More than 1,000 pastors, church leaders and believers from across 28 countries attended this year’s Ligonier Ministries UK Conference at Westminster Central Hall in the final week of September. Among the countries represented were Canada, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Singapore, South Africa and South Korea.
The overarching topic was “Chosen by God” – His sovereignty, our assurance in Christ, and the call to holiness. Michael Reeves spoke on “The Golden Chain of Redemption” (Romans 8v28-30), emphasising that even when life seems to spin out of control, God remains on the throne of grace. Sinclair Ferguson preached on God’s sovereign mercy (Romans 9v14-24) and that dependence on God’s sovereign choice in salvation “produces not only humility but stability” in the Christian life.
Speaking on “God’s Purpose in Election”, Paul Levy highlighted how Jesus’ words reveal both the mystery and the comfort of divine election, centred on the many Biblical proofs that we, the Church, are a gift from God the Father to His Son (John 17v1-2) and Christ’s promise to keep all whom the Father has given Him (John 6 v37-40). Then, at the end of the gospel age, the Son delivers the kingdom to His Father (1 Corinthians 15v24).
