The Foundation of Communion With God

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Declaration Of Faith
4. The Trinitarian Piety of John Owen
5. Chapter 1: Experimental Theology
6. Chapter 2: Communion with God
7. Chapter 3: How We Commune with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
8. Chapter 4: Comminion with the Father in Love
9. Chapter 5: Communion with Christ in Personal Grace
10. Chapter 6: Communion with Christ in Spiritual Desertion
11. Chapter 7: Communion with Christ in Purchased Grace
12. Chapter 8: Communion with Christ in Holiness
13. Chapter 9: Communion with Christ and Mortifying Sin
14. Chapter 10: Communion with Christ in Adoption
15. Chapter 11: Nine Marks of Communion with the Holy Spirit
16. Chapter 12: Without the Spirit We May as Well Burn Our Bibles
17. Chapter 13: A Heavenly Directory for Worship
18. Chapter 14: Worshipping the Father
19. Chapter 15: Worshipping through Jesus Christ
20. Chapter 16: Images of Christ
21. Chapter 17: Worshipping by the Holy Spirit
22. Chapter 18: A Few Simple Ceremonies
23. Chapter 19: The Main Design of the Second Commandment
24. Chapter 20: Forced into a Howling Wilderness
25. Chapter 21: Gospel Faith and Gospel Worship Go Together
26. Chapter 22: A Spiritually Thriving Christian
27. Chapter 23: The Danger of Pride in Biblical Worship
28. Chapter 24: Misplaced Trust in External Duties
29. Chapter 25: Fortifying the Soul against Christ
30. Chapter 26: Losing the Power of Religion in Our Hearts
31. Chapter 27: Faith, Love, and Delighting in God
32. Chapter 28: Means of Communicating Divine Love
33. Chapter 29: The Means of Grace
34. Chapter 30: The Principal End of All Duties of Religion
35. Chapter 31: The Chief Glory of New Covenant Worship
36. Chapter 32: The Great Gift of the New Testament
37. Chapter 33: The Glory of Spiritual Worship
38. Chapter 34: The Internal Beauty of New Covenant Worship
39. Chapter 35: Benedictions
40. Chapter 36: Ministers as Benedictions
41. Chapter 37: How to Obtain the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
42. Chapter 38: The Minister's Experience in Preaching
43. Chapter 39: The People's Experience in Preaching
44. Chapter 40: Communion with Christ in the Lord's Supper
45. Chapter 41: The Sabbath as a Pledge of Communion with God in Heaven
46. Appendix A
47. Closing Credits

John Owen

Puritan John Owen held prominent positions as the beloved English leader of the Nonconformist church, a respected theologian, and as academic administrator at the prestigious University of Oxford. Additionally, he temporarily served as a representative in parliament, representing the constituency of the University during the First Protectorate Parliament from 1654 to 1655.

While preaching and political activism were integral parts of his life, Owen is perhaps best known as a prolific author. He enjoyed warm friendships with numerous renowned writers of seventeenth-century England. Among his esteemed companions were notable figures such as John Milton, John Bunyan, and Lucy Hutchinson. Owen actively encouraged his publisher, Nathanial Ponder, to release Bunyan's well-known literary work, Pilgrim's Progress. Notably, Owen provided support to Lucy Hutchinson as she relocated to London, attending his sermons, and diligently translating substantial portions of his renowned work, Theologoumena Pantodapa—a translated version of which has been published under the title Biblical Theology. Owen's correspondence offers glimpses of his compassionate nature and pastoral care, particularly towards grieving mothers mourning the loss of their children.

Prior to Owen's profoundly personal insights, no theologian had ever written clearly about the dynamics of how Christians relate to each divine Person of the Trinity. Owen eloquently articulated the ultimate purpose of the gospel, which is to unveil the Father's boundless love. This love is exemplified through the sending of the Son as the redeemer of His people, who in turn are granted the indwelling of the Spirit, bestowed with spiritual gifts, and unified as a collective whole. Undoubtedly, one of Owen's most revered accomplishments is his work Communion with God.

It is little wonder that one contemporary author and preacher refers to John Owen as “the greatest theologian who has ever written in the English language.”