Honoring R.C. Sproul: Legacy and Mission of Ligonier

 

Summary

Reflecting on the legacy of R.C. Sproul and the mission of Ligonier Ministries, this gathering of teaching fellows serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Sproul's work and vision. Each fellow shared personal anecdotes of how they came to know R.C. and the profound influence he had on their lives and ministries. From the printed page to the pulpit, R.C.'s teachings have been a source of inspiration and guidance, shaping the theological landscape and equipping believers to stand firm in their faith.

R.C. Sproul was not just a remarkable communicator but a man of deep conviction and theological insight. His ability to prioritize pressing issues and address them with clarity and wisdom set him apart as a leader in the Reformed tradition. The teaching fellowship at Ligonier Ministries embodies this legacy, bringing together a diverse group of theologians who share a commitment to the core tenets of the faith while respecting their confessional differences.

The mission of Ligonier Ministries remains unchanged: to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. This mission is as relevant today as it was at the ministry's inception, as the church continues to face a battle of ideas and doctrines. The teaching fellows are dedicated to carrying forward this mission, ensuring that Ligonier remains a trusted resource for theological education and a servant to the church.

In a world where theology is often disseminated without peer review, Ligonier stands as a beacon of stability and certainty. The ministry's commitment to making its resources widely accessible in various forms ensures that believers can find reliable answers to their questions. This dedication to theological fidelity and integrity is what sets Ligonier apart and will continue to guide its work in the years to come.

As we look to the future, the teaching fellows are united in their resolve to uphold the principles that R.C. Sproul championed. They are committed to defending historic Protestantism, biblical orthodoxy, and the faith once delivered to the saints. This gathering serves as a reminder that while we have lost a great leader, we have not lost our King, and it is to Him that we remain dedicated.

Key Takeaways:

- R.C. Sproul's legacy is marked by his exceptional communication skills and theological insight, which have profoundly influenced the Reformed tradition and equipped believers to stand firm in their faith. His ability to prioritize pressing issues and address them with clarity and wisdom set him apart as a leader. [24:07]

- The mission of Ligonier Ministries, to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God, remains unchanged and is as relevant today as ever. The teaching fellows are dedicated to carrying forward this mission, ensuring that Ligonier remains a trusted resource for theological education and a servant to the church. [25:13]

- Ligonier Ministries stands as a beacon of stability and certainty in a world where theology is often disseminated without peer review. The ministry's commitment to making its resources widely accessible ensures that believers can find reliable answers to their questions. [40:04]

- The teaching fellowship at Ligonier Ministries embodies a spirit of unity and respect for confessional differences, modeling for the church at large how Christians should work together. This diversity enriches the ministry and serves as a witness to the body of Christ. [35:16]

- As we look to the future, the teaching fellows are united in their resolve to uphold the principles that R.C. Sproul championed. They are committed to defending historic Protestantism, biblical orthodoxy, and the faith once delivered to the saints, ensuring that Ligonier's mission continues. [45:20]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:21] - Introduction and Purpose
- [01:27] - Personal Connections with R.C. Sproul
- [05:33] - Humbling Invitations
- [07:02] - Early Influences and Impact
- [09:08] - Classroom Memories
- [12:14] - Encouragement and Affirmation
- [13:35] - Early Days with R.C.
- [17:03] - Personal Reflections
- [19:04] - Ligonier's Future Vision
- [22:15] - Challenges and Opportunities
- [25:13] - Unchanging Mission
- [28:20] - Relationship with the Local Church
- [35:16] - Unity in Diversity
- [40:04] - Stability in a Shifting World
- [45:20] - Vision for the Future

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
2. Jude 1:3 - "Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

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Observation Questions:

1. What were some of the personal anecdotes shared by the teaching fellows about their interactions with R.C. Sproul? How did these interactions influence their lives and ministries? [01:27]

2. How does the mission of Ligonier Ministries, as described in the sermon, remain unchanged and relevant today? [25:13]

3. What role does the teaching fellowship at Ligonier Ministries play in embodying R.C. Sproul's legacy? [20:05]

4. How does Ligonier Ministries ensure that its resources remain widely accessible and reliable for believers seeking answers? [40:04]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways did R.C. Sproul's ability to prioritize pressing theological issues set him apart as a leader in the Reformed tradition? How might this skill be applied in today's context? [24:07]

2. How does the teaching fellowship at Ligonier Ministries model unity and respect for confessional differences? Why is this important for the broader church community? [35:16]

3. What are the implications of Ligonier Ministries' commitment to defending historic Protestantism and biblical orthodoxy for the future of the church? [45:20]

4. How does the mission of Ligonier Ministries to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God align with the challenges faced by the church today? [25:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you were inspired by a leader's ability to address pressing issues with clarity and wisdom. How can you develop similar skills in your own life and ministry? [24:07]

2. Consider the mission of Ligonier Ministries to make theological resources widely accessible. How can you contribute to making reliable theological education available in your community? [40:04]

3. In what ways can you promote unity and respect for confessional differences within your own church or small group? How can this enrich your community's witness to the body of Christ? [35:16]

4. How can you personally uphold the principles of historic Protestantism and biblical orthodoxy in your daily life? What challenges might you face, and how can you overcome them? [45:20]

5. Think about the role of a teaching fellowship in your own spiritual growth. How can you seek out or create opportunities for mentorship and learning within your church? [20:05]

6. Reflect on the importance of defending the faith once delivered to the saints. How can you actively contend for the faith in your conversations and interactions with others? [45:20]

7. Identify a specific area in your life where you can proclaim, teach, or defend the holiness of God. What steps can you take this week to act on this commitment? [25:13]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Conviction and Clarity
R.C. Sproul's legacy is marked by his exceptional communication skills and theological insight, which have profoundly influenced the Reformed tradition and equipped believers to stand firm in their faith. His ability to prioritize pressing issues and address them with clarity and wisdom set him apart as a leader. [24:07]

"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: Think of a pressing issue in your life that requires clarity and wisdom. How can you seek God's guidance to address it with conviction today?


Day 2: Unwavering Mission of Holiness
The mission of Ligonier Ministries, to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God, remains unchanged and is as relevant today as ever. The teaching fellows are dedicated to carrying forward this mission, ensuring that Ligonier remains a trusted resource for theological education and a servant to the church. [25:13]

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in proclaiming and defending the holiness of God in your community this week?


Day 3: Stability in Theological Integrity
Ligonier Ministries stands as a beacon of stability and certainty in a world where theology is often disseminated without peer review. The ministry's commitment to making its resources widely accessible ensures that believers can find reliable answers to their questions. [40:04]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a theological question or doubt you have. How can you seek out reliable resources or mentors to help you find clarity and truth?


Day 4: Unity in Diversity
The teaching fellowship at Ligonier Ministries embodies a spirit of unity and respect for confessional differences, modeling for the church at large how Christians should work together. This diversity enriches the ministry and serves as a witness to the body of Christ. [35:16]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a fellow believer with whom you have theological differences. How can you foster a spirit of unity and respect in your interactions with them?


Day 5: Commitment to Historic Faith
As we look to the future, the teaching fellows are united in their resolve to uphold the principles that R.C. Sproul championed. They are committed to defending historic Protestantism, biblical orthodoxy, and the faith once delivered to the saints, ensuring that Ligonier's mission continues. [45:20]

"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one aspect of historic Protestantism or biblical orthodoxy that you feel called to defend or learn more about? How can you take a step towards deepening your understanding or advocacy today?

Quotes


I had read The Holiness of God and so on, and then when I met him he was just such a down-to-earth person and fell in love with him and realized that God raises up, from time to time, a unique set of gifts and a voice and a person that addresses not just the literati, but addresses the church, but addresses, you know, whoever this person is, but the ordinary person in the church. [00:01:51]

I remember being, many things, being drawn into friendship by him and then thereafter getting invitations to do things with Ligonier. And it was, you know, I can't tell you how much I felt like out of my comfort zone as a young man with R.C. I remember a conference with John MacArthur, other men you know that we all would look up to, but feeling that he had drawn me somehow or another out of the like the outer circle into an inner circle of friends. [00:04:37]

And I will have to say this, no one was ever more encouraging and affirming to me after I would preach than R.C., and that meant more to me than anything. I remember even one sermon I preached, Chris I don't know if you remember, we met over at the Marriott Hotel, it was a pastors' conference, and there were like three hundred, four hundred pastors in there, and I preached a sermon on Romans 11:36. [00:11:27]

And I think secondly, we have to go back to what R.C. was trying to do with Ligonier Valley Study Center in the first place was between the Sunday school and the seminary, to offer that, as you say, sort of bring those cookies down a little bit for those to partake in. But he was all about equipping equippers, equipping those who would go on to teach Sunday school classes, equipping those who would lead Bible studies in the local church. [00:29:30]

And the way he was able to do that, I think, encouraged ministers to simultaneously provide food for the children that made them stretch and therefore strengthened them. You know, so much of his literature was like that and to me one of the great things about the ministry was, unlike so many ministries, its center was actually the center. So the thing in Ligonier Ministry was not a thing, it was God Himself. [00:32:38]

And I think as it continues to build on that, one of the ways in which you see especially serving pastors and the church is that it's equipping both to be ready for whatever comes, absolutely whatever comes. Because it's only when you understand the center and the whole that it doesn't matter where the falsehood or the heresy or the deviation or the attack comes from, you are actually ready for it. [00:33:43]

Now, we don't link arms with everyone, but on essential matters we have risen above sectarianism, which I think is a very, very unhealthy spirit, and have been able to work with people who see certain things slightly different. But for me, those things are secondary and we have agreed on what is primary, and I think it's been a marvelous example and you mentioned the Presbyterianism. [00:36:21]

I do think that we are in a fairly unique moment because of social media and how theology and theologizing is done in an instant without peer review, and if I can just link back to the previous question, what I think of when I think of Ligonier Ministries is a base where you can be sure you can find some measure of stability and certainty about an issue. [00:39:34]

And I think that's what Ligonier Ministries needs to be and I pray is in a world that is constantly shifting, and questions can bubble up these days just instantly, and we need something that we can trust, a resource, and what unites us is far, far more important than what divides us, a passion and a love for Reformed theology. [00:41:04]

I think that what I would summarize, even in terms of what we just talked about, is that what distinguishes Ligonier Ministries is a defense of historic Protestantism. It is a defense of Protestant confessionalism. It is a defense of biblical orthodoxy. It is a defense precisely aimed, as I think the Reformers would well understand and affirm, where the devil's attack is coming most acutely. [00:45:06]

I hope that that's what animates them and drives them, and I hope and am confident actually that there will been more need for Ligonier Ministries then than even now, as there is now, from when this organization and ministry was first started, but we're going to do everything we can to make certain that the theology taught and the doctrine preached and the ministries that are extended by Ligonier Ministries are exactly what they were established to be in the beginning, which wasn't to be something new, but a continuation of that faith once for all delivered to the saints. [00:46:58]

Father, we're so thankful to You to be privileged to take part in this conference, to fellowship with God's people together. We are so thankful for every memory of the work of R.C. Sproul, who would want to say tonight that he was a sinner saved by grace, and we pray O Lord that you will grant blessing and wisdom to those who seek to carry on the work that he began to the glory of Christ, so that many more might know the saving work of Jesus on the cross, that many more might be brought into the fellowship of His church, that many more might be encouraged by the riches and comforts and depths of His Word. [00:47:15]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?