Faith and History: A Devotional

by Christopher Gehrz (Editor), Beth Allison Barr (Editor)

Join over forty Christian historians as they journey through the biblical and historical past, reading God’s word in light of the experiences of those made in God’s image. Along with an invitation to study Scripture from Genesis through Revelation, Faith and A Devotional provides a link between modern Christians and faithful believers from the past―reminding us of all we share in our faith in the present day, as well as how different were the past worlds of our sisters and brothers in Christ. With Faith and History , you will read the Gospels in light of the Civil Rights Movement and the Holocaust and pray the psalms alongside Frederick Douglass and Isaac Watts. Learn more about well-known Christians such as Billy Graham, C. S. Lewis, Aimee Semple McPherson, John Perkins, and St. Patrick, and meet historical figures who are less known but no less significant, such as faith healer Kathryn Kuhlman, Anabaptist martyr Felix Manz, and medieval mystic Margery Kempe. Each scriptural passage pairs with a historical reflection, suggests questions for further consideration and discussion, recommends resources for historical study, and closes with a short prayer. This unique devotional integrates historical reflection with study and prayer to help Christians meet their ongoing need for spiritual formation. Faith and History is also intended to help Christians better understand their relationship to the past at a time when history, memory, and heritage are so hotly contested in American politics and society.

Genres: Devotional

215 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

About the author

Christopher Gehrz (PhD, Yale) is professor of history at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he also helps coordinate the Christianity and Western Culture program. He is the editor of The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education and coeditor of The Pietist Impulse in Christianity.

Reviews

[Pam Cipkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a bit dry and slanted toward more Protestant viewpoints, and I struggled to connect those thoughts with my Catholic background and education. But I did find the intersection between the Bible passages and moments in history and historical figures to be interesting. A hyperlink to each contributor's bio before or after each entry would have been helpful for the Kindle version.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a high school history teacher and a devotional junkie, so this book was perfect for me. As with all devotionals with multiple authors, some devotionals are better than others, but I liked the book so well that I bought one for a colleague.

[William Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any anthology a variety. Some I loved and were impactful. Some were OK. A couple were not my cup of tea. Which ones fit the above will vary by individual. And it is good there is a variety.

[Caleb Lagerwey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an invaluable resource for the Christian school history teacher or professor. I appreciated the diversity of voices, expertise, and foci present in these devotionals, each written by a dedicated Christian historian. In addition to using these as a personal devotional, I particularly enjoyed using these to open my history classes as they teach Christian practices, historical virtues, and historical skills within Biblical frames.