Does anybody know anything about RC Sproul. I have heard the name but I am not familiar with him. I was introduced to a bible study using his material and I am not sure about it. I am very careful about who I listen to and was just wondering about his teaching.Thanks in advance for any responses.In Christ,Mike
From an introduction of the author of The Holiness of God, Tyndale House, 1985:Dr R. C. Sproul, theologian, minister, author, teacher, is the president of Ligonier Ministries. A graduate of Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Free University of Amsterdam, Dr Sproul is currently – 1985 – Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Reformed Theologian Seminary and is Director Emeritus of Prison Fellowship, Inc.
Another piece from R. C. Sproul is:If there is a God, Why are there atheists?A surprising look at the Psychology of AtheistsDimension Books, 1978
Hi Mike,Can't go wrong here. I have been listening to R.C. Sproul on and off for years (he is on the Christian radio station here, unfortunately usually around dinner time) Very astute, knows his Bible well and I personally love his style.A very intelligent Christian. Solid.Here is his website for more info: http://www.ligonier.org/Also there are 40 messages here on this site:https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=99
Also there are 40 messages here on this site:https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=99Sadly the Ligoner Ministries emailed me and told me to take down the mp3 messages of R.C. Sproul, I wanted to make phone contact and let them know what I am doing here and the Spirit of this Ministry, but they just wanted the messages off. I was grieved in my spirit that they were not allowing of the Word of God to run free.------EDIT: I just want to clarify that I am in no way condemning of saying that RC Sproul is not serving God or His Kingdom. But I would also like to say that overall in North America there seems to be a professionalim in Christian ministry that would have found no place in the early church and the ministry of Christ. We can argue which is more effective? We have the means and abilitys with man-made technologies but I would still insist that the power of Christ would be more effective alone then all the machinery of man's efforts and being devoid of the Spirit of God. I fear sometimes even that I am over professionalizing this ministry and letting the arm of the flesh become promonent. The ministry of SermonIndex is just a few loaves of bread and fish in the master's hands, but oh! how much increase there is.. till all are full. The below quote by George Fox was a rebuke given in his days 1600's but I believe it is very applicable to the modern day church and ministries in North America in the 2000's. It is not aimed directly at Liginoer minsitries or any other ministry but would be beneficial to be read by every Christian organization. Let us be honest with ourselves and others and try to endevour to make the Gospel free to the world, if that requires more prayer rather than more advertising, so be it!------The earthly spirit of the priests wounded my life; and when I heard the bell toll to call people together to the steeple-house, it struck at my life; for it was just like a market-bell, to gather people together, that the priest might set forth his ware for sale. Oh, the vast sums of money that are gotten by the trade they make of selling the Scriptures, and by their preaching, from the highest bishop to the lowest priest! What one trade else in the world is comparable to it? notwithstanding the Scriptures were given forth freely, and Christ commanded His ministers to preach freely, and the prophets and apostles denounced judgment against all covetous hirelings and diviners for money. But in this free Spirit of the Lord Jesus was I sent forth to declare the Word of life and reconciliation freely, that all might come to Christ, who gives freely, and who renews up into the image of God, which man and woman were in before they fell, that they might sit down in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.-George Fox
Sadly the Ligoner Ministries emailed me and told me to take down the mp3 messages of R.C. Sproul, I wanted to make phone contact and let them know what I am doing here and the Spirit of this Ministry, but they just wanted the messages off. I was grieved in my spirit that they were not allowing of the Word of God to run free.A brother raised the point to me that ministries like the ligineors ministry have radio shows, etc.. that are very expensive to run and they need to get support for them... so they usually sell audio sermons and books, etc.. to raise the costs for air time. I am not re-canting my statement made earlier but I do reconize that there is a cost in running a ministry no matter what the size.I have been running SermonIndex.net for just over 1 year and I am not sure how many 1000's of gone into keeping it running. I have gotten some support from brothers and sisters in Christ and continue to do so todate. But I have been required to pay for much of it myself, in monies and also in time (doing things the long way, to save money). But God forbid that I hinder His word from going forth when if I sacrifice some things it can be given freely without cost.there have been 322,751 messages given out for free through SermonIndex.net and if I charged 3 dollars per Mp3 download this Ministry would have made over $968,253. The number of purchases wouldn't probably be that high but you get my point. I don't want SermonIndex.net into a big huge multi-project ministry that has a radio show etc.. I want to just give out God's word in the most effect and cheap way possible.------EDIT: Just to clarify things further, I am not saying that I was bugged in my Spirit because I couldn't distribute RC Sproul sermons for free from this site, but rather I feel as I posted above that God honours the giving of his word out for free! and ministries that are to making efforts to do this make me cringe sometimes. I know that Ligineor ministries has radio programs that are free to listen to and they give away 1000's of free resources. But I am sure there could be prayerful consideration to give more resources through the internet for free.RC Sproul is highly esteemed at my church and in the library there are tons of videos and audio sermons by him. We have bought 1000's of dollars of resources by him to equip the saints who listen to and watch the resources. And I praise God for his word going forth through the ligenior ministry! :-D ------I guess them not even wanting to know more about this ministry and what God is doing here bugged me abit in my Spirit. God is doing a wonderful work here, its beyond what I could have ever done or do to this day. It's all His! He is getting the glory, I dare not take it. Whoever helps with this site is a co-labourer with God in Christ. It doesn't matter to me if men don't take notice or care. God will open peoples eyes who He wants open to see the spiritual need of our day for Revival. Come in glory Lord! bring revival today.
Bless you, brother Greg. . . Yours is a true labour's heart.It seems like the ones who counts in the Kingdom of God have to pray, pray always, in every way. . . And they have to pay, pay always, and in every way.It is our experience, it is the experience of the many who went before us.Let us keep on praying – and paying, so that the Good Word may find new paths to hearing ears.Lars
Ironically I was just listening to R.C. on the radio and wondered if this isn't a possible indictment on 'us'(his listeners) in the sense that to keep these radio ministry's afloat they end up charging for their messages. From what I understand radio cost's are not cheap and if the support doesn't come in by donors...What about books?I know we have touched on these things in the past and while I agree that God's word is "free", this is a system of buying and selling, of working and earning wages that we live in."The waters free, but someone has to put in the plumbing"So where do we draw the line?Surely preachers and teachers of Gods word should be able to earn a living, should they be wholly supported by those who are gaining something from them? Should they take a second job (tent making?)?In a strange twist, are we all not making money off what God has given us? "Our talents", "Our creative prowess", building things out of God's creation.I am curious if the majority of the preachers, teachers on this site, most of who have gone on to glory, did they charge for their messages in their day? Either by tape or for speaking at conferences? Even in our day, there are some who do and others who don't. It's an interesting question. Does it reflect their character or their business skills?Is one relying more on the Lord for their sustanence or is it an indictment against us?My stance has always been one of "I don't get it"How is it that a Christian can take so much for 'free' and not feel compeled to offer support without even having to think about it, let alone be asked or coaxed. Seems to me it should be an auto relfex, like when the doctor raps your knee with a mallet.It is no differant here, trying to get 50 people to donate a measly 5 bucks a month for the privalege of some of the most outstanding messages you may ever hear, not to mention the wonderful help and shared community offered in the forums. It is an embaressment that it even needs to be discussed amongst legitimate ministry's.I wonder if this is not a big part of why the world thinks we are no better or different than anybody else.I just don't get it.Now exiting my soap box."Mike
"Does anybody know anything about RC Sproul. I have heard the name but I am not familiar with him. I was introduced to a bible study using his material and I am not sure about it. I am very careful about who I listen to and was just wondering about his teaching."You might want to check out: www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Click on "Discernment Notebook" and "Exposes""Meet the Editor", and "Introduction" (under "Discernment Notebook" might also be useful.
Does the following piece have relevance here?My work translating Art Katz begins right here this morning.LarsThere is something about the whole structure of church life, and the necessity to perform something to justify its existence and its perpetuation, that compels it to act without waiting. There is no greater death than waiting, which is at the very heart of priestliness. Priests did not commence their priestly activity, or ministry, until seven days of waiting were fulfilled. Seven is the number of completion, and the completion was the final death of their well-meaning intentions to do for God. Until that dies, there is no true priestly service, and if it is not priestly, then it is not apostolic. Jesus is the High Priest and Apostle of our confession. The first must precede the last. Impatience, self-will, religious ambition, the necessity to do and to be seen doing, to be recognized and acknowledged is death to the purposes of God.
Hi Lars,Not sure where you are going with this..could you elaborate?Also, interesting that I was listening to this very message this afternoon.Mike
The structures built by men, our attitudes towards and ways of handling goods – material things as well as thoughts – brings us to the conclusion that our system is very helpful to God, even better than his way of spreading the Gospel. We have a built in urge to do and to be seen, we are so keen on playing numerical games – largest, most efficient, receiving recognition.It is our attitude that needs to change, change radically, as to what is efficient, as to what will suit the purposes of God, as to what reflects the mind of Christ.
Paul called himself a bondslave of Jesus Christ (Rom.1:1). That is what all the early apostles were. Jesus is looking today for bondslaves - not servants. There is a difference between a servant and a slave.A servant works for pay. A slave gets no salary. God has no servants under the new covenant, only bondslaves. Jesus never offered any salary to those whom He called to be His apostles. If we are called to full-time Christian work, let us ensure that we never work for a salary, or else we will end up as servants of men. Let us not serve our churches, expecting people to give us gifts. If they choose to do so, without our expecting anything from them, that is allright. But we should never expect anything from anyone. We must also make it a principle that we will never receive any money from those whose standard of living is lower than ours. The highest way to serve the Lord in full-time work, however, is the way Paul served the Lord as an apostle - by having some secular employment, so that we are not dependent on anyone's gifts for our needs (1 Cor.9:14-18; 2 Cor.11:7-15; Acts 20:33,34). We cannot be servants of the new covenant, if we are working for pay. We must be bondslaves. If we feel that we have a right to comforts and conveniences, then we are paid servants, not bondslaves. A bondslave has no right to anything - not even to honour or reputation. If God gives us a house to live in, we are thankful. But we will serve Him, even if we don't have a house to live in. The fact that He gives us the privilege to build the Body of Christ is more than enough for us when we are true bondslaves. ~Zac Poonen (A Bondslave of Christ)
eagleswings said:"You might want to check out: (link removed) on "Discernment Notebook" and "Exposes""Rick Miesel may want to point that "Discernment" ray gun at himself once and see what comes up. It's only fair so here is a "exposes" on him... http://www.smartlink.net/~phillipj/miesel.htm-David
Rick Miesel may want to point that "Discernment" ray gun at himself once and see what comes up.hmm how much do those ray guns cost? :-D
Sproul is a strict five-point Calvinist. In other words, if one ends up in hell or hell, it is only because God willed it, and for that reason alone.
Sproul is a strict five-point Calvinist. In other words, if one ends up in hell or hell, it is only because God willed it, and for that reason alone.Yes, that doesn't really fit into anything I have read in the Bible. We need to seek Jesus who is truth itself and stop focusing on these men. Calvin was a great man of God because he looked much to Jesus. The irony is that his disciples and followers quickly casted their gaze off the heavenly master to Calvin's revelations of God, instead of having the same access way and power with God that Calvin had.
If anyone who wants to know the real truth about John Calvin, please feel free to email me. I am not free to post it here, according to Greg.As to R.C. Sproul, I'm sure he's a great guy.
I realize you don't want me to re-post that which you just deleted, but for anyone who wants to know the real truth about John Calvin, please feel free to email me. I delted the post because it was already stated in this forum: John Calvin's Bodycount...We live in such a dim light of the power of the Gospel compared to many men back in the days of Calvin. How much difference are our life's making for God? I am not a person to promote John Calvin for I really don't agree with all the doctrines associated with Him. But the fact of the matter is after reading part of his commentary on Romans, He had a passion and experince of Christ that dwarf's and overshadows my day to day walk and I am sure also John (revivaltheology) it does yours too! Let's get serious about being serious! can we point the finger at a man's faults and then think that we are better off? sure we don't kill people (having them executed) but the way we life our comfortable North Americian style lives with so much wealth (materialy and spiritualy) and Gospel-light that its a crime towards the rest of the world. As keith green used to say: "This generation of Christians is responsible for this entire generation of lost souls."Personally looking at Calvin's walk in Christ and example is much brighter than many other men these days.. Do you realize how much Christ meant to John Calvin and how He gave his entire life to Him, every thought and action. He woke up and thought of Christ and went to sleep thinking of Christ. He followed in the footsteps of Christ and needed the daily cleansing of His blood. Are we much better? I commit this statement: "I need Christ even more than John Calvin"
Hi Greg,Sorry, I don't buy your argument that Calvin was some kind of shining star in the evangelical firmament, so to speak. The Bible says "no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." Calvin did nothing BUT defend his persecutorial actions to his death. He never repented of any of these things.Calvin was no hero; he was just a philosophical determinist who felt the need to put to death anyone who contradicted him or his teachings. In any case, the standard is JESUS. What would Jesus say to what Calvin did? Can one claim to follow Christ and yet consistently act like the Devil? Paul said that a leader in the church must be blameless...not violent...etc.I am really saddened by your defense of the sins of Calvin, Greg. I was under the impression, based on the preachers you feature here, that you believed a Christian had to live a holy life, especially those who claim to be "men of God."
revivaltheology said:"Sproul is a strict five-point Calvinist. In other words, if one ends up in hell or hell, it is only because God willed it, and for that reason alone."This is true, Sproul does believe in double predestination as do most strict Calvinists. However to be fair I don't believe they teach God "forces" one to hell, they believe God does not interfere with the "will" of the reprobate as He does with the elect. So while the non-elect goes to hell it is not because God forces their hand, it is because God does not force their hand. I personally am not Calvinist nor Arminian but I do enjoy listening to R.C. Sproul and would highly recommend him aside from the double predestination. If someone believes in the election of God then they at some time sooner or later must deal with the issue of double predestination, if they feel they need to be in full possession of all answers concerning the Sovereignty of God then I would say there is no logical way around holding to double predestination, the only way to not hold to it would be to hold to Arminianism or to leave it as a mystery as far as human reasoning in the hands of a just God. With my finite sinful mind I must chose to leave it a mystery...-David
Sorry, I don't buy your argument that Calvin was some kind of shining star in the evangelical firmament, so to speak.John (revivaltheology), If from my comments you think I was coming to that conclusion you are wrong, please re-read my post. I state some things that I believe go beyond just talking about a man. Let us look at ourselves in light of this all, Lord shine your light on our souls. I am not trying to esteem him beyond and out of proportion, but compared to you and me brother he was a light shining in a dark place. My light grows stronger as I come closer to Christ the true light that comes from heaven.
Ummm. I have never had anyone burned at the stake for "heresy," much less had dozens of people put to death unjustly. I don't think you have either. Any true Christian is better than Calvin, for the Bible says no murderer hath eternal life dwelling in him. If David Wilkerson used his influence to have his critics silenced and even killed, that wouldn't matter to you?
revivaltheology said:"Any true Christian is better than Calvin, for the Bible says no murderer hath eternal life dwelling in him."Then what do we do with the Biblical account of David? He murdered just to cover his own sin, was he a Christian?-David
David repented thoroughly (Psalm 51). Also, David did not live under the New Covenant, which has a higher standard than the Old (see Matt. 5:17-19). There is no historical evidence that John Calvin ever did anything but defend his murderous actions. Paul also persecuted the church, but was not a professing Christian when he did so.
Just to let everyone know I have edited (added to) the 5th and 6th posts that I have made in this thread. I just thought it would be good to clarify what I was trying to say.I would like to also go on record to say that I am quite ignorant of what it takes to run a large Christian organization. And I know that many resources are being given out for free by Liginoers Ministries. I am sure also if they could give everything out for free they would, but I did feel this is a great venue to pursue that distribution, but as I said they would know better than I. I pray the Lord increases and blesses their ministry and makes it even more fruitful for Christ's Kingdom.
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