Guest blogger Andy Hynes (@ABHYNES) is a PhD candidate at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The Puritans understood the power of the sermon. Effectual sermons opened the door to the Father’s work. John Flavel supposed that hearing God’s Word regularly was necessary for Him to draw a man toward Himself. The Father consistently drew the elect to Himself through the Son. General revelation was insufficient to allow this to happen. When Paul wrote Ephesians 4:20-21 Flavel understood, Of necessity of divine teaching, in order to believing, the apostle speaks, in Eph. iv. 20,21. “But ye have not so learned Christ; ‘if …keep reading »