How to Use Ligonier Resources for Personal Study and Discipleship

Before His ascension, Jesus issued what has come to be known as the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19–20).

This process of teaching God’s Word to Christians for the purpose of godly living and fellowship with our Lord is commonly called discipleship. While discipleship has specific purposes, it takes place in varied formats.

Perhaps the simplest answer to the question “Why does Ligonier exist?” is precisely this: discipleship. Ligonier seeks to serve God’s people individually and corporately by creating and distributing discipleship resources to help them grow in their knowledge of God and become more like Christ—all to the praise of God’s glory and grace.

Ligonier’s resources not only assist individual believers as they seek to grow in their own faith through personal study, but they also serve as helpful tools to disciple and mentor younger believers.

The following look at the “big picture” of Ligonier’s ministry and resources can provide a framework for understanding the discipleship resources available for both personal growth and discipleship of others:

Print Resources

Ligonier publishes books that are faithful to the historic Christian faith. Dr. R.C. Sproul was passionate about ensuring that the people of God understood the Word of God. To that end, Ligonier publishes study Bibles. The Reformation Study Bible, currently available in many languages, helps Christians understand the Bible by providing study notes from distinguished theologians. In addition to study Bibles, Ligonier publishes a monthly magazine called Tabletalk. Each issue is thoughtfully crafted around a particular topic, contains articles written by capable and careful authors, and includes daily Bible studies for each day of the month. Christians sometimes struggle to know how to study the Bible every day, and Tabletalk provides a convenient and reliable framework for Christians to dwell daily in God’s Word. Ligonier has also published many books that cover a variety of biblical, theological, and historical topics. For example, We Believe is a collection of historic creeds, catechisms, and confessions of faith from the early church to the post-Reformation era. This volume helps readers glean biblical wisdom from the past and guard it for future generations. Ligonier regularly releases new titles to provide an ever-growing library of trusted discipleship resources.

Suggestions for Using Print Resources:

• Read the daily studies in Tabletalk magazine as part of your personal devotions. The daily studies include a passage of Scripture and an explanation of the text. For even more impact, partner with a friend or spouse who also reads the daily studies to discuss your reflections on the text and how it impacts your walk with the Lord. Tabletalk is also a helpful resource for discipling other believers as you meet together for conversations about the articles and daily studies.
• Choose a book that addresses a topic you’d like to grow in or learn more about. You can read on your own, start a book study with a partner or group, or choose a topic that will be helpful to someone you’re discipling and read the book together.

Digital Resources

The internet provides many additional avenues for reaching people with the truth of God’s Word. Ligonier’s teaching series offer an accessible way to virtually sit in the classroom with gifted, scholarly teachers. These series now total more than two hundred, and they are available in online streaming and DVD formats. These teaching series—which include brief video messages, and many of which offer a supplemental study guide—form the backbone of Ligonier’s teaching catalog.

Ligonier also facilitates discipleship by providing teaching and theological answers at sites like Ligonier.org, TabletalkMagazine.com, and our Ligonier Connect online learning platform. Additionally, the free Ligonier app contains thousands of discipleship resources that you can read, watch, and listen to anytime.

Radio has also continued into the digital age and been reborn as podcasts and online radio. Renewing Your Mind and other podcasts from Ligonier continue to expand the accessibility of trustworthy teaching in the rhythms of everyday life, and RefNet provides 24/7 internet Christian radio for listeners around the world.

Suggestions for Using Digital Resources:

• Select a Ligonier teaching series that addresses a topic or book of the Bible you’d like to learn more about. Watch the messages and complete the study guide as you go along. Based on your schedule and how much time you spend on further study, you can choose how quickly or slowly to work through the teaching series.
• If you’re discipling someone, look through the available teaching series together and choose one that could be helpful for that individual’s spiritual growth. Or, if you already know what you’re looking for, search for a teaching series that best meets the person’s current needs. You can watch and discuss the messages together or watch them separately and come together to discuss the lesson and the questions in the study guide.

Conferences and Events

In addition to print and digital media, Ligonier holds various events throughout the year. The largest of these is our national conference, held in Orlando every year. Ligonier’s national conference draws thousands of Christians from around the world to hear from God’s Word. In addition to the national conference, Ligonier hosts regional events in which featured teachers teach God’s Word and speak on important topics relating to the Christian life.

As you endeavor to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ—and to help others do the same—Ligonier is here to provide an ever-expanding discipleship library to serve God’s people worldwide.