." Join us as we examine how the Puritans used the lenses of Trinitarian theology and the "Historicist" interpretation of prophecy to navigate a world in upheaval, viewing every geopolitical shift as a landmark on the road to a final, divine conclusion.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Women Pastors

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:05:27 GMT

What happens when the "priesthood of all believers" meets the "Law of Nature"? On this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin explores the meticulously constructed world of conservative Puritan ecclesiology. We’re moving beyond modern soundbites to examine how figures like Thomas Goodwin and Jonathan Edwards reconciled the absolute spiritual equality of the soul with a strictly gendered pastoral office. From the "extraordinary" exceptions of the biblical record to the radical social upheavals of the 17th century, we uncover why the Puritans viewed the pulpit not as a seat of power, but as a boundary of creation itself. Discover the theology behind the order in an episode that asks: is the church a reflection of a divinely ordered cosmos, or merely a product of its time?

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Modern Preaching

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:29:44 GMT

Has the modern pulpit traded its spiritual fortress for a performance stage? In this episode, Nick Reddin explores the meticulous and fiery world of the Puritan divines. We’re drawing a line between the “Tinseled Trappings” of today’s casual church and the "Plain Style" of the 17th century, a method designed not just to inform the mind, but to put God’s truth into the very soul. It’s time to move past the summarical and the shallow. Join us as we conduct a theological audit of the modern pulpit through the lens of the men who viewed preaching as a matter of life and death.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Modern Church Music

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:33:39 GMT

If the power went out, would your worship still exist? ⚡️We live in an age of "worship experiences," but what happens when you strip away the production? In this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, Nick Reddin takes us back 400 years to a movement that viewed church music through a lens most modern Christians have never even considered. It’s a perspective that challenges every light, every chord, and every lyric we take for granted. Is your Sunday morning a "Gospel Ordinance" or a human invention?

Minicast: The Pattern of Puritan Evangelism

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:31:38 GMT

Think Puritan evangelism was just fire and brimstone from a pulpit? Think again. In this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, Nick Reddin digs into the "Art of Manfishing" a systematic, house-to-house, street-level movement that transformed entire cities. From Richard Baxter’s 4-step visitation model to the "Heart-Anatomy" of the Plain Style sermon, discover how the Puritans used the Law as a needle to pull the blue thread of the Gospel through the soul.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. The Devil (Exorcism & Possession)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:56:28 GMT

To the Puritans, the spirit world was no myth; it was a high-stakes battlefield where the air itself was thick with the presence of unseen powers. In this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, Nick Reddin explores the "Invisible Combat," a world where the Devil operates as a "chained dog" restricted by divine sovereignty. We dive into the crucial distinction between demonic possession and the "obsession" of the believer, exploring how the enemy lays siege to the mind through trials and black moods. Discover why the Puritans rejected the "theatre" of formal exorcism in favor of the "volleys of prayer" and the "silver trumpets of the Gospel" to reclaim the human soul from the master strategist of darkness.

Minicast: Were the Puritans Superstitious?

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 02:36:27 GMT

Forget the "witch-hunter" caricatures. For the Puritans, the real danger wasn't just spirits, it was superstition, a "will-worship" that traded biblical truth for human fear. This episode of The Puritan Pulpit explores how these rigorous thinkers used the Doctrine of Providence to stabilize a supernatural world. Join Nick Reddin as he dives into William Perkins’ war on "white magic" and the moment Increase Mather’s biblical logic finally silenced the gallows at Salem. Stop looking at the myths and start looking at the Word.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. Modern Church Discipline

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:06:21 GMT

To the modern mind, Puritan church discipline sounds harsh. To the Puritan mind, a church without discipline wasn't a church at all, it was a garden without a hedge, soon to be reclaimed by the wilderness. On the latest episode of The Puritan Pulpit, Nick Reddin explores why they believed that without the "hedge" of discipline, the sacraments would be profaned and the name of God blasphemed. Listen now to understand the "Power of the Keys."

Arthur Dent - A Platform Made for the Proof of God's Providence - Proverbs 16:33

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:49:49 GMT

When life falls apart, is it bad luck or a divine plan? 16th-century pastor Arthur Dent believed that attributing anything to "fortune" was practical atheism. In this episode, we step back to 1608 to hear Dent’s A Platform Made for the Proof of God's Providence.

This isn't dry academic theology. It is a warm, pastoral defense of the idea that God is as involved in the death of a bird as He is in the birth of a star. Join host Nick Reddin for a re-preaching of this essential text on the absolute sovereignty of God.

Special Episode: Leonard Ravenhill - A Cry for Revival

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:50:45 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin for a special episode featuring Leonard Ravenhill’s A Cry for Revival. Discover why this 20th-century preacher, despite theological differences, is often called a "Methodist Puritan." A powerful call to holiness, prayer, and the "agony" of true intercession.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. The Lone Wolf Christian

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:34:46 GMT

Can you claim the Head (Christ) while rejecting the Body (the Church)? In our era of megachurch anonymity, "The Lone Wolf Christian" has become common, consuming sermons as religious commodities without ever submitting to pastoral oversight. But to the Puritan mind, an unattached Christian was a theological impossibility, a "wandering star" drifting toward darkness.

Drawing on the rigorous ecclesiology of John Owen, Thomas Hooker, and Jonathan Edwards, this episode argues that the "unfixed soul" is in profound spiritual peril. I dismantle the modern myth of consumer Christianity and explore why the Puritans believed that to remain a "loose stone" is to remain dangerously exposed outside the temple of God.

Minicast: The Puritans vs. The Megachurch

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 13:40:22 GMT

Do you have a shepherd? Or do you just have a favorite speaker? In this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin breaks down the Puritan critique of the multi-site, mega-campus model. We discuss the peril of the "unwatched soul" and the urgent need to return to a biblical model where every sheep is known by name.

Minicast: Puritan Strategies for Spiritual Warfare

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:07:12 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin for a focused look at the Puritan doctrine of Spiritual Warfare. We examine the paradigmatic lens of war that defined their worldview, the specific strategies of Satan identified by Thomas Brooks, and the 'holy violence' advocated by Thomas Watson. A concise guide to ancient strategies for a modern battle.

Christmas Evans - The Smitten Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:41:34 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on The Puritan Pulpit, where we examine the remarkable life of Welsh preacher Christmas Evans and his sermon "The Smitten Rock." Born on Christmas Day in 1766, this resilient, one-eyed figure emerged from a challenging upbringing, marked by poverty and perils such as stabbings and accidents that ultimately guided him toward a profound faith. He acquired literacy in his late adolescence through diligent study of the Bible, underwent a transformative conversion, and started his ministry as a Baptist missionary in 1790, igniting revivals throughout 19th-century Wales amidst the upheavals of industrialization.

In this episode, I bring his renowned sermon, drawn from 1 Corinthians 10:4, which depicts Christ as the rock smitten by divine justice to release boundless mercy. This vivid allegory admonishes against ingratitude and transgression while emphasizing the exultation of redemption emanating from Calvary. This message is especially for anyone experiencing spiritual dryness.

With that in mind I invite you to listen to this enduring classic.

Special Episode: Seeds of the Reformation - Dr. Nick Needham

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:49 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on the Puritan Pulpit Podcast, where timeless Puritan sermons are re-preached with passion and fidelity. In this special episode, we step into the historical roots of the Reformation with Dr. Nick Needham’s compelling article, "Seeds of the Reformation," from the Sword and Trowel magazine. Explore how the Renaissance, the printing press, and voices like Erasmus and Savonarola sowed the seeds for the Puritan theology we cherish, emphasizing Scripture, grace, and heart-centered faith. Perfect for listeners who love Puritan preaching and its Reformation heritage.

Samuel Rutherford - The Worth and Excellence of the Gospel - 2 Cor 10:4-5

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 18:55:20 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on The Puritan Pulpit as we dive into Samuel Rutherford’s powerful sermon, The Worth and Excellence of the Gospel. Preached in 17th-century Scotland amidst religious turmoil, this message from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 proclaims the gospel’s unmatched strength. Discover how Rutherford, a pastor shaped by personal loss and unwavering faith, rallied his Anwoth congregation to stand firm against royal pressures. This episode unveils a timeless call to cherish the gospel’s transformative power—don’t miss it!

Jonathan Edwards - Farewell Sermon - 2 Corinthians 1:14

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:25:24 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on The Puritan Pulpit as we journey to July 1, 1750, in Northampton, Massachusetts, to revisit Jonathan Edwards’ heartfelt Farewell Sermon. Cast out by the congregation he guided through the Great Awakening, Edwards preached with solemn grace and eternal truth, reflecting on the revival that transformed a Puritan town and the controversy that fractured it. From Northampton’s meetinghouse to the wilderness of Stockbridge, this episode reveals the enduring legacy of a theologian who faced rejection with steadfast conviction and why his words continue to challenge our faith and soul today.

Octavious Winslow - The Man of God

Fri, 30 May 2025 19:59:12 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on The Puritan Pulpit as we revisit Octavius Winslow’s powerful 1863 sermon, The Man of God. Though not a Puritan by era, Winslow’s Christ-centered, deeply devotional preaching carries the Puritan legacy forward. Delivered amid revival in 19th-century England, this sermon calls believers to authentic faith—marked by love for Christ, holiness, and dependence on grace—in a world prone to shallow religion. Discover timeless truths that challenge and inspire us to walk sincerely with Christ today.

Thomas Doolittle - Motives to Love Jesus

Thu, 22 May 2025 17:52:10 GMT

Join host Nick Reddin on The Puritan Pulpit as we unearth a timely sermon from 17th-century Puritan Thomas Doolittle, Motives to Love Jesus. Delivered by a fearless preacher who defied persecution after the 1662 Act of Uniformity, this message is a call to love Christ above all. Through vivid metaphors and 28 compelling reasons, Doolittle urges us to forsake fleeting worldly pleasures for the eternal Savior. Steeped in biblical themes, this sermon isn’t just theology—it’s a heartbeat of devotion. Tune in and let Doolittle’s words ignite your love for Jesus.

Special Episode: The Revival Hymn

Sat, 17 May 2025 15:00:53 GMT

In this stirring episode of The Puritan Pulpit, we explore The Revival Hymn—an arresting audio compilation that has stirred hearts toward a deeper longing for God. Though the voices featured—Ian Paisley, Leonard Ravenhill, Paris Reidhead, Duncan Campbell, A.W. Tozer, and T. Austin Sparks—are not Puritan's, their impassioned cries for revival echo the very zeal and urgency that marked the Puritan spirit. From Reidhead’s confrontational Ten Shekels and a Shirt to Campbell’s eyewitness account of the Hebrides Revival, where entire villages fell to their knees in prayer, this episode issues a solemn yet hope-filled summons to the modern church. Listen in for a message that pierces the conscience and kindles a longing for true awakening.

Thomas Manton - Hiding God's Word in Our Hearts - Psalm 119:11

Mon, 12 May 2025 15:13:13 GMT

Dive into The Puritan Pulpit with host Nick Reddin for a captivating episode exploring Thomas Manton’s powerful sermon, Hiding God’s Word in Our Hearts, based on Psalm 119:11. This 17th-century gem, part of Manton’s renowned Psalm 119 series, offers timeless wisdom on how studying and treasuring scripture can anchor your faith, guide your decisions, and strengthen you through life’s challenges. Manton’s practical insights resonate as much today as they did in an era of persecution. Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth or encouragement, this episode will inspire you to embrace God’s Word in a fresh, transformative way. Tune in for an uplifting journey into Puritan preaching that speaks to the heart!

Jonathan Edwards - True Saints When Absent from the Body are present with the Lord (David Brainerd's Funeral Sermon)

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:00:10 GMT

In this episode of The Puritan Pulpit, host Nick Reddin brings you Jonathan Edwards’s moving sermon, “True Saints, When Absent from the Body, Are Present with the Lord,” preached at the 1747 funeral of missionary David Brainerd. At just 29, Brainerd’s relentless gospel work among Native Americans cost him his health, yet his unshakable faith inspired Edwards to share this powerful reflection on life, death, and eternal hope. Join us to hear Edwards’s eloquent vision of a believer’s homecoming to Christ, woven with Brainerd’s remarkable story of devotion.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - Believers Not Ashamed of the Cross of Christ

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:28:53 GMT

In this episode, we bring back Robert Murray M'Cheyne’s stirring sermon, Believers Not Ashamed of the Cross of Christ, rooted in Romans 1:15-18. We step into Paul’s shoes, boldly preaching the gospel to Rome—the world’s mightiest, most learned, and wicked city—unshaken by its grandeur or sin. With M'Cheyne as our guide, we unpack the power of Christ’s righteousness and the call to glory in the cross, delivering this timeless message afresh for today’s listeners. Tune in for a faithful echo of gospel courage.

John Bunyan - The Barren Fig Tree

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 01:27:49 GMT

Dive into the timeless wisdom of John Bunyan in this gripping sermon, The Barren Fig Tree. With his signature blend of vivid storytelling and piercing spiritual insight, Bunyan unpacks the parable of the fig tree that bears no fruit—a powerful metaphor for lives that fall short of their divine purpose. This message challenges listeners to examine their own hearts, confront complacency, and embrace true repentance before time runs out. Perfect for seekers and believers alike, this podcast delivers a stirring call to fruitfulness that resonates as deeply today as it did in Bunyan’s time. Tune in for a transformative journey through one of the Puritan master’s most compelling works.

George Whitefield - The Good Shepherd: A Farewell Sermon (59)

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:18:01 GMT

Step back to August 30, 1769, and experience the raw emotion and unshakable faith of George Whitefield’s final London sermon before his journey to America. In this powerful farewell, "The Good Shepherd," Whitefield preaches from John 10:27-28 with a slow, deliberate reverence that builds into a fervent call to follow Christ. Reflecting on the trials of the righteous and the unshakable security of God’s sheep, he weaves scripture, personal anecdotes, and vivid imagery to inspire courage amid opposition. From the temple porch to the cross, Whitefield urges his hearers to hear the Shepherd’s voice and cling to the promise of eternal life. Join us for a stirring glimpse into the heart of an 18th-century preacher whose words still echo with conviction and grace.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God - Jonathan Edwards

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 22:25:09 GMT

Jonathan Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is a powerful, soul-piercing sermon delivered on July 8, 1741, during the height of the Great Awakening. Renowned for its vivid imagery and profound theological depth, this sermon was used by God to awaken multitudes to the reality of divine judgment and the necessity of repentance. Edwards, with striking clarity, paints the terrifying truth of God's righteous wrath against sin while holding out the hope of mercy through Jesus Christ.

The sermon draws its primary inspiration from Deuteronomy 32:35, emphasizing that all unconverted sinners are suspended over the pit of eternal destruction by the mere pleasure of a holy God. Edwards describes sinners as being held by a fragile thread, with nothing but God's sovereign grace preventing them from plunging into everlasting torment. His words are designed to pierce the conscience, emphasizing both the justice of God in punishing sin and the urgency of fleeing to Christ for salvation.

Yet, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God is not a sermon of hopeless despair but one of gracious warning. Edwards calls his hearers to repentance, urging them to seek refuge in Christ, the only Savior from divine wrath. His masterful use of Scripture, combined with pastoral earnestness, makes this sermon a profound example of biblical preaching aimed at awakening spiritual deadness.

Introduction to The Puritan Pulpit Podcast

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 20:35:04 GMT

In 'The Puritan Pulpit', host Nick Reddin presents a compelling podcast that bridges the past and present through the powerful sermons of the Puritans. Inspired by notable theological figures like R.C. Sproul and John Piper, Nick revisits the depth and reverence of Puritan preaching. Each episode includes not just the sermon's delivery but also historical insights, offering listeners both spiritual enrichment and educational content. Although this project began as a personal journey, Nick invites listeners to engage with these timeless truths, hoping they will strengthen their faith. This podcast is an ode to the Puritans' enduring legacy.