2017 Regional Conference in Wittenberg: Highlights
In this historic year, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we hosted a regional conference in the city where Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses. Today, Christians from around the world gathered in Wittenberg, Germany, to consider “Luther Today.” This was a time of great encouragement as we not only remembered the past, but looked to how it informs our future.
All of the messages from today will be available to stream for free on Ligonier.org and the Ligonier App soon. Stay tuned for an announcement. While you wait, here is a brief summary and several highlights. You can also browse #ligcon on Instagram and Twitter, or watch the questions and answers session on Facebook.
Summary and Highlights
W. Robert Godfrey began our conference with a message focused on the Psalter, or as Martin Luther called it, “a little Bible.” He taught us how this “little Bible” encouraged Luther throughout his ministry, and the place the Psalter should have in every Christian’s life.
Matthias Lohmann continued by reminding us of the absolute authority of the Scriptures. He challenged us to consider our lives and questioned if we practically believe in Scripture's authority.
Our morning ended with Steven Lawson unpacking Luther’s stand for truth—his stand upon the Word of God. Luther knew that to abandon Scripture was to turn his back on God and His gospel.
After lunch, Stephen Nichols examined Thesis One and Thesis Two of Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. In these two theses, the essence of the Reformation is summed up: the authority of the Bible versus the authority of the Roman Catholic Church.
Our teachers then answered questions from those in attendance. W. Robert Godfrey, Steven Lawson, Matthias Lohmann, Albert Mohler, Steffen Mueller, and Stephen Nichols discussed Martin Luther and the book of James, biblical interpretation, continuationism, the church in Germany, and many other topics.
Steffen Mueller considered the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and Luther's emphasis on the Christian's direct access to God through Christ.
For our final session, we moved locations to the Castle Church. This is the church where Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. After singing A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Albert Mohler walked us through Romans 3, and the gospel Luther rediscovered and boldly proclaimed.
Good morning, Wittenberg. See you at the Stadthaus soon. #ligcon pic.twitter.com/FwD4PbHiKj
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
@ChrisLarson opens our 2017 Regional Conference in Wittenberg, "Luther Today." #ligcon pic.twitter.com/kYBAwoau21
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
Christ and His truth and His gospel are the rock of the church. —W. Robert Godfrey #ligcon pic.twitter.com/UlY2WRxWVF
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
Listen daily to God’s Word because it is the one true source of light for your life. —Matthias Lohmann #ligcon pic.twitter.com/UwFF7NFa0L
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
Luther was one man against 1,000 years of dead tradition. —@DrStevenJLawson #ligcon pic.twitter.com/nrgs25Jmq9
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
As an ordinary Christian, go deep in the Word and prayer, and then go boldly into your sphere of influence. —Steffen Mueller #ligcon pic.twitter.com/biPFh0xyF7
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
The essence of the Reformation can be summed up as the battle between the authority of the Bible and the authority of Rome. —@DrSteveNichols pic.twitter.com/ne0xPHD6K4
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
Luther's conviction of his own sinfulness was the inevitable result of his vision of God's holiness. —@AlbertMohler #ligcon pic.twitter.com/7OsSBsDo2z
— Ligonier Ministries (@Ligonier) August 11, 2017
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