Best of 2014: Ligonier Blog
With 2015 here, we've gone back and collected some of the most popular blog posts from the past year.
Top Commentaries on Every Book of the Bible by Keith Mathison
"The last twenty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number and quality of biblical commentaries being published. With such a large number being published every year, it can be difficult to choose among them."
Husbands, Hold Your Wife's Hand by R.C. Sproul Jr.
"Hand holding is a way to say both, "You are safe with me" and "Follow me into the adventure." It would have reminded me that there is no abdicating, no shirking, no flinching in the face of responsibility. And as I lead it would be a constant anchor, a reminder that I lead not for my sake, but for hers."
What Do Expiation and Propitiation Mean? by R.C. Sproul
"I'm often asked to explain the difference between propitiation and expiation. The difficulty is that even though these words are in the Bible, we don't use them as part of our day-to-day vocabulary, so we aren't sure exactly what they are communicating in Scripture. We lack reference points in relation to these words."
How to Grow Spiritually by William Boekestein
"We will never outgrow God's plan for our growth. Neglecting the means of grace can only result in spiritual loss. The sad irony is that those who neglect the means of grace and thus spiritually deteriorate are often unable to understand why they have so degenerated. They've become so spiritually anemic that they no longer have the strength to rightly assess their situation."
Stories of God's Grace: Meet Arnaldo by Nathan W. Bingham
"The Lord is at work redeeming and sanctifying a people for Himself. We are grateful for the opportunity to share this story of God's grace with you. Meet Arnaldo."
How to Distinguish the Holy Spirit from the Serpent by Sinclair Ferguson
"How do we distinguish the promptings of the Spirit of grace in His guiding and governing of our lives from the delusions of the spirit of the world and of our own sinful heart? This is a hugely important question if we are to be calm and confident that the spirit with whom we are communing really is the Holy Spirit."
Get a Basic Overview of the Bible by R.C. Sproul
"If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, it's natural not to want to miss a word of it. If God delivered a letter to your mailbox, I am sure you would read it. But the Bible is a pretty big letter, and its sheer bulk is somewhat daunting, even to the person with the best of intentions. Therefore, few Christians actually keep a resolution to read through the Bible."
The State of Theology: New Findings on America's Theological Health by Chris Larson
"The sanctity of truth is a guiding principle for Ligonier because we stand on the Word of God. While there is moral collapse around us leading to political capitulation, the pressing issue is the collapse in orthodox Christian theology. Our crisis is profoundly theological in nature, not methodological. If we want to see an awakening in our generation, the church must boldly proclaim the truth."
5 Questions to Ask When Reading the Bible by Steven Lawson
"How exactly does the Bible—an ancient book written thousands of years ago—reveal God's way to people today? There are several key questions we must ask, the answers to which reveal to us the way."
5 Ways to Pray for Your Church Family in 2014 by Erik Raymond
"A church that is growing in the gospel is filled with people who are joyfully loving, serving, and sacrificing for one another as they demonstrate the gospel. They are also tactfully, winsomely, and zealously declaring the gospel to each other and the world around them."
Predestination: Should We Even Talk About It? by Daniel Hyde
"We must talk about predestination with discernment. When Paul penned Romans 9, he was writing to a Christian congregation made up of Jews and Gentiles in distinction from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. Believing Jews were those of the promise while unbelieving Jews were those merely of the flesh (Rom. 9:3, 6-8)."
Is Marriage "Just a Piece of Paper"? by R.C. Sproul
"The signing of a piece of paper is not a matter of affixing one's signature in ink to a meaningless document. The signing of a marriage certificate is an integral part of what the Bible calls a covenant. A covenant is made publicly before witnesses and with formal legal commitments that are taken seriously by the community."
Thank you for your support as you've read and shared our posts with family and friends. We look forward, Lord willing, to another edifying and God glorifying year in 2015 on the Ligonier Blog.