Faith and Resilience in Challenging Times

Devotional

Day 1: The Gospel's Unstoppable Reach

In times of global crisis, the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends physical boundaries and remains active. Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus and global unrest, the message of Christ continues to spread and impact lives. This is a reminder that our faith and trust in the Lord are crucial as we navigate these turbulent times. Jesus is continually building His church through us, and our role is to remain steadfast in our commitment to His mission. The gospel is never quarantined, and it is through our actions and faith that it reaches those in need. [00:35]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in spreading the gospel within your community, even amidst current restrictions and challenges?

Day 2: The Power of Global Partnerships

The global outreach efforts of Ligonier Ministries highlight the power of partnership in spreading theological resources. By collaborating with translators, publishers, and church leaders, these resources reach those who need them most, even in remote areas. This partnership is a testament to the collective effort required to fulfill the Great Commission. It is through these collaborations that the gospel can penetrate cultural and geographical barriers, bringing hope and truth to diverse communities around the world. [01:46]

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a partnership or collaboration you can engage in to further the reach of the gospel. How can you contribute to a collective effort in your local or global community?

Day 3: Adaptability in Ministry

The transition to remote work has underscored the importance of adaptability and technology in ministry. The ability of the team to remain productive and connected during this time is a testament to God's provision and the strength of the community. This adaptability ensures that the mission continues despite physical limitations, and it highlights the role of technology in facilitating ministry work. Embracing change and leveraging available resources can lead to growth and increased engagement in ministry efforts. [09:23]

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embrace new methods or technologies to enhance your personal ministry or service to others during this time?

Day 4: Addressing the Hunger for Theological Resources

The church in Africa faces challenges such as economic hardship and biblical illiteracy, yet there is a growing hunger for sound theological resources. By focusing on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, believers can deepen their understanding of God and strengthen the church. This hunger presents an opportunity to provide resources that address these needs and support the spiritual growth of individuals and communities. It is a call to action for those who can contribute to the dissemination of theological knowledge. [16:38]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to support the availability of theological resources in areas where they are scarce? How can you contribute to the spiritual growth of others?

Day 5: Celebrating Milestones in Resource Accessibility

The publication of the Reformation Study Bible in Spanish marks a significant milestone in making theological resources accessible to the global church. This effort reflects a commitment to supporting the reformation occurring in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. By providing resources in native languages, the church can engage more effectively with diverse communities and foster a deeper understanding of Scripture. This milestone is a celebration of the progress made in resource accessibility and a reminder of the ongoing mission to reach all nations. [22:07]

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you support or participate in efforts to make theological resources available in different languages or regions? What role can you play in the global mission of the church?

Sermon Summary

In these challenging times, it's heartening to witness the unwavering faith and support from our ministry partners. As we navigate the turbulence brought on by the coronavirus and global unrest, we are reminded that the gospel of Jesus Christ is never quarantined. Jesus continues to build His church through each of us, and through organizations like Ligonier Ministries, which you support and pray for. Your partnership is invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for your steadfast commitment.

Today, I want to share some encouraging updates and conversations with our team and ministry partners. Our Vice President of Global Outreach, Mr. Bridges, has been instrumental in building a network of translators, publishers, and church leaders worldwide. Despite the travel restrictions, our ministry has pivoted to serve churches by unlocking our library of teaching series online, resulting in a remarkable increase in study groups and downloads.

Our Senior Director of Human Resources, Angie, has been pivotal in ensuring our team remains connected and productive, even as most of us transitioned to remote work. The agility and dedication of our staff have been inspiring, and we are thankful for the technology that has facilitated this transition.

We also heard from Pastor Ken Mbugua in Nairobi, Kenya, who shared the challenges and opportunities the church in East Africa faces during this pandemic. Despite the difficulties, there is a growing hunger for sound theological resources, and Ligonier is committed to supporting this need.

A significant milestone we are celebrating is the publication of the Reformation Study Bible in Spanish. This project, years in the making, is a testament to our commitment to making sound theological resources accessible to the global church. The Spanish-speaking world is experiencing a reformation, and we are excited to see how God will use this resource for His glory.

As we look to the future, we remain focused on our mission to reach more people with the gospel. Your support is crucial in this endeavor, and we are grateful for your prayers and encouragement. Together, we can continue to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Key Takeaways

1. The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends physical boundaries and remains active even in times of global crisis. Our faith and trust in the Lord are crucial as we navigate these turbulent times, knowing that Jesus is continually building His church through us. [00:35]
2. The power of partnership is evident in the global outreach efforts of Ligonier Ministries. By collaborating with translators, publishers, and church leaders, we can distribute theological resources to those who need them most, even in remote areas. [01:46]
3. The transition to remote work has highlighted the importance of adaptability and technology in ministry. Our team's ability to remain productive and connected during this time is a testament to God's provision and the strength of our community. [09:23]
4. The church in Africa faces challenges such as economic hardship and biblical illiteracy, but there is a growing hunger for sound theological resources. By focusing on the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, we can strengthen the church and deepen believers' understanding of God. [16:38]
5. The publication of the Reformation Study Bible in Spanish marks a significant milestone in making theological resources accessible to the global church. This effort reflects our commitment to supporting the reformation occurring in the Spanish-speaking world and beyond. [22:07]
** [22:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:07] - Gratitude for Ministry Partners
[00:35] - The Gospel is Never Quarantined
[01:02] - Conversations with Team Members
[01:29] - Global Outreach Efforts
[02:34] - Sustainable Ministry Models
[03:28] - Digital Offline Resources
[04:41] - Pivoting During the Pandemic
[05:35] - Online Engagement Growth
[06:24] - International Outreach Expansion
[07:09] - Human Resources and Team Coordination
[08:53] - Remote Work Transition
[11:14] - Impact Stories from Around the World
[12:33] - Update from East Africa
[21:28] - Reformation Study Bible in Spanish
[35:34] - Closing Remarks and Future Vision

Sermon Clips

We know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is never quarantine that Jesus is always building his church and he's doing it through you and those you love and through an organization like Ligonier ministries which you pray for in support and so just know of our gratitude for you that you have stood by Ligonier. [00:35]

What we're really striving to do is to create sustainable models of ministry and we cannot do that apart from our ministry partners our partner our publishing partners and all of the all of the relationships that are kind of in between the moment that content is created to the point of actual distribution. [02:34]

We actually adapted our strategy to serve to serve churches that we knew that people were suffering they were restricted on and being able to travel out of their homes and and so we wanted to come alongside Christians to say what can we do to help you and by being able to unlock our library of teaching series. [04:41]

The church has continued to do okay and when I talk about the church I think about the members and those who attend but are not numbers we've had to make some serious adjustments in this season we've had to mean heavy on one another because we are unable to gather where the elders are able to teachers in normality. [12:33]

The primary problem is singing the church is in a displacement of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture which allows for other things to fill in that gap which means even though the charge is increasing in numbers what you're finding is this Bible literacy in our very pews in the African church. [16:38]

We know that the Church of Jesus Christ is growing there we hear encouraging reports we also hear discouraging reports as well what would you say is the greatest need for the church in Africa so I think you're right in here in the numbers growing secularism is on the rise but numbers are still increasing the church. [16:38]

The publication of the Reformation Study Bible now in Spanish you know that we've been working on this project along with several other languages over the past few years but it was really this project that kick-started the international translation effort for the Reformation Study Bible o is an effort that went back more than a dozen years. [21:28]

The hunger and thirst that do exist for theologically sound and biblically sound resources especially from the reformed tradition is great and I've been able to travel the entire region thinking even in the United States all the way down through Mexico all the way down to the southern Konev of South America and I've seen with my own eyes the hunger and thirst. [29:31]

The greatest need I've heard it said that the the church in Latin America in terms of its theological foundation and formation is a mile wide but perhaps only a couple of inches deep and we want to change that we want to change that by providing the church those resources and I really do feel that we're doing it. [32:00]

Pray that the Lord would number one use this for his glory our chief responsibility our chief end is to glorify Him and enjoy him forever that's number one but number two pray that he would use this to draw people unto himself and to regenerate hearts and to give them the faith to believe. [34:39]

The chief end of humanity is that we would glorify God and enjoy him forever and I think perhaps only an eternity will we be able to truly understand how God has used the message of the person and work of Jesus Christ the gospel to bind us all together and I think that will be part of the enjoyment we have and who God is. [35:34]

Ligonier is reaching millions of people every month but you and I know that there's more than seven billion souls on this planet so there's a lot of work to do and that is exactly what we are focused on doing staying true to this mission that RC mapped out for us from 1971. [36:00]

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