W. Robert Godfrey

Dr. W. Robert Godfrey is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and chairman of Ligonier Ministries. He is president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is the featured teacher for the six-part Ligonier teaching series A Survey of Church History. His many books include God’s Pattern for Creation, Reformation Sketches, An Unexpected Journey, Learning to Love the Psalms, and Saving the Reformation.

  • Here We Stand by Grace Alone Media Resource by

    Ephesians 2:1-9

    From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures proclaim that we are saved entirely and only by the grace of God. This grace is given to us before we have faith, it guarantees that we will have faith, it sustains us in our faith, and it brings to completion all that God purposes for us. In this message, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey looks at sola gratia in its various aspects, exhorting us to better understand God’s grace and to worship Him for it. View Resource

  • Go Therefore Media Resource by

    Matthew 28:16-20

    Christ commissioned His church to preach the gospel to all nations and to teach His people everything that He has commanded them (Matt. 28:18–20). The church is called to preach Christ and to call people to trust in Him, but it is not to stop there. Instead, the church is to make disciples, teaching them what Christ has revealed so that they will persevere to the end and inherit eternal life. In this session, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey considers the importance of discipleship and how our making disciples now has an eternal impact. View Resource

  • Questions & Answers with Godfrey, Lawson, Nichols, Parsons, and Thomas Media Resource by , , , ,

    Hebrews 12:2

    A questions and answers session with Drs. W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Stephen Nichols, Burk Parsons, and Derek Thomas. Questions: How do I grow in the fear of God and decrease in the fear of man? (0:54) In the Psalms, David asks God to deal with his enemies. Why doesn’t the church pray like that today? (7:12) What does it take to become blameless in the way that Job was blameless? (11:41) Must a person forsake his sins before he can come to Christ? (13:15) Is the doctrine of election a primary doctrine? (15:45) How would you counsel someone … View Resource

  • Glorifying God in Our Bodies Media Resource by

    1 Corinthians 6:9-20

    Christians are called not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by their renewing of their minds so that they will know and do what is good (Rom. 12:1–2). And though we want to conform all of our lives to Christ, Scripture places special warnings on sexual transgressions, telling us that those who impenitently break God’s law for sexual behavior will not inherit the kingdom of God. How we live our lives as sexual beings today matters for all eternity, and in this session, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey addresses contemporary pressures on Christians regarding sexual ethics while … View Resource

  • Interview on The Necessity of Reforming the Church (Seminar) Media Resource by ,

    An interview with W. Robert Godfrey on the newly translated work, The Necessity of Reforming the Church. View Resource

  • Questions & Answers with Godfrey, Kim, Lawson, and Thomas Media Resource by , , ,

    1 Corinthians 7:14

    A questions and answers session with Drs. W. Robert Godfrey, Joel Kim, Steven Lawson, and Derek Thomas. Questions: Can you share insight on the debate between paedobaptism and credobaptism? (1:47) Are we living in the end times? (12:08) Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? (15:19) Why is marriage not a sacrament? (18:11) We often talk about the prodigal son’s salvation, but what about the old brother? (22:20) My sister is gay. How do I approach her with the gospel? (26:14) What is the greatest threat facing the Reformed church today? (36:20) Note: Answers given reflect … View Resource

  • The Necessity Now Media Resource by

    Jude 17-19

    Our historical context is different from John Calvin’s, yet the reforms enacted in his day prompt us to ask, “How do we reform the church today?” Because God’s glory and the lives of others were at stake, Calvin stressed the need for immediate reform—reform right now. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey looks at Calvin’s response to Rome’s criticism of the Reformation and offers a crucial answer for how reform can be accomplished today. View Resource

  • Reforming Church Government Media Resource by

    Church government has been a significant area of contention in the life of the church, and Calvin recognized that this was a volatile subject. Instead of immediately attacking the papacy in his treatise, he focused on the biblical role and function of a minister. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey looks at the ministerial problems of the church in Calvin’s day to show how their remedies are found in the simple adherence to God’s Word and the freedom that comes with it. View Resource

  • Reforming Soteriology Media Resource by

    Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. John Calvin considered salvation the second component of the soul of the church alongside worship, and the church’s teaching on salvation in his day needed to be reformed. In this lecture, Dr. Godfrey examines Calvin’s critique of the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation and helps us understand salvation’s relationship to sin and grace, the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ, and the character of saving faith. View Resource

  • Reforming the Sacraments Media Resource by

    The sacraments are a crucial part of how the church conducts its worship and works out its theology of salvation. John Calvin recognized problems in the sacramental system of the Roman Catholic Church that detracted from God-honoring worship and a proper understanding of Christ and the Christian life. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey surveys the Roman Catholic view of the sacraments and its practice in Calvin’s day to show how it obscured Christ and why it needed, and still needs, reform. View Resource

  • Reforming Worship Media Resource by

    The Necessity of Reforming the Church was written in 1544, yet it can help us look at the church even today. This is because we serve a God who sovereignly sets the standard for His church, and the things that pleased Him in Calvin’s day are the same things that please Him now. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey focuses on what Calvin considered the most important thing when it comes to God—worship. God alone is worthy to be worshiped, and God alone decides how He is to be worshiped. View Resource

  • The Necessity Then Media Resource by

    The church of Jesus Christ is composed of sinners saved by grace, so by its very nature it is in constant need of reform. John Calvin’s “The Necessity of Reforming the Church,” written in 1544, can help us think about what was needed for the church then and what is needed for the church now. In this lesson, Dr. Godfrey introduces the rich historical context of Calvin’s treatise and outlines its structure and major themes. View Resource

  • The Imago Dei, Human Dignity, and the Present Crisis Media Resource by

    Psalms 8:4

    Christians have a message of dignity and hope to give to a watching world in times of crisis. In this conversation with Ligonier’s President, Chris Larson, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey discusses the lessons we can learn from Scripture and church history as we seek to honor the Lord in troubling times. Questions: What lessons can we learn from Christians who have faced plagues and pandemics before us? (2:12) How did some of the heroes of church history handle periods of plague and distress? (4:07) What is the source of human dignity? (7:07) Did Adam continue to bear God’s image … View Resource

  • Ask Ligonier with W. Robert Godfrey (February 2020) Media Resource by

    On February 18th, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey joined us as a special guest on our Ask Ligonier team and answered your biblical and theological questions live online. This special online event was streamed live on Ligonier’s blog, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Questions: What should discipleship look like in the local church? (2:19) Are the TV preachers that talk about health and prosperity the false teachers Jesus talked about? (3:26) Aside from God’s Word, what book has had the greatest impact on your life and ministry? (4:24) … View Resource

  • The Goal of Truth Media Resource by

    John 17:17

    As the God of truth, the Lord uses truth to make us holy, equip us for Christian service, and enable us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. In this session, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey considers how God uses truth in our sanctification, service, and worship. View Resource