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Growing Up (With) R.C.: Truths I Learned About Grace, Redemption, and the Holiness of God
When your father is a world renowned theologian, author of over 100 books, professor, pastor, radio teacher you grow up in a world where not only does the Word matter, but words. This touching account of a loving father/son relationship highlights those conversations along the way that left an impression, that shaped the author. Through "table talk"—ordinary back and forth in the context of every day life—R.C. Sproul poured forth extraordinary theological wisdom into a broken vessel living an ordinary life. You are invited to listen in on those conversations, and to benefit from the wisdom of a father who loved his son, and loves His Son.
- GenresBiography
226 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2019
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul Jr.
43 books47 followersRobert Craig Sproul, better known as R.C. Sproul, Jr., is a Calvinist Christian minister and theologian and is the son of R.C. Sproul, a noted Reformed theologian and founder of Ligonier Ministries.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 28, 2019
R.C. Sproul Sr., through his teaching, was my spiritual mentor for more than 30 years. Hearing about what it was like to have him as a father was what interested me in this book. But given who the author of the book was, and also who he chose to write the “Foreword” to the book, gave me significant pause. I would have felt different if the “Foreword’ had been written by Sinclair Ferguson, for example, someone he speaks highly of in the book. Despite my concerns, I decided to read it, and I’m glad that I did.
The book opens with an account of the author’s experience after being arrested for driving under the influence with two minor children in his car in Indiana in 2016. He writes that God’s grace was not merely enough to forgive him, but also to heal him. He writes that over the years he has brought shame on his father on more than one occasion, and in the minds of many, is living proof that sometimes the apple falls plenty far from the tree. He writes about his father not only teaching him theology, but also pastoring and shepherding him. He writes that his father did not hold many grudges. Rather, he was quick to forgive, and even quicker to forget. The author writes that his wanderings are his fault, not his fathers.
First, a few things that are missing from the book. Other than writing about daughter Shannon, who died at the age of 15, he doesn’t make reference to his first wife Denise, nor to their other seven children, in this book about his life, though there is much about his current wife Lisa. There is also no reference to what the author, formerly a pastor, Ligonier Teaching Fellow, etc. is doing today vocationally.
This book is not really a biography of his father (it’s actually closer to a biography of the author), but it is one of tender remembrances of the lessons he was taught by his father. Throughout, the tone of the book is warm and loving. At the same time, he writes that his father was not a perfect man. The author doesn’t want this collection of memories to descend into a false, airbrushed portrait of the man. What I most enjoyed about this book were the stories about the lessons the author learned from his father. It is clear that he dearly misses his father, who died in December, 2017.
He writes that his parents love him well, loved each other well, and best of all, loved Jesus well and taught him about Jesus from infancy. He writes that every day of their lives together, his father pointed him toward their perfect elder Brother.
He writes that he did not so much learn from his father as absorb him. As his father modeled Jesus, he learned forgiveness, compassion, humor, loyalty, and love. He writes that his father knew the holiness of God because he knew God and feared Him. And in his grace—and by His grace—his father taught him the same.
He talks about his father being a “Renaissance Man”, having many interests (astronomy, painting, the violin, etc.) and always giving each of those interests his fullest effort, for a time, and then moving on to something else. Two great loves that he never gave up however were the piano and golf.
He writes of going to movies and discussing them with his father, his father asking him what he was reading, and the back-patio conversations with his father as he was attending Reformed Theological Seminary. He tells us that his father was a profoundly gentle man and had a wonderful sense of humor, which came through in his teaching.
The author writes of his father’s death, indicating that by the time he arrived at his deathbed, he was already in a coma. Knowing that his father might still be able to hear, the author shares what he spoke to him when it was just the two of them in the room. He also shares a touching blessing that his father wrote and recorded for them, at the request of his wife Lisa.
I would recommend this book for its unique insights into how a father poured himself into the life of his son. As someone whose life has been forever changed by how the Lord used R.C. Sproul’s ministry, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
The book opens with an account of the author’s experience after being arrested for driving under the influence with two minor children in his car in Indiana in 2016. He writes that God’s grace was not merely enough to forgive him, but also to heal him. He writes that over the years he has brought shame on his father on more than one occasion, and in the minds of many, is living proof that sometimes the apple falls plenty far from the tree. He writes about his father not only teaching him theology, but also pastoring and shepherding him. He writes that his father did not hold many grudges. Rather, he was quick to forgive, and even quicker to forget. The author writes that his wanderings are his fault, not his fathers.
First, a few things that are missing from the book. Other than writing about daughter Shannon, who died at the age of 15, he doesn’t make reference to his first wife Denise, nor to their other seven children, in this book about his life, though there is much about his current wife Lisa. There is also no reference to what the author, formerly a pastor, Ligonier Teaching Fellow, etc. is doing today vocationally.
This book is not really a biography of his father (it’s actually closer to a biography of the author), but it is one of tender remembrances of the lessons he was taught by his father. Throughout, the tone of the book is warm and loving. At the same time, he writes that his father was not a perfect man. The author doesn’t want this collection of memories to descend into a false, airbrushed portrait of the man. What I most enjoyed about this book were the stories about the lessons the author learned from his father. It is clear that he dearly misses his father, who died in December, 2017.
He writes that his parents love him well, loved each other well, and best of all, loved Jesus well and taught him about Jesus from infancy. He writes that every day of their lives together, his father pointed him toward their perfect elder Brother.
He writes that he did not so much learn from his father as absorb him. As his father modeled Jesus, he learned forgiveness, compassion, humor, loyalty, and love. He writes that his father knew the holiness of God because he knew God and feared Him. And in his grace—and by His grace—his father taught him the same.
He talks about his father being a “Renaissance Man”, having many interests (astronomy, painting, the violin, etc.) and always giving each of those interests his fullest effort, for a time, and then moving on to something else. Two great loves that he never gave up however were the piano and golf.
He writes of going to movies and discussing them with his father, his father asking him what he was reading, and the back-patio conversations with his father as he was attending Reformed Theological Seminary. He tells us that his father was a profoundly gentle man and had a wonderful sense of humor, which came through in his teaching.
The author writes of his father’s death, indicating that by the time he arrived at his deathbed, he was already in a coma. Knowing that his father might still be able to hear, the author shares what he spoke to him when it was just the two of them in the room. He also shares a touching blessing that his father wrote and recorded for them, at the request of his wife Lisa.
I would recommend this book for its unique insights into how a father poured himself into the life of his son. As someone whose life has been forever changed by how the Lord used R.C. Sproul’s ministry, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
June 4, 2020
Intimate look of how Jesus meets us in life with hope and love
I have followed both R.C's for years as I grew in Christ. It started with Chosen By God, and has grown from there. Some years back, Junior's work on Suffering and Sovrenenity helped through a rough patch. I learned much about both men in this book. It radiates the love of Christ being applied to life and relationships. Read this book and "hurry up"! You won't be disappointed.
I have followed both R.C's for years as I grew in Christ. It started with Chosen By God, and has grown from there. Some years back, Junior's work on Suffering and Sovrenenity helped through a rough patch. I learned much about both men in this book. It radiates the love of Christ being applied to life and relationships. Read this book and "hurry up"! You won't be disappointed.
July 29, 2019
If this book were credible it might be a good book. Unfortunately it should probably be read as a work of fiction since the featured personality, Dr. RC Sproul, is no longer around to offer any challenge. The alleged words of wisdom imparted Dr. Sproul to his son would be sound if it had ever happened. But therein is the rub. If it had ever happened how did it so completely miss the mark? Something just doesn't add up. How could RC Jr manage to make complete shipwreck out of his own life had he been raised by the wise father featured in this book? Year after year of scandal upon scandal, being defrocked for spiritual abuse, tax fraud, alcoholism and drunk driving, registering for an adultery account, and still RC Jr refuses to step down from ministry? On top of everything else he has a fellow defrocked Presbyterian minister and unrepentant serial adulterer who broke up several marriages (including his own) write the forward to his book. Good grief! Couldn't RC Jr do any better than that? I can't help but thinking RC Jr wrote this book as just one last ditch attempt to ride his dad's coattails, making bank off the family name.
May 26, 2020
This book was amazing. Throughout, I laughed, I cried, and I learnt practical wisdom. I heartily recommend!
It was a great reminder of the beauty of a theology not only taught, but lived!
After reading the book, I now understand the purposed intention of the word “with” in brackets.
It was a great reminder of the beauty of a theology not only taught, but lived!
After reading the book, I now understand the purposed intention of the word “with” in brackets.
August 29, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this and I learned a lot. I was expecting it to be informational in a memoir kind of way (which it was), but I found it to be very educational theologically as well. I do wish he had made mention of his own family more--particularly of his first wife, Denise. He went on and on and on and on about his current wife and wrote of her as though she's the only woman who has ever been in his life and writing of her as though she's the only one who has ever been perfect for him made me cringe. Based on the book, it seems as though he's an emotional guy who really rides the highs and lows of current emotion, but the lack of acknowledgment for his first wife seemed like a slap in the face to her. Aside from that issue, I thought the book was quite good. I found it to be great for imparting parental wisdom as well. It made me think through and evaluate my parenting in light of my theology.
December 31, 2020
Such a sweet and rich reflection. I was hoping for more “inside stories,” but that’s okay. This book contains 25 reflections that are in fact, Christ-centered meditations. Ironic, because this book is about the life and fatherhood of RC Sproul. Perhaps that’s the point: the best reflections of a persons life are the many ways the point to Jesus.
Without lionizing his father, RC Jr honors him well. There were many moments when I was encouraged, challenged, and reminded of the truth. What stuck out to me most in this book was not RC the pastor, theologian, or teacher, but rather RC the Dad. As someone who cried tears of thanksgiving the day RC Sr. passed, I am so grateful for this glimpse into his life.
Without lionizing his father, RC Jr honors him well. There were many moments when I was encouraged, challenged, and reminded of the truth. What stuck out to me most in this book was not RC the pastor, theologian, or teacher, but rather RC the Dad. As someone who cried tears of thanksgiving the day RC Sr. passed, I am so grateful for this glimpse into his life.
April 11, 2019
Good look into growing up with RC Sproul. Sproul had a huge impact on my life when I became a Christian. This book provides a first hand account of what it was like growing up under the direct influence of the man. I also appreciated Sproul Jr.'s openness about his own sin and failings throughout the work.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews