Kids Talk Church History

While William Cowper is widely regarded as one of the greatest evangelical poets of the 18th century, he was, in fact, one of the greatest of all the 18th-century poets. His poems reflect a profound faith in God and God's providence and presence in every aspect of life. Many became hymns and are still sung today. Join Grace, Sean, and Emma as they discuss Cowper's life, faith, and works with Dr. Andrew Newell, Junior Research Fello...

Most people are familiar with the hymn "Amazing Grace." According to statistics, it is performed approximately 10 million times worldwide every year. And that's just public performances. It doesn't count all the times when it's sung in churches. However, not everyone is familiar with the author of this hymn, John Newton, and his role in helping to abolish the slave trade while faithfully preaching the gospel. Join Grace, Sean, and ...

At a time when Protestants were fiercely persecuted in France, a young woman named Marie Durand was imprisoned for her faith and remained in prison under terrible conditions for 38 years. Her letters to pastors and influential people were instrumental in closing the prison, and her letters to her niece express the faith that helped Marie stay true to Christ. Join Sophia, Emma, and Grace as they discuss Marie Durand and the Huguenot...

Music has played an important role in church history. In previous episodes, we've talked about many composers who wrote hymns specifically for the church. However, there were also musicians like Bach who wrote sacred and secular music for the glory of God. Bach's compositions covered a wide range of emotions and were filled with theological insights. Join Sophia, Trinity, and Linus as they talk to Dr. Paul Grime, professor of Pasto...

Time-travel back with Trinity, Grace, and Sean to 18th-century Wales to learn about a series of revivals led by young people who wanted to bring people back to a true worship of God. Listen to Dr. E. Wyn James, professor emeritus in the School of Welsh at Cardiff University and author of several books, as he tells us many fun stories about the 18th-century Welsh Revival.

We’re also pleased to award one of our listeners a copy of Dr...

In this episode of Kids Talk Church History, we wrap up our fourteen-episode look at the seventeenth century, a war-torn time when the church crystallized its teachings with catechisms and confessions. Learn from our hosts why these confessions are important, why scholars are not boring, why some missionaries were forced to eat boiled shoes, and many more fun facts. Find out who their favorite characters are and what episodes they ...

In March 1643, Lady Brilliana Harley received a formal demand to surrender her castle to the royalists - those who supported the king against the Parliament. Her husband, Sir Robert Harley, had been in London since the start of the civil war. With six hundred soldiers marching against her and only fifty men fighting on her side, she had to decide whether to resist or surrender. Discover the rest of this exciting story as our hosts ...

Have you ever heard of a philosopher named Descartes? The one who said, "I think therefore I am"? Many Christians were not impressed because he made himself the proof of anything that is real. He also believed that soul and body are completely separate, while the Bible teaches they are tightly related. One of the first Christians who challenged his teachings was Elisabeth, Princess Palatine of Bohemia (in today's Czech Republic). J...

Some of us have heard the names of 17th-century poets like George Herbert, John Donne, and John Milton. But did you know that John Bunyan also wrote poems? And that there were many female poets too? Join Trinity, Mina, and Sean as they discuss these poets and their exciting lives with Dr. David Parry, Tutorial Fellow in English at Regent’s Park College in Oxford, England.

Show Notes

If you’d like to find out more about the poets ...

The Protestant Reformation spread around Europe in the 16th century but blossomed in Transylvania during the 17th century. Join Trinity, Mina, and Sean as they discover how Christ protected the Protestant churches in Transylvania and nearby Hungary and Romania. Listen to our Romanian guest, Rev. Mihai Corcea, as he explains the interesting history of the Transylvanian church during this time.

Show Notes:

If you’d like to find out...

Ready for something different? In this episode, our guests are three kids who, like our hosts, are promoting church history. Jackson, Madelyn, and Owen live in sunny California, where they make fun videos about church history and produce a wonderful podcast called All Things Together, a Five Solas Media Podcast. Join us for an energetic, inspiring conversation and hear about their passion for church history, the Gospel, and what th...

Have you ever heard about the Waldensians? Who were they? Why did they have to leave their homeland and how did they manage to return? Learn about this exciting story as Emma, Christian, and Linus talk with Dr. Erica Scroppo, Executive Secretary of the Waldensian Church Mission.

Show Notes:

Dr. Scroppo found out that the exact distance the Waldensians walked on their march was 160 miles from near Geneva to the first top of the Wa...

We often think of William Carey as the father of modern Protestant missions, but did you know that many Protestants went to preach the gospel to foreign lands from the time of the Reformation? Join Emma, Christian, and Sean as they discover the exciting travels of French and Dutch Protestant missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. Thankfully, they have  Dr. Zach Purvis, professor of Church History and Theology at Edinburgh The...

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "scholar"? An old man buried behind a pile of old books? Join Emma, Christian, and Sean as they continue their trip through church history and meet some 17th-century scholars who have helped us understand what we believe and why. You'll be surprised by what they discover as they interview  Dr. Nick Cumming, associate professor of Humanities at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Californi...

Piety is a good thing. It means devotion to God. Pietism was a movement in history that started out well and inspired many missionaries and hymn writers but caused some problems when it shifted people's attention from Christ's gospel to the pietists' own acts of devotion. Learn all about it as Trinity, Sophia, and Christian discuss this important movement with  Dr. Larry Rast, president of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Way...

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan has been translated into more than 200 languages, set to music, and made into movies. But who was its author and how did he start writing this book? Why did he have to spend 12 years in prison? And what do we know about his courageous wife Elizabeth and other women who influenced his life? Listen to the answers to these questions and more as Trinity, Sean, and Christian talk with Dr. Shannon Mu...

When you think of early American writers, what comes to mind? Perhaps the writings or sermons of Puritans. Maybe you think of the Mayflower Compact. But did you know that Anne Bradstreet, an ordinary wife and mother of eight children in New England, was the first published poet on American soil? Join Emma, Grace, and Linus as they interview Dr. Francis Bremer, Professor Emeritus of Church History at Millersville University of Penns...