Yesterday, I mentioned how the reading of biographies is an underestimated weapon for our pastoral armor. I do wonder, however, if reading a large historical tome might sound daunting to some of you. If so, let me help you consider another vehicle for increasing historical awareness.

Actually, Michael Haykin is here to help. Do you know him?

PIETY THROUGH HISTORY

Dr. Haykin currently serves as the Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In the foreword to The Pure Flame: The History of Christian Spirituality, the recent festschrift for Dr. Haykin, Russell Moore says:

I often wonder if Haykin is one scholar or a conspiracy of brilliant minds masquerading as one man. After all, he is a pacesetter in the fields of spiritual formation, Baptist studies, patristic history and beyond. All of these are very different fields, demanding a high level of expertise. He is one of the most recognized scholars in the world in each of those fields, having written and lectured extensively in each area, even while serving as a seminary administrator, popular conference speaker and leader within the Canadian Baptist and Southern Baptist churches.

Ian Clary, a former student and editor of The Pure Flame, says, “I am amazed at how profoundly I have been shaped by Michael Haykin . . . I have seen firsthand what a Christian scholar looks like, and learned the importance not only of how to read church history, but how to do so with a commitment to piety and godliness.”

Although I’ve never personally interacted with Haykin I affirm the man’s commitment to godliness. It’s palpable. I’ve observed it in Haykin’s works, but it’s largely through his messages and lectures that I’ve seen how history can catalyze piety.

Which brings me back to the original point of this post: using lectures understand the value of history for pastoral ministry. And I know a great place to start.

19th CENTURY EVANGELICALISM

A while back I came across an old Sunday School class Haykin taught at Trinity Baptist Church in Toronto on 19th century evangelicalism. I found the material to be immensely helpful. Haykin elucidates just how the incredible figures and events of evangelicalism in the 1800s laid the foundation for so much of modern evangelicalism. Throughout the class the listener is treated to figures well-known (Finney, M’Cheyne, Spurgeon) and not-so-well-known (Asahel Nettleton, Phoebe Palmer), while seamlessly weaving in the pertinent geographical and sociological nuances necessary to understand the times. And true to his passion, Haykin never lets the conversation go far before reminding us of the material’s implication(s) for godliness.

So listen to ’em all to see just how valuable history is for pastoral ministry. Then consider going on to a biography on one of the many figures Haykin covers in the class.

• Introduction: “19th Century: The Evangelical Century”
• William Carey and the Modern Missionary Movement
• The 2nd Great Awakening & Asahel Nettleton
• Charles Finney & Revivalism I
• Charles Finney & Revivalism II
• Charles Finney & Revivalism III
• The Holiness Movement & Phoebe Palmer I
• The Holiness Movement & Phoebe Palmer II
  
• Robert Murray M’Cheyne I
• Robert Murray M’Cheyne II
  
• Andrew Bonar I
• Andrew Bonar II
• Horatius Bonar
• Charles Spurgeon I
• Charles Spurgeon II
  
• Charles Spurgeon III
  
• 19th Century Hymnody