The Godless City: Vanity Fair

While some dangers in the Christian life are easy to spot, others are subtle and insidious. Today, Derek Thomas considers the seductive temptations of Vanity Fair in The Pilgrim's Progress. For your donation of any amount, receive The Pilgrim's Progress book by John Bunyan, together with Derek Thomas' video teaching series on DVD. You'll also get lifetime digital access to this 19-message series and its study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4401/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series and study guide with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   Derek Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor's Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

During difficult times, Christians can be vulnerable to temptation and doubt. Today, Derek Thomas brings encouragement from The Pilgrim's Progress, the classic book by John Bunyan: God will not desert His people. For your donation of any amount, receive The Pilgrim's Progress book by John Bunyan, together with Derek Thomas' video teaching series on DVD. You'll also get lifetime digital access to this 19-message series and its study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4401/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series and study guide with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   Derek Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor's Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Sin still influences our choices as Christians. Yet we can have hope to overcome. From his exposition of the book of Romans, today R.C. Sproul lays out principles for gaining victory against indwelling sin. Request R.C. Sproul's commentary on the book of Romans with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4345/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the Romans commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Before you pray, there are a few things you need to remember. Today, R.C. Sproul helps us understand several simple yet critical elements of God-honoring prayer. With your donation of an amount, request The Valley of Vision, a book of Puritan prayers to help enrich your own prayer life. You'll also get digital access to R.C. Sproul's video teaching series Prayer and the accompanying study guide: Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the digital teaching series and study guide with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Join us at one of our upcoming Renewing Your Mind Live events: http://renewingyourmind.org/events    Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Romans 3:28 teaches that we're justified by faith apart from works. But James 2:26 says faith apart from works is dead. Can these passages be reconciled? Today, R.C. Sproul explains the relationship between faith and good works. Get a Reformation resource bundle with your donation of any amount: The Legacy of Luther book, R.C. Sproul's teaching series Luther and the Reformation (DVD plus digital messages and study guide), and his Justified by Faith Alone teaching series (digital messages and study guide): https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4343/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request The Legacy of Luther ebook, the digital teaching series and study guide for Luther and the Reformation, and the digital teaching series and study guide for Justified by Faith Alone: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Gather with Christians around God's Word at one of Ligonier's events: https://www.ligonier.org/events Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

No pope or church council can bind the conscience absolutely. Only the Word of God can. Today, R.C. Sproul explores what led Martin Luther to take his courageous stand for the authority of Scripture at the Diet of Worms. Get a Reformation resource bundle with your donation of any amount: The Legacy of Luther book, R.C. Sproul's teaching series Luther and the Reformation (DVD plus digital messages and study guide), and his Justified by Faith Alone teaching series (digital messages and study guide): https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4343/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request The Legacy of Luther ebook, the digital teaching series and study guide for Luther and the Reformation, and the digital teaching series and study guide for Justified by Faith Alone: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

What motivated Martin Luther's unwavering defense of justification by faith alone? A life-changing encounter with the book of Romans. Today, R.C. Sproul describes how Luther came to understand the gospel for the first time. Get a Reformation resource bundle with your donation of any amount: The Legacy of Luther book, R.C. Sproul's teaching series Luther and the Reformation (DVD plus digital messages and study guide), and his Justified by Faith Alone teaching series (digital messages and study guide): https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4343/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request The Legacy of Luther ebook, the digital teaching series and study guide for Luther and the Reformation, and the digital teaching series and study guide for Justified by Faith Alone: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Join us at one of our upcoming Renewing Your Mind Live events: http://renewingyourmind.org/events  Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

During his days in the monastery, Martin Luther wrestled with how he could be justified before God as a sinful man. Today, R.C. Sproul explains Luther's desperate struggle to reconcile his guilt with the holiness of God. Get a Reformation resource bundle with your donation of any amount: The Legacy of Luther book, R.C. Sproul's teaching series Luther and the Reformation (DVD plus digital messages and study guide), and his Justified by Faith Alone teaching series (digital messages and study guide): https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4343/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request The Legacy of Luther ebook, the digital teaching series and study guide for Luther and the Reformation, and the digital teaching series and study guide for Justified by Faith Alone: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Travel with Ligonier Ministries on an upcoming study tour or study cruise: https://www.ligoniertours.com/ Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

How did a lightning bolt help spark the Protestant Reformation? Today, R.C. Sproul takes us back to 1505, when Martin Luther experienced a life-changing crisis of faith. Get a Reformation resource bundle with your donation of any amount: The Legacy of Luther book, R.C. Sproul's teaching series Luther and the Reformation (DVD plus digital messages and study guide), and his Justified by Faith Alone teaching series (digital messages and study guide): https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4343/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request The Legacy of Luther ebook, the digital teaching series and study guide for Luther and the Reformation, and the digital teaching series and study guide for Justified by Faith Alone: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Join us at one of our upcoming Renewing Your Mind Live events: http://renewingyourmind.org/events  Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Where can Christians turn for help when our ongoing battle against indwelling sin leaves us exasperated? From his exposition of the book of Romans, today R.C. Sproul offers needed counsel, encouraging us not to despair in our struggle with the flesh. Request R.C. Sproul's commentary on the book of Romans with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4345/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Request the Romans commentary ebook with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts