The Lost Outlines of J.W. McGarvey Have you ever grabbed an old jacket and stumbled upon a considerable amount of cash in the pocket? A certain amount of excitement follows such a discovery, especially if you happened upon something of value that you didn't know existed. Such was the great fortune of Brandon Renfroe when he stumbled upon a collection of unpublished sermon outlines written by J.W. McGarvey, a leader of the Restoration Movement. While researching the life and works of McGarvey for another project, Renfroe found these sermon outlines, which have seldom been seen in the last century, if not longer. They have now been carefully organized into a collection that can be preserved for centuries to come. The Lost Outlines of J.W. McGarvey will make a unique addition to the libraries of Restoration enthusiasts, Bible scholars, preachers and all others who are interested in remembering and upholding the honorable legacies of those who fought to restore the church back to its early roots.
John William McGarvey was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, March 1, 1829. His father was born in Ireland, and, when grown, came to America, and settled at Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where, with a small capital, he went into the dry-goods business.
In April, 1847, J.W. McGarvey entered the Freshman Class of Bethany College. While at college he made the good confession, and was immersed, by Professor PENDLETON, in April, 1848. So soon as he became a Christian, he determined to devote his life to the preaching of the Gospel, and it was not long before he gave very conclusive evidence of fitness for the work. In July, 1850, he graduated as one of the honor men. At the call of the Church in Fayette, Brother M'GARVEY gave up his school, and, in September, 1851, was ordained to the work of the ministry, and afterward preached for the Church at Fayette and neighboring county churches until February, 1853, when he removed to Dover, Lafayette County, Missouri.
He resided at Dover nine years, and, during this period, he spent about half of the time at home, and, the remainder, preaching extensively over the State of Missouri, holding five public debates with various religious parties; he also collected money to erect a boarding-school in his village, and conducted the school two years.
In the spring of 1862, he accepted the pastoral care of the Church in Lexington, Kentucky, where a large field of usefulness was open to him. During the same year he published his " Commentary on Acts," which had occupied all the time he could devote to it for three and a half years. This is a work of decided merit, and at once fixes his reputation as a fine Biblical scholar.
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