Church History for Everyone

The parting of the Pilgrim church from their brothers and sisters in Holland was no doubt extremely difficult. One of the hardest aspects of the whole ordeal was that their beloved pastor, John Robinson, would stay behind. Robinson had faithfully taught God's Word to this group, immensely shaping Bradford's life and thinking. In this episode, we look at the decision to sail for North America and the parting advice Pastor Robinson gave to William Bradford and the Pilgrims.

William Bradford spent over a decade in Holland. These were the golden years of the Pilgrims, prior to coming to America. But there were also challenges to their new life in the Netherlands.

Finally arriving in Amsterdam, the Pilgrims were immediately confronted with several church controversies. One involved an unorthodox view of the Bible. The other involved sexual sin in the church. On top of this, Bradford and the other saints had to adjust to a new world where their farming skills were of little use.

William Bradford and the congregation in Scrooby soon find themselves persecuted for their commitment to the New Testament model of the church. With King James on the throne, their future looks bleak in England. And so, they seek another land where they can worship according to their consciences.

William Bradford's path to becoming a Separatist began with an invitation to hear Richard Clyfton preach. Soon the teenage Bradford would be introduced to two other men who would shape his life for years to come: John Robinson and William Brewster. The small church that formed in Scrooby, England, was the birthplace of the Pilgrims and the "cradle of Massachusetts."

William Bradford was shaped from a youth by the sacred Scriptures. His love for reading, especially Foxe's Book of Martyrs and the Geneva Bible would shape him in a powerful way. In this episode, we briefly consider the impact of the Geneva Bible on both young Bradford and English-speaking people in general.

William Bradford was born into what has been called "Merrie England." But for those seeking to worship Jesus Christ according to the Word of God, things were not so merry. Most people in Bradford's day submitted to Queen Elizabeth as the one authorized to dictate worship in the church. There were some, however, who refused to submit Christ's church to monarchs. These are the men who would come to change Bradford's life.

The first episode of Church History for Everyone is here! William Bradford has been called the "first American" and "the embodiment of the greatest values of Puritanism." His story is an amazing one. It is a story of courage, faith, and dogged perseverance in the face of trials and hardships. Join us as we introduce this man and start our study of his life!