Richard Baxter was the lecturer and then the minister of St. Mary's at Kidderminster beginning in 1641. It was said of the residents of Kidderminster that they were 'reckless, ungodly, and hoped to remain that way.' There are numerous parallels between Kidderminster of the seventeenth century and Los Angeles of today.
Although Richard Baxter held to the error of Amyraldism, he was described as a prince among English puritans. The Lord caused the church at Kidderminster to prosper wonderfully during those years from a small congregation with only one professing family to a church of several hundred professing communicants. Contemporary witnesses spoke of the city as having become a colony of Heaven under the ministry of Richard Baxter.
This lecture is a hopeful account of the Lord's dealings with a flawed church and a flawed minister. Application is drawn for the local church in Los Angeles, California. The Lord who builds His church will continue to prosper His people through faithful ministry.
This lecture was the focal point of our recent Church Ministry Day gathering.
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“ Informative Sermon! ” This sermon opened up my interest in Richard Baxter and I intend to read some of his writings. He definitely had a strong desire to teach people to seek a better understanding of the Gospel, and I am certain I'll get some good from reading his books.
Florin Motiu (1/10/2014)
from Oradea, Romania
“ Faithfulness. ” Trying to serve God faithfully in a hard place, in hard circumstances.
Nathan Eshelman (6/30/2009)
from Sunny Los Angeles
“ Response to Chris' Question 2 ” I hope that you gleaned more from the message than the few theological problems that RB had. I truly believe that he has a lot to model our outreach and our commitment to the communities after. Baxter has been a great influence on me through his Directory as well as his treatise on heaven. He is worth working through.
Nathan Eshelman (6/30/2009)
from Sunny Los Angeles
“ Response to Chris' Question ” Amyraldians believed that in the decree of God election came after the need for redemption. This made redemption UNIVERSAL, but only having application towards the elect. It is a mild form of Calvinism, and somewhat Arminian. Baxter liked this position.
Here is what Meet the Puritans says, "Baxter's writings are a strange theological mix. He was one of a few Puritans whose doctrines of God's decrees, atonement, and justification were anything but Reformed. Though he generally structured his theology along reformed lines of thought, he frequently LEANED towards Arminian thinking. He developed his own notion of universal redemption, which offended Calvinists, but he retained a form of personal election, which offended Arminians. He rejected reprobation. He was greatly influenced by the Amyraldians and incorporated much of their thinking including hypothetical universalism, which teaches that Christ's death was more of a legal satisfaction of the law than a personal substitutionary death on behalf of elect sinners." (p.66)
Chris E (6/30/2009)
from Michigan
“ Question? ” I was disappointed to see you label Baxter an amyraldian. What do you mean by amyraldian and why do you think Baxter was one?
SA (6/7/2009)
from Grand Rapids, MI
“ Great Sermon! ” Thanks for this survey, and showing such relevance for our cities today. We need to hear that in some ways the days are no different from the days of the reformation.
Also appreciated the balance on Baxter. He had is faults as we have ours, and yet God can use all of us, despite our weaknesses, frailties, and faults.
JAC-1969 (3/1/2009)
from Los Angeles
“ Great Sermon! ” Dear Rev. Eshelman,
I listened to this message with rapt attention. I was amazed by the comparison of my city of Los Angeles to that of Kidderminster from so long ago. Although we live far away from your church, I’ve been so impressed by the quality of your teaching that we hope to visit with your this Sabbath.
Lord bless you,
J. Andrew
Nathan Eshelman holds a Master of Divinity degree from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI, as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. He serves as clerk of the Pacific Coast Presbytery (RPCNA),...
