The Banner Podcast

God is both the beginning and end—in multiple senses—of the Bible’s revelation. If we miss this, we will misread and misuse the Scriptures. In this week’s instalment of Westminster Wednesdays we come to Question and Answer 3 of the Shorter Catechism: ‘Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach? A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.’ With us to discuss this question and answer is Dr Peter Sanlon, minister at Tunbridge Wells Presbyterian Church, Kent, England. Peter is the author of Simply God (IVP, 2014), Augustine’s Theology of Preaching (Fortress Press, 2014) and The Bible Theft: Guarding Against Those Who Steal God’s Word from the Church (Credimus Press, 2018). Raised in Northern Ireland, Peter ministered for several years in Anglican churches and has lectured widely in theology. He is married to Susanna and they have two children.   Recommended Resources: Jeremiah Burroughs, A Treatise on Earthly-Mindedness PDF available freely from Monergism: https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/burroughs/earthly_mindedness_p.pdf   Sinclair B. Ferguson, Sermon on the Mount: Kingdom Life in a Fallen World (paperback, 160 pages) https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/christian-living/sermon-on-the-mount/   Albert N. Martin, Living the Christian Life (booklet, 32 pages) https://banneroftruth.org/uk/store/christian-living/living-the-christian-life/    Maurice Roberts, The Thought of God (paperback, 256 pages) https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/the-thought-of-god/ 

Charlotte Geddie was no stranger to isolation, peril, and loss. Yet her story, and that of her missionary husband John, is one of glory through suffering. The Lord honoured their faith and sacrifice, and even gave them the great joy of seeing some of the fruit that would come of their labours. Back in September, we read the first two instalments of Joan Kingwood's series on Charlotte Geddie, 'From Island to Island'. This week on the podcast, we read the third and final instalment.    Listen to Part 1: https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/charlotte-geddie-a-woman-of-eminent-piety/  Listen to Part 2: https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/charlotte-geddies-titus-2-life/    Featured Resource:  Joan Kingswood, 'From Island to Island: The Witness of Charlotte Geddie,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 758 (November 2026).    Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org  Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine  Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

The Lord has often been pleased to work through circles of men, who together have prayed, preached the word, and done exploits for the kingdom. One such circle emerged in nineteenth-century Scotland, associated particularly with people like Thomas Chalmers, Robert Murray M'Cheyne, and Alexander Moody Stuart. The Lord poured out his Spirit on these men in abundance, using them in remarkable ways.  In A Remarkable Circle of Friends David Campbell, Banner Trustee and minister at North Preston Evangelical Church, introduces us to many of those associated with this Chalmers/M'Cheyne connexion.   Whether you've read lots about these figures, or have not come across them before, this a book that will inform, encourage, and kindle a desire in your heart to see God pour out his blessing in similar ways, through faithful men united in Christian fellowship.    The book releases next week, and you can sign up for the Waitlist below:  https://banneroftruth.org/store/history-biography/a-remarkable-circle-of-friends/    Conversation Coverage:  00:52 - Who is David Campbell?  2:41 - Setting the Scene: 19th Century Scotland 6:42 - The Crucial Role of Thomas Chalmers 11:01 - Who Was in the 'Remarkable Circle'?  14:32 - Shared Concerns: Revival 15:39 - Shared Concerns: The Conversion of the Jews 17:11 - Shared Concerns: The Lord's Day 18:10 - Shared Concerns: A Passion for Holiness 19:46 - Does David Have a Favourite?  23:13 - David's Hopes for Readers   Related Resources:  Andrew Bonar, Diary and Life Andrew Bonar, Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M'Cheyne Horatius Bonar, The Life of John Milne of Perth Thomas Chalmers, The Letters of Thomas Chalmers   Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org  Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

This week we move from the ‘what?’ of our chief end to the ‘how?’. It isn’t enough to know that we were made to glorify and enjoy God—we must also know the Lord’s will for how we are to do so. In this week’s instalment of Westminster Wednesdays we discuss Question and Answer 2 of the Shorter Catechism: ‘Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.’ Joining us to discuss the Scriptures, and how they function as the rule of our lives in glorifying and enjoying God, is Dr. Ligon Duncan III. A long-time friend of the Banner, he is Chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary, based in Jackson, Mississippi, and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. Among other titles, Ligon is the author of Fear Not! (Christian Focus, 2008) and Should We Leave Our Churches? (with Mark Talbot, P&R, 2004). He is married to Anne and they have two children.   Recommended Resources: A. W. Pink, Profiting from the Word https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/profiting-from-the-word/   Sinclair B. Ferguson, From the Mouth of God: Trusting, Reading, and Applying the Bible https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/from-mouth-god/   Derek Thomas, The Bible: God’s Inerrant Word (Banner Mini-Guides) https://banneroftruth.org/store/evangelistic-resources/the-bible/   Noel Weeks, The Sufficiency of Scripture https://banneroftruth.org/store/pastors-special/the-sufficiency-of-scripture/

Martin Luther, like King David before him, knew what it was to battle for faith in the context of great opposition. It should not surprise us, then, that Luther found great solace in the Psalms. Our article for this week, from our magazine Editor Mark G. Johnston, encourages embattled believers to look to God, whose word never fails.    Featured Resource:  Mark G. Johnston, 'A Very Lutheresque Psalm' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 749 (February 2026).      Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org  Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine  Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

What is the Westminster Shorter Catechism? Who wrote it, and why? How can it help us? As we begin our journey through the Shorter Catechism, with a view to using it to enrich our Christian lives and equip us to teach others, we need to know a bit about the document itself and how it was shaped.  In this bonus Westminster Wednesday episode, Dr Chad Van Dixhoorn of Reformed Theological Seminary helps us go 'behind the scenes' at the Westminster Assembly, the historic gathering of Christian ministers who cared so much about the unity of Christ's church in the truth of Christ's word.  Dr Chad Van Dixhoorn is Professor of Church History and Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the editor of The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly, 1643-1652 (Oxford University Press, 2012) and author of Confessing the Faith: A Reader’s Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Banner of Truth, 2014). Chad is married to Emily, and they have five children.    N.B. For more on the catechist Thomas Lye and his 'Seven Rules for Catechizing,' see below:  https://banneroftruth.org/resources/articles/2026/seven-rules-for-catechizing/ Recommended Resources:  Chad Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith/  Emily Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Faith Study Guide https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith-study-guide/ #WestminsterAssembly #WestminsterWednesdays #Catechism

The Shorter Catechism begins with an end—our end, in fact—where ‘end’ means our ultimate purpose or reason for being.  In the first instalment of Westminster Wednesdays we discuss Question and Answer 1 of the Shorter Catechism:    ‘Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.’    With us to discuss this question and answer is Dr Chad Van Dixhoorn, Professor of Church History and Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina. Chad is the editor of The Minutes and Papers of the Westminster Assembly, 1643-1652 (Oxford University Press, 2012) and author of Confessing the Faith: A Reader’s Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Banner of Truth, 2014).    Be sure also to watch or listen to our launch-day bonus episode with Dr Van Dixhoorn:  https://youtu.be/oKeEJQQaPdw Recommended Resources:  Chad Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Faith: A Reader's Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith/   Emily Van Dixhoorn, Confessing the Faith Study Guide https://banneroftruth.org/store/theology/confessing-the-faith-study-guide/  Thomas Brooks, An Ark for All God's Noahs in a Gloomy Stormy Day https://banneroftruth.org/store/christian-living/an-ark-for-all-gods-noahs/  Brooks opens up, for the instruction and comfort of the true Christian, what it means to have God himself as our portion.    #WestminsterWednesdays #Catechism #Purpose

This week we complete our reading of Iain H. Murray's article on Spurgeon's departure from the Baptist Union in the 1880s.  In the final part of the article, Murray notes Spurgeon's response to those who argued he might best serve the interests of orthodoxy by remaining within the Union, in spite of its aberrations.    Featured Resource:  Iain H. Murray, 'C. H. Spurgeon: The Downgrade and Denominational Loyalties,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 34 (July 1964).    Other Spurgeon-related Episodes:  C. H. Spurgeon: The Ministry the Churches Need — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/c-h-spurgeon-the-ministry-the-churches-need/  The Forgotten Spurgeon — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-forgotten-spurgeon/  Spurgeon's Pastoral Wisdom: Geoff Chang Interview — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/spurgeons-practical-wisdom-geoff-chang-interview/    Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org  Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine  Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

As we begin an 80-week journey through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, today we read a segment from Eifion Evans on Christian nurture and its connection with catechesis.    Featured Resource:  Excerpt from Eifion Evans, 'Christian Nurture,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issues 82–83 (July–August 1970).    Help us spread the word about Westminster Wednesdays:  Article: What Can I Expect from Westminster Wednesdays?  Video: For the Christian who longs to grow... Video: Calling Christian Parents...  

This week's reading continues Iain H. Murray's article on Spurgeon's treatment of the doctrinal 'Downgrade' in the Baptist Union in the 1880s.  In a context of doctrinal compromise, Spurgeon saw, most clearly, that denominational loyalty is not the same thing as the pursuit of true Christian unity.   Featured Resource:  Iain H. Murray, 'C. H. Spurgeon: The Downgrade and Denominational Loyalties,' Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 34 (July 1964).    Listen to the 'Lost Recording' of Martyn Lloyd-Jones' 1966 address: https://www.mljtrust.org/blog/evangelical-unity-an-appeal-recording-found/    Other Spurgeon-related Episodes:  C. H. Spurgeon: The Ministry the Churches Need — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/c-h-spurgeon-the-ministry-the-churches-need/  The Forgotten Spurgeon — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/the-forgotten-spurgeon/  Spurgeon's Pastoral Wisdom: Geoff Chang Interview — https://bannerpodcast.podbean.com/e/spurgeons-practical-wisdom-geoff-chang-interview/    Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org  Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine  Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast