In this episode, Dr. Matthew Bingham discusses the biblical and reformed approach to spiritual formation, emphasizing the importance of God’s Word, meditation, and self-examination in growing as a Christian. He shares insights from his book A Heart Aflame for God and explores how historical Puritan practices can enrich modern faith. The podcast concludes with a reminder that you don’t always have to make spiritual growth difficult. Read God’s word, pray, meditate, gather with God’s people, and watch the Holy Spirit change your life.
Quotes:
- “The Christian life is a growing life.”
- “Knowing more about God leads to loving God more.”
- “You can’t fight sin if you’re unaware of it.”
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and guest background
03:15 Defining spiritual formation biblically
07:25 The role of the Spirit and active participation
09:37 The influence of Catholic and Orthodox traditions
12:10 The danger of blending voices from different traditions
14:12 The Puritans’ true character and joy
16:22 Misconceptions about Puritan dourness
17:04 The richness of Puritan devotional literature
19:00 Depth versus affections in spiritual growth
20:07 Balancing head knowledge and heart engagement
22:11 The biblical basis for knowing and loving God
24:00 The Word-centered approach of the Reformation
25:20 Living biblically in a complex world
29:54 The importance of meditation on God’s Word
32:47 Meditation as transforming the mind and heart
35:24 Self-examination and fighting sin effectively
38:24 The danger of ignoring small sins
41:18 Personal responsibility in sin and repentance
43:25 Using biblical truths to safeguard relationships
45:42 Final encouragement to keep simple and biblical
