Steadfast Preaching in a Changing Global Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Global Church's Dual Reality

The global church is experiencing a dual reality: growth in regions like South America and Africa, and a decline in biblical literacy in the U.S. and Europe. This contrast highlights the urgent need for bold preaching of the whole counsel of God. In areas where the church is growing, there is a vibrant hunger for the gospel, and communities are being transformed by the power of God's Word. However, in places where biblical understanding is waning, there is a temptation to replace sound doctrine with entertainment or pop psychology, which can lead to a diluted faith. The call is for pastors and leaders to remain steadfast in their commitment to preach the entirety of Scripture, ensuring that believers are well-grounded in their faith and equipped to face the challenges of a changing world. [04:57]

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (2 Timothy 4:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you support your church leaders in their commitment to preach the whole counsel of God, especially in a culture that often seeks to dilute the message?

Day 2: Faithful Delivery of God's Word

Ligonier Ministries exemplifies a steadfast commitment to delivering God's Word faithfully, reaching millions worldwide. This ministry is not about innovation but about ensuring that God's people hear His voice and are grounded in Scripture. In a world that often prioritizes novelty and entertainment, Ligonier stands as a beacon of hope and truth, emphasizing the importance of sound biblical teaching. Their efforts are evident in the growing number of students at Reformation Bible College, who are being equipped to be lifelong disciples, ready to face the challenges of our time with conviction and courage. This commitment to Scripture is crucial for the health and growth of the global church. [06:16]

"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." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more Scripture into your daily routine to ensure you are grounded in God's Word?

Day 3: Resilience Amidst Persecution

Despite facing persecution in countries like China and India, the church continues to grow, demonstrating the resilience and power of the gospel. Believers in these regions persevere under difficult circumstances, often risking their lives to share their faith. This resilience is a testament to the transformative power of the gospel and the faithfulness of those who hold fast to their beliefs. The global church can learn from their example, finding encouragement and strength in their unwavering commitment to Christ. As we pray for our brothers and sisters facing persecution, we are reminded of the importance of standing firm in our own faith, regardless of the challenges we may face. [13:57]

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account." (Matthew 5:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can support persecuted Christians around the world through prayer, advocacy, or other means.

Day 4: A Shift Towards Sound Doctrine

In Latin America, there is a significant shift away from prosperity gospel teachings as people seek the true gospel. This hunger for sound doctrine presents a unique opportunity for ministries like Ligonier to provide much-needed resources. As individuals and communities turn away from teachings that promise material wealth in exchange for faith, they are discovering the richness of the true gospel, which offers eternal hope and transformation. This shift is a reminder of the importance of discernment in our own faith journeys, ensuring that we are not swayed by teachings that deviate from the core message of Scripture. [22:06]

"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: Reflect on your own beliefs and practices. Are there areas where you need to seek a deeper understanding of sound doctrine?

Day 5: Equipping Indigenous Leaders

The vision for the future is to see indigenous leaders equipped to teach and disciple their communities. This requires a long-term commitment and the support of ministry partners, who play a crucial role in extending the reach and impact of the gospel. By investing in local leaders, the church can ensure that the message of Christ is contextualized and relevant to diverse cultures and communities. This approach not only empowers individuals but also strengthens the global church, fostering a sense of unity and shared mission. As we support these efforts, we are reminded of the importance of raising up leaders within our own communities who are equipped to share the gospel with conviction and clarity. [29:34]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the development of leaders within your own community, ensuring they are equipped to disciple others effectively?

Sermon Summary

In our gathering tonight, we explored the dynamic and evolving landscape of the global church, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness in preaching the whole counsel of God. As we look across the world, we see both challenges and opportunities for the gospel. In regions like South America, Central America, and Africa, the church is experiencing significant growth, with the Reformation taking root in new ways. However, in the United States and parts of Europe, there is a noticeable decline in biblical literacy and gospel understanding. This highlights the urgent need for pastors to courageously preach the entirety of God's Word, resisting the temptation to dilute the message with entertainment or pop psychology.

The work of Ligonier Ministries continues to be a beacon of hope and truth, reaching millions with sound biblical teaching. Our efforts are not about innovation but about faithfully delivering God's Word to His people. This commitment is evident in the growing number of students at Reformation Bible College, who are being equipped to be lifelong disciples, grounded in Scripture and ready to face the challenges of our time with conviction and courage.

Globally, the church faces persecution in countries like China and India, yet the gospel continues to spread. In Latin America, there is a notable shift away from prosperity gospel teachings, as people seek the true gospel. The hunger for sound doctrine is palpable, and Ligonier is committed to providing resources in multiple languages to meet this need.

Our vision is to see indigenous leaders rise up, equipped to teach and disciple their communities. This is a long-term mission, requiring dedication and the support of our ministry partners. We are grateful for their prayers and contributions, which enable us to extend our reach and impact.

Key Takeaways

1. The global church is experiencing both growth and challenges. In regions like South America and Africa, the gospel is spreading rapidly, while in the U.S. and Europe, there is a decline in biblical literacy, underscoring the need for bold preaching of the whole counsel of God. [04:57]
2. Ligonier Ministries remains committed to delivering God's Word faithfully, reaching millions worldwide. This commitment is not about innovation but about ensuring that God's people hear His voice and are grounded in Scripture. [06:16]
3. Despite persecution in countries like China and India, the church continues to grow. This resilience is a testament to the power of the gospel and the faithfulness of believers who persevere under difficult circumstances. [13:57]
4. In Latin America, there is a significant shift away from prosperity gospel teachings, as people seek the true gospel. This hunger for sound doctrine presents a unique opportunity for ministries like Ligonier to provide much-needed resources. [22:06]
5. The vision for the future is to see indigenous leaders equipped to teach and disciple their communities. This requires a long-term commitment and the support of ministry partners, who play a crucial role in extending the reach and impact of the gospel. [29:34]
** [29:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction and Purpose
[00:47] - Special Guests Introduction
[01:29] - Encouragement from Global Outreach
[02:20] - State of the Church in the U.S. and Abroad
[03:40] - The Need for Preaching the Whole Counsel of God
[05:50] - Ligonier's Impact and Reach
[07:13] - Encouragement from Reformation Bible College
[08:22] - Challenges and Opportunities in Culture
[09:42] - The Importance of Convictional Christianity
[11:01] - The Blessing of Great Teachers
[12:08] - Apologetics and Youth Engagement
[13:15] - Global Church Challenges and Growth
[16:31] - Opportunities for the Gospel Worldwide
[19:03] - Prayer for Global Church and Ministry Partners

Sermon Clips

We are seeing a tremendous growth in the church throughout South America, Central America, and in Africa, where the Reformation is really just sort of taking hold in Central and South America, really for the first time. We're seeing tremendous gospel ministry throughout many countries in Africa, and churches being planted, disciples being made, and people really coming to maturity in Christ. [00:02:37]

Many people in our country really do not know the basics of the gospel. They really do not know what Christianity is all about. I've said many times that just because you see a church on every corner doesn't mean the Bible's preached on every corner, doesn't mean the gospel is preached on every corner. [00:03:49]

We need preachers who are courageous enough and bold enough and also gracious enough to preach the word of God, the whole word of God and nothing but the word of God. You know today we're hearing all sorts of entertaining messages, humorous messages, messages filled with all sorts of pop psycho analysis, but we're not hearing the word of God preached. [00:05:00]

If people are grounded in the word of God then they have clarity about who God is, who they are, they can have conviction about how they are to live in this world, they can have courage to be able to share this message with others, and to live joyfully before the Lord. [00:06:28]

There are great challenges in many countries but the gospel is being proclaimed, and many are professing faith in Christ. Those joining us on today's call are likely aware that there is significant persecution in several countries around the world. Some governments are seeking to repress the church and to prohibit evangelism. [00:13:37]

Yet at the same time, we hear of many being converted to Christ, and a great hunger for the preaching of the word of God and trustworthy teaching around the world. So, I wanted to bring before you a few examples this evening for our listeners here. Let's begin by considering China. [00:14:30]

In India has a Hindu nationalist government which is increasingly seeking to restrict Christian evangelism, and several states in India have passed an anti-conversion laws and churches can face big fines for transgressing those. At a local level Hindu mobs frequently assault pastors and try to banish them from their villages. [00:15:34]

I would say that China and India are two major countries in which opposition to the gospel is intensifying, yet in most other countries there is greater freedom for Christians, and I think in fact we can fairly say that today is a day of opportunity, a day of opportunity for the gospel around the world. [00:16:12]

There's an awakening happening not only in Colombia, but throughout Latin America. I speak to pastors in El Salvador, in Argentina, in Chile, in Spain, and you hear the stories of how the Lord is working. You talk about charismatics and Pentecostals, the prosperity gospel was really and it's really huge in that in America the same as in Africa. [00:21:22]

People have realized that well they were being preached was not the gospel, because all of a sudden it doesn't work, it doesn't work anymore so there's no more crusades, there's no more healing services, there's no more huge events with you know bringing people and offering all these things because in the midst of the pandemic you can't offer any of that. [00:21:52]

There's a hunger in Latin America for God and his word. People need and are desperately looking for sound doctrine resources. That's why I love the work that we by the grace of God and the support of our ministry partners we get to do here at Ligonier. Last year for example in September we released the Spanish edition of the Reformation Story Bible. [00:24:00]

We want to see indigenous teachers rise up, we want to see an army of RC Sproles if you will, to be able to serve their people in their language writing their own theology works and writing their own table talk devotions and all the different ways that they want to ground their people in the word of God. [00:29:44]

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