From Darkness to Light: The Seeds of Reformation
Summary
In our journey through history, we find ourselves at the base of a metaphorical mountain, exploring the darkness before the dawn of the Reformation. This evening, we delve into the medieval era, a time often mischaracterized as a thousand-year period of darkness, yet it was a time when the seeds of light were being sown. We begin by turning to the Scriptures, specifically Isaiah 60, which speaks of light arising from darkness, a fitting metaphor for the Reformation's emergence from the medieval period.
The medieval era, spanning from 500 to 1500, is often seen as a time of spiritual and intellectual darkness. However, this view oversimplifies the era, as there were those who maintained orthodoxy, such as John Wycliffe and John Hus. These figures, often labeled heretics, were pivotal in challenging the status quo and laying the groundwork for the Reformation. Wycliffe, known as "the morning star of the Reformation," questioned the absolute authority of the pope and advocated for the translation of the Scriptures into the common tongue, empowering individuals to engage with God's Word directly.
Wycliffe's influence extended to Bohemia, where John Hus emerged as a reformer. Hus, a Czech hero, was a vigorous opponent of corruption within the church and was deeply influenced by Wycliffe's writings. Despite being excommunicated and ultimately martyred, Hus's legacy lived on, symbolized by his prophetic words about a swan rising a hundred years after his death, a reference to Martin Luther and the Reformation.
In reflecting on these historical figures, we are reminded of the enduring power of God's truth and the resilience of His church. Despite periods of darkness, God remains faithful to His promise to build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. As we navigate our own times, we are called to hold fast to the truths of Scripture, even when faced with opposition, trusting in God's sovereign plan.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Light in Darkness: Isaiah 60 reminds us that God's light shines brightest in the darkest times. This is a powerful reminder that even when we face spiritual or personal darkness, God's glory will rise upon us, bringing hope and renewal. [02:00]
2. The Role of Orthodoxy: During the medieval era, figures like Wycliffe and Hus maintained core Christian doctrines, such as the Trinity and the authority of Scripture. Their commitment to orthodoxy amidst widespread corruption highlights the importance of holding fast to foundational truths. [07:15]
3. The Power of Scripture: Wycliffe's advocacy for translating the Bible into the common tongue underscores the transformative power of God's Word. When individuals can engage with Scripture directly, it unleashes a profound spiritual awakening and personal transformation. [25:06]
4. Courage in the Face of Persecution: Both Wycliffe and Hus faced significant opposition for their beliefs. Their courage to stand against the prevailing religious authorities serves as an inspiration for us to remain steadfast in our convictions, even when it comes at a personal cost. [41:59]
5. God's Unchanging Plan: Despite the darkness of the medieval period, God's plan for His church remained steadfast. This assurance encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and His promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. [40:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - Introduction to Isaiah 60
- [01:22] - The Servant Songs
- [02:00] - Light in Darkness
- [02:37] - The Darkness Before the Light
- [03:05] - God's Justice and Salvation
- [04:13] - The Reformation Motto
- [04:53] - Defining the Medieval Era
- [05:45] - Orthodoxy in the Medieval Age
- [07:15] - Heresy and Orthodoxy
- [10:12] - John Wycliffe: The Morning Star
- [11:59] - Wycliffe's Influence and Beliefs
- [15:08] - Philosophical Debates of the Era
- [20:08] - Wycliffe's Theological Impact
- [25:06] - The Power of Scripture Translation
- [28:08] - John Hus and Bohemia
- [30:49] - Hus's Excommunication and Legacy
- [35:18] - The Dawn of the Reformation
- [38:16] - God's Faithfulness and Promise
- [41:13] - Prayer and Conclusion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 60:1-3
- Isaiah 59:14-21
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does Isaiah 60:1-3 say about the light and glory of the Lord? How is this relevant to the theme of light emerging from darkness? [02:00]
2. According to the sermon, how did John Wycliffe challenge the authority of the pope, and what was his significant contribution to the accessibility of Scripture? [23:09]
3. What role did John Hus play in the Reformation, and how did his actions and beliefs reflect the influence of Wycliffe? [30:49]
4. How does the sermon describe the medieval era in terms of spiritual and intellectual darkness, and what figures are highlighted as maintaining orthodoxy during this time? [05:45]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the imagery of light in Isaiah 60 relate to the emergence of the Reformation from the medieval period? What does this suggest about God's presence in times of darkness? [02:00]
2. In what ways did Wycliffe's and Hus's actions demonstrate courage in the face of persecution, and how might their examples inspire believers today? [41:59]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the power of Scripture when it is made accessible to the common people? What impact did this have on the Reformation? [25:06]
4. What does the sermon suggest about God's unchanging plan for His church, even during periods of darkness? How does this provide assurance to believers? [40:37]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced spiritual or personal darkness. How did you see God's light and glory rise upon you during that period? [02:00]
2. Wycliffe and Hus faced significant opposition for their beliefs. How can you remain steadfast in your convictions when faced with challenges or opposition in your own life? [41:59]
3. Consider the importance of having access to Scripture in your own language. How has this accessibility impacted your spiritual growth and understanding of God's Word? [25:06]
4. In what ways can you hold fast to foundational truths of Scripture in your daily life, especially when confronted with widespread cultural or spiritual corruption? [07:15]
5. How can you actively trust in God's sovereign plan for His church and your life, even when circumstances seem bleak or uncertain? [40:37]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to shine God's light. What practical steps can you take this week to be a beacon of hope and renewal to those around you? [02:00]
7. Reflect on the legacy of Wycliffe and Hus. How can their courage and commitment to God's truth inspire you to make a lasting impact in your community or church? [41:59]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Light in Our Darkness
In the darkest times, God's light shines the brightest, offering hope and renewal. Isaiah 60 serves as a powerful reminder that even when we face spiritual or personal darkness, God's glory will rise upon us. The medieval era, often seen as a period of darkness, was actually a time when the seeds of light were being sown, leading to the Reformation. This historical context encourages us to trust that God's light can penetrate any darkness we encounter, bringing transformation and new beginnings. [02:00]
Isaiah 60:1-2 (ESV): "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you."
Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that feels dark or hopeless. How can you invite God's light into this area today, trusting Him to bring hope and renewal?
Day 2: Upholding Orthodoxy Amidst Corruption
During the medieval era, figures like John Wycliffe and John Hus maintained core Christian doctrines amidst widespread corruption. Their commitment to orthodoxy highlights the importance of holding fast to foundational truths, even when the surrounding culture is compromised. These reformers remind us that true faithfulness involves standing firm in the truth of Scripture, regardless of external pressures or opposition. [07:15]
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (ESV): "Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."
Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to compromise your beliefs due to cultural pressures? How can you strengthen your commitment to biblical truth today?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Scripture
John Wycliffe's advocacy for translating the Bible into the common tongue underscores the transformative power of God's Word. When individuals can engage with Scripture directly, it unleashes profound spiritual awakening and personal transformation. This historical insight challenges us to prioritize Scripture in our own lives, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships. [25:06]
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: How often do you engage with Scripture in a meaningful way? What specific steps can you take to deepen your interaction with God's Word this week?
Day 4: Courage in the Face of Persecution
Both John Wycliffe and John Hus faced significant opposition for their beliefs, yet they remained steadfast. Their courage to stand against prevailing religious authorities serves as an inspiration for us to remain firm in our convictions, even when it comes at a personal cost. This historical example encourages us to be bold in our faith, trusting that God will sustain us through trials. [41:59]
1 Peter 3:14-15 (ESV): "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you."
Reflection: Identify a situation where you feel pressured to compromise your faith. How can you prepare to stand firm and honor Christ in this context?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Unchanging Plan
Despite the darkness of the medieval period, God's plan for His church remained steadfast. This assurance encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and His promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. As we navigate our own times, we are reminded that God's purposes are unchanging, and we can rely on His faithfulness to guide us through any challenge. [40:37]
Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"
Reflection: What current challenges are causing you to doubt God's plan? How can you reaffirm your trust in His sovereignty and faithfulness today?
Quotes
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." [00:01:38]
"Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him." [00:02:50]
"Well, everyone of course knows that the motto of the Reformation is summarized by those three Latin words, post tenebras lux, 'After darkness, light.' And I want to speak about before the light, darkness. I want to speak about the medieval era, and it's difficult to define, of course. We're speaking of the period of history from 500 to 1500, a thousand years, and perhaps in some former fashion it is sometimes characterized as indeed a period of great darkness and then all of a sudden in 1517, Martin Luther posts the 95 protestations, theses, to the castle church door in Wittenberg, and the light has shone and the Reformation comes forth." [00:04:28]
"And that depiction of the medieval period is inaccurate at best, because there were those who maintained orthodoxy. And how do we define orthodoxy in the medieval age before the Reformation or before the 17th century and the five points of Calvinism and the Synod of Dort, or before 1643 and the Westminster Assembly and the Westminster Confession or for Steve Lawson's sake, the Baptist Confession of Faith in later decades?" [00:05:36]
"And perhaps a more accurate way of defining orthodoxy during the medieval age would at least be the great Chalcedonian Creed or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed of the third…of the fourth and fifth centuries. And there certainly would've been, during the medieval period, during that thousand years, a continuity of Augustinian belief, belief at least in the doctrine of the Trinity and belief in the deity of Christ and in the godhead of Christ and in the humanity of Christ and in the importance, and fundamental importance, and to some extent the authority of Scripture as the last word." [00:06:26]
"Instead of defining the church as the pope and his cardinals, Wycliffe now begins to define the church as the totality of the predestined -- past, present, and future -- and he defines the church, not in terms of its visibility, but in terms of its invisibility, and none of the predestined who know who they are. Wycliffe is still medieval in many ways. What this notion leads him to is to deny the authority, the absolute authority of the pope over the church, and that was a ticking bomb." [00:22:16]
"And he sponsors, another thing that he did was to sponsor the translation -- it wasn't Wycliffe who did it -- but he sponsored the translation of the Scriptures into the common tongue, the so-called 'Wycliffe Bible.' And that would be a precursor to Tyndale and others and Luther and his German Bible, and it was like a ticking bomb because what is it that will turn over an entire, an entire race of people? What is it that will open the minds of people? What is it that will undo the bondage of the will? What is it that will transform the hearts of sinners but the power, the unleashed power of the Word of God where people can read the Word of God for themselves and not be dependent upon the interpretations and translations of the medieval priests." [00:24:36]
"And as Hus dies he utters these words, and they are often thought to be prophetic, 'Today you burn a goose,' it sounds like 'Hus' in the language in which he spoke, 'Today you burn a goose, a hundred years from now a swan will arise,' and you remember that the coat of arms that Luther had had a swan in it, directly relating to Hus' prophetic words as he died." [00:34:37]
"There are dark days, the prophet Isaiah in the eighth century is depicting dark days that are looming and the coming of Babylonian captivity, and were there any darker days in all of the church's history than the captivity in Babylon when Jerusalem was razed to the ground and the temple utterly destroyed, and young men in their twenties taken off into captivity a thousand miles away from home and would be there for hundreds of years. And yet in the midst of that darkness there was light, and there was a Daniel and a Meshach and an Abednego and so on." [00:36:08]
"And just as in the thousand years from 500 to 1500 there were glimmers of light, they didn't get it all right. But then neither do you get it all right, and neither do I get it all right. But there were truths and basic truths of God's sovereignty, God's triune-ness, the deity of Jesus Christ, the hypostatic union, the importance of Scripture and the need to have Scripture translated into the vulgar tongue, and the reminder again tonight that when you hold a Bible in your hand that men and women have died." [00:36:40]
"It's a reminder to us that God is powerful, that He's in control, that there's a narrative of redemptive history, that there's a goal, that Jesus is coming again and His church, the gates of hell will not prevail against His church. That's what Jesus taught at Caesarea Philippi, wasn't it? 'I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.' There is a remnant according to the election of grace." [00:38:05]
"So before the light there was darkness, yes, relative darkness, and there may come periods of darkness again but God will never abandon His promise. He only has one plan, and it's called 'church.' There is no plan B. 'I will build My church,' Jesus says, and that's the only plan that He has. And may God pour out His Spirit and reveal to us again that despite the periods of darkness for purposes that are known to Him, and when God restrains from pouring out His blessing for a purpose that is known unto Him, He never forgets His plan, and He never abandons His promise." [00:40:30]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Oct 19, 2018. Do you have any questions about it?