Quotes by Ligon Duncan
Ligon Duncan (b. 1960) — Theologe, Pastor, Kanzler des Reformed Theological Seminary · Presbyterianisch / Evangelikal-reformiert · USA
J. Ligon Duncan (* 1960) ist ein US-amerikanischer presbyterianischer Theologe, Pastor und Kanzler des Reformed Theological Seminary. Als Mitgründer von Netzwerken wie „Together for the Gospel“ steht er für die klassische reformierte Bundestheologie und das Bekenntnisverständnis der Westminster Confession. Für heutige Bibelleser bietet er eine traditionsbewusste, historisch fundierte Schriftauslegung sowie theologische Orientierung zu Gottesdienst und Gemeindepraxis.
Era: Today
Recurring topics: Church & Congregation, Ethical Questions, Discipleship, Service & Love of Neighbour, God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, Faith & Trust, Grace & Redemption, Meaning & Identity
Quotes by Ligon Duncan
There is a God we want and a God who is, and the two are not the same.
Ligon Duncan
Saying 'Preach the Gospel Daily, use words if necessary' is like saying 'Feed the hungry, use food if necessary.'
Ligon Duncan
We are not the reason the gospel works; the gospel is the reason the gospel works.
Ligon Duncan
Public worship occurs when the people of God assemble for the express purpose of giving to the Lord the glory due His name and enjoying the joy of His promised special presence with His own people.
Ligon Duncan
I couldn't give you a count of the number of single women I have in our congregation that are serving in very significant ways in the community. Our desire is for them to live all of life to the glory of God whether God calls them to be a wife or a mother or not.
Ligon Duncan
There are two ways to commit idolatry. You can worship something other than the one true God, that’s way one. There is another way as well. You can worship the one true God by some other means than those that He has appointed.
Ligon Duncan
What will a church look like that is committed to the ordinary means of grace? It will be characterized by love for expository preaching, passion for worship, delight in truth, embrace of the Gospel, the Spirit’s work of conversion, a life of godliness; robust family religion; biblical evangelism; biblical discipleship, biblical church membership, mutual accountability in the church, biblical church leadership, and a desire to be a blessing to the nations. Along with this all, there will be an unapologetic, humble, and joyful celebration of the transcendent sovereignty of the one, true, triune God in salvation and all things.
Ligon Duncan
The complementarian position acknowledges that God created men and women equal in being but assigned different-but equally valuable-functions in His kingdom and that this gender distinctiveness complements, or harmonizes, to fulfill His purpose.
Ligon Duncan
Abram, having failed in Genesis 13, comes through with flying colors in this battle of faith because he aligns himself with God, and he refuses to allow his heart to be compromised by the possibility of taking the riches that this world can offer.
Ligon Duncan
To take up God’s name in vain means any frivolous, or insincere, or thoughtless, or unsubstantial use of His name. It might mean irreverent humor which mocks God in speech, or mocks others with His name. It might be blasphemy or cursing or a broken oath, but it means more than that. It could mean professing faith in Christ, and claiming to be a Christian, and receiving baptism, and yet walking in worldliness.
Ligon Duncan
If we want to benefit most from our suffering, by prayer and meditation, we will approach our suffering as a good soldier approaches war. What do I mean by that? A good soldier who has trained and trained is not surprised when he fins himself in war! He has been trained for it. Likewise, consider it your Job to be be prepared to suffer. That puts a whole different cast on Sunday morning, doesn't it? You are gathering with God's people Lord's Day after Lord's Day to train as good soldiers of Jesus Christ so that when your time of trial and testing sand suffering comes, you will be ready.
Ligon Duncan
They may seem weak in the eyes of the worldly strong. They may seem foolish in the eyes of the worldly wise. But the Gospel message is the power of God unto salvation, and the Gospel means are effectual to salvation. These are the Spiritual instruments given by God with which Christian congregational Spiritual life is nurtured, the Spirit’s tools of grace and growth in grace appointed by God in the Bible.
Ligon Duncan
The only reliable motive for encouraging women's ministry in the local church is an insatiable longing to see the display of God’s glory in the local church.
Ligon Duncan
Whenever the creation order is inverted, there is disorder, destruction, and death. When we tamper with this order, even a little, we become life-takers rather than life-givers.
Ligon Duncan
The kingdom order of male headship liberates women to fulfill their redemptive function. From the world’s perspective, submission restrains women. From a gospel perspective, submission frees us to do what we have been created and redeemed to do.
Ligon Duncan
A husband should be the first recipient of a woman's capacity to show compassion and nourish community. If a woman bypasses her marriage, every other ministry will be polluted.
Ligon Duncan
When a church has a biblical apologetic for womanhood, the foundational concepts of woman's helper design and life-giving mission can permeate the women’s ministry. Whether that ministry is small and informal or large and well-organized, it can be perpetually and intentionally guided by three questions: • Are we being helpers or hinderers? • Are we being life-givers or life-takers? • Are we equipping women to be helpers and life-givers?
Ligon Duncan
Scores of evangelical women are functional feminists, because the world’s paradigm for womanhood is the only one they have heard. The church should lead the way in equipping God’s people to think biblically about all of life, including a biblical perspective of gender roles and relationships.
Ligon Duncan
Without a proper esteem and love for Christ Himself, and an understanding of His covenant love for His church, we will lack the motive-force to serve Him in the world. If our ultimate motivation for service to God is simply because we love people, we will never be able to sustain the call to service that God has given to us because the very people we are called to serve will break our hearts. It is only the grace of Christ that enables us to persevere.
Ligon Duncan
Sources: churchleaders.com, thegospelcoalition.org, baptistnews.com, protestia.com
All quotes · lumen.bible