Piper, John. SWANS ARE NOT SILENT.

Read by Bob Souer

Athanasius. Owen. Machen. When Augustine handed over the leadership of his church in AD 426, his successor was so overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy that he declared, "The swan is silent," fearing the spiritual giant's voice would be lost in time. But for 1,600 years Augustine has not been silent―and neither have the men who faithfully trumpeted the cause of Christ after him. Their lives have inspired every generation of believers and should compel us to a greater passion for God. In his fourth book in the Swans Are Not Silent series, John Piper explores the lives of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen―a bishop, a pastor, and the founder of a seminary. Each of these men stood for the truth of the gospel in the face of intense opposition―all out of a deep love for Jesus and a desire for people to know him in his fullness. They took no joy in controversy for argument's sake, and they were willing to suffer for the sake of guarding the sanctity of the gospel. Threats of harm, years of exile, the death of loved ones, opposition from friends and authorities, sickness and pain―none of these setbacks could keep these three from maintaining their efforts to further the gospel or quench their zeal for Jesus himself. In each of their lives, personal holiness was emphasized publicly and privately despite suffering. They were true soldiers for the sake of the cross, and each man offers life lessons for Christians today. We pray that their perseverance, courage, and resolve will arouse such Christ-honoring passions in you. DEDICATIONQUOTEPREFACEQUOTEINTRODUCTIONCONTROVERSY, COWARDICE AND PRIDECONTROVERSY LESS CRUCIALCONTROVERSY WHEN OUR ALLA MISTAKEN NOTIONWITNESS OF CHURCH HISTPROTESTANT REFORMATIONPROTESTANT REFORMATIONPROTESTANT REFORMATIONFIRST GREAT AWAKENINGSECOND GREAT AWAKENINGCONTROVERSY AND VITALITYWITNESS OF SCRIPTURENEW TESTAMENT SUMMONSSO LET US LEARNQUOTEBEST-LOVED BISHOPCHAPTER 01ATHANASIUS: FATHERCOUNCIL OF NICAEAATHANASIUS THE DESERT MONKSATHANASIUS EMBROILEDTHE FIRST EXILETHE SECOND EXILETHE THIRD EXILETRIUMPH OF GOD'S FUGITIVETHE FOURTH EXILETHE FIFTH EXILELESSONS FROM ATHANASIUSSUBSTITUTIONARY ATONEMENTTHE DANGER OF ADAPTINGARE WE CREATEDCREATED FOR DELIGHTINGAN EVER-GROWING WAVEQUOTECHAPTER 02STANDING ON OWEN"SOWEN SAVED PACKER'SNICOLE PUTS OWENOWEN'S IMPACT ON A TEENAGERATLAS OF INDEPENDENCYHOW WE KNOWWHAT IS PURITANISM?BIRTH AND BOYHOODFIVE EVENTSOWEN'S CONVERSIONOWEN'S MARRIAGE HIS FIRST BOOKOWEN BECOMES A PASTOROWEN CATAPULTED VICE CHANCELLOR OWEN EVER STUDYINGFUGITIVE PASTORA DEFENDER OF TOLERANCECARING FOR HIS FLOCKOWEN AND BUNYANBURIED TOGETHERHIS ALL-ENCOMPASSING AIMCALLING PARLIAMENTTHE DIVINE LUSTERWHY WE NEED TO LISTENTHE GREAT DOERTHE COST OF PUBLICHOW OWEN PURSUEDOWEN HUMBLED HIMSELFOWEN GREW IN KNOWLEDGE OWEN PASSIONATELY PURSUEDSEVEREST THOUGHTASSIDUOUS MEDITATIONCOMMENDING IN PUBLIC ONLYCOMMUNING WITH GODPREPARING TO MEET CHRISTQUOTECHAPTER 03THE TRAGIC ENDTHE INSTITUTIONAL FRUITTHE FATEFUL CHARGE PRINCETON SEMINARY IS DEADWHERE DID THIS WARRIORSON OF SOUTHERN CULTUREMACHEN WAS WEALTHYTHREATS AND BLESSINGSLASTING IMPACTFRUIT OF DOUBTWAS MACHEN A FUNDAMENTALISTCALVINISM IS CHRISTIANITYLIBERALISM (MODERNISM) ROOTS OF MODERNISMIMPULSES OF MODERNITYMODERNISM IS NOT IDEAS DENYING TRUTHMODERNISTIC HOSTILITYIS MODERNITY AS WONDERFULFACTS MATTERWHAT MACHEN SAWLESSONS FOR OUR DAYIS MACHEN'S IDEAHOPE IN GOD'SQUOTECONCLUSIONHOW ATHANASIUSOWEN'S REMEDYMACHEN ON CHRISTIAN COURAGEFRANCIS SCHAEFFERTHE FINAL VICTORYLONGING FOR THE DAYWHY TRUE UNITYBY THE OPEN STATEMENTOUR PRAYER

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