Reviving Europe: Proclaiming Christ Alone in Darkness

 

Summary

Europe, once the heart of Christendom, is now considered the spiritually darkest continent. Despite its rich Christian history, evidenced by ancient church spires dotting the landscape, Europe has largely turned away from the truth of the Gospel. This shift mirrors the skepticism of Pontius Pilate, who famously asked, "What is truth?" Today, European culture is characterized by a deep aversion to absolute truth, embracing instead a syncretistic paganism that leaves people feeling unloved, unprotected, and hopeless. This cultural shift has resulted in a society adrift in meaninglessness, where atheism is prevalent but not confident, and people are left confused and dissatisfied.

In this context, the call to "preach Christ" is not enough. The name of Christ alone does not challenge the post-Christian mindset, just as it did not challenge the Roman pagans of old. Instead, we must preach "Christ alone"—Solus Christus—emphasizing both the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ's identity and work. This message is crucial in a Europe that has lost its grasp on truth and is in desperate need of the coherence, goodness, and beauty that only Christ can provide.

The early church faced similar challenges in a pagan Europe and succeeded by embodying and demonstrating the truth of Christ alone. Today, we must do the same, showing why Christ is the only solution to the existential plight of modern Europeans. The de-Christianization of Western culture is not inevitable. History has shown that the Gospel has the power to turn back the tide of paganism, as seen in the days of Augustine, Luther, and Whitefield.

The church in Europe and the U.S. must work together to address this spiritual crisis. The U.S. church cannot remain indifferent to Europe's struggles, as the secularism spreading from Europe is a threat to the global church. By standing together, praying for faithful leaders, and heralding Christ in all His sufficiency, we can hope for a new Reformation that will once again lift Christ as the way, the truth, and the life.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Spiritual State of Europe: Europe, once a bastion of Christianity, is now deeply skeptical of absolute truth, much like Pontius Pilate. This skepticism has led to a syncretistic paganism, leaving people feeling unloved and hopeless. The church must recognize this reality and respond with the truth of the Gospel. [01:19]

2. The Insufficiency of "Preach Christ": Simply invoking the name of Christ is not enough in a post-Christian Europe. We must emphasize "Christ alone," highlighting His exclusive identity and sufficient work for salvation. This message challenges the prevailing cultural mindset and offers a coherent and beautiful truth. [05:09]

3. The Power of Solus Christus: The doctrine of Solus Christus, central to Reformation theology, asserts that Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity. This truth is under attack today, and Europe needs to hear that Christ alone is the truth, not subjective feelings. [06:38]

4. A Call for Unity and Action: The church in Europe and the U.S. must unite to address the spiritual crisis. The U.S. church cannot ignore Europe's struggles, as secularism is spreading globally. By working together, we can stop the spread of unbelief and promote the cause of Christ. [10:46]

5. Prayer and Leadership: Prayer is essential in this spiritual battle. We must pray for God to raise faithful leaders in Europe and support ministries like Union that are working towards reformation. By praying and acting, we can hope for a revival of Christ's sufficiency and glory. [11:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Europe's Spiritual Decline
- [01:19] - Skepticism and Paganism
- [02:05] - Comparison with the U.S.
- [02:52] - The Small View of God
- [03:42] - Meaninglessness and Chaos
- [04:25] - The Need for Christ Alone
- [05:09] - Solus Christus
- [05:55] - The Sufficiency and Exclusivity of Christ
- [06:38] - Christ as the Truth
- [07:24] - The Challenge of Religious Exclusivity
- [08:13] - The Early Church's Example
- [09:02] - The Power of the Gospel
- [09:56] - A Call to Action
- [10:46] - Unity Between U.S. and Europe
- [11:38] - Prayer and Leadership

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 18:37-38 - "Jesus said, 'Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?'"
2. 1 Timothy 2:5 - "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
3. Acts 4:12 - "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

---

### Observation Questions

1. How does the interaction between Jesus and Pilate in John 18 reflect the current spiritual state of Europe as described in the sermon? [00:33]

2. What are the characteristics of the message taught in many European churches today, according to the sermon? [02:52]

3. How does the sermon describe the current state of atheism in Europe? [04:25]

4. What historical examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the power of the Gospel to turn back paganism? [09:02]

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. In what ways does the skepticism of Pilate towards truth mirror the cultural mindset in Europe today? How does this affect the church's mission? [01:19]

2. How does the doctrine of Solus Christus challenge the prevailing cultural mindset in Europe, and why is it important to emphasize both the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ? [05:09]

3. What does the sermon suggest is necessary beyond merely stating that "Christ alone" is the truth? How can the church embody this message effectively? [07:24]

4. How does the sermon propose that the church in the U.S. and Europe work together to address the spiritual crisis? What role does prayer play in this effort? [10:46]

---

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own cultural context. How does skepticism towards absolute truth manifest in your community, and how can you address it with the message of Christ alone? [01:19]

2. The sermon emphasizes the need to preach "Christ alone" rather than just "Christ." How can you personally emphasize the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ in your conversations with others? [05:09]

3. Consider the idea of religious exclusivity being seen as divisive. How can you present the truth of Christ in a way that is both compelling and loving to those who may be skeptical? [07:24]

4. The sermon calls for unity between the church in Europe and the U.S. How can you contribute to this unity in your own church community? What practical steps can you take to support global missions? [10:46]

5. Prayer is highlighted as essential in the spiritual battle. What specific prayers can you commit to this week for the church in Europe and for raising faithful leaders? [11:38]

6. Reflect on the historical examples of Augustine, Luther, and Whitefield. How can their stories inspire you to be a part of a new Reformation in your own context? [09:02]

7. Identify one area in your life where you feel "adrift in meaninglessness." How can the truth of Christ alone bring coherence and hope to that area? [03:42]

Devotional

Day 1: The Spiritual State of Europe
Europe, once a stronghold of Christianity, now grapples with a deep skepticism towards absolute truth, reminiscent of Pontius Pilate's question, "What is truth?" This skepticism has given rise to a syncretistic paganism, leaving many feeling unloved and hopeless. The church must acknowledge this reality and respond with the truth of the Gospel, offering a message of love and hope to a continent adrift in meaninglessness. The challenge is to present the Gospel in a way that resonates with those who have turned away from traditional Christian beliefs. [01:19]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen skepticism towards absolute truth affect your community, and how can you be a beacon of hope and truth in that environment today?


Day 2: The Insufficiency of "Preach Christ"
In a post-Christian Europe, simply invoking the name of Christ is insufficient. The cultural mindset requires a deeper emphasis on "Christ alone," highlighting His exclusive identity and sufficient work for salvation. This message challenges the prevailing cultural norms and offers a coherent and beautiful truth that can address the existential questions of modern Europeans. The church must focus on the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ to effectively engage with a society that has largely turned away from traditional Christian teachings. [05:09]

Colossians 2:8-10 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Reflection: How can you personally emphasize the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ in your conversations with those who are skeptical of Christianity?


Day 3: The Power of Solus Christus
The doctrine of Solus Christus, central to Reformation theology, asserts that Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity. This truth is under attack today, and Europe needs to hear that Christ alone is the truth, not subjective feelings. The church must reaffirm this doctrine to counter the cultural narrative that promotes relativism and subjective truth. By doing so, believers can offer a message of hope and certainty in a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain. [06:38]

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV): "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent conversation where subjective truth was discussed. How can you gently introduce the concept of Christ as the sole mediator in future discussions?


Day 4: A Call for Unity and Action
The church in Europe and the U.S. must unite to address the spiritual crisis. The secularism spreading from Europe poses a threat to the global church, and the U.S. church cannot remain indifferent to Europe's struggles. By working together, praying for faithful leaders, and heralding Christ in all His sufficiency, believers can hope for a new Reformation that will once again lift Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. This unity is essential to stop the spread of unbelief and promote the cause of Christ. [10:46]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to foster unity between believers in different cultural contexts, and how can you contribute to a global effort to address spiritual challenges?


Day 5: Prayer and Leadership
Prayer is essential in this spiritual battle. Believers must pray for God to raise faithful leaders in Europe and support ministries that are working towards reformation. By praying and acting, there is hope for a revival of Christ's sufficiency and glory. The church must be proactive in seeking God's guidance and strength to navigate the challenges of a secular world and to bring about a renewed focus on the Gospel. [11:38]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Identify a specific leader or ministry in Europe that you can commit to praying for this week. How can you support them in their mission to bring about spiritual renewal?

Quotes


Europe was once known as Christendom. It's now known by missiologists as the spiritually darkest continent on earth. Now, people from other continents sometimes struggle to believe that, and particularly because of our history. And you look at the English countryside where I come from, and it can be hard to believe that Christianity has faded so much, because there are so many fossils of Christianity all around. [00:00:00]

And it's not that Europe is desperately asking that question, wanting to know an answer. Truth is seen as an exploded old dream of yesterday to be sneered at and ignored. I'm describing Europe, and yet I know much of this will feel very similar in the U.S., and there's certainly similarity, but the situation is much far gone in Europe. [00:01:42]

In paganism, there is no upright and fatherly providence steering creation, no loving acceptance by God. No sure hope. In paganism, we are unloved, unprotected and hopeless. And just so again today in Europe, with a sovereign God and sovereign truth removed, people looking for self-autonomy find instead that they are adrift on an endless sea of meaninglessness. [00:03:26]

So, what does post-Christian Europe need today? It's tempting to answer, "Preach Christ," but in fact, that's not good enough. And it's not because Christ is not the answer. He is, but the mere name of Christ is not a problem for post-Christian Europeans today, just as the name of Christ was not a problem for the Roman pagan 2000 years ago. [00:04:41]

The 500th anniversary of Luther's stand is a good time to say it. We must preach Christ alone. Solus Christus, which is really the lynch pin of Reformation theology, and inextricably related at the center to the other four solas, expresses the biblical conviction that there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5. [00:05:23]

And yet it is not good enough merely to state those truths. That will win applause from the converted, but left at that it will only antagonize most others. When post-Christian Europeans hear phrases like, "Jesus is the only way to be saved." They boggle at the thought that one person or one group can be, in their mind, so fantastically arrogant and small minded as to think they've got the truth and everyone else is wrong. [00:07:16]

This was exactly what the early post-apostolic church had to do in ancient pagan Europe. This is what post-Christian Europe needs today. It needs to be shown why Christ alone is true, good, and beautiful. And why Christ alone is the only solution to the pagan plight of being unloved, unprotected, and hopeless. Friends, there is nothing inevitable about Western culture's de-Christianization. [00:08:25]

The same gospel has the same divine power. Creeping paganism has been checked and turned back before. In Augustine's day, in Luther's day, in Whitefield's day, and each time, it has been Christ alone. Our helplessness, and therefore absolute need for Him, His glorious sufficiency, and His exclusivity, that has been at the heart of paganism's defeat. [00:09:02]

Europe is the epicenter for the pandemic of atheism spreading its disease worldwide. Anti-Christian voices are far more aggressive here than elsewhere. Now, the UK and Europe are about a generation ahead of the U.S. in terms of our collapse into post-Christian secularism. And I'm convinced that if the church is to turn back the tide of unbelief, the church in the U.S. cannot stand aloof from the problems of the church in Europe. [00:10:21]

The church in Europe must prepare the church in North America for the gathering storm. The church in the U.S. and the church in Europe have always been healthiest when they've worked together. Working together, we can stop the disease from spreading, stop it and heal it at its source. We must stand together for the cause of Christ. [00:11:02]

And so, at the very least, whether you are in the U.S. or in Europe, would you please pray these things. Pray that while all around us in Europe, we see churches and ministries drifting from their biblical moorings, pray God will raise and bless faithful leaders of integrity. Please also pray for my ministry, Union as we work to raise and resource such leaders for the reformation of the church. [00:11:28]

Pray that Christ alone will be heralded in all His glorious sufficiency once again. Thank you. [00:12:01]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Apr 23, 2021. Do you have any questions about it?

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