A special invitation from R. C. Sproul

Dear Friend,

From time immemorial, human beings have asked questions about the fundamental nature of reality. What is truth? Are we really free to make choices? Why is there so much evil in the world? If there is a God, how can I know about Him?

Philosophers of all religious persuasions have debated these questions, but they take on special importance when they are asked of the Christian church. People outside of the church as well as those sitting in its pews have turned to pastors and theologians to help them understand why it is that we believe the Bible is free from error, why evil is present even though God is perfectly good, how a good God could command a holy war, and many other issues. Such questions are tough indeed, and it is important for all believers to be able to give an intelligent answer to them.

As Christians, we do not automatically know the answers to the tough questions that are asked of us, but we do know the One who does have the answers. This June 17–19, 2010, Ligonier Ministries will be hosting our 23rd annual national conference on “Tough Questions Christians Face.”

Alistair Begg, Michael Horton, Steven Lawson, John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, Burk Parsons, R.C. Sproul Jr., Derek Thomas, and I will address some of the most difficult questions that we face as Christians, and we will endeavor to offer biblical answers to assure us and to help us defend the truths of the Christian faith. We will consider issues like biblical inerrancy, the problem of evil, the age of the earth, the justice of hell, the marks of the true Christian, and many other topics.

These events are always a wonderful time of study, worship, prayer, and fellowship with believers from many different denominations and locales. I hope that you will be able to join us this June as we look to the Lord who is Himself the source of peace in the midst of all of the tough questions Christians face.

In Christ,
R.C. Sproul

BRIEF BIOS OF THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Alistair Begg is the senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and can be heard teaching daily on the radio program Truth for Life. Dr. Begg has served in pastoral ministry for over thirty years and has written many books including The Hand of God, Pathway to Freedom, and Made for His Pleasure.

Dr. Michael Horton is J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, and he co-hosts White Horse Inn, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show that explores issues revolving around Reformation theology in American Christianity. Dr. Horton is a minister in the United Reformed Churches of North America and is an accomplished writer whose many books include Christless Christianity and Introducing Covenant Theology.

Dr. Steven J. Lawson is the senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., and serves on the ministerial board for Reformed Theological Seminary and the board of directors for the Master’s College and Seminary. Dr. Lawson has also authored many books including Famine in the Land, Foundations of Grace, and The Expository Genius of John Calvin.

Dr. John MacArthur is pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master’s College and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry, which reaches major population centers across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Philippines, South Africa, and beyond. In addition to hosting the daily radio program, Dr. MacArthur is a prolific author, defending the faith in books including A Tale of Two Sons, The Gospel According to Jesus, and God’s High Calling for Women.

Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. is president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and one of evangelicalism’s leading cultural commentators. He hosts the daily radio show, The Albert Mohler Program, and serves on the board of Focus on the Family and the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Dr. Mohler has also written or contributed to several books including Atheism Remix, Preaching the Cross, and He Is Not Silent. He can be followed on his blog, AlbertMohler Dot Com and on Twitter @albertmohler.

Burk Parsons serves as associate minister at Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he is editor of Tabletalk. He holds the Master of Divinity degree from Reformed Theological Seminary, where he is also completing his Doctor of Ministry degree. He speaks regularly at various conferences and schools in the United States and abroad and has contributed to various books and journals. He is author of the forthcoming booklet Why Do We Have Creeds? (P&R, 2010), and he is editor of the books Assured by God and John Calvin: A Hart for Devotion, Doctrine and Doxology. Follow Burk Parsons on Twitter: @burk_parsons
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Dr. R.C. Sproul is recognized throughout the church for his articulate and winsome proclamation of the holiness of God and other essential doctrines of the Christian faith. As the founder and president of Ligonier Ministries, his teaching can be heard worldwide on the program Renewing Your Mind, which is available on 230 radio outlets in the United States and in fifty countries worldwide. Dr. Sproul also serves as the senior minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and has authored over sixty books including The Holiness of God, The Truth of the Cross, Truths We Confess, and the Lightlings..
Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. is the founder of the Highlands Study Center in Mendota, Va., which seeks to help Christians live more simple, separate, and deliberate lives to the glory of God and for the building of His kingdom. Dr. Sproul travels extensively as a conference speaker and has written several books including Tearing Down Strongholds, When You Rise Up, Bound for Glory, Biblical Economics, and Believing God.

Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas is the John Richards Professor of Practical and Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss. He is also the minister of teaching at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson and editorial director for The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Among Dr. Thomas’ many books are Praying the Saviour’s Way, Mining for Wisdom, and Calvin’s Teaching on Job.

SCHEDULE:

Thu June 17, 2010 – 9:00- 11:55AM, Pre-Conference: Bits, Bytes, Blogs & Bibles
Every day we communicate through various media. From the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press in the fifteenth century to the rise of the internet in the late twentieth century, throughout history societies have invented new forms of media in order to communicate more efficiently. In this Pre-Conference event, Tim Challies, Al Mohler, Burk Parsons, and Ed Stetzer will help equip Christians, young and old, to think biblically about new media and how to use new media for their own purposes, for the edification of the church, and for the kingdom of God. Registration only $5-$15.

Thu, June 17, 3:10-4:10PM – Why Did Jesus Have to Die? – John MacArthur
Many skeptics have argued that the Christian doctrine of the atonement is inherently unjust. How is it just, they say, for an innocent man like Jesus to be punished for the sins of another? Even professing evangelicals have questioned the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, with one going so far as to call it “cosmic child abuse.” In this lecture, Dr. John MacArthur looks at the biblical doctrine of the atonement showing how the righteousness and holiness of God are upheld in it.

Thu, June 17, 5:10 – 6:00PM – Is the Doctrine of Inerrancy Defensible? – Michael Horton

For centuries orthodox Christians have taught that the Holy Scriptures are inerrant. Skeptics, on the other hand, claim that this doctrine is meaningless, saying that the doctrine of inerrancy has died the death of a thousand qualifications. How should Christians respond? In this lecture, Dr. Michael Horton explains what the orthodox Christian doctrine of inerrancy means and shows how and why it remains a defensible part of our confession

Thu, June 17, 8:00-9:00PM – Does the Doctrine of the Divine Decrees… – John MacArthur

Reformed theology teaches that God has ordained whatsoever comes to pass. Critics of Reformed theology argue that this entails a fatalistic worldview in which only God’s will truly exists. They claim that if God decreed or willed the acts of our will, then our will is not real. In this lecture, Dr. John MacArthur explains why the Biblical doctrine of the divine decrees does not eliminate the reality of the human will and does not entail a fatalistic worldview.

Fri, June 18, 8:30-9:30AM – What Is Evil and Where Did It Come From? – R. C. Sproul

Many skeptics have challenged the consistency of the Christian worldview, arguing that evil could not have originated in a universe created by a wholly good God. Therefore, since evil exists, the universe could not have been created by a wholly good God. The challenge is not new, and in this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul explains the Christian response to this age-old challenge.

Fri, June 18, 9:30-10:30 – Why Do Christians Still Sin? – R. C. Sproul, Jr.
All Christians struggle with continuing sin in their lives, and many wonder why. If God answers prayers that are according to His will, and if God’s will is that we do not sin, why doesn’t God grant our request to be free of the struggle with sin? In this lecture, Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. responds to this question in light of redemptive history and the Bible’s teaching on prayer and sanctification.

Fri, June 18, 11:40-12:30 – How Do We Know Which Interpretation is Right? – Derek Thomas

There are many conflicting and mutually exclusive interpretations of Scripture. Skeptics point to this as a reason to reject Christianity’s truth claims, and many Christians who accept the truth of Scripture wonder how they are to know which interpretation is right. In this lecture, Dr. Derek Thomas provides Christians with guidelines to assist them in understanding not only why there are so many interpretations, but also how they are to evaluate and weigh conflicting interpretations.

Fri, Jun 18, 2:30-3:25PM – Is the Bible Just Another Book? – Steven Lawson

One of the most common claims heard today is that the Bible is merely a collection of contradictory human writings with no coherent structure. Even believers sometimes express frustration because they cannot understand how these various writings fit together. They cannot see the “big picture,” and many give up trying to understand Scripture. In this lecture Dr. Steven Lawson will remind Christians of the importance and privilege of knowing Scripture, helping them to grasp the basic content as well as its meaning and significance.

Friday, Jun 18, 4:15-5:15PM – Is the Exclusivity of Christ Unjust? – Alistair Begg
One atheistic website raises the question: “Did the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust go to hell? The obvious implication of such a challenge is that it is unjust to say that only those who place their faith in Christ will be saved. In this lecture, Dr. Alistair Begg explains what the Bible teaches about the exclusivity of Christ and answers the emotionally provocative challenges raised by inclusivists and pluralists.

Sat, June 19, 8:30-9:20AM – Why Does The Universe Look So Old? – Albert Mohler

Many Christians believe that the universe is only 6000 years old. Others say that all observations of God’s creation indicate that it is much older. In this lecture, Dr. Albert Mohler will explain the difference between general and special revelation and the difference between both types of revelation and human interpretations of that revelation. He will also discuss how these facts should inform our approach to questions of science and faith.

Sat, Jun 19, 9:40-10:30AM – Is Calvinism Good For the Church? – Burk Parsons

Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in the theology of John Calvin, but is this necessarily a good thing? Does Calvinism weaken and destroy churches as some contend? Is Reformed theology a hindrance to the church’s life and work? In this message, Burk Parsons will take a look at Reformed theology and explain why Calvin’s view of God, man, sin, Jesus Christ, and salvation are precisely what the church needs in this and every generation

Sat, Jun 19, 11:15-12:05 – If God is Good, How Could He Command Holy War? – Derek Thomas

Numerous skeptics have challenged the goodness of God by pointing to His command in the Old Testament to exterminate the Canaanites, including the women and children. Christians have also wondered how to understand those passages of Scripture. In this lecture, Dr. Derek Thomas explains the meaning of Old Testament Holy War in light of redemptive history, showing that it is fully consistent with the holy and good character of God.

Sat, Jun 19, 12:05-1:00PM – Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell? – R. C. Sproul

Many of the toughest questions Christians face from skeptics involve the doctrine of eternal punishment and hell. But it is not only unbelievers who ask questions about hell. Many Christians have unbelieving loved ones who have died, and they wonder how they can enjoy heaven knowing that their loved ones are in hell. In this lecture,Dr. R.C. Sproul helps Christians understand what the Bible has to say about this deeply troubling question.

Registration Information

Conference Rates

Cost

Regular Rate (April 24th-June 04th 2010)

$149.00

At the door (June 05th-June 19th 2010)

$169.00

Meal Plans are available at the time of registration only and will not be available for purchase on-site.

$69 for meal package includes: Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast, Friday lunch, Friday Dinner, Saturday breakfast, all served with beverages. No a la carte items. Meals must be purchased at time of registration.

Special Discounts: Attendees in the following categories may receive a discount on the Conference Rate:
Pastor (20% off)
Pastor’s Wife (20% off)
Military (20% off)
Full-Time Student (20% off)
Full-Time Teacher (20% off)
Children 17 and under (100% off with paid adult)
Full-time missionary (20% off)