The Stromata

In this episode, we’ll be reading a chapter from the book called ‘The Roots of Western Culture’ by the Dutch Christian Philosopher Herman Dooyeweerd. The chapter itself is the second in the book and is called ‘Sphere Sovereignty’. Dooyeweerd himself was active mainly in the middle of the 20th century and was heavily influenced by the Dutch Neo-Calvinist thinker, minister and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Abraham Kuyper. 'The Word of God is spirit and power which must penetrate our whole attitude of life and thought. God’s Word-revelation puts men to work. It claims the whole of our being; where death and spiritual complacency once held sway in us, it wants to conceive new life.' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read The Roots of Western Culture. Chapter Two: Sphere Sovereignty online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for joining! This week we're reading the Didache an anonymous Jewish-Christian practical guide to the faith from the 1st Century. How should we live? How should we worship? How should we organise ourselves? The Didache gives us some help. 'Do not in any way neglect the commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have received, neither adding nor taking away anything..' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Follow and become a fan of us on Facebook here. Read The Didache online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the sixth episode of the Stromata. This week we're reading the Preface and First Chapter of 'The Rule of Christ' by Martin Bucer, on the Kingdom of God and how it informs how a Monarch should rule. This is in addition to a Preface by Bucer that gives some insight into the relationship between a Reformer like Bucer and the young King of England, Edward the Sixth. 'Since God alone is good, wise, and powerful, only in his Kingdom can those things which ought to be done by royal rule be plainly perceived.' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read The Reign Of Christ. Book One. Preface And Chapter One: Names Of The Kingdom Of Christ online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the fifth episode of the Stromata. This week we're reading 'A Short rule of Life' by John Wycliffe, on how each man, whether he be Priest, Lord, or Labourer should conduct themselves according to their station. 'And thus each man in the three states ought to live, to save himself, and to help others; and thus should good life, rest, peace, and love, be among Christian men, and they be saved, and heathen men soon converted, and God magnified greatly in all nations and sects that now despise him and his law, for the false living of wicked Christian men.' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read A Short Rule of Life online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the fourth episode of the Stromata. This week we're reading Sermon Eleven by Caesarius of Arles, a homily from the early Middle Ages exploring how Christ's suffering on the cross for our sake is a victory of justice and reason over power and might. 'Now, it is necessary for this to be believed to have been done in this way.  Christ the Lord without any guilt, without any blame, underwent a penal sentence; the innocent man is crucified without sin.  The Devil is made guilty by the death of an innocent man; the Devil is made guilty by bringing the cross upon a righteous man who owed nothing.  The death of Christ benefitted man: what Adam owed to God Christ paid by undergoing death, having been made without any doubt a sacrifice for the sin of men and for their race, just as the blessed Paul taught: “Christ,” he says, “loved us and handed himself over for us as an offering and sacrificial victim to God in a pleasing aroma.”' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read Sermon Eleven online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the third episode of the Stromata. This week we're reading The Martyrdom of Polycarp, the earliest account of Christian martyrdom outside of the New Testament. Polycarp was from the first generation after the apostles, being a disciple and follower of the Apostle John. He is described as an apostolic and prophetic teacher, in addition to being the Bishop of Smyrna. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read The Martyrdom of Polycarp online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the second episode of the Stromata. This week we're reading St Augustine of Hippo's short sermon on communion entitled 'Sermon 272: On The Day Of Pentecost To The Infants, On The Sacrament' alongside a brief introduction talking about some of the theology in the piece with some help from a Theologian called Richard Hooker. 'Remember that bread is not made from one grain, but from many. When you were being exorcised, it is as though you were being ground. When you were baptized it is as though you were mixed into dough. When you received the fire of the Holy Spirit, it is as though you were baked. Be what you can see, and receive what you are.' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read Augustine of Hippo's Sermon 272: On The Day Of Pentecost To The Infants, On The Sacrament online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message

Thanks for listening to the first-ever episode of the Stromata. We're starting it off with reading C.S Lewis's Introduction to 'On the Incarnation' by St Athanasius alongside a brief introduction explaining why it was chosen for the first-ever episode and how it inspired the Stromata website. 'Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and especially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period.' I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode, the piece read, and any ideas you have for future episodes. If you want to do any of these get in contact via Twitter. Want to give feedback or a reflection on this episode in a different way? Leave a voice message and we might include it in a future episode. Follow the Stromata Account on Twitter here. Read C.S Lewis's Introduction to 'On the Incarnation' online here. Check out all the entries on the site by visiting http://www.stromata.co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-stromata/message