DVD Review: Survey of Church History, Part Six

A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 1900-2000.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts. 

The sixth part is the final part. It covers the twentieth century. Again the focus keeps returning, circling around, the Presbyterian church. Many of the messages share a common theme: what went wrong with the Presbyterian church, when did it go wrong, how and why did it go wrong, etc. A lot of division and splitting occurs. But the series covers so much more than that.

The messages are:

• A Remarkable Century
• Empires and Missions
• Fundamentalism
• J. Gresham Machen
• Struggle in American Churches
• Aimee Semple McPherson
• Pentecostalism
• The New Evangelicalism
• Rome in the 20th Century
• The Church and Islam
• Doctrinal Distinctives
• Reformed Christianity

I really LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the series as a whole. I thought it would be easy to choose a favorite part: one, two, three, four, or five. You might think, well, the one on the Reformation HAS to be the best of the best, right? Well, I'm not sure I can pick. I found the last two discs to be SO GOOD. Perhaps a bit more thought-provoking and convicting than previous sections which were more history-themed.

One thing he addresses are labels and definitions. Fundamentalism and evangelicalism. How labels come about, how words are defined, how words change meaning, who uses them and why. In one lecture, he talks about how limiting the word evangelical really is. He says that there are four pillars of evangelicalism and that these are the most basic, most bare minimums you could come up with and still technically be of the Christian faith. He argues that Christianity is so much more than four points. It is not even five points. If you're going to embrace the faith, and STAND for something, then he wants you to stand for the whole faith and embrace everything the Bible teaches. The last two messages are specifically about Reformed theology. 

Mom and I were definitely sad to see the series end. We'd become quite attached to spending our days with Godfrey! The series in total is 73 messages!!! 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: Survey of Church History, Part 5

A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 1800-1900.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts. 

The fifth part covers 1800-1900. Godfrey is selective in what he includes in this section, as I suppose he's been all along. But what he does include is interesting. He definitely focuses more on the Presbyterian church in America than all the other denominations both in America and in Europe. 

The messages are:

• The Nineteenth Century
• The Intellectual Scene
• Two American Revolutions
• The Second Awakening
• Charles Finney
• The Rise of Cults in America
• The Presbyterian Witness
• Through the Civil War
• Christianity and Science
• Roman Catholicism
• The Church in Europe
• Abraham Kuyper

Godfrey is really enjoyable to watch. I loved hearing him talk about Finney!!! That was probably my favorite bit. For example, he has his students read Finney's systematic theology because he knows if he was just to summarize it for them that they'd never believe him that Finney is as bad as he says he is. One theme you can see through these messages is the need to hold to the truth and not make compromises. Plenty of compromise and accommodation  happens in this century--and the church is not stronger for it. One also sees how the faith loses dominance and influence over society in this century.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: Survey of Church History, Part 4

A Survey of Church History, Part Four: A.D. 1600-1800.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift] 

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts.

The fourth part covers roughly two hundred years: 1600-1800. This is an exciting period of history, not just church history. It is a time of exploring, conquering and claiming new lands--like America. 

The messages are:

• Continuing the Reformation
• Scholastic Theology
• Puritan Piety
• Puritan Politics
• Puritan Worship and Eschatology
• Puritan Views of Assurance and Conversion
• The Puritans in New England
• The Englightenment
• Wesley and Whitefield
• The Great Awakening
• Jonathan Edwards
• Political Revolutions

I really loved this series. Perhaps not all messages were equally gush-worthy. I think my three favorite messages were Wesley & Whitefield, The Great Awakening, and Jonathan Edwards. I found it reassuring that Godfrey finds Jonathan Edwards a difficult read. And how he'd recommend John Calvin over Jonathan Edwards any day. I probably would have appreciated even more time spent on Whitefield. 

I really can't recommend this series enough. Godfrey is a DELIGHT and then some. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: A Survey of Church History, Part 3

A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 1500-1620.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts. The third part covers a little over a hundred years. This period of history--the Reformation--may almost be the most familiar to the audience. (I think it may be Godfrey's own favorite period of church history!)

The messages are:

• Introduction to the Reformation
• Martin Luther's Early Life
• Martin Luther and the German Reformation
• Martin Luther and the Growing Protestant Movement
• Martin Luther and the Anabaptists
• From the German Reformation to Geneva
• The Theology of John Calvin
• The Catholic Reformation
• The Scottish Reformation
• The Dutch Reformation
• The Synod of Dort

I was watching this series on my own for most of parts one and two. But the closer I got to the Reformation, the more interested my Mom became. By the time this third series started, she was hooked! 

History, politics, human-interest stories, theology--this series has it all. I was probably most familiar with Luther and Calvin. I really found the last three messages to be fascinating because the material was new to me. 


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: Survey of Church History, Part 2

A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 500-1500.  W. Robert Godfrey. Thirteen 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts. The second part covers a thousand years of church history!!! A.D. 500-1500. 

The messages are

1. Introduction to the Middle Ages
2. Justinian & Gregory
3. Gregory, Missions & Islam
4. Paths to God: Theologies
5. Church Power & Dissent
6. The Crusades
7. Innocent III
8. Monasticism and Scholasticism 1435
9. Theologians
10. Popes & Councils
11. Great Scholastics
12. Mysticism and the Renaissance
13. Forerunners of the Reformation

I think Godfrey does a wonderful job balancing politics, history, theology, and personalities. It isn't just theology, doctrines, beliefs, and practices. Everything--church history especially--has a context it fits into. Doctrines, for example, can't be separated from human personalities and little vices like ambition, greed, and love of power and control! Viewers/listeners can learn so much from this series!

This second part of the series focuses mainly on the Roman Catholic church and how its doctrines evolved--were formed, reformed, transformed, etc--in this thousand year period. Was the church in need of Reform? Was reform inevitable? He touches on this in the very last episode.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: A Survey of Church History, Part One

A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 100-600.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]

For anyone who loves history or theology, I recommend Ligonier's teaching series, A Survey of Church History. W. Robert Godrey is the teacher, and he's fabulous! The series has six parts. The first part covers A.D. 100-600, roughly. This may be the most unfamiliar and most intimidating period of church history. But Godfrey manages to keep it informative and interesting. He even manages to work in a few jokes at R.C. Sproul's expense!

The twelve messages are

• Introduction
• Expansion of the Church
• Defending the Faith
• Pioneering Theologian: Origen
• Developing Theology
• The Bishop
• Constantine and the Church
• Jesus as God
• Jesus as Man
• The East and the West
• Augustine
• Worship and Sacraments

I have always wondered what the difference was between the Eastern Orthodox and the Western church. And I believe he covers that a bit in this series. The answer is the Eastern Orthodox focuses more on the wonder of the Incarnation and the Western church focuses more on the cross. I also found the lesson on Augustine to be enjoyable. I had started reading City of God by Augustine earlier in the year, but had put it aside. After listening to this series, I picked it up again. I am now making some progress in it!

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD: The English Reformation and the Puritans

The English Reformation and the Puritans. Michael Reeves. 2014. Ligonier Ministries. Twelve 23 minute messages. [Source: Gift]

My words won't do this lecture series justice. You'll just have to trust me on that. I found this series by Michael Reeves to be giddy-making. Six of the twelve sermons focus a bit more on history than theology. Six of the twelve sermons focus a bit more on theology than history. So if you LOVE both--as I do--you'll find yourself in a very happy place.

Here are the twelve sermons:

1. Tyndale and the Early Reformers
2. Henry VIII
3. Edward VI and Mary I
4. Elizabeth and the Rise of the Puritans
5. The Theology of the Puritans
6. Richard Sibbes
7. James I and Charles I
8. Thomas Goodwin
9. Cromwell and Charles II
10. John Owen
11. Owen's Theology
12. The Demise of Puritanism

Some of the people discussed: William Tyndale, Erasmus, Martin Luther, Henry VIII, all of Henry VIII's wives, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, Queen Elizabeth, James I, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Charles II, Richard Sibbes, Thomas Goodwin, John Owen, John Bunyan.

There's religion, theology, politics, and so much more!

Questions addressed:
What is the Reformation? What is at the heart of the Reformation? What are the five solas? What's the big deal about justification by faith alone? When did the Reformation end? Did it end? Who were the Puritans? What was the Puritan movement about? What did they hope to achieve? Were all Puritans the same? When did that period begin and end? Is the church still in need of purifying today? What can we learn from reading Puritans? Who is worth reading and remembering? Where is a good place to start?

I loved, loved, loved, LOVED this series. I found it fascinating. The sermons were anything but boring. Most were packed with a lot of information. Yet they always came full circle in a way. I found the series as a whole to be very Christ-centered. Theology should lead to WORSHIP. And if this series doesn't lead you to praising God, I don't know what will. I found Reeves' enthusiasm contagious.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: Luther and the Reformation

Luther and the Reformation. R.C. Sproul. 2011. Ten 23 minute messages. [Source: Gift]

I definitely enjoyed this sermon series by R.C. Sproul. Earlier this year I watched another Reformation-themed DVD series by R.C. Sproul God Alone. I'm counting both of these towards my Reformation Reading Challenge.

Luther and the Reformation.

Luther & the Lightning Bolt
Monastery & Rome Crisis
Tower Experience
Building St. Peters
Indulgence Controversy
Progress to Worms
Roman Catholic View of Justification (part 1)
Roman Catholic View of Justification (part 2)
Protestant View of Justification
Rome's Objections Answered

The first six messages are definitely centered more on history--on what happened, on when it happened, WHO the major players were, etc.--than on theology. These six messages provide a good background or context for understanding the theological debate.

The last four messages are definitely centered more on theology. I think of the theological debate as the WHY IT MATTERED THEN AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS NOW.

This series would serve as an introduction, perhaps, to Martin Luther's life. But it doesn't quite do justice to Reformation theology itself. For that, I would recommend Sproul's God Alone. That series also has ten 23 minute messages. Two sermons each for the following solas.

• Faith Alone
• Grace Alone
• Christ Alone
• Scripture Alone
• Glory to God Alone

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

!Hero (Ten Years Later)

I recently watched !Hero, The Rock Opera. It had been a few years--at least--since I'd seen it. And it was perfect timing! This rock opera has a simple premise. What if Jesus, the promised Messiah, was not born in Bethlehem two-thousand years ago? What if the world had had to wait another two thousand years? What if Jesus' advent was here and now. What if his ministry took place on the streets of New York City? Instead of experiencing oppression at the hands of Roman soldiers, what if the world was ruled by ICON? This is a modern retelling of the gospel, of the life and work of Jesus. It loosely follows the gospel of John: water into wine, Nicodemus' visit, woman at the well, healing of the crippled man, feeding of the five thousand, etc. But there are other events taken from other gospels. Besides its modern setting, viewers should know it is a live concert starring Michael Tait (Jesus), Mark Stuart (Petrov), Rebecca St. James (Maggie), Nirva Dorsaint (Mother Mary), Michael Quinlan (Jude), Paul Wright (Agent Hunter).

The songs of !Hero

• This Is How It Happened
• A Few Good Men
• Wedding Celebration
• Fire of Love
• Lose My Life With You
• Man on a Mission
• Secrets of the Heart
• Stand Up and Walk
• Do What You Gotta Do
• Take My Hand
• Love's Declaration
• Raised in Harlem
• They're Callin' Him Hero
• Manna From Heaven
• Hero
• Leave Here
• Stand by You
• Say the Word
• Intentions
• Finally Home
• Not In Our House
• Murder On Their Minds
• Party in the House Today
• In Remembrance of Me
• Shadowman
• Hero's Agony
• I Am
• Kill the Hero
• Execute
• He's Not Here
• The Truth Comes Out 

My favorite songs are He's Not Here, I Am, Manna From Heaven, Raised In Harlem, and Not In Our House. I also enjoy Finally Home and Love's Declaration.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

The Pickle Gets a Sippy Cup

Veggie Tales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's Umbrella. (August 2009)

This is Minnesota Cuke's second adventure. And while I remember enjoying the first--quite a lot actually since it was one of the first Veggie episodes I watched--I really, really loved this one. I loved everything about it. Larry stars as 'Minnesota Cuke.' And this time the search is on--a bit reluctantly at first--for Noah's Ark. Mr. Muffet ( is building a goldfish pond for his backyard, and he thinks Noah's Ark will complement it perfectly. But he isn't Muffet's first choice--Professor Rattan, his first choice, has gone missing. It is because of his friendship for Rattan--not Muffet's eccentricity--that he takes on the case. The first clue takes him to Mexico where he is reunited with the beautiful Julia. But this reunion is brief as Julia is kidnapped... Now he's off to find Julia, Professor Rattan, and if time permits...Noah's ark. This one introduces a new villain, Wicker, who is wicked and wily. This villain isn't after the ark, he's after Noah's umbrella.

The silly song. Not every silly song works for me. Some are funnier or should I say sillier than others--The Monkey Song currently holds the #1 spot in my heart. But I really, really, really loved this Sippy-Cup themed silly song.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

DVD Review: Read and Share DVD Bible Volume 1

Read and Share DVD Bible: 13 Stories From the Old and New Testament: Volume 1

This DVD has thirteen bible stories (cartoon) designed to be watched (and enjoyed) by preschoolers. Eight stories are taken from the Old Testament--all from the book of Genesis to be exact. Five stories are from the New Testament--from the gospels.

These cartoon bible stories are based on the popular Read and Share Bible by Gwen Ellis. I would imagine--though I haven't fully looked at the book--that the book is more enjoyable than the DVD.

I love the Bible. I do. And I think it is good to immerse kids in the Bible early on. While it is important for bible stories to be on the level of the child, I do think it is important to start sharing as soon as possible. More details, more stories can always be later on as the child begins to grow and develop.

What is good about the DVD is that the bible stories presented are short and simple and age-appropriate.

What isn't so good about the DVD is that the animation is at best mediocre. While the animation matches the quality of some Christian programming on TV, it doesn't really hold up all that well compared with the best Christian programming out there. And don't even think about comparing the quality of this animation with secular cartoons and movies.

It might be difficult when it comes to holding attention spans because the quality just isn't there. Of course, that would depend on your child--your preschooler/toddler. And it might hold the less active, easily entertained crowd.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible