Baxter believed that family worship is God’s will, a conviction that profoundly shaped and motivated his pastoral ministry in Kidderminster. It is said that, at the beginning of his ministry, hardly one family to a street honored God in family worship; by the end of his ministry, there were streets on which every family upheld the practice. In A Practical Theology of Family Worship, Jonathan Williams examines Baxter’s context, the encouragements he gave for family worship, and his family-equipping ministry among the congregation. This study develops our understanding of this vital spiritual discipline among the Puritans. Yet it also draws out implications for family ministry in churches today. Table of Contents: 1. The Blessings of Family Worship 2. Historical Examination of Baxter’s Context as a Seventeenth-Century English Puritan 3. Baxter’s Encouragement for Family Worship 4. Family Worship Brings Opportunities for Teaching the Word of God 5. Family Worship Fills the Home with Prayer and Praises 6. Baxter’s Family-Equipping Ministry at Kidderminster 7. Implications for Today’s Church and Family Ministry Appendix 1: Further Encouragement for Family Worship Appendix 2: A Sample Guide for Family Worship Appendix 3: Opportunities for Reflection: Discussion Questions

Constructing a Theology of Prayer: Andrew Fuller's (1754-1815) Belief and Practice of Prayer fills a lacuna in Fuller studies. Bryant's work is the first full treatment of Fuller's theology of prayer, demonstrating the vitality of prayer for Fuller's ministry and theological reflection. Bryant constructs Fuller's theology of prayer through a systematic analysis of six major doctrines: the doctrine of God, the Son, the Spirit, Humanity, the Church, and Last Things. Each chapter explores both how Fuller's doctrine influences his belief and practice of prayer, and how belief and practice of prayer influence doctrine. The study convincingly demonstrates how each major doctrine finds prayer as its corollary. As Fuller states, "Holy practice has a necessary dependence on sacred principle."

This volume provides a working introduction to the scholarly study of Jewish and Christian sacred texts. Included are thorough explanations of 5 general methods and 8 chapters covering specialized methods, as well as a final chapter that presents brand new, mixed methods research in three studies that illustrate how sacred texts research looks in practice. Readers are presented with step-by-step "how to" guides for each method, and exercises to test their skills.