Live Q&A Events

On April 27, Stephen Nichols joined us as a special guest on our Ask Ligonier team and answered your biblical and theological questions live online.

This special online event was streamed live on Ligonier’s blog, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Questions:

1. How did R.C. Sproul meet his wife, Vesta Sproul? (1:57)

2. Why is it important for Christians to be acquainted with church history? (3:20)

3. What difficult issues are facing college students today? (4:25)

4. What role does theology play in the life of the church? (5:36)

5. What era in church history is most like our own? (6:18)

6. What books would you recommend to help me better understand church history? (6:50)

7. How can I become a better apologist? (7:26))

8. What is your favorite sermon from R.C. Sproul? (8:07)

9. R.C. Sproul was a man with a great sense of humor, and we see that in the footnote of the preface to his first book, The Symbol. Can you tell us about that? (10:04)

10. What was the Diet of Worms, and why was it significant? (11:44)

11. R.C. Sproul said The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther helped shape his theology. What books have helped shape your theology? (14:44)

12. Did you always desire to be a church historian, a professor, and a president of a Bible college? (15:35)

13. Why is theological education important even for those who are not planning on vocational ministry? (16:31)

14. Which Christological error do you see resurfacing the most today? (18:12)

15. What challenges did R.C. Sproul face as he stood for the truth of God? (20:17)

16. Can you tell us about R.C. Sproul’s emphasis on kindness in his ministry? (22:17)

17. What was your process for writing the biography of R.C. Sproul? (23:54)

18. What happened to the Ligonier Valley Study Center after Ligonier Ministries moved to Florida? (25:41)

19. In what ways do we need the teaching of J. Gresham Machen today? (26:09)

20. Why is it important for Christians to affirm sola Scriptura? (28:02)

21. What would you say to someone who thinks church membership is unnecessary? (29:17)

22. Where did the practice of catechesis originate? (32:27)

23. What did you mean when you said that R.C. Sproul wanted the Ligonier Valley Study Center to be a place to start a theological revolution? (33:40)

24. What are your favorite books by the Puritans? (36:11)

25. Can doctrine become an idol? (36:27)

26. Which of Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions is your favorite? (36:56)

27. How do I know which Bible translation to choose? (37:49)

28. Is it normal for Christians to experience times when they feel far from God? (38:23)

29. How should I witness to someone who is open to the idea of God but has issues with “religion?” (38:56)

30. What is providence? (39:58)

31. How did John Calvin manage to preach so many sermons and write so many commentaries? (40:49)

32. How can I lovingly share the gospel with a Jehovah’s Witness? (41:55)

33. My friend refuses to listen when I talk with him about the Bible. Can I still talk with him about the existence of God? (42:56)

34. When was Martin Luther converted? (45:09)

35. R.C. Sproul said he wanted to write a book on the aseity of God. What is this doctrine? (45:49)

36. Is faith a work? (47:44)

37. Can you tell us about the friendship between R.C. Sproul and James Boyce? (49:55)

38. How do you think we should utilize the writings of the church fathers? (53:04)

39. How can parents instill confidence in their children to trust the Bible? (54:23)

40. Why did R.C. love the novel Moby Dick? (55:32)

41. Which of R.C. Sproul’s books has most impacted you? (57:21)

42. In his final sermon, R.C. Sproul said, “I pray with all my heart that God would awaken each one of us to the sweetness, the loveliness, and the glory of the gospel declared by Christ.” What did he mean by this prayer? (59:10)

Note: Answers given reflect the views of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dr. R.C. Sproul and Ligonier Ministries. Here is our Statement of Faith.