Reviving Europe: The Call for Robust Theology

 

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 become a land of spiritual fossils. The cultural climate mirrors Pilate's cynical question to Jesus, "What is truth?" This skepticism towards absolute truth has led to a society adrift in meaninglessness and moral confusion. The absence of a sovereign God has left Europeans feeling unloved and hopeless, creating fertile ground for paganism and militant ideologies like Islam. However, this dark backdrop presents an opportunity for the church to rise with robust theology and expository preaching.

The church in Europe faces unique challenges, including open ridicule for faith declarations and a political landscape where references to God are often avoided. Yet, these challenges have also spurred the church to deepen its theological understanding, particularly in response to the rise of Islam. This has led to a renewed focus on robust theology as the answer to Europe's spiritual crisis. John Calvin's model of raising theologically knowledgeable pastors in Geneva serves as an inspiration. Calvin's efforts in the 16th century led to the planting of over 2,150 churches in France, demonstrating the power of good theology to drive mission and counteract bad theology.

Today, the vision is to replicate this model through initiatives like Union, which partners with Ligonier to establish church multiplication hubs across Europe. These hubs aim to raise up leaders locally, providing them with theological education and resources to plant churches. The goal is to send out men with the right theology, who delight in God and serve the church, to bless the world. The partnership between the US and Europe is crucial, as both regions have historically flourished when working together. By bringing American students to study and work in European church plants, the hope is to equip them with experience in a post-Christian context, which they can bring back to the US.

The call to action is clear: pray for Europe, for Union, and for Ligonier as they work to herald Christ in the darkest continent. The same Word of God that has turned back paganism in the past remains powerful today. By lifting up Christ alone as the way, the truth, and the life, the church can stand against the tide of de-Christianization and spread the gospel's transformative power.

Key Takeaways:

1. Europe's Spiritual Landscape: Europe, once a bastion of Christianity, is now characterized by skepticism and a disregard for absolute truth, leading to a society adrift in moral confusion. This mirrors Pilate's cynical question to Jesus, "What is truth?" and highlights the need for a return to robust theology to address these challenges. [02:22]

2. The Role of Theology: Robust theology and expository preaching are essential for addressing Europe's spiritual crisis. John Calvin's model of raising theologically knowledgeable pastors in Geneva serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of good theology to drive mission and counteract bad theology. [09:22]

3. Challenges and Opportunities: The rise of militant ideologies like Islam presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the church in Europe. This has spurred the church to deepen its theological understanding, highlighting the importance of robust theology in responding to these challenges. [07:43]

4. Union's Vision: Union, in partnership with Ligonier, aims to replicate Calvin's model by establishing church multiplication hubs across Europe. These hubs focus on raising up leaders locally, providing them with theological education and resources to plant churches, and sending out men with the right theology to bless the world. [13:18]

5. Transatlantic Partnership: The partnership between the US and Europe is crucial for addressing the spiritual challenges facing both regions. By bringing American students to study and work in European church plants, the hope is to equip them with experience in a post-Christian context, which they can bring back to the US. [16:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Europe's Spiritual Landscape
- [01:29] - Pilate's Question and Modern Skepticism
- [03:13] - Comparing US and European Church Attendance
- [04:21] - Political and Cultural Differences
- [05:27] - Paganism and Moral Confusion
- [06:30] - Europe's Influence on Global Atheism
- [07:20] - The Challenge of Islam
- [08:11] - The Need for Robust Theology
- [09:22] - John Calvin's Model
- [10:41] - Calvin's Evangelization Efforts
- [12:54] - Union's Vision and Partnership
- [14:04] - Supporting Church Planting
- [16:05] - Transatlantic Gospel Partnership
- [17:15] - Call to Prayer and Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 18:37-38
- Matthew 28:18-20
- 2 Timothy 4:2-5

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 18:37-38, what was Pilate's response to Jesus' statement about truth, and how does this reflect the current spiritual climate in Europe? [01:29]

2. How does the sermon describe the current state of church attendance in Europe compared to the United States? [03:13]

3. What role did John Calvin play in addressing the spiritual challenges of his time, and how is his model being replicated today? [09:22]

4. What are some of the specific challenges faced by the church in Europe today, as mentioned in the sermon? [07:20]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Pilate's question, "What is truth?" reflect the skepticism towards absolute truth in modern European culture? What implications does this have for the church's mission? [02:22]

2. In what ways does robust theology and expository preaching serve as a solution to the spiritual crisis in Europe, according to the sermon? [08:11]

3. How does the partnership between Union and Ligonier aim to address the spiritual needs of Europe, and what is the significance of this collaboration? [13:18]

4. What lessons can be learned from John Calvin's approach to church planting and theological education that are applicable to today's context? [10:41]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own understanding of truth. How do you respond to skepticism about absolute truth in your daily life, and how can you engage others in meaningful conversations about truth? [02:22]

2. The sermon highlights the importance of robust theology. How can you deepen your own theological understanding to better engage with the spiritual challenges in your community? [08:11]

3. Consider the role of church partnerships in your own context. How can you support or participate in initiatives that aim to strengthen the church's mission both locally and globally? [13:18]

4. John Calvin's model involved raising theologically knowledgeable leaders. How can you contribute to the development of future church leaders in your community? [10:41]

5. The sermon calls for prayer for Europe and the church's mission there. How can you incorporate regular prayer for global missions into your personal or group prayer life? [20:04]

6. Reflect on the cultural differences between Europe and the US mentioned in the sermon. How can understanding these differences enhance your approach to sharing the gospel in diverse contexts? [04:21]

7. The sermon discusses the impact of militant ideologies on the church. How can you prepare yourself to engage with people from different belief systems in a respectful and informed manner? [07:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Europe's Spiritual Drift and the Quest for Truth
Europe, once a stronghold of Christianity, now grapples with skepticism and a rejection of absolute truth, leading to moral confusion and a sense of meaninglessness. This mirrors Pilate's question to Jesus, "What is truth?" as Europeans navigate a cultural climate that often dismisses the existence of a sovereign God. The absence of a clear moral compass has left many feeling unloved and hopeless, creating fertile ground for alternative ideologies and beliefs. In this context, the church is called to rise with robust theology to address these challenges and offer a beacon of hope. [02:22]

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 impact your community, and how can you be a source of hope and truth in your daily interactions?


Day 2: The Power of Robust Theology
Robust theology and expository preaching are essential for addressing Europe's spiritual crisis. John Calvin's model of raising theologically knowledgeable pastors in Geneva serves as an inspiration, demonstrating the power of good theology to drive mission and counteract bad theology. Calvin's efforts in the 16th century led to the planting of over 2,150 churches in France, showcasing the transformative impact of sound theological education. Today, the church is called to deepen its theological understanding to respond effectively to the challenges it faces. [09:22]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of theology to better equip yourself for the challenges facing the church today?


Day 3: Challenges and Opportunities in the Face of Militant Ideologies
The rise of militant ideologies like Islam presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the church in Europe. This has spurred the church to deepen its theological understanding, highlighting the importance of robust theology in responding to these challenges. By engaging with these ideologies thoughtfully and respectfully, the church can offer a compelling alternative rooted in the truth of the gospel. This requires a commitment to understanding and articulating the Christian faith clearly and confidently. [07:43]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "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; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: What steps can you take to better understand and engage with the ideologies and beliefs present in your community?


Day 4: Union's Vision for Church Multiplication
Union, in partnership with Ligonier, aims to replicate Calvin's model by establishing church multiplication hubs across Europe. These hubs focus on raising up leaders locally, providing them with theological education and resources to plant churches, and sending out men with the right theology to bless the world. This vision seeks to empower local leaders to address the unique challenges of their communities and spread the transformative power of the gospel. [13:18]

Acts 14:23 (ESV): "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

Reflection: How can you support or participate in initiatives that aim to raise up local leaders and plant churches in your community or beyond?


Day 5: The Importance of Transatlantic Gospel Partnership
The partnership between the US and Europe is crucial for addressing the spiritual challenges facing both regions. By bringing American students to study and work in European church plants, the hope is to equip them with experience in a post-Christian context, which they can bring back to the US. This transatlantic partnership highlights the importance of collaboration and shared learning in spreading the gospel and addressing the spiritual needs of both continents. [16:05]

Philippians 1:5 (ESV): "Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

Reflection: How can you contribute to or foster partnerships that strengthen the global church and advance the gospel across different cultures and contexts?

Quotes

Europe was once known as Christendom it is now known by Missy ologists as the spiritually darkest continent on earth now people from other continents often struggle to believe that particularly because of our history and you look at the English countryside where I come from and it can be hard to believe it because there are so many fossils of Christianity all around in every town in every village you'll see church spires churches that are a thousand years old but they are fossils for the most part. [00:00:28]

If you want to understand where spiritually Europe is at today I think you need to think of Jesus interaction with Pilate in John 18 do you remember Pilate is interviewing Jesus and Jesus says I've come into the world to bear witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice and Pilate said to him what is truth and after he'd said this he went back outside to the Jews he's not really wanting to know what is truth it's a cynical question. [00:01:22]

European culture now is skeptical deeply averse to truth and synchronistically pagan and when confronted with the very concept of truth Europeans today feel a glow of sophisticated superiority they ask what is truth and like pilot they walk out not expecting to hear an answer truth is seen as an exploded old dream of yesterday to be sneered at and ignored now some of what I'm saying is going to sound familiar to you in the u.s. right and there is certainly similarity only the situation is much more far gone in Europe. [00:02:15]

In Europe we are back with his old classic pagan problems in paganism there is no upright farfel e providence steering creation no loving acceptance by God no sure hope in paganism you are unloved unprotected and hopeless and just so again today in Europe with a sovereign God and sovereign truth removed a culture that is looking for self autonomy people are now finding themselves adrift on this endless sea of meaninglessness and moral confusion societies lost the truth that could give it coherence. [00:05:16]

Europe is the seedbed of atheism but Europe has become the epicenter of the disease that has now spread its spores all over the world and in Europe having weakened society's moorings to its Christian heritage we see the transgender movement far more aggressive in Europe than it is here so far because loss of the fear of God leads to moral confusion and a confusion about what it is to be human and all that means the door has been left wide open to militant Islam. [00:06:36]

The challenge of Islam has forced the church to do better theology to answer the theological and apologetic challenges of Islam and that helps you start seeing some of the opportunity that's here oh it's a dark background but some of the opportunity for the answer to all this is found in robust theology fueling robust expository preaching building and growing healthy churches that is the answer for Europe. [00:07:58]

John Calvin 500 years ago nearly in Geneva established an Academy where he would raise up pastors godly wise scripture soaked theologically knowledgeable pastors who would love God love his people and he raised them up in the Academy in Geneva and he provided them with books and in Geneva printing publishing became the dominant industry of the city can you imagine that of any City printings the dominant industry and then in the mid 15 50s Calvin set up a program for the rear Vangelis ation of Europe. [00:09:39]

Calvin saw it he saw good theology drives good mission and can drive back the tide of bad theology in fact he said a good theologian is a good missionary a good missionary is a good theologian and he would send men out to France Hungary Italy Scotland and even as far as Rio de Janeiro that is our vision for today to do it again. [00:12:05]

Union which is working with Ligonier for the Reformation of Christ's Church with Union following Calvin's vision we have set up 25 locations around the continent and in each of these they are Church multiplication hubs we're like little Geneva academies we are raising up leaders locally and in each place we raise up leaders there locally these men are recruited by their churches they're raised up we can give them a degree a degree a masters or PhD where they are and then they're sent out to plant churches. [00:12:59]

We want to send out men with the right theology Orthodox men who delight in God grow in Christ servants of the church will bless the world and we want to support them as they go out to enable them then to plant churches having been raised up to then have have the resources to plant churches so we provide them with books and we also provide them with financial support where we can. [00:14:04]

There is something that is very special about transatlantic gospel partnership both the US and Europe have always flourished best when we've worked together so for instance we have a program where we bring American students over to do a masters with us while working in one of these church plants and they can study and we have two dreams for them one is we expect most of them will come home to the US the other is some of them may come and stay and work in Europe. [00:15:36]

The same Word of God has the same strength and power it always has and creeping paganism has been checked and turned back before it was in Augustine's day it was in Luther's day it was in Whitfield's day and each time it has been men raised up heralding Christ alone and did you hear that word alone not just heralding any old Christ but heralding Christ as the complete and absolutely sufficient Savior holding out the gospel meaning that we must recognize our helplessness and absolute need for Christ his glorious sufficiency and his exclusivity. [00:18:07]

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Transcript
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