I finished a good book a few weeks ago called ‘Godly Conversation: Rediscovering the Puritan Practice of Conference’ by Joanne J Jung. In this book Joanne emphasis the spiritual discipline of conference that the Puritans would regularly practice for spiritual growth. It stressed the importance and need for regular, intentional godly conversations in our Christian lives for spiritual growth. Conversations that pointedly ask us, how it is going with our soul? What we are struggling with in our faith? How we are doing with our spiritual disciplines? In the introduction to this book, there is a reference to Richard Baxter’s two lists of topics that are always worthy of conversation. The first list of godly conversation starter questions (or of even blog post ideas for those who write) :

1. …..the last sermon that you heard, or of someone lately preached that deeply touched you?
2. Or of something in last book you read?
3. Or of some text of Scripture relevant to your thoughts?
4. Or of some notable (yea, ordinary) providence which did lately occur?
5. Or of some examples of good or evil that are fresh before you
6. Or of the right doing of the duty you are about.

The second list are items that are always worthy of discussion for a godly conversation along with their counterparts of topics we really should avoid:

1. Things of weight and not small matters.
2. Things of certainty and not uncertain things.
   1. God himself, with his attributes, relations and works
   2. The great mystery of man’s redemption by Christ; his person, office, suffering, doctrine, example, and work; his resurrection, ascension, glory, intercession, and all the privileges of his saints.
   3. The covenant of grace.
   4. The workings of the Spirit of Christ upon the soul…
   5. The ways and wiles of Satan, and all our spiritual enemies.
   6. The corruption and deceitfulness of the heart; the nature and workings effects and signs of ignorance, unbelief, hypocrisy, pride, sensuality, worldliness, impiety, injustice, intemperance, uncharitableness, and every other sin; with all the helps against them all.
   7. The many duties to God and man which we have to perform, both internal and external.
   8. The vanity of the world, and deceitfulness of all earthly things.
   9. The powerful reasons used by Christ to draw us to holiness.
   10. Of the sufferings which we must expect and to be prepared for.
   11. Of death…and how to make ready for so great a change.
   12. Of the day of judgement…
   13. Of the joys of heaven…
   14. Of the miseries of the damned…
   15. Of the state of the church on earth, and what we ought to do in our places for its welfare.

The Puritans considered godly conversations or “conferences” as a necessary discipline to be intentionally practiced for spiritual growth. These conversations often took place after a sermon in someone’s home or later in the week. They allowed for the topics that were preached that week to be further discussed, questions addressed, understanding measured, fellowship to deepen and prayers to be united. They also helped with memory of the sermon. Often times, one person would catch different points of the sermons message that another would have missed. By sharing their notes and their thoughts they would remember the message of the sermon and study it together intently.

The Puritans listened to weekly sermons with a great sense of expectation. They expected God to speak to them through the Pastor’s message. They listened with pen in hand so that they could capture the word of God and remember it. Notes were taken during the sermon stored in personal notebooks called Common-place books. This allowed them to review their notes from the sermon throughout the week as part of their daily meditations and devotions. They specifically gathered to further discuss it with their family and neighbors. They prayed its message and exercised self-examination every night as they sought to discipline themselves in applying God’s word to their lives and practice it in all areas of their lives.

I like to read a lot of classic Christian books and many times I ask myself as I am reading the Puritans, what makes them so different? How can I live my live more like they do? I love reading old Puritan prayers and hymns, but I don’t want to just read them, I want that same spirit that flowed through them to flow through my life. Thanks be to Jesus Christ, that same Holy Spirit does still flow and has not changed over the years and He is just as powerful today as He was in their day but what is different is our response to the Holy Spirit and Word of God which shows in the way we listen in church.

This book reminded me of another book I had read a few years back, ‘Expository Listening: A Practical Handbook for Hearing and Doing God’s Word’ by Ken Ramey which reminded me that it is the duty of the receiver of a message to be prepared to catch a message that it is being given to him. It convicted me that I had once again allowed myself to grow dull as we so often have a tendency to do from time to time, but I simply needed to awaken myself, sharpen my ears, pick up my pen and write again and practice the the discipline of godly conversation more regarding what I am learning, even if it takes the form of a blog post.