Showing results by author "R. C. Sproul" in All Categories

In Willing to Believe, R. C. Sproul uncovers issues that provoked the Reformation and revived the controversy between Pelagius and Augustine. He carefully explores the relationship between original sin and human free will, clarifies misconceptions about the work of God in a believer's liberation from sin, illuminates the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation, and offers compelling reasons to believe the work of salvation is in God's hands.

God gave us His Word so that we may know Him and live by His truth. So, what should we do when we’re reading the Bible and a difficult passage stops us in our tracks? Sometimes the solution is right there on the page—if we know where to look—while other passages gain clarity in light of the rest of the Bible or its historical background. With the help of an experienced guide, we can overcome the obstacles to our progress and know God’s Word more deeply. In Hard Sayings, Dr. R.C. Sproul applies his wisdom as a theologian and Bible teacher to some of the most challenging verses in Scripture.

When Ella gets sick and has to take yucky medicine, she wonders why something that will help her get well has to taste so bad. When she puts the question to Grandpa, he tells her the story of a great King and His subjects who enjoyed wonderful times together―until the people rebelled against the King and drank from a forbidden well. To their horror, they found that the beautiful water in the well made their hearts turn to stone. To reclaim His people, the King asks His Son, the Prince, to drink from a well of horrid poison.

The gospel has come under attack since the days of the Apostles. In first-century Galatia, false teachers were creeping into churches and convincing Christians that they had to keep the law of Moses to be saved. To call these churches back from the brink of destruction, the Apostle Paul wrote what is likely his earliest letter: an unyielding defense of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ. In this volume, Dr. R.C. Sproul guides us through Paul’s passionate letter to the Galatians.

The philosopher Blaise Pascal called man "the supreme paradox", because compared to all other creatures, he is both the most magnificent and the most miserable. What did Pascal mean? The answer goes to the heart of what the Bible says about man. Man is created in the image of God, but the Bible also tells us that man has fallen into sin and become corrupt. In Are People Basically Good?, Dr. R.C. Sproul explores the nature of mankind by looking at what it means to be made in the image of God, and exploring the nature and effects of the fall.

How can we persevere through persecution? First-century Christians wrestled with this question. They were often harassed, slandered, beaten, and ostracized for their faith. As they endured these difficult circumstances, we can imagine their joy upon receiving two encouraging letters from the Apostle Peter. No stranger to suffering, Peter likely penned these letters while in a Roman prison just before his martyrdom. In this volume, Dr. R.C. Sproul takes us through Peter’s epistles line by line.

In this book, Dr. R.C. Sproul employs his unique perspective as a highly experienced pastor-theologian and a trained philosopher to provide well-considered and compassionate answers to the difficult questions that attend termination of pregnancy. Dr. Sproul strives for a factual, well-reasoned approach informed by careful biblical scholarship. He considers both sides of this issue in terms of biblical teaching, civil law, and natural law. This edition includes a new foreword by Dr. George Grant and has been updated to reflect developments in the issue.

Dr. R.C. Sproul continues his project of illustrating theological concepts for children. Using the story of Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1–5) as his jumping-off point, Dr. Sproul weaves a classic tale about a young priest who is invited to preach his first sermon before the king and his court. But on his way to the palace, he falls from his horse, getting his clothes hopelessly muddy. Jonathan finds that he needs powerful help if he is to stand before the king.

Since the first temptation, Satan has aimed to cast doubt on God’s Word. Our children and grandchildren need to be prepared for this. In this allegorical tale, theologian, pastor, and author Dr. R.C. Sproul continues his life’s work of making deep biblical truths clear and understandable to students of all ages. The Knight’s Map is the story of a knight who undertakes a perilous journey full of bad advice and wrong turns. In the end, he must decide whether he will trust the map provided by the King.

How Then Shall We Worship? is a landmark look at God’s design for authentic worship. Today’s church cannot seem to agree on what corporate worship should look like. Some choose contemporary forms, others prefer traditional expressions. Yet pop culture or the status quo do not hold the answers. God’s Word does. Dr. Sproul digs deep into rich Scripture passages to provide a guide for worship today.

Jesus taught more often on money than he did on love or on heaven and hell combined. Why? It's because money is one of the chief competitors for our affections. "You cannot serve God and money," he warned. How, then, should Christians view and use money? How should they view and participate in economic systems? In How Should I Think about Money?, Dr. R.C. Sproul offers much-needed biblical answers to these questions, and in so doing, provides clarity on an important issue in the lives of Christians.

In today’s skeptical age, many people insist that Jesus was, at best, a great teacher. Mark demonstrates that He was—and is—so much more. In this volume, Dr. R.C. Sproul dives into Mark’s action-packed and fast-paced gospel. As we are told in vivid detail, Jesus immediately vanquishes demons, banishes diseases, subdues the forces of nature, satisfies hunger, and silences critics. From one mighty miracle to the next, this gospel builds an unshakable case for Jesus’ true identity and leads us to confess along with the Apostle Peter that You are the Christ (Mark 8:29).

Confused, angry, and hurt after the death of his father, a young R. C. Sproul began his personal search for ultimate truth with piercing questions to God. In Enjoying God, listeners journey with R. C. Sproul to discover the attributes of God through the questions many of us have asked. In this warm, personal account, Dr. Sproul communicates deep truths in a fresh and easy-to-understand style as he shares his passion to know God and urges the listener to dig deep and seek the God who is alive, who is real, and who loves each one of us.

Dr. R.C. Sproul weaves an allegorical tale that captures the essence of the biblical story of redemption in a manner that will fascinate and delight children. A race of tiny beings known as lightlings are a picture of humanity as they pass through all the stages of the biblical drama—creation, fall, and redemption. In the end, children will understand why some people fear light more than darkness, but why they need never fear darkness again.

In Saved from What?, Dr. R.C. Sproul reveals that the greatest danger we face is the holy wrath of God against our sin. But the glory of the gospel is that the One from whom we need to be saved is the very One who saves us. As we better understand the severity of our sin and the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement, the truth of God’s grace will deepen our worship and drive us to make his salvation known.

Today, Martin Luther is known as the man who stood against popes and emperors in defense of the gospel. What drove this lone German monk to defy the Roman Catholic Church? It wasn’t arrogance or ignorance. Luther knew what it meant to live in the darkness of unresolved guilt. Once he discovered that his acceptance before God is a gift received by faith alone in the merits of Christ alone, Luther was set free, and he would not rest until the light of this truth went out to the world.

Dr. Sproul's classic gets to the heart of humanity's search for personal worth. As he sheds light on daily obstacles to dignity-in home, school, hospital, prison, church, and workplace - Dr. Sproul points us to new ways of loving and serving one another.

The Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing, but many Christians struggle with prayer. Is there a right way to pray? How should we address a holy God? Does prayer really change things? Even Jesus’ disciples understood there was something lacking in their prayer life after they observed Jesus in prayer. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them a model of prayer as an example to follow in communing with God. In The Prayer of the Lord, Dr. R.C. Sproul helps us understand how to pray according to the pattern Jesus set for us.

From the classroom to mainstream media, Christians regularly find their fundamental beliefs discounted by opponents who consider faith to be incompatible with reason. Faith is viewed as subjective, emotional, and a crutch for those who find the real world too hard. The late R. C. Sproul, however, claims faith reveals just how rational Christianity truly is. This audiobook surveys the history and fundamentals of apologetics to demonstrate how reason and scientific inquiry actually support Christianity's claims—thus equipping believers to defend the existence of God and the Bible's authority.

Davey was a young donkey who was bored and unhappy because he was never given anything to do. Then one day, some strangers came to the gate―and Davey’s master picked him for a very special task. Davey carried the King, Jesus, into Jerusalem. A few days later, Davey saw some angry people making the King carry a heavy beam of wood. Davey could not understand it―until another donkey helped him see that the King was being a Servant on behalf of His people.