James Durham

(1622-1658)

Durham was a diligent minister who was searching but careful in his sermons. Renowned for eminent godliness and humility, he was also able to resolve complex questions and issues.

He was a minister for only eleven years but left a considerable number of writings. While expounding the Book of Revelation from the pulpit, he devoted two days each week for fasting and prayer. This was to seek divine help for a correct understanding of its meaning. He expressed simple trust on his deathbed. “For all that I have preached and written”, he said. “There is but one scripture I can remember or dare grasp…‘Whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out’”.

What Does Revelation Reveal?

If we avoid the Book of Revelation because it seems too inaccessible, we are missing out on a lot of plain teaching and encouragement from the Lord Jesus. Here are some guiding principles for recovering what Revelation reveals.

What is Real Godliness?

What is Real Godliness?

The word “godly” has lost its meaning if it is just used to refer to a committed Christian. How does Scripture define it? And how does it carefully distinguish real godliness from its counterfeit?

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What Happens When Christ Opens Doors for the Gospel?

What Happens When Christ Opens Doors for the Gospel?

Has the coronavirus prompted more concern about spiritual things? To some extent, yes; though it may be difficult to measure right now. But there is a wider question about what happens when Christ opens a door of blessing for the gospel and what that means. James Durham explains more.

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What is Absolutely Essential?

What is Absolutely Essential?

We are uniquely focussed on defining what is essential in society at present. This is an important decision for preserving life and health. But take a step backward and consider things from the widest possible perspective. What is truly and absolutely essential?

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The Most Foolish Thing You’ve Ever Done

The Most Foolish Thing You’ve Ever Done

It’s one thing to say “I have behaved foolishly”. It’s another to truly acknowledge and confess the guilt of what we have done. Yet God’s offers of peace are for even those who have committed the greatest folly.

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How to Listen to a Sermon

How to Listen to a Sermon

Wouldn’t it make a vast difference to our hearts, lives, families and churches if we benefited more from preaching? James Durham gives some helpful advice for how to benefit from hearing the Word preached.

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How to Live Without Regrets

How to Live Without Regrets

The life motto “no regrets” often buries conscience and refuses to be impacted by guilt. But the only way to truly live without regrets is to take conscience as seriously as possible. Living like this is “heaven upon earth”.

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Don’t Despise Old Books

Don’t Despise Old Books

If we are prepared to learn from contemporary Christians why not from those in the past? Let’s hear James Durham make the case for making use of older books.

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What We Lose By Living in Denial About Death

What We Lose By Living in Denial About Death

It seems as if our culture tries to pretend that death doesn’t exist, even though it is a central part of human experience. Perhaps it has influenced the Church. But there are real spiritual benefits from thinking about death.

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What Do We Mean By God’s Presence?

What Do We Mean By God’s Presence?

Is God’s presence purely a subjective sense that borders on a mystical feeling or being emotionally charged? Is it a particular experience or atmosphere? James Durham draws out what the Bible has to say about it.

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6 Ways the Gospel Calls for Holiness

6 Ways the Gospel Calls for Holiness

Holiness is a gospel priority; it is a gospel-shaped life. James Durham shows how the gospel calls for holiness in six ways. To fail or be defective in any of them makes our life to that extent to be unfitting the gospel.

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