Shows
The King's Hand in HistoryThe Ordinance for the Settlement of the Northwest Territory from July of 1787 (Ep. 50)On July 13th, 1787 (4 years after the end of the Revolution), a landmark set of laws and plans for the settling of the massive territory west of the Ohio River was put into effect by the United States Confederation Congress. It called for religious and civil liberty, the establishment of new governments in the new lands, a process for turning territories into Congressionally represented states, the proper treatment of Indians, the establishment of Bible-based schools, and the prohibition of slavery. It was a major stepping stone in the formation of the early United States, even while another convention met for...2025-07-1636 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe 1775 Continental Congress and Its Last Petition for Peace and First Declaration of War (Ep. 49)On July 8th, 1775, the Second Continental Congress sent their Olive Branch Petition to King George III, in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to hold back the might of the British Army from waging war against the American colonies, and to let them live without hindrance. Although it inevitably failed to change anything about the British policies toward the colonies, it showed that there were many among the American leaders that still wanted harmony with the British government. In spite of this sentiment, they approved A Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms the next day...2025-07-091h 06The King's Hand in HistoryPrelude to the American Revolution: The French and Indian War (Ep. 48)On July 3rd, 1754, a 22 year old George Washington surrendered his small group of soldiers to French forces after a humiliating and unsurprising defeat. Called the Battle of Fort Necessity, this was the first major one of the French and Indian War, which was the main military prelude to the American Revolution. 21 years later, July 3rd of 1775, he would take command of the American Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts.As this year (2025) marks the two and a half century anniversary of one of the most significant events in all history, the American Revolution, beginning in 1775, I want to...2025-07-021h 06The King's Hand in HistoryDavid Brainerd, Pioneering American Missionary (Ep. 47)How did God bring the gospel to numerous Native American people in the early 1700s, which gave rise to greater efforts after the Revolution to preach to them? And what single man’s example was used by the Lord to inspire such missionary giants as William Carey, Robert M’Cheyne, and Henry Martyn? The answer to both of these questions is the missionary preacher David Brainerd, close friend of Jonathan Edwards, and the apostle to the Indians of Kaunaumeek, NY, the Forks of the Delaware, and Crossweeksung, New Jersey. Through his work and preaching, hundreds of Indians came to know...2025-06-211h 05
Twin Tiers Bible FellowshipHebrews 7:18-8:6 Christopher VanDusenHebrews 7:18-8:6 Christopher VanDusen2025-06-1950 minThe King's Hand in HistoryDavid Brainerd, Pioneering American Missionary (Ep. 47)How did God bring the gospel to numerous Native American people in the early 1700s, which gave rise to greater efforts after the Revolution to preach to them? And what single man’s example was used by the Lord to inspire such missionary giants as William Carey, Robert M’Cheyne, and Henry Martyn? The answer to both of these questions is the missionary preacher David Brainerd, close friend of Jonathan Edwards, and the apostle to the Indians of Kaunaumeek, NY, the Forks of the Delaware, and Crossweeksung, New Jersey. Through his work and preaching, hundreds of Indians came to know...2025-06-181h 05The King's Hand in HistoryAmerican Colonial Missions: Eliot, the Moravians, and Brainerd (Ep. 46)When the English colonists began to settle in the eastern coast of North America, there were many indigenous tribes inhabiting the region, of varying attitudes and influence. The major difference between the colonists and the Indians was one of religion. Most of the colonists aspired to bring the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ to people who had never learned it before. This included the American Indians, who were enslaved to the deceptions and burdens of pagan, polytheistic, nature-worship. In spite of the professed purposes of many of the English colonists, they largely failed to bring...2025-06-041h 06The King's Hand in HistoryA Review of The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis (Ep. 45)C.S. Lewis stands as one of the most influential Christian authors and thinkers of the past 100 years, authoring such classic works as Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. Yet one important book that is little known among Christians and thinkers alike is a small work called The Abolition of Man. This book was recently commended by The Theology Pugcast podcast, and was once named by National Review as one of the top 100 important books of the 20th century. It’s a vivid and persuasive defense of objective, universal values and standards, and a prophetic critique of the cu...2025-05-211h 08The King's Hand in HistoryThe Brethren Movement and John Darby in the 1800s and Today (Ep. 44)Today, there’s a great need for western Christians to get back to following the practices of the churches in the New Testament. Our western evangelical culture is largely hindered by unbiblical structures, conceptions, and customs having to do with our churches. By far, the most unbiblical and dangerous among these is the idea of a divide between a “clergy” or “ministry” and a “laity,” or normal Christians. What does it take to combat errors like this? To find out, we can look to a small group of believers who took radical steps to follow the teachings of the apostles in th...2025-05-081h 08Twin Tiers Bible FellowshipHebrews 4:14-5:10 Christopher VanDusenSermon on the above passage 2025-04-3047 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe 1st (Revised) Baptist Confession of Faith from 1646 London (Ep. 43)What have Baptist Christians historically believed since they began as a distinct sect of Christianity? Today, you’ll get many diverse and competing answers to this question. Yet, found among the annals of history, there are a few documents written by Baptists that have long served as the landmark ones to define what most Baptists have believed throughout the centuries. These “confessions of faith,” from the beginning of their use, have guided Baptist Christians in their understanding of Scripture, and have stood as a witnesses to non-Baptists of what it means to rightly and reverently understand and apply Scripture to Chr...2025-04-251h 05The King's Hand in HistoryThe 1st Baptist Christians in the 17th Century (Ep. 42)Do you know who arguably were the most influential group in English and American history for the popularization and legislation of religious freedom? The answer is the Baptists. Surprisingly, they were one of the most persecuted religious groups in 17th century England and America, and did the most to advocate and call for religious liberty through their suffering at the hands of fellow Protestants. Further, the Baptists were the first Protestants to make major efforts to fund, equip, and send missionaries to non-European lands, beginning with the Baptist Missionary Society and the preacher William Carey in the late 1700s...2025-04-091h 09The King's Hand in HistoryThe Imitation of Christ Book by Thomas a Kempis (Ep. 41)Competing for second place among the best-selling books of history is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis. Since its publishing in the 1400s, it has grown to be a classic on Christian devotion and personal holiness. Although written from a monastic Roman Catholic perspective, Protestants from the Reformation onward (including Luther) have found its insights to be profound, powerful, and practical. It has tons of good counsel and teaching about humility, reverence, responding to temptation, self-abasement, prayer, the teaching and example of Jesus, learning and knowledge, and much more. HOWEVER, it must be read with diligent biblical discernment, s...2025-03-271h 03The King's Hand in HistorySaint Patrick in His Own Words (Ep. 40)Do you know who the real saint Patrick was? Far from an imaginary legend, he was the first influential Christian missionary to Ireland. The Lord Jesus used him to convert thousands of the savage, barbarous, Irish peoples to the worship of Jesus Christ as God and Savior. We thankfully possess Patrick's own autobiography of his life, written shortly before his death in the mid-400s AD. In this account, Patrick describes his prideful youth, his enslavement by so-called "pirates," his captivity in Ireland as a farmer, his time back in Scotland suffering opposition from his community, and finally his...2025-03-1729 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Worthy Waldensians, Precursors of Protestants (Ep. 39)Were there any preceding Christian movements within western Christianity that held to Protestant, evangelical, or Reformed beliefs? Surely there were. One such example are the Waldensians, the spiritual children of the preacher and teacher Waldo of Lyons. He started a gospel-preaching, New Testament-practicing, movement in the late 1100s that lasted as a distinct group up until the early 1500s, with the explosion of the Protestant Reformation. Throughout that time, this group of stalwart and zealous believers suffered some of the severest persecution from the Roman Catholic Church and its servants imaginable. Although they were hunted down and seemed to...2025-03-131h 05Twin Tiers Bible FellowshipHebrews 2:1-4 Christopher VanDusenSermon on above section*** Chris misquoted Mark 1:14. He stated “Before John was taken into custody,” whereas the verse says “After John was taken into custody…”2025-03-1146 minThe King's Hand in HistoryNebuchadnezzar, Repentant King of Babylon (Ep. 38)In the 6th century before Christ, one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen dominated the Middle East, from the border of modern-day Iran, to the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt. It’s spectacular capital was located in the Tigris and Euphrates river valley of modern-day Iraq, and was famously called Babylon, named after the primeval city of Babel. It’s ruler was a powerful man named Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned for over 40 years, and lived to the age of 60. He is featured prominently in the Bible, specifically in the accounts of Daniel, and was famously driven mad by t...2025-02-271h 11The King's Hand in HistoryChinese Christianity in the Early 1900s and the Preacher Watchman Nee (Ep. 37)How did the Christian population in China go from a small minority to being one of the largest sub-sections of Chinese society today, and numbering in the tens of thousands? A huge part of the answer lies in the life and ministry of a man called Watchman Nee. He’s one of the most influential Chinese Christian leaders of the early to mid 1900s, and was used by the Lord to launch one of the largest house church movements in modern history. It’s largely due to his work and influence that the biblical Christian house church community is thri...2025-02-191h 14Twin Tiers Bible FellowshipNehemiah 6:1-7:3 Christopher VanDusenSermon on Nehemiah 6:1-7:32025-02-1249 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Spread of Christianity in Post-Roman Britain (500s-800s) (Ep. 36)What and who were the roots of Christianity in England and Scotland? How did a group of violent, power-hungry, and nature-worshiping pagans come to embrace the Lord Jesus as God and Savior? Although it wasn’t accomplished perfectly, a divided group of warring factions under various lords and kings eventually came to mostly submit to the preaching of God’s Word, and the reception of the sacraments of baptism and communion, through the century-long courageous, loving, and painstaking efforts of missionary monks and priests.
After the disintegration of the Roman Empire in the mid-400s, the lands of E...2025-02-051h 11The King's Hand in HistoryA Hymn-Writing Evangelist and a Prayer-Working Author of the 1800s (Ep. 35)Which names of famous hymn writers can you think of? And how many stories of those composers do you actually know? Many of you can probably think of Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, Fannie Crosby, and John Newton. But few of you have probably heard of Philip Bliss, one of the most influential and prolific hymn-writers of recent Christian history, and certainly of the 1800s. Along with him, how many books about prayer have you read? If you’ve done any extensive reading on that topic, most likely you’ve come across the name of E.M. Bounds, a contemporary of B...2025-01-291h 10The King's Hand in HistoryThe Relevant Ugliness and Beauties of Augustine of Hippo (Ep. 34)What’s all the hype about Augustine of Hippo? Why are his writings and life important for today’s Christians and westerners in general? This 4th-5th century philosopher, theologian, author, preacher, and pastor has made major contributions to Christian views on God’s nature, man’s nature, sin, salvation, government, and society. The first prominent leaders of the Reformation – Luther and Calvin – were both heavily influenced by Augustine’s thought, and many theologians, philosophers, and authors today have had their beliefs shaped by this giant of Christian history.
In this discussion, Chris and Casey discuss the impact, life e...2025-01-221h 14The King's Hand in HistoryThe Body of Christ from 1947 to Today in the West (Ep. 33)WARNING: Due to a failed attempt to improve the recording using 2 USB microphones, the audio has a constant echoing. The next episode will be improved. Please try to listen to it – you don’t want to miss our overview of recent history!
For a free timeline of the major events in the period of church history covered in this episode, visit this blog page:
Resources for Podcasts/Video’s – BEARING CHRIST CRUCIFIED AND RISEN
Why is Bible-believing Christianity the way it is in the 2025 western world? In large part, the characteristics that formed in the 1950s-2010s...2025-01-151h 17The King's Hand in HistoryChristianity in World War Two (Ep. 32)World War Two – the most devastating war of human history,
which shaped the modern world as we know it, and marked the recent high point in the influence of Christianity on western society. Not surprisingly, it was filled with the whole range of human expressions of evil, as well as countless examples of love, bravery, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness.
In this discussion, Chris and Casey give you a brief overview of the major events of the war, from the rise of Nazism in Great Depression Germany, to the surrender of Japan in 1945. Then, they retell some of th...2025-01-081h 15The King's Hand in HistoryThe Great Depression's Lifestyles, Presidents, and Policies (Ep. 31)In our era of constant gratification, instant satisfaction of
our smallest desires, and easy access to every possible comfort and pleasure, living on bare necessities is an experience that is utterly foreign to most of us. Yet only 80-90 years ago, most of the world struggled through years of desperation for basic things, the daily stress of searching for gainfulemployment, and the hopelessness and sorrow of barely scraping by to provide food and shelter for yourself and your family. This period is called the Great Depression, and was the largest economic disaster in modern history. Many of the structures...2024-12-301h 21The King's Hand in HistoryTrue Religion vs. Rationalism in the Roaring 1920s (Ep. 30)We live in an increasingly hedonistic, humanistic, and
hyper-stimulated modern culture. These three traits were some of the most prevalent during the decade known as “the roaring 20s,” or “the jazz age”. The 20s should be distinguished as the period that popularized skepticism, scientism, and materialism, and previewed the obsession with sports, sex, entertainment, and music that are such common features of the western world. There were also huge technological leaps for everyday people then, as cars, radio’s, movie-viewing, buying stuff with credit, and easy birth control were made common. Most importantly, this was a time of earth-shaking change for...2024-12-2158 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Christian Fundamentalism-Liberalism Controversy of the Early 1900s (Ep. 29)How did most of the so-called Protestant denominations
become the anti-Christian groups of progressives they are today? Where did all that start, and how did the evangelical denominations and groups of today get separated from the liberal mainline groups? What were their disagreements over
in the beginning, and how did Christian organizations even get to the point of embracing humanistic, naturalistic, and materialistic beliefs? You’ll find all that out in this episode.
Chris and Casey are back together to discuss the rise of biblical higher criticism, liberalism, evolutionism, and anti-supernaturalism within the most influential American Protestant gr...2024-12-141h 13The King's Hand in HistoryA 19th Century Anglican Pastor and Author J.C. Ryle from an Anglican Pastoral Perspective (Ep. 28)On this special video edition of The King's Hand in History, I interview my brother Jonathan Groves, an assistant pastor of the Anglican church near me, on the life and work of one of the greatest Bible teachers, devotional authors, and Christian leaders of the 1800s -- the Bishop JC Ryle. Ryle was one of the most influential Anglican leaders and writers in Great Britain, as he served as a stalwart fighter against Christian liberalism and the religious hypocrisy of Victorian society. He published a multitude of excellent devotional writings, such as Thoughts for Young Men, A Call to...2024-12-121h 09The King's Hand in HistoryThe First World War (1914-18): Pointing Man Away from Himself (Ep. 27)As a new height of scientific and technological advancement was reached by the western world in the early 1900s, bringing the world such things as mass assembly line production, the dominance of manufacturing centers, the expansion of European railroads, the expansion of electricity, the first major uses of radio, and the inventions of the automobile and the airplane, the major European nations took major steps to place themselves in positions of superiority over the rest. National pride, the principles of Darwinian evolution applied to humans, mililtary buildup, imperial ambitions, and international defense alliances all combined in a hate-filled, arrogance-fueled...2024-12-071h 21The King's Hand in HistoryThe Bloody Price that was Paid at Pearl Harbor for Complacency and Arrogance (History Brief Ep. 2)Chris gives you a basic overview of the main events that took place immediately before, and during the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. This attack is what compelled the U.S. to declare war on Japan and the rest of the Axis nations, and sealed the defeat of Japan and its allies in World War 2. By thinking about how many warning signs there were leading up to the Japanese assault, we can learn how far people will go to convince themselves that everything's okay when their killer is quickly approaching to deal a deadly blow.
2024-12-0619 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe War Clouds that Gathered for Dec. 7, 1941 (History Brief Ep. 1)December 7th, 1941 – “a day that will live in infamy” – was the day when a large Japanese fleet led by Harvard-educated
Admiral Yamamoto suddenly began its aerial typhoon of bombs and bullets on the helpless American naval forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Why and how did the Japanese manage to get so close to the base with over 2 dozen ships, and yet remain
undetected by any other Allied nations, especially the U.S?
In this new special edition of The King’s Hand in History Brief
Podcast, Chris explains the significance, background, and circumstances of the Japanese operation against Pe...2024-12-0319 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Piety and Progress of the "Thanksgiving" Pilgrims (Ep. 26)(Get ready for improved audio quality (finally!))
How did the first Thanksgiving holiday happen? Why was it
celebrated? Why were the Pilgrims so thankful? And just who were these intrepid Englishmen with funny clothes and shoes living on an abandoned Indian settlement? These and many more questions will be answered in this special
Thanksgiving Day episode.
Chris and Casey give you an overview of the whole story of
the Pilgrims, from their daring and humble beginnings in small English villages, to their thriving and dangerous lives in the Plymouth Colony of New England in the...2024-11-301h 11The King's Hand in HistoryChristianity in 19th Century (Victorian) Great Britain (Ep. 25)What made “Victorian Britain” “Victorian”? Was this society
mostly a bunch of self-righteous, polite, and refined hypocrites who liked to attend plays and get together for tea parties? Or was the Great Britain of the 1800s a complex nation of diverse types of people who were thoroughly influenced by the gospel of Jesus Christ, and by those who worshiped Him? In this discussion, you’ll learn the essential characteristics and some of the most important events and leaders of 19th century Britain and its vast empire, especially those qualities that were possessed by Bible-believing leaders, pew-sitters, churches, and organizations during thi...2024-11-231h 07The King's Hand in HistoryThe Christian Leaders, Revivals, and Reconstruction Aftermath of the American Civil War (Ep. 24)How can the Lord use division, war, hatred, and the worst of
human suffering to perfect His saints and bring salvation to thousands of people?
The American Civil War and its aftermath gives us a prime example of such glorious deeds.
In this episode, Chris and Casey discuss the most influential Christian leaders in the Civil War; their impact on those under
their leadership; the major spiritual revivals and awakenings during the war; and the key events of the war’s aftermath period, known as Reconstruction. We talk about the most devout Christian leaders on the Confederate si...2024-11-161h 16The King's Hand in HistoryThe American Civil War: Over Rights, Not Race (Ep. 23)How is it possible for a nation that shares the same language, history, foods, wars, and ancestries to become so divided that it splits into 2 opposing factions that seek to kill each other? By studying the American Civil War, you can find out. This important, world-changing, culture-shaping, and church-building conflict shows us how the Lord uses and disuses nations, governments, societies, tragedies, and sins to display His glory, to establish governments, to transform societies, and most importantly to expand His reign of salvation through His people.
In this discussion, Chris and Casey delve deeply into the complex...2024-11-031h 14The King's Hand in HistoryThe Power of Protestantism in the 1800s (Ep. 22)Can biblical Protestantism overcome and conquer the anti-Christian forces of this trans-humanistic, AI, and pagan world in which we live? If you look at the 1800s, you'll see that believers faced similar enemies as we do today, and yet this century could arguably be called the "golden age" of Protestant Christianity, with the 2nd Great Awakening and the resulting benefits of that outpouring of God's Spirit.
As we come to yet another anniversary of Martin Luther's publication of the 95 Theses, Chris takes you through another detailed survey of the entire 19th century, showing how the core tenets...2024-10-2754 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe 2nd and BETTER Great Awakening in America (Ep. 21)Westerners live in a largely humanistic, naturalistic, secular, and paganizing society that is increasingly hostile to the gospel, Christianity, the Bible, and those who are live according to them. Surprisingly enough, similar conditions dominated the U.S. shortly after the Revolution, and when it was being established as a sovereign nation. Once Christian colleges were now largely liberal, society was increasingly debauched, and humanistic, deistic, and atheistic beliefs were increasingly being embraced by the elites, and the masses in general. During the mid-1790s, things began to change, however, with outpourings of the Holy Spirit at Yale College, and...2024-10-191h 12The King's Hand in HistoryThe Christian-Dominated American Revolution (Ep. 20)(Note: audio quality has been improved since last episode)
Why is the American Revolution, and the founding of the United States, such an unusual and beneficial event in world history? What makes this revolution and national birth unique among all others? Was the United States a Christian nation when it began? Were the founders Christian? Most importantly, what role did believers in general play in this monumental event? And what can we learn from it today?
All these and other questions will be answered in this discussion between Chris and Casey, who give their biblically-minded...2024-10-121h 14The King's Hand in HistoryThe Resolutions and Rigor of Jonathan Edwards (Ep. 19)Do you have the resolve it takes to be a growing and abounding follower of the Lord Jesus? Do you have a set of personal rules that you've determined to be the Lord's will for you to obey Him as much as possible?
The influential and ingenious theologian and Bible-teacher of the New England Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards, compiled such a list when he was 18 and 19 years old. These "Resolutions" served as his personal code of conduct for the rest of his life, and steered him on a course of extraordinary thinking, writing, preaching, and serving. In...2024-10-051h 13The King's Hand in HistoryThe 1st Great Awakening of the mid-1700s in America and Britain (Ep. 18)In the late 1730s to the late 1760s, a general Christian spiritual revival blazed across the American colonies and Great Britain, transforming both British and American societies, churches, and governments through its heart-changing power. Enlightenment-influenced immorality and debauchery was crushed, slavery was assaulted, the impoverished masses of England were helped, and new thriving congregations and Christian denominations were formed. Best of all, the Lord Jesus was exalted through the salvation of tens of thousands of men, women, and children.
Chris and Casey discuss the background, key figures, major movements, results, and lessons of this amazing work of...2024-09-221h 07The King's Hand in HistoryThe First Colonial American Baptists Featuring the Preacher Obadiah Holmes (Ep. 17)Believers in the western world are living in an increasingly
hostile society, and under increasingly oppressive governments. Also, most of our Bible-believing “churches” are compromised, deceived, and thoroughly bewitched worldly ideas and behaviors. This was much the case for the first Baptists in the American colonies, who were living in an ostensibly free society, and yet were severely suppressed and mistreated by the so-called “Christian” governments over them. Much can be learned by today’s western believers from their zeal, courage, love, and wisdom.
In this episode, Chris does his best to narrate the history
of the first Bapt...2024-09-151h 05The King's Hand in HistoryThe Colonization of English America (Ep. 16)Chris and Casey give a general overview of the exploration, settlement, and establishment of the American colonies that would later become the United States. After giving some background for the motivations and means of settling in the New World, they highlight the major settlements of America. These include Jamestown, New Plymouth, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia. Some important topics include religious liberty, government structure, indentured servitude, and slavery. They conclude with some practical lessons for Christians and non-Christians about following your convictions, taking risks, loving the brethren, and considering how your actions will unintentionally affect...2024-09-081h 07The King's Hand in HistoryJohn Bunyan: The Storywriting Genius and Prince of Puritans (Ep. 15)Chris and Casey discuss the life, literature, and legacy of
the author of the 2nd bestselling English book (and arguably the 1st novel), The Pilgrim’s Progress. They hit the highlights of this most famous of Puritan’s life, including his upbringing, tinkering trade, military service, married life, conversion, preaching, imprisonment, writing, and death. At the end, they note some of the most important lessons that believers can learn from his life, as well as one glaring fault in his life that we should avoid. Overall, Bunyan’s life teaches us to be self-abasing, Christ-exalting,
Bible-obsessed, courageous, unwavering, and indust...2024-09-011h 14The King's Hand in HistoryThe Passionate Puritans of the 16th to 17th Centuries (Ep. 14)Chris and Casey discuss the Puritan reformers and their
followers in the mid-1500s to the mid-1600s. They give a general survey of the Puritans’ part in the development of Great Britain and the Church of England, as well as in the establishment of the American colonies. The main topics include what issues they had with Anglicanism and the different monarchs, what steps they took to remedy them, and what long-lasting results came from them. They
end by discussing the most notable Puritan leaders, and what lessons Christians today should learn from the Puritans about personal devotion and ou...2024-08-251h 05The King's Hand in HistoryThe Main "Christian" Groups After the Reformation (Ep. 13)Chris and Casey discuss the main beliefs and practices of the main Christian groups that were active immediately after the Protestant Reformation, in about the turn of the 16th century AD. They briefly explain the origins of each group, and then summarize their beliefs regarding Authority, Salvation, Baptism, Communion, Church Government, and finally what distinguishes them as unique among the others. The groups covered include the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, the Reformed/Presbyterian Churches, the Anabaptists, the Anglican Church, and the Baptists. They end by explaining which of the groups they believe to be most in alignment...2024-08-181h 00The King's Hand in HistoryThe Inspiring Anabaptists of the Reformation (Ep. 12)Chris and Casey discuss the amazing stories of the first Anabaptists during the Protestant Reformation. Although they are largely discredited, discounted, and misunderstood, they were the true reformers of the Reformation, who actually followed the principle of sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) to its logical conclusions. By doing so, they became convinced of believer's baptism, the separation of church and state, religious liberty, and a more authentic priesthood of every believer. They paid a severely heavy price for following their convictions, as they not only opposed Roman Catholicism, but also the standard Reformed Protestantism of the time, both of which...2024-08-111h 00The King's Hand in HistoryThe Magisterial Protestant Reformation Across Europe (Ep. 11)Chris and Casey discuss the beginnings, well-known people, major events, and results of the popularized magisterial Reformation of the 1500s. They emphasize that the magisterial reformers and their allies were almost just as concerned with reforming society and government as they were with reforming Christian teachings and practices. They show that such a reformation would be nearly impossible to imitate today, while highlighting both the virtues and failures of the various reformations in several European countries. They also call western believers to recognize the ways in which we need to reform, and to do something about it.
...2024-08-041h 04The King's Hand in HistoryThe Preparatory Renaissance in the 14th to 16th Centuries (Ep. 10)Chris and Casey discuss the major events, ideas, people, and results of the Renaissance era. They pinpoint the new discoveries, philosophies, practices, and institutions that were birthed in this period. Specifically, such topics as the rise of nationalism, humanism, literacy, and great technological advancements are described. Finally, they reflect on how modern-day Christians can learn from the aspirations, successes, and failures of the leading men and societies of this groundbreaking time, and how they paved the way for the official spark of the Protestant Reformation.
Recommended resources:
Penguin Books Renaissance Reader
The Renaissance...2024-07-281h 03The King's Hand in HistoryTwo True Lightbearers in the Darkness of the Renaissance (Ep. 9)In this special episode, Chris describes the extraordinary and courageous lives of the "pre-reformers" John Wycliffe and Jan Huss. He notes the main parallels between their day and our own, and how believers can learn from their superb examples of faithfulness, holiness, courage, and leadership in the face of societies and organizations that hated them. Specifically, he points out how believers should imitate their examples of devotion to Scripture, boldness in teaching, diligence in leading, and wisdom in dealing with government authority.
Main sources used in this episode:
Faith of Our Fathers: Scenes from Church...2024-07-2149 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Christless Crusades of the 11th to 13th Centuries (Ep. 8)Chris and Casey provide an overview of the famous crusades of the middle ages. They start with the background of the condition of Europe and the Islamic empires in the early 1000s, discuss the causes of the first crusades, highlight the more significant events of the several different crusades, and describe the conclusion of the last crusade in the 1300s. Finally, they note the immediate and long-term consequences of the crusades, as well as offer relevant lessons that believers and unbelievers alike can learn from them. The next collaborative episode will focus on the renaissance.
Recommended resources:2024-07-1454 minTwin Tiers Bible FellowshipLuke 22:1-23 Casey Hust/Christopher VanDusenSplit sermon on above section2024-07-1457 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Rise of Islam, Expansion of Islamic Empires, and Their Clash with "Christendom" (Ep. 7)Chris and Casey discuss the origins, offensives, and outcomes of the Islamic empires of the early middle ages. Beginning with the establishment of Islam by Mohammed, they trace the major events, institutions, and interactions of the Muslims from the early 600s AD, and all the way to the first crusade in 1096. They highlight how the Lord was working through this religion and its adherents to further His glory, to transform the Europeans who claimed to worship the Lord Jesus, and to put Himself on display through His faithful followers who lived under Muslim rule. Finally, they note how believers...2024-07-081h 01The King's Hand in HistoryThe Disintegration of the Roman Empire from Its Beginnings to "the Dark Ages" (Ep. 6)Chris and Casey discuss the roots, stages, and aftermath of the slow disintegration of the Roman Empire. How did arguably the most powerful and long-lasting empire in history collapse into a multitude of weak and conquered kingdoms? And this when it was ostensibly the only empire worshiping the Lord Jesus? Your ambassadors for the King discuss all this, as well as what we can learn from it about our own western societies, and even our personal lives.
Recommended resources:
The Fall of Rome Podcast
The History of the Christian Church Podcast2024-07-0246 minThe King's Hand in HistoryEmperor Constantine's Reign and the Counterfeiting of Christianity in the 300s (Ep. 5)Chris and Casey discuss the adult life, ascendancy, and reign of Constantine in the early 300s over what once was the Roman Empire. They highlight the truth about his conversion, practice of Christianity, and imperial policies. Lastly, they note the benefits of his reign, its corrupting influences on professing Christians and Christianity, and we can learn about our Christian views and treatment of government, society-wide religion and morality, and our own practice of the Way of Jesus.
Recommended resources:
Church History by Eusebius
The biography of Constantine by Lactantius
The Reformers...2024-06-1756 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Persecution and Martyrdom of Christians From the Apostles to Constantine (Ep. 4)Chris and Casey discuss the first main period of Christian persecution in history. Beginning with the Jerusalem saints and the martyrdom of Stephen, they survey the main persecutions and well-known martyrdoms of early Christianity. They note the reasons, methods, and results of the persecution of these believers. Among the notable figures discussed are some apostles, Polycarp, and the most notorious Roman emperors who enforced state-sponsored persecution on Christians. As well as the good results that came, they highlight the misuses and abuses of persecution and martyrdom by the early worshipers of Jesus.
Recommended Resources:
The...2024-06-0954 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Apostolic Fathers and the Destructive Rise of "The Bishop" (aka Pastor) (Ep. 3)Chris and Casey discuss the lives, work, and legacies of the main apprentices of the Apostles, and the invention and advancement of the "bishops" of assemblies. The main topics covered are the importance of the top 3 apostolic fathers, their hand in the prominence of "bishops," and the deleterious effects this corruption of New Testament leadership had on early Christianity, as well as in most of our western churches. We also recognize our King's hand working through the good and bad choices of the 2nd century body of Christ.
Recommended resources on this topic:
The Pastor...2024-06-0350 minThe King's Hand in HistoryChristian Assemblies During the Apostolic Age: Development and Characteristics (Ep. 2)Chris and Casey discuss the nature, practices, and organization of the Christians during the time of the apostles (the 1st century AD). They note the spiritual, familial, and progressive characteristics of these believers, as mainly described in the New Testament. Also, they explain how the final common practices and structure of these assemblies (aka churches) are not merely historical facts, but ideal examples for most Christians today. Some key topics discussed are Christian leadership, mutual service of believers, the Lord's Supper, and the discipline of sinning brethren.
Recommended resources on this topic (all on amazon.com):
2024-05-2658 minThe King's Hand in HistoryThe Establishment of the Body of Christ in the 1st Century (Ep. 1)Chris and Casey discuss the beginning, advancement, and establishment of the new covenant people of God from Pentecost to the death of the last apostle. They note major lessons we can learn from their great example of zeal, faithfulness, and courage in the face of persecution, and how similar our American situation is today.2024-05-1348 minThe King's Hand in HistoryWhy We are Starting a History PodcastChris and Casey describe who they are, why a Christian-based history podcast is needed, and what they plan to share with you in the future.
2024-05-0624 min
Everything I Did Wrong as a Church Planter: A Million Part SeriesI Focused on the Product and Not the Process (with Former Santaquin, Utah Church Planter Christopher Murray)Here in Season 2, I'm focusing on life and ministry from the time we arrived in Provo, Utah until the launch service of our new church plant.
In this episode, I'm joined by former church planter Christopher Murray of Santaquin, Utah. As he shares his story, he discusses how he was enamored with the product of church planting, rather than the process.
At minute [8:17] I mentioned a book discussion I led around From Mega Church to Multiplication. You can order a copy here. You can watch the recordings of our Q&A with...2023-08-0242 min