Ask Ligonier Live with W. Robert Godfrey (August 2021)

On August 26, W. Robert Godfrey joined us as a special guest on our Ask Ligonier team and answered your biblical and theological questions live online.

Dr. Godfrey is chairman of Ligonier Ministries, a Ligonier teaching fellow, and president emeritus and professor emeritus of church history at Westminster Seminary California. He is also the featured teacher for the six-part Ligonier teaching series A Survey of Church History and author of several books, including Saving the Reformation.

Introduction (0:00)

Questions:

As a Christian, what gives you hope amid a rapidly changing world? (2:16)
When will Dr. Godfrey have a teaching series on the Dutch Reformation? (4:11)
Why do Christians worship on Sunday rather than on Saturday? (5:07)
What is the best resource to help me understand the Puritans? (5:43)
How do we know which laws in the Bible we are still bound to obey today? (6:20)
How can ministers introduce psalm singing to a congregation? (6:59)
What is the intermediate state? (8:03)
Does the blood of Jesus cover all and every sin? (8:35)
What makes a Christian distinctly Protestant? (8:58)
Why does the Apostle Paul motivate Christians with the promise of rewards in heaven? Isn’t Christ our reward? (9:48)
My son struggles with the idea that people who are “basically good” still go to hell if they do not trust in Jesus. How do I help him understand God’s justice? (10:28)
Which figure from church history do you think of most often today? (11:16)
As a teen, how can I stay focused on Christ and become spiritually mature? (11:49)
How can I help my friend understand cessationism? (12:41)
What can we learn from the ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson? (14:28)
In what ways do we see people using excitement to try and draw people to Christ today? (16:37)
What is the difference between heresy and apostasy? (18:49)
With all of the theological positions out there, how do I know the gospel I believe is the true gospel? (20:22)
I am a high schooler with unbelieving parents and classmates. What advice would you give me as I seek to live for the Lord? (23:25)
Why does the Bible warn Christians against false teaching if the elect cannot possibly fall away? (25:11)
Are we living in the last days? (26:43)
How can I equip myself to teach others when I don’t have a theology degree? (30:10)
What is the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27)? (32:14)
How did the Puritan colony of Plymouth Rock influence Christianity in colonial New England? (34:28)
What era of church history is most similar to today? (36:24)
What is “courageous Calvinism,” and why is it needed for the church today? (40:32)
What should I say to a family member who claims to be a Christian but refuses to join a church? (42:09)
Did Jesus need to learn and study the Scriptures? (44:50)
Should Christians continue to fast today? (45:14)
Who is your favorite Protestant Reformer? (45:48)
Which book would you recommend on the subject of church worship? (46:39)
What are the main differences between the Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian traditions? (47:40)
How do you help people who struggle with the doctrine of predestination? (48:56)
What is your fondest memory of R.C. Sproul? (50:09)
What is apostolic succession? (51:19)
What methods can help me memorize Scripture? (52:33)
Why should all Christians study church history? (53:26)
How did the Reformers view Islam? (54:43)
What is the difference between “once saved, always saved” and the perseverance of the saints? (56:52)
Do predestination and free will contradict one another? (58:38)
How would you counsel a Christian who struggles with anxiety amid the challenging times in which we live? (1:00:44)

[ligonier]

As our thanks for watching Ask Ligonier live with W. Robert Godfrey, for a limited time, request your free download of his teaching series Blessed Hope here: ask.Ligonier.org/offer

[biancaw]

Thank you Dr. Godfrey for giving me/us clarity and reminding me/us of the truths which are so easily forgotten in the midst of all the confusion.
I live in the Nordic countries of Europe where Lutheranism dominates, but the doctrines don't correspond with scripture. Other than that, the Pentecostal movement has captured people because of its similarities to the culture/world, unfortunately. I and many other genuine believers seek truth and wisdom, which I have found through your ministry half way around the world - this shows how desperate one is because of lack of faithful and truthful ministers here. Please keep answering questions and giving us guidance, and speaking the truth of our LORD, so that we may learn and grow and teach the rest of the flock.
God bless you all.

[Savedbygrace]

At 35:06 I appreciate Dr Godfrey’s comments on why do we need to go to church and sit under a pastor. I’ve seen many comments online people don’t think they need church. They don’t trust anyone because of such widespread error and heretical churches. I try to give reasons to keep trying because I personally have done so and have been blessed by finding a solid church. I wrote those suggestions down. Thanks for all you do!!!

[Shabeck]

Another great Q & A by one of my favourites...Dr. Bob Godfrey. He is so faithful to Scripture, advised by history, and has a wonderfully dry sense of humour to convey his answers with grace, wit, and clarity

[BongShieLaLa]

Thank you, Dr. Godfrey.
Praise the Lord for ministries like Ligonier.

[LivingLambsVeganKitchen]

Memorizing Scripture - I'd recommend the Charlotte Mason method. It's very easy and VERY effective, and it's a pleasant flow.:

1. Pick a scripture of whatever length and read it aloud daily, once (although you can do more than once if you want).
2. Once you memorize it, mark it to read every other day (M-W-F ). At the same time, pick a new scripture to read daily.
3. When the new scripture is memorized, move it to Every Other Day (T-Thu-Sat). Pick a new one to read daily.
4. When you've memorized it, move the one at Every Other Day (M-W-F) to Weekly (Monday), and the one you just memorized to Every Other Day (M-W-F). Now pick a new one to memorize.
5. When you've memorized it, move the Every Other Day (T-Thu-Sat) to Weekly (Tuesday), and the one you just memorized to Every Other Day (T-Thu-Sat). Pick a new one to memorize.
6. Keep on doing this until Weekly is full (Monday - Sunday).
7. When that's done, you shuffle one of the weeklies to Monthly (1st). After you've filled the whole month, you add a second one to Monthly (1st).

I currently have the month almost full, some with longer scriptures, and it only takes about 5 minutes a day.

[garyrobinson]

Couldn't get sufficient volume to hear.

[FOMC]

I can't hear the video please fix it!

[blamsw]

Volume would have been a little better bumped to 130% or so. Thank you for hosting the excellent Q and A

[douglasdomer]

So great to see you back "live" again! Thank you for this program!!

[longhorncrna]

I enjoyed this teaching and food for my soul. I do recommend the volume be increased by your sound crew as I had both my computer and the YouTube channel volume at full. Thank you for putting this on. Blessings.

[straitgatekingdomoutreach]

Huh? How did the Apostles teach us to worship on Sunday? I've read anything in the Holy Bible to indicate that. Yes, there are a couple of mentions about them being together on the first day of the week but as far as I can tell, there is no specific mandate about it. Those early Jewish believers ritualistically did the weekly Sabbath thing therefore they were home resting on Sabbath and worshipfully assembling on Sunday. However what we need to remember is that the Sabbath Day and the day you pick to corporately worship are not nesecessarily the same thing.

[ligonier]

Thank you for joining us tonight. If your question was not answered live, you can get trustworthy answers to your questions through our #AskLigonier online chat service. Well-trained team members are standing by 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. ask.Ligonier.org