Proclaiming God's Holiness: A Call to Discipleship

 

Summary

As we stand on the brink of another year at Ligonier Ministries, there is a profound sense of awe and gratitude for the work God is doing through this ministry. The promise of God’s Word being powerful and effective is evident as we witness the expansion of our outreach, reaching over 100 million people in 2023. This is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the vital role of your prayerful and financial support. Together, we are committed to proclaiming, teaching, and defending the holiness of God to as many people as possible, fulfilling the Great Commission.

Ligonier Ministries is dedicated to equipping Christians with a robust library of discipleship resources, aiming to make these available in the world’s top 20 languages. This effort is not just about spreading information but about fostering deep encounters with the holiness of God. Our resources, including the Reformation Study Bible, are designed to provide comprehensive theological guidance, helping believers grow in their knowledge of God and His Word.

The global need for sound biblical teaching is immense, with many Christians lacking basic discipleship resources. Pastors around the world are striving to prepare sermons without foundational materials. This is where your support becomes crucial. By contributing to Ligonier, you are helping to provide these essential resources, enabling millions more to know our great and glorious God.

Our mission extends to the next generation, particularly in a world that is increasingly described as “post-truth.” We are committed to equipping young people with the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Initiatives like the Always Ready apologetics conferences and the expansion of Reformation Bible College are pivotal in this endeavor. These efforts are designed to prepare the next generation to be leaders in our churches and communities.

In these dark times, the light of Christ shines even brighter. We are reminded of the words of a 19th-century Scottish preacher: “A dark hour makes Jesus bright.” As we stand firm in our convictions, we are not standing still in our outreach. With your continued support, we can seize the opportunity to make a significant advance for the kingdom of God.

Key Takeaways:

1. God’s Faithfulness in Outreach: The remarkable growth of Ligonier Ministries, reaching over 100 million people, is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of His Word. This expansion is made possible through the prayerful and financial support of believers committed to spreading the gospel. [00:23]

2. Equipping the Global Church: Ligonier is focused on providing discipleship resources in the world’s top 20 languages, aiming to equip Christians worldwide with sound biblical teaching. This effort is crucial in a world where many lack access to foundational theological materials. [01:24]

3. The Urgency of Discipleship: In a rapidly changing society, it is vital to focus on discipling the next generation. Ligonier’s initiatives, such as Reformation Bible College and apologetics conferences, are designed to equip young people with the truth of God’s Word. [06:43]

4. The Role of the Reformation Study Bible: This comprehensive theological guide is a cornerstone of Ligonier’s global outreach, providing believers with insightful commentary and notes from distinguished theologians. Its availability in multiple languages is crucial for equipping the global church. [04:11]

5. Standing Firm in Dark Times: In challenging times, the light of Christ shines brighter. Ligonier is committed to advancing the kingdom of God by standing firm in its convictions and expanding its outreach, with the support of fellow workers in the gospel. [09:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Celebrating God’s Faithfulness
- [00:59] - Expanding Discipleship Resources
- [01:24] - Global Language Outreach
- [01:50] - Trusted Bible Teaching
- [02:21] - Encountering God’s Holiness
- [02:56] - The Staggering Global Need
- [03:31] - Witnessing Global Demand
- [04:11] - The Reformation Study Bible
- [04:50] - Translation Projects
- [05:30] - Discipleship and Learning
- [06:07] - Urgency for the Next Generation
- [06:43] - Reformation Bible College
- [08:02] - Reaching Generation Z
- [09:18] - Light in Dark Times
- [09:52] - Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)
2. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (The Importance of Scripture)
3. John 8:12 (Jesus as the Light of the World)

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Observation Questions:

1. What evidence of God's faithfulness and the power of His Word is highlighted in the sermon regarding Ligonier Ministries' outreach? [00:23]

2. How does Ligonier Ministries plan to equip Christians globally, and what languages are they focusing on for their discipleship resources? [01:24]

3. What role does the Reformation Study Bible play in Ligonier's global outreach, and in which languages is it currently available? [04:11]

4. What initiatives are mentioned in the sermon that aim to prepare the next generation with the truth of God's Word? [06:43]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) relate to Ligonier Ministries' mission to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God? [00:59]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Reformation Study Bible serves as a comprehensive theological guide for believers worldwide? [04:11]

3. How does the concept of a "post-truth" world impact the urgency of discipleship, particularly for the next generation, as discussed in the sermon? [06:43]

4. What does the sermon imply about the role of financial and prayerful support in advancing the kingdom of God through Ligonier Ministries? [09:52]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the growth of Ligonier Ministries' outreach. How can you personally contribute to spreading the gospel in your community or globally? [00:23]

2. Considering the global need for sound biblical teaching, what steps can you take to support or participate in translation projects or resource distribution? [01:24]

3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of equipping the next generation. How can you engage with young people in your life to share the unchanging truth of God's Word? [06:43]

4. The Reformation Study Bible is a key resource for believers. How can you utilize it or similar resources to deepen your understanding of Scripture and theology? [04:11]

5. In light of the sermon’s message about standing firm in dark times, what practical steps can you take to be a light in your community or workplace? [09:18]

6. How can you incorporate the teachings from Ligonier Ministries into your daily life to foster a deeper encounter with the holiness of God? [02:21]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s call to action. What specific actions can you take to support Ligonier Ministries or similar organizations in their mission to advance the kingdom of God? [09:52]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Faithfulness in Expanding Outreach
The remarkable growth of Ligonier Ministries, reaching over 100 million people, is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of His Word. This expansion is made possible through the prayerful and financial support of believers committed to spreading the gospel. The ministry's outreach is not just about numbers but about the transformative impact of God's Word in people's lives. As believers, we are called to participate in this mission, recognizing that our contributions, whether in prayer or resources, play a vital role in advancing the kingdom of God. [00:23]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's mission today, whether through prayer, financial support, or sharing the gospel with someone in your life?


Day 2: Equipping the Global Church with Discipleship Resources
Ligonier Ministries is focused on providing discipleship resources in the world’s top 20 languages, aiming to equip Christians worldwide with sound biblical teaching. This effort is crucial in a world where many lack access to foundational theological materials. By making these resources available, the ministry seeks to foster deep encounters with the holiness of God, helping believers grow in their knowledge of God and His Word. The global need for sound biblical teaching is immense, and the ministry's work is a response to this urgent call. [01:24]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of God's Word and share it with those who may not have access to such resources?


Day 3: Urgency in Discipling the Next Generation
In a rapidly changing society, it is vital to focus on discipling the next generation. Ligonier’s initiatives, such as Reformation Bible College and apologetics conferences, are designed to equip young people with the truth of God’s Word. These efforts are crucial in preparing the next generation to be leaders in our churches and communities, especially in a world increasingly described as “post-truth.” By investing in the spiritual formation of young people, we are ensuring that the light of Christ continues to shine brightly in the future. [06:43]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: How can you intentionally invest in the spiritual growth of a young person in your life today?


Day 4: The Reformation Study Bible as a Theological Guide
The Reformation Study Bible is a cornerstone of Ligonier’s global outreach, providing believers with insightful commentary and notes from distinguished theologians. Its availability in multiple languages is crucial for equipping the global church with comprehensive theological guidance. This resource is not just about providing information but about helping believers grow in their understanding of God and His Word. By engaging with such resources, Christians can deepen their faith and be better equipped to share the gospel with others. [04:11]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Reflection: How can you incorporate the use of theological resources like the Reformation Study Bible into your daily study of Scripture?


Day 5: Standing Firm in Dark Times
In challenging times, the light of Christ shines brighter. Ligonier is committed to advancing the kingdom of God by standing firm in its convictions and expanding its outreach, with the support of fellow workers in the gospel. The words of a 19th-century Scottish preacher remind us that "a dark hour makes Jesus bright." As believers, we are called to stand firm in our faith, trusting that God is at work even in the darkest of times. By remaining steadfast, we can be a beacon of hope and light to those around us. [09:18]

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Reflection: In what ways can you stand firm in your faith today, even when faced with challenges or darkness?

Quotes

We’re about to embark on another year at Ligonier Ministries, and I can’t help but feel a sense of awe. Just as God has promised, His Word is powerful and is accomplishing His sovereign purpose. He will build His church. The Lord Jesus Christ is the victor over the darkness and over sin. [00:00:00]

We celebrate God’s faithfulness with you because, without question, we know that God is using your prayerful and financial support, propelling Ligonier to expand its mission to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God to as many people as possible. Thank you. So many more people around the world are discovering the glory of the gospel and the riches of the historic Christian faith. [00:00:35]

Ligonier is focused on spreading God’s truth to the global church in obedience to the Great Commission. We have bold plans to equip Christians by developing the world’s largest library of discipleship resources, exalting the glory of God with teaching that is faithful to the historic Christian faith. [00:00:54]

Your year-end support can provide gospel-saturated teaching in more places and languages, enabling millions more people to know our great and glorious God. Ligonier Ministries aims to help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it. [00:01:37]

In everything we do we're always seeking to foster more encounters with the holiness of God. This desire stands behind every new podcast episode that we record here in the studio—shows like Renewing Your Mind and Things Unseen. It’s this desire that undergirds all the new teaching series we film and all the books, study Bibles, and issues of Tabletalk magazine that Ligonier publishes. [00:02:10]

The global need really is staggering. You heard Chris mention that, under God’s blessing, Ligonier’s outreach looks to exceed 100 million people this year. That’s a 42% increase over last year! Yet, with more than 8 billion people on the planet, we’re energized to expand. Thank you for your part in that. [00:03:09]

In my hands, I have the Reformation Study Bible. As you know, it’s not only a Bible—it’s a comprehensive theological guide. Edited by Dr. Sproul, it’s packed with over 1 million words of insightful commentary and notes from distinguished theologians. The Reformation Study Bible is a cornerstone of our global outreach. [00:04:23]

We emphasize “discipleship” a lot at Ligonier. And in the New Testament, the Greek word for “disciple” really means “learner.” So, when we talk about being a disciple of Jesus, we’re talking about being His student: listening to His teaching and putting it into practice in our daily lives. [00:06:01]

In our calling as Christians to make disciples, it is urgent to give special attention to the next generation. This is especially important in our rapidly changing society—what some are calling a “post-truth” world. A battle is raging for the minds of our young people, and we want to see them equipped with the unchanging truth of the inerrant and authoritative Word of God. [00:06:31]

There is a world of opportunity to reach Generation Z. This group of young people numbers nearly 2 billion and represents 30% of the world’s population! We’re doing more to reach this generation through Ligonier’s incredibly popular Always Ready apologetics conferences for students. We’ve hosted a number of these this year, and every time we do it’s been to a packed house. [00:07:56]

Yes, these are dark days. But like a Scottish preacher from the 19th century said, “A dark hour makes Jesus bright.” The church has seen this in generations prior, and God has been faithful. The truth of God’s holiness is needed now more than ever, and Dr. Sproul saw this. [00:09:24]

So he would often say that while we are standing firm in our convictions, we’re not standing still in our outreach. And what’s beautiful is that we have so many donors—fellow workers in the gospel—who are eager to see this massive arsenal of truth move to the nations in obedience to the Great Commission. [00:09:46]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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