Best of 2013: Ligonier Blog
With 2014 just around the corner, we've gone back and collected some of the most popular blog posts from the past year.
What Does "coram Deo" Mean? by R.C. Sproul
"This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God."
Marks of a True Church by Daniel Hyde
"The Reformers searched the Word of God to answer the question of which churches were actually churches. ...the Reformed churches eventually settled on the belief that the Word revealed three essential outward marks by which any discerning person could determine whether any given congregation was truly a church"
An Open Letter to My Pro-Choice Neighbor by Keith Mathison
"There is no rational excuse for supporting abortion today. Every competent scientist knows what a human embryo is. ...And if it is a living human being, no one has the right to kill it any more than they have the right to kill any other human being."
The Word-less "Church" by W. Robert Godfrey
"Many American churches are in a mess. Theologically they are indifferent, confused, or dangerously wrong. Liturgically they are the captives of superficial fads. Morally they live lives indistinguishable from the world. They often have a lot of people, money, and activities. But are they really churches, or have they degenerated into peculiar clubs?"
40+ Years of Ministry — A Testimony of Grace by Nathan W. Bingham
"From 1971 to the present day, R.C. Sproul and Ligonier have experienced more than 40 years of ministry. In a short video timeline we trace this testimony of God’s grace."
What is the Greatest of All Protestant "Heresies"? by Sinclair Ferguson
"Christ has once-for-all become the sacrifice for our sins, and has been raised and vindicated in the power of an indestructible life as our representative priest. By faith in Him, we are as righteous before the throne of God as He is righteous. For we are justified in His righteousness, His justification alone is ours! And we can no more lose this justification than He can fall from heaven."
4 Sermon Types to Avoid by Derek Thomas
"Alec Motyer has written: 'An expository ministry is the proper response to a God-breathed Scripture… Central to it all is that concern which the word ‘exposition’ itself enshrines: a display of what is there.'"
The Doctrine the Church Can't Live Without by Stephen Nichols
"At the cross, Christ both undid what Adam had done and did what Adam could not do. 'This is the reason,' Bonhoeffer says, 'for the cross.' We have no hope without it."
5 Dangers to Avoid in Parenting by William Boekestein
"It is tempting to blame children for our family problems. But Scripture does not allow us to do this. Children bear the responsibility to obey their parents. But God commands parents to raise their children with godly nurture, being careful not to frustrate them."
Disciple-Making is Ordinary Christianity by Erik Raymond
"A disciple is a learner and a follower of Jesus. When we make disciples we are working to see people who do not follow Jesus come to follow him (conversion) and then teaching them to faithfully follow Jesus in every area of their lives (maturity)."
3 Distinctive Aspects of Biblical Faith by R.C. Sproul
"I think the whole concept of faith is one of the most misunderstood ideas that we have, misunderstood not only by the world but by the church itself. The very basis for our redemption, the way in which we are justified by God, is through faith. The Bible is constantly talking to us about faith, and if we misunderstand that, we’re in deep trouble."
7 Reasons the Old Testament is Neglected by David Murray
"Above all, despite the prevalence of Christ-less moralism and the pressures of Christ-less academia, we must strive to find and enjoy Christ in the Old Testament. That alone is what makes Old Testament study profitable and enjoyable. It also produces the wonderful blessing of Christ-centered spiritual heartburn (Luke 24:32)."
5 Questions We Should Ask Ourselves Before Posting on Social Media by R.C. Sproul Jr.
"Cyberspace is not only infinite, but eternal. No matter how silly, foolish, embarrassing our thoughts might be, they will be allowed to merge onto the information superhighway. But, all the off-ramps are closed. Believing the best defense is a, well, great defense, here are five things we ought to ask ourselves before posting anything on social media."
What Is Reformation Day All About? by Robert Rothwell
"Protestants...have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31. ...Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles. But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates?"
Thank you for your support as you've read and shared our posts with family and friends. We look forward, Lord willing, to another edifying and God glorifying year in 2014 on the Ligonier Blog.