R.C. Sproul Helped Me See the Truth (by Matthew DelValle)

RC Sproul (Ligonier Ministries)

R.C. Sproul was the first theologian I ever read. I remember as a young teenager—around the age of 14—I picked up my father’s copy of Knowing Scripture by Dr. Sproul. My father and I had begun having conversations about God and the Bible and theology at this time, and I remember my convictions about certain truths being challenged. My entire way of looking at things began to change. As we talked, I would be pushed to the Scriptures to try to make sense of what we were discussing.

However, at this time—I must confess—I did not have much skill in rightly dividing the Word of truth. I needed help. So I rummaged around my dad’s library and found Knowing Scripture. I devoured the book. I think I read the entire book in two sittings. To this day, I still use the basic principles I learned in that book in reading the Bible.

So the first thing I learned from Dr. Sproul is biblical exegesis. Simply put, I learned to draw out (ex) of Scripture what is really there, and not put into Scripture what isn’t there. I learned that the aim of the interpreter is to guide (gesis) out of the text the intended meaning of the author.

The second thing I learned from Dr. Sproul is God’s sovereignty in salvation. Having gobbled up Knowing Scripture, I quickly turned to another book on my dad’s shelf from R.C. Sproul: Chosen by God. The absolute supremacy of God portrayed in that book just shattered my entire worldview.

Growing up I knew that I was supposed to do everything for the glory of God; I didn’t realize that God does everything for the glory of God. When God shows his love, he receives glory (Eph. 1:4-6). When God shows his mercy, he receives glory (Rom. 9:23). When God shows his justice, he receives glory (Rom. 3:5-7). When God shows his wrath, he receives glory (Rom. 9:22). Everything God does, he does for his glory.

It had never dawned on me that God is glorified in the damnation of unrepentant sinners. It had never dawned on me that God was in no way obligated to be merciful to me (Rom. 9:16). It had never dawned on me that God would create someone like Pharaoh just to make known his power in destroying him (Rom. 9:17).

You see, I had always thought God saved me because of me—because of who I am. I had it all wrong. God didn’t save me because of me; God saved me despite me. I am a sinner who deserves nothing short of eternal judgment. There is nothing good in me that would cause God to save me. I didn’t make myself a vessel of mercy. I am not in any way more qualified to receive mercy than anyone else. God could have given me
justice—but instead, he showed me mercy.

The reason why God saved me has nothing to do with me; it has everything to do with God. He did it for his glory—to show the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7-14). I was created to make God look great. It’s not about me; it’s all about the glory of God.

That’s what R.C. Sproul taught me. And for that, I am eternally grateful to God.

Posts in this series:

• Two Men I Thank God For
• RC Sproul Helped Me See the Truth
• What I Learned from John Piper
• The Blessed Fruit of Indirect Teaching
• The Greatest Asset of Any Pastor
• Carrying on the Legacy

Two Men I Thank God For (by Matthew DelValle)

John Piper & RC Sproul (Ligonier Ministries)

I recently attended the Ligonier National Conference. A unique focus of this year’s conference was to celebrate the faithful ministries of R.C. Sproul and John Piper. These are two men I am eternally grateful to God for raising up to the ministry of the Word.

I first encountered the teachings of these men during my very formative teenage years, and ever since those early encounters with their books and messages, I have eaten up more and more of their writings and sermons. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has wisely counseled:

Read all the titles written by some authors. Choose carefully here, but identify some authors whose books demand your attention. Read all they have written and watch their minds at work and their thought in development. No author can complete his thoughts in one book, no matter how large. (source)

I have taken this to heart. I did a brief review of my library, and I have read close to 30 books from these two men combined. I still have unread books by them on my shelf, waiting for me to devour them.

So it is no surprise to me that much of what I write and teach has echoes of Dr. Sproul and Dr. Piper. A student often imitates his teacher. I can honestly say that, more than anyone else, these two men have shaped my thinking and influenced the direction of my life towards pastoral ministry. Listening to their preaching has put a fire within me to want to go out and do likewise.

So in my following articles I would like to share briefly some things I’ve learned from these two men directly from their teaching, some things I have picked up from them indirectly, and the effect their teaching has had on my own life.

My aim in these posts is twofold: first, it is to give honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7). When Epaphroditus risked his life to serve Paul, the apostle wrote to the Philippians, “Honor such men” (Phil. 3:29). It is good and right to express gratitude towards those who have trumpeted the gospel of Jesus Christ and done the work of the ministry in equipping the body of Christ.

Nevertheless, my ultimate aim is not to praise these men, but to praise the God who created them, saved them, equipped them, and preserved them over all these years. That is why the title of this post is “Two Men I Thank God For.” “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36).

Posts in This Series:

• Two Men I Thank God For
• RC Sproul Helped Me See the Truth
• What I Learned from John Piper
• The Blessed Fruit of Indirect Teaching
• The Greatest Asset of Any Pastor
• Carrying on the Legacy

30 Truths from the 2011 Ligonier National Conference (by Stephen Simpson)

John Piper & RC Sproul (Ligonier Ministries)

I just returned from the 2011 Ligonier National Conference.  My heart is full.  My soul has been lifted.  My brain is bursting at the seams.  Allow me to share 30 truths that I came home with.  Some of these may seem obvious.  Others may not make any sense at all.  Either way, they all made an impression on me and may prove beneficial for you.

1. Our doctrine of God informs all of our other doctrinal beliefs.  (RC Sproul)
2. Our holy God has an unholy opponent.  His attack is against the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture.  (Steve Lawson)
3. We are not free to alter or change the Word of God.  We are God's messengers - not God's editors.  (Lawson)
4. There is no good news (salvation) without bad news (sin & judgment).  (Lawson)
5. If Jesus was not fully human, then He would not be fit to be our Savior.  He would be a Super-man and not a Saving-man.  (Sinclair Ferguson)
6. Jesus died, not only for the guilt of our sins, but also for the shame of our sins.  (Ferguson)
7. Jesus is still the God-man and will continue to be so throughout all eternity.  (Ferguson)
8. "Let this cup pass from me" was a perfectly holy request of Jesus.  It would have been unholy for Jesus to have desired divine separation from Almighty God.  (Ferguson)
9. When Jesus was crying out "My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me" God was softly saying "If ever I loved thee, My Jesus 'tis now." (Ferguson)
10. The most powerful preacher in the pulpit is the Calvinist Expositor who is also an Evangelist.  (Lawson)
11. Lawson on Preaching:  Read the text.  Explain the text.  Apply the text.  Have a short porch to a long house.  (ie.  have a short introduction to a long sermon)
12. If there ever was time when there was nothing, then the only thing that would be here not is nothing. (Sproul)
13. Whatever suffering we are called to endure is for God's glory and our sanctification.  (RC Sproul Jr.)
14. God does not simply 'allow' us to suffer.  He goes 'shopping' for us and chooses what suffering we will experience.  He chooses to bless us with suffering because He has a single-minded purpose of making us more like Jesus Christ.  (Sproul Jr.)
15. The current trend is to make the church just like the world.  Instead, we should pattern our worship after the worship in heaven (Rev. 4:1-8).  (Lawson)
16. We must plumb the depths of Scripture to reach the heights of heaven.  (Lawson)
17. In today's church, we try to remove the fear of God instead of instilling it and preaching it.  (Lawson)
18. The unwasted life lives to show that Jesus is more precious than life.  (John Piper)
19. The value of God's glory is reflected in the degree to which I treasure and enjoy it.  God doesn't get any glory if I find Him boring.  (Piper)
20. Since Eden, we have all been cosmic fugitives seeking places to hide from God.  (Sproul)
21. God is only honored by our emotions when they are rooted in truth.  (from a Q & A with Sproul & Piper)
22. John Piper on Missions:  There are only 3 kinds of people - Goers, Senders, & the Disobedient.
23. More Piper on Missions:  There are no closed countries.  You can always get in - you just can't always get out.
24. Too often we think that we are pleasing God when in reality we are only pleasing ourselves.  (Robert Godfrey)
25. The holiest people on earth only have a small beginning in the obedience that God commands.  (Godfrey)
26. It is evil to not pursue joy in God. (Piper)
27. There is no perfect theology - only a perfect book.  (Piper)
28. 'Feeling' loved by God when you are not 'Savingly' loved by God is a very dangerous thing.  (Piper)
29. Our hearts are desire-factories.  (Piper)
30. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.  (Piper)