Pastors on the Puritans #2
This is the second edition of a new series we’re calling Pastors on the Puritans where we interview current pastors on their perspective of the Puritan writings and how they and their ministries have been influenced by the Puritans. In this edition, we interview Pastor Chance Hunt from Believer’s Fellowship in San Antonio, Texas. Enjoy.
A Conversation with Pastor Chance
A brief bio:
Chance Hunt is a graduate of The Master’s Seminary. After serving as Pastor of Student Ministries at Believers Fellowship in San Antonio, Texas, from 2012–2020, he now serves as the Lead Pastor of the church. His passion is to faithfully preach God’s Word, make Christ known, and help others grow in their love for Christ and His Word. Chance and his wife, Nicci, have four daughters.
How did you first discover the writings of the Puritans?
I was first introduced to the Puritans through the ministry of John MacArthur. His occasional references to the puritans sparked my interest and eventually led me to begin reading them for myself.
What was the first Puritan book you read?
The Mortification of Sin by John Owen and Heaven Taken by Storm by Thomas Watson. Both works were an early introduction to the depth, seriousness, and passion with which the Puritans approached God’s Word.
What is your favorite Puritan book? Why?
Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks. I love the way Brooks exposes the subtle strategies Satan uses to tempt and discourage believers while continually directing the Christian back to the truth of Scripture. It is deeply theological, immensely practical, and remarkably relevant. His section on preserving unity among believers is, by itself, worth the price of the book.
Who is the Puritan who has impacted you the most? Why?
John Bunyan. The truths he communicates are profound, but he has a remarkable ability to make them simple, memorable, and practical, which ought to be the goal of every faithful pastor.
Do you think Christians should read the Puritans? Why?
Absolutely. The Puritans took Scripture seriously, not only its meaning, but its implications for every area of the Christian life. Reading the Puritans teaches you to slow down, meditate deeply on the truths of God’s Word, and consider how those truths should shape our thoughts and actions.
What is the latest Puritan book you’ve read?
The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges and the Christian in Complete Armor by William Gurnall.
Have the Puritans had a positive influence on your own sanctification? What about your ministry?
Yes. In my own sanctification, the Puritans have taught me the value of thinking deeply about Scripture with the goal of bringing its truths to bear upon my own heart and life.
They have also profoundly influenced my ministry, particularly my preaching. Their example continually reminds me that faithful preaching should not only explain the meaning of the text but also press its truth upon the heart and life of the hearer.
What do you think sets the Puritans apart from what we see on Christian bookshelves today?
I think one of the things that sets the Puritans apart is their depth. They were willing to take a single biblical truth, examine it carefully from every angle, and then trace out its implications for the heart and life of the believer. Much of what is written today is designed to be read quickly, but the Puritans make you slow down just long enough to draw deeply from the only fountain in this world that produces true life!
If a person in your church asked you what the first Puritan book they read should be, what would you recommend and why?
I would recommend John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. It is accessible, engaging, and filled with biblical truth about the Christian life. Through Bunyan’s allegory, you see the believer’s struggles with sin, temptation, discouragement, suffering, and perseverance, as well as the faithfulness of God throughout the journey.
I would also highly recommend Charles Bridges’ Exposition of Psalm 119. It is an excellent example of the Puritan approach to Scripture.
In the Lord’s providence, both of the founders of Read the Puritans have been a part of the body of believers at Believer’s Fellowship at different times in their own journeys. It amazing to see how gracious the Lord has been to continue bringing fellow pilgrims across our path. Please join us in praying for Pastor Chance and the congregation he shepherds at Believer’s Fellowship.