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THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564)

Text: Hebrews 11
31 October 2010

(I) IN THE WAKE OF THE PROTESTANT MOVEMENT

1. Violence was not uncommon

2. The Roman Church employed all means in their power to detain and/or destroy Protestants (branded as “heretics”)

(II) THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JOHN CALVIN

1. Childhood

a) His Father was a cathedral notary and registrar of the court

b) John was dedicated to serve the church (tonsure received at 12 years of age)

c) He was known for being precocious from a very young age

2. Youth

a) Studied for the priesthood

b) Pulled out to study law instead (by his father)

c) In his university years he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

3. Conversion

a) A new desire took over

b) Personal Godliness

c) Became committed to the cause of the Reformation Movement

d) He had to flee from France or be arrested and incarcerate

e) He fled to Switzerland where he developed a most significant ministry

(III) CONTRIBUTIONS OF JOHN CALVIN

1. Helped William Farel to reform the Church in Geneva

2. Two denominations see him as their founding father

a) The Reformed Church

b) The Presbyterian Church

3. Institutes of the Christian religion (A Defence of the Reformed faith)

4. Preacher

5. Teacher (The Academy)

6. Bible commentaries