Faithfulness Amidst Challenges: Lessons from R.C. Sproul
Summary
Reflecting on the life and ministry of R.C. Sproul, I am reminded of the profound impact he had on my life and countless others. Our first meeting in 1984 at the Pensacola Theological Institute was a pivotal moment for me. R.C.'s reputation as a great communicator of the Reformed faith preceded him, and his kindness and friendship left a lasting impression. His invitation to speak at a Ligonier conference in Canada marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship, one that has been a blessing in my life.
As I consider the state of the church today, I am both concerned and encouraged. The concept of "practical atheism," where belief in God does not translate into a life of prayer and dependence on Him, is a significant concern. In our modern world, there is a tendency to rely on our own strength rather than seeking God's guidance and power. This is a paradox, as true fruitfulness in our lives and the church comes from recognizing our powerlessness and turning to God in prayer.
However, I am encouraged by the younger generation's interest in the Reformed faith and the rich teachings of the Christian church. This hunger for depth and truth is a beacon of hope for the future. The challenge for the church is to remain steadfast and faithful in a culture that demands compromise. Our witness is not diminished by our unwillingness to conform; rather, it is strengthened when we stand firm in our faith.
The church faces a new form of totalitarianism, where the expression of Christian faith is increasingly restricted. Yet, this is not a new challenge. Throughout history, Christians have faced similar pressures, and the Bible provides us with the guidance and strength we need to navigate these times. Our call is to live in a way that reflects the life God intended, even when it comes at a cost.
Key Takeaways:
1. The legacy of R.C. Sproul is a testament to the power of kindness and friendship in ministry. His influence reminds us that genuine relationships can have a profound impact on our spiritual journey. [02:15]
2. Practical atheism, where belief in God does not lead to a life of prayer, is a significant concern for the modern church. True fruitfulness comes from recognizing our powerlessness and turning to God in prayer. [05:00]
3. The younger generation's interest in the Reformed faith is a source of encouragement. Their hunger for depth and truth is a beacon of hope for the future of the church. [08:11]
4. The church must remain steadfast and faithful in a culture that demands compromise. Our witness is strengthened when we stand firm in our faith, even when it comes at a cost. [13:24]
5. The new face of totalitarianism challenges the expression of Christian faith, but history shows us that the church can thrive under pressure. The Bible provides the guidance and strength we need to navigate these times. [18:26]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Reflections on R.C. Sproul
[02:15] - The Kindness of R.C.
[03:10] - Entering Gospel Ministry
[04:30] - Concerns for the Modern Church
[05:53] - The Absence of God's Presence
[07:37] - Encouragement from the Younger Generation
[09:01] - Changes in Ministry Over Time
[11:00] - The Loss of Hymnbooks
[12:52] - Remaining Steadfast in Faith
[16:24] - Challenges Facing Christian Families
[18:26] - Facing Modern Totalitarianism
[20:36] - Influences from Church History
[22:45] - Growing in Affection for the Lord
[25:24] - Longing for Reunion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
2. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
3. 1 Peter 4:12-14 - "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the first meeting between the speaker and R.C. Sproul in 1984, and how did it impact the speaker's life? [01:15]
2. How does the sermon describe "practical atheism," and why is it a concern for the modern church? [04:44]
3. What encouragement does the speaker find in the younger generation's interest in the Reformed faith? [08:11]
4. How does the sermon describe the new form of totalitarianism facing the church today? [18:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "practical atheism" relate to the passage in James 2:17 about faith and action? What might this look like in a believer's life today? [05:00]
2. In what ways does Romans 12:2 challenge believers to remain steadfast in their faith, according to the sermon? How does this relate to the idea of not conforming to the world? [13:24]
3. How does the speaker's reflection on church history and the challenges faced by Christians in the past provide guidance for dealing with modern totalitarianism, as mentioned in 1 Peter 4:12-14? [18:26]
4. What role does the legacy of R.C. Sproul play in encouraging believers to form genuine relationships within their ministry? How does this relate to the idea of kindness and friendship in the sermon? [02:15]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be living out "practical atheism"? How can you incorporate more prayer and dependence on God in those areas? [05:00]
2. The sermon mentions the importance of standing firm in faith despite cultural pressures. Can you identify a specific situation where you feel pressured to compromise your beliefs? How can you prepare to stand firm in that situation? [13:24]
3. Consider the younger generation's interest in the Reformed faith. How can you support or mentor someone younger in their spiritual journey? What specific steps can you take this week? [08:11]
4. The sermon discusses the new face of totalitarianism. How can you stay informed and prayerful about the challenges facing the church today? What practical steps can you take to support religious freedom? [18:26]
5. Reflect on a time when a genuine relationship impacted your spiritual journey. How can you be intentional about forming or strengthening such relationships within your church community? [02:15]
6. How can you apply the lessons from church history to your current faith journey? Is there a historical figure or event that inspires you to live out your faith more boldly? [20:36]
7. Think about a specific area in your life where you need to renew your mind, as mentioned in Romans 12:2. What practical steps can you take this week to focus on transformation rather than conformity? [13:24]
Devotional
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Quotes
I think I've been reflecting a lot recently on what the older writers call practical atheism, which means you profess to believe in God, but it doesn't really impact the fact that you are prayerless. And they often spoke about prayerlessness as a form of practical atheism. [00:04:34]
I think it's one of the paradoxes of real fruitfulness both in our own lives and in the life of the church that we only make a mark for eternity when we realize we have no power in and of ourselves to accomplish that, and that means our great need is to come to God and to beseech him to visit us. [00:05:22]
I do feel there may also be an absence of the sense of the presence of God, and I think that was something that R.C. felt very much and even from the point of view of the liturgy of the church. If you went to St. Andrews, you caught the sense that he longed to see that restored. [00:06:50]
What encourages me is, I think, to see so many younger people, partly because evangelicalism seems to be falling apart at the seams, and when you are younger, you long for somewhere that will help you to stand, and to see more and more young people, not only teenagers but 20s and 30s, really in so many different parts of the world. [00:07:37]
Turning to what we tend to think of by shorthand as the Reformed faith and discovering the riches of the gospel and also discovering the riches of the teachers of the Christian church from the past and in the present, that to me is tremendously encouraging because you get to a stage, I think, where you feel the big issue in your life becomes what, if anything, are you passing on to the coming generation. [00:08:17]
The more we are shaped by the world, the less impact we make on the world. You know, it's a very simple equation that if I am like you, then there is nothing about me that will leave an imprint on you. I think when it comes to issues of compromise, I often think, you know, I look back on my own Christian life. [00:13:24]
I think that I don't know how I learned this, but I learned as a teenager if I get hassle as a response, what I need to do is to whisper to the Lord Jesus, this is not about me, this is about you, and as long as I'm under your authority, you will take care of me. [00:15:11]
I think we are facing a new face of old-style totalitarianism, and we need to—this is why church history is so helpful to us. I think I've maybe in somewhere in a Ligonier book I told the story of the young man who told me it had this dream and in this dream all these great figures from church history were charging over the hill. [00:16:24]
There has always been a kind of totalitarianism seeking to squash and destroy genuine Christian faith. I think it may astonish friends in the United States of America, but unless you are willing to sign up to being an Anglican, that is, sign up to 39 articles and so on, which are fine in themselves, unless you were willing to do it, you could not graduate from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. [00:17:19]
One of the exciting things about being a Christian is, hey, you're actually living in the texture of the Bible, and this is the world it addresses, and it gives you everything you need to see you through this, but at a cost. And so some of the things that I remember as a youngster, people complaining were happening in the Soviet block. [00:19:01]
The cry for, you know, we want to be on the same level as these Christians who have dominated really masks the deep desire of our sinful hearts to master and overbear that Christianity. You read about it in the answer of the apostles and, as far as I can understand, the rest of the Bible. [00:19:52]
I think what I've found helpful to me is, not in order of precedence but in order of obviousness, one is the corporate worship of God, the ministry of the word, the praise of his name, the fellowship of the saints, the baptisms and reflecting on the significance of my own baptism. More and more, I think this is true of most ministers. [00:22:45]
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