R.C. Sproul's Blog, page 561

The Ligonier Affiliate Program

Ligonier Ministries is pleased to announce that our affiliate program is open.

What is an Affiliate?

An affiliate is a person who promotes Ligonier's products on their website or blog through banners and links. Every time someone buys one of our products after clicking on an affiliate's banner or link, the affiliate receives a commission on the sale.

Why Become a Ligonier Affiliate?

With our affiliate program it is easy for you to promote biblical resources whilst earning a commission on the sales you generate.

Ligonier is committed to faithfully presenting the unvarnished truth of Scripture and helping people grow in their knowledge of God and His holiness. With R.C. Sproul's ability to clearly communicate these deep and practical truths from God's Word, we have produced hundreds of educational resources, covering a broad range of subjects, most available in DVD, CD, and MP3 formats.

In addition to the popular and respected Reformation Study Bible, through the work of Reformation Trust we continue to publish biblically rich print material, as well as filling our online store with hundreds of hand-picked books that we wholeheartedly recommend.

We value our affiliates very highly and are excited to have more of you partner with us. We hope that you'll consider joining our program today.

What Does the Ligonier Affiliate Program Offer?

Commission: 10%
20-30% commissions on selected items.
90 Day Cookie
Datafeeds

The Ligonier Ministries affiliate program is available on both the ShareASale Network and Commission Junction.

Promote biblical resources. Earn a commission on sales.

Be Prepared for the Christmas Season

December is a busy time of year as Christians seek to purchase biblically faithful gifts for their family and friends. If you need further help becoming an affiliate in preparation for the Christmas season, consider these two options:

• Free Webinars

The ShareASale network offer free webinars, walking you through their online interface. If you're an affiliate and would like to take advantage of this offer, register for one of the dates below:

November 16, 2011: Register
December 14, 2011: Register

• Contact Us

You don't need to wait for one of the webinars. We welcome you to contact the Affiliate Manager, Danielle Dougherty, and learn more by visiting our dedicated Ligonier Affiliate webpage.

Problematic Analogies and Prayerful Adoration

Ask any children’s Sunday school teacher what the most difficult thing to teach is and he will almost certainly tell you: “The doctrine of the Trinity, that God is one but exists in three persons.” Ask them how they do it and you will probably find them outlining an analogy: “God is like water, ice, and steam” is one of the more popular.

The problem with such an analogy — indeed, with any analogy — for the Trinity is that it is actually more misleading than helpful. What it describes is not really something akin to the biblical Trinity but rather to the ancient heresy of modalism. The detailed problems of this heresy, which sees God as one and as turning from Father into Son and then into Holy Spirit, need not delay us here. My point is that analogies for the Trinity are unhelpful because the Trinity is absolutely unique. There is no analogy to the created world that is more helpful than it is misleading.

Keep Reading Problematic Analogies and Prayerful Adoration, Carl Trueman's contribution to this month's issue of Tabletalk.

Get Dr. Sproul's Newest Children's Book for a Donation of Any Amount

This imaginative tale from R. C. Sproul, based on a true story, begins one evening when Mr. McFarland shares a 500-year-old story about a barber and his famous customer. Master Peter is a barber well-known to all in his village. One day, when Martin Luther the Reformer walks into his shop, the barber musters up the courage to ask the outlawed monk how to pray. Luther responds by writing a letter to the barber. The barber’s life and many others’ are changed as they encounter a model for prayer by using the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostles’ Creed.

Today only, you can get this new children's book for a donation of any amount. 

Offer valid through November 7th. Donate Now.

Help Ligonier Ministries Proclaim Truth for Today's Inmates

A prominent yet often neglected theme in Scripture is God’s concern for the well-being of the downtrodden and marginalized in our societies. Along with the plight of the poor, the alien, the orphan, and the widow, the plight of the prisoner receives special attention in the Bible. The Old Testament prophets and poets declared the works of the God Who loosens the chains of prisoners. Jesus declared that His mission included proclaiming liberty to the captives. Early Christians were exhorted to remember and care for those in prison as if they themselves were imprisoned. 

Each week Ligonier Ministries is blessed to receive many letters from inmates. The stories that they share are encouraging. There is a great hunger for the gospel within our nation’s prisons. Though behind bars, many inmates can attest that the truth of the gospel has set them free as they placed their faith in Christ and turned to Him for forgiveness and healing.

The stories prisoners tell are also sobering. Although many prisoners are searching for the truth, biblically sound resources are scarce. False teaching is rampant. Leaders often lack the training and materials they need in order to reach their fellow prisoners.

Despite these obstacles, we believe that Our Lord is at work raising up His Church behind the walls of our nation’s correctional institutions. Ligonier Ministries is responding to these opportunities and needs by providing subscriptions to Tabletalk magazine and select books by R.C. Sproul to inmates who are unable to purchase these resources. Will you help us?

The Goal: Raise $4K to Proclaim Truth for Today’s Inmates

Our goal is to raise $4,000 to fund this effort. For every $12 that you donate, you will send a one-year subscription of Tabletalk to an inmate. It is our hope that God will use this resource to make an impact on not only the heart and mind of the prisoner receiving the subscription, but also have an effect on their fellow inmates and their families.

 

Testimonies

Ivan: I am a urban missionary who grew up as a gang member, in and out of the juvenile hall system since 12 years old; started my prison term of five years at 18 years old (2001). But my life was changed by the writings of R.C. Sproul, which your ministry mailed to me during my incarceration. They shaped me into the missionary I am today. I am now married, have led mission projects in several Latin American countries, and travel to conferences leading workshops on gangs and preaching about the power of the gospel.

Cheryl: I really appreciate Ligonier Ministries and Tabletalk. My husband was incarcerated for quite a while and Tabletalk, along with a good study bible course and friends, helped change him into the man he is today. The Word and prayer are first in his life daily and I remember that over 25 years ago I couldn’t get him to go to church with me. So many things have changed with him from being a rebellious drug dealing young man to a God fearing man, one that wants to preach and teach the Word daily. I love God so much for what He has done with my husband and I am very thankful that Ligonier has been around for him also. 

Nancy: I began visiting a young man on death row in January of this year. He was dramatically converted to Christ and is now so hungry for the Word and so excited about living for Christ. He mentioned to me that he needed guidance in daily Scripture reading and study - that he knew he needed to have a structured devotional time, but did not know where to start. So I ordered a subscription to Tabletalk for him, and when it arrived, he was thrilled! He was eager to discuss the material with me, and also began to share it with the other Christian inmates. Thank you for being part of a very important discipleship process for these precious souls! 

Donate $12 now to this effort

Help Us Spread the Word

Please help us spread the word by using the Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ buttons below.

Tweet

 

You can also retweet and follow our tweets @Ligonier and @Tabletalk.

Join the effort and use the #Truth4Inmates hashtag.

Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Matthew 25:36 – I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.

John 8:32 – And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Hebrews 13:3 – Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Twitter Highlights (11/06/11)

Here are some highlights from the various Ligonier Twitter feeds over the past week.

Ligonier [Luther] was driven by a passion to experience forgiveness that was real, and that was lasting. - R.C. Sproul #ReformationDay



Ligonier The good news...is that God justifies the ungodly freely, by giving to all who believe...a righteousness that is not their own. -R.C. Sproul



Reformation Trust Nowadays, preachers make suggestions; they do not preach with authority. -Don Kistler http://bit.ly/hgeJlK



Tabletalk Magazine The Law, if you use it correctly, sends you to Christ (Chrysostom).



Tabletalk Magazine “Churchless Christianity makes about as much sense as a Christless church, & has just as much biblical warrant”- DeYoung



Reformation Trust This is the great test of the Christian life—loving the unlovable. But such is the love of God, which we are called to emulate. -Lawson



Ligonier As long as we postpone our repentance & our fleeing to Christ, the more dangerous & perilous is our condition... -R.C. Sproul

You can also find our various ministries on Facebook:
Ligonier Ministries | Ligonier Academy | Reformation Bible College
Reformation Trust | Tabletalk Magazine

$5 Friday: Reformed Churches, Doctrine, & Ten Commandments

Find $5 Friday resources today on the church and state, the Ten Commandments, Reformed churches, fundamental doctrines, the fruit of the Spirit, and biblical promises. Sale starts Friday at 8 a.m. and ends Saturday at 8 a.m. EST.

View today's $5 Friday sale.

Amen

And all the people said… “Amen!” The “amen corner” has had an important place in the life of the church throughout the ages. However, it is rare to find such a spot among Presbyterians. We are known as God’s frozen chosen for a reason. It has been said that the Methodists like to shout “Fire,” the Baptists like to shout “Water,” and the Presbyterians like to softly say, “Order, order.” Nevertheless, in spite of the idiosyncrasies of various ecclesiastical persuasions, the function of the word amen far transcends denominational usages in the modern era.

The term amen was used in the corporate worship of ancient Israel in two distinct ways. It served first as a response to praise given to God and second as a response to prayer. Those same usages of the term are still in vogue among Christians. The term itself is rooted in a Semitic word that means “truth,” and the utterance of “amen” is an acknowledgment that the word that has been heard, whether a word of praise, a word of prayer, or a sermonic exhortation, is valid, that is, sure and binding. Even in antiquity, the word amen was used in order to express a pledge to fulfill the terms of a vow. So, this little word is one that is centered on the idea of the truth of God.

Keep Reading Amen.

Great Gift Ideas in the New 2011-2012 Ligonier Resource Guide

[image error]

Our new 2011-2012 Resource Guide is now available with a full collection of carefully selected resources for the growing Christian. Let us know if we can send you a free copy with an email to info@ligonier.org or when you call 800-435-4343.

This 68-page resource guide also features a selection of Christmas gift ideas by offering the following:

Gift suggestions under $15
Gift suggestions under $25
Great gifts for children & youth
Our most popular and bestselling resources
Our Overview Series
Suggested resources from our Teaching Fellows, and more

Important Dates

For delivery by Christmas please remember the following dates:

December 14: Order must be received by December 14 for UPS Ground shipments.
December 19: Must order by phone and choose 2nd-Day Air or Overnight shipping.

Download the PDF

Again, to request your copy of our catalog, please call 800-435-4343 (M-F, 8am-5pm EST) or email info@ligonier.org.

In Defense of Words

This month's issue of Tabletalk magazine seeks to unpack the biblical-theological meaning of certain words commonly used in Scripture that, nonetheless, remain either largely misunderstood or not fully understood among laymen. Here is how Burk Parsons begins his editorial introduction:

What is a pastor? I was asked this question not too long ago by a teenage girl who apparently didn’t know the meaning of the word pastor and was curious to learn. I must admit that I was somewhat shocked and quite saddened that she didn’t know what a pastor is, but I quickly sought to offer her an explanation of the word and how I serve as a pastor of God’s people by preaching, teaching, praying, evangelizing, discipling, counseling, and so on. And just as these words were coming out of my mouth, I realized that if she didn’t know the meaning of the word pastor, she likely didn’t know the meanings of any of these other words either— and she’s not alone. Over the years, I have found that people of every age, in the church and world, do not know the meanings of many of the most basic biblical and theological words. This isn’t primarily the fault of the people, it is the fault of us pastors. We have not been faithful in our calling to equip God’s people in the theology of His Word and in the theological terms of His Word.

Keep reading In Defense of Words.

R.C. Sproul on God's Glory in Judgment [VIDEO CLIP]

R.C. Sproul on the doctrine of hell, the depravity of man, the holiness of God, and God's glory in judgment: http://bit.ly/vEpQRU

From Ligonier Ministries' 2010 National Conference, Tough Questions Christians Face, message #18, "Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell?"