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R. C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith
R.C. Defender of the Reformed Faith traces the five decades of R.C.’s public ministry, observing a thematic connection to the five solas of the Reformation. While much has already been written, with much more to come, this book takes a unique look at R.C. Sproul as doctrinal defender. In a cultural climate where doctrinal disagreements can easily descend into personal attacks and division, R.C. models the utmost care for doctrinal precision without sacrificing the love and grace needed to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Even after his passing, R.C. still has much to teach us about what it means to contend earnestly for the faith.
Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2022
108 people want to read
About the author
Nate Pickowicz
27 books52 followersNate Pickowicz (B.A., Muhlenberg College, M.A., Trinity Theological Seminary) is the pastor/planter of Harvest Bible Church in Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire. He also writes for EntreatingFavor.com and Servantsofgrace.org. He and his wife, Jessica, have two children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 6, 2022
My personal life and public ministry have been profoundly impacted by the ministry of the late, great R.C. Sproul.
His speaking, writing and mobilizing of ministry resources impacted the English-speaking evangelical world with a big God theology that was warm and inviting.
Nate Pickowicz introduces readers to the life and legacy of Sproul through the rubric of the five solas of the Reformation, giving a theological and personal look at this faithful Gospel minister that doesn't fall pray to hagiography while maintaining a posture of honour towards this wonderful servant of God.
His speaking, writing and mobilizing of ministry resources impacted the English-speaking evangelical world with a big God theology that was warm and inviting.
Nate Pickowicz introduces readers to the life and legacy of Sproul through the rubric of the five solas of the Reformation, giving a theological and personal look at this faithful Gospel minister that doesn't fall pray to hagiography while maintaining a posture of honour towards this wonderful servant of God.
March 25, 2022
Dr. R.C. Sproul was a theological titan, teacher, preacher, and defender of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He articulated the deep realities of the gospel in simple terms and invited anyone with ears to hear to come along for the ride. R.C. urged us to memorize Luther’s famous line that “justification is the article upon which the church stands or falls.” Nate Pickowicz captures the essence of Sproul’s life and legacy in his outstanding book, R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith.
Pickowicz beautifully summarizes Sproul’s life, theological commitments, and accomplishments in a short readable volume. Readers unfamiliar with R.C. Sproul will be implored to get busy reading; those who followed Sproul’s ministry will be drawn in, challenged intellectually, and moved deeply in the heart.
I urge followers of Christ to read and reflect on R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith.
Pickowicz beautifully summarizes Sproul’s life, theological commitments, and accomplishments in a short readable volume. Readers unfamiliar with R.C. Sproul will be implored to get busy reading; those who followed Sproul’s ministry will be drawn in, challenged intellectually, and moved deeply in the heart.
I urge followers of Christ to read and reflect on R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith.
January 9, 2023
Such a great book about a great man used for the glory of a greater God. If you have been influenced by RC's ministry, this is an absolute must read. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Get at it, staring with The Holiness of God then Chosen By God.
December 24, 2024
First read in December 2022. Re-Read in December 2024.
RC was one of my theological heroes. His theological precision, pastoral warmth, and clear communication were a potent combination for my formative years and continue to inspire me today.
In this short book, Pickowicz outlines Dr. Sproul’s life according to the 5 Sola’s of the Reformation. He shows how in various ways, RC’s life was marked by the articulation and defense of these doctrines in very public and influential ways.
Reading through this work was a great reminder of how God used RC in my life. It was also a reminder of pivotal themes I learned from Dr. Sproul like submission to the authority of Scripture, reverence for the holiness of God, living all of life coram Deo, and being willing to defend the faith with precision and clarity — despite the personal costs that may come.
I am forever grateful to the ministry of Dr. RC Sproul. For that reason, I am grateful for this biography that so well captures and distills his life and influence.
RC was one of my theological heroes. His theological precision, pastoral warmth, and clear communication were a potent combination for my formative years and continue to inspire me today.
In this short book, Pickowicz outlines Dr. Sproul’s life according to the 5 Sola’s of the Reformation. He shows how in various ways, RC’s life was marked by the articulation and defense of these doctrines in very public and influential ways.
Reading through this work was a great reminder of how God used RC in my life. It was also a reminder of pivotal themes I learned from Dr. Sproul like submission to the authority of Scripture, reverence for the holiness of God, living all of life coram Deo, and being willing to defend the faith with precision and clarity — despite the personal costs that may come.
I am forever grateful to the ministry of Dr. RC Sproul. For that reason, I am grateful for this biography that so well captures and distills his life and influence.
March 29, 2022
In this warmly written and concise biography of R.C. Sproul, pastor and author Nate Pickowicz shares an appreciation that many of us have for the life and ministry of R.C. Sproul, who went home to be with the Lord in December, 2017. He writes that Sproul’s five decades of ministry loosely reflected the five solas of the Reformation.
The author focuses primarily on Sproul’s public ministry, quoting liberally from Sproul’s books and on his defense of the faith. Each chapter begins with a quote from Sproul.
The author’s fast-moving biography tells us that Sproul knew at 13 years of age that he would marry Vesta Voorhis. They would marry in 1960. He writes of Sproul’s father’s multiple strokes and death, telling us that it would be his father’s suffering that would drive him into the arms of the Suffering Savior, writing about his conversion in his dormitory room in 1957.
We read about Sproul’s mentors, Dr. Thomas Gregory and Dr. John Gerstner, the latter of which he would meet at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. It would take five years of personal struggle before Sproul came to understand and embrace the doctrines of grace.
Gerstner convinced Sproul to study at the Free University of Amsterdam, even though he did not know the Dutch language. In 1965, Sproul was ordained at his childhood church, Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church, into the United Presbyterian Church in the USA (UPCUSA) in 1965. Later that year, he would teach at his alma mater, Westminster College, before being appointed to the position of assistant professor of philosophical theology at Conwell Theological Seminary, located on the campus of Temple University. In 1969, Sproul accepted a call for pastoral ministry to College Hill Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.
In 1971, Sproul began the Ligonier Valley Study Center on fifty-two acres of wooded land, donated by Mrs. Dora Hillman. The Study Center was modeled loosely after Francis Schaeffer’s L ’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. Christian students traveled to the Study Center from all over the world, oftentimes in groups. Early on, Sproul’s lectures were recorded on audio tape, and began circulating around the country. In 1974 the lectures began being videotaped.
The author writes about R.C.’s many books, beginning with his 1973 book The Symbol: An Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed. Tabletalk magazine was first published in 1977.
With the UPCUSA becoming more and more liberal, Sproul would end his affiliation with that denomination and begin his affiliation with the new Presbyterian Church in American (PCA).
The author takes us through Sproul’s work in the battle for the inerrancy of the Bible, which included the launching of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI) and the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy”.
The author tells us that more than anything else, Sproul wanted people to understand who God is, and would give his life to that end.
The Ligonier Valley Study Center would become Ligonier Ministries and move from Pennsylvania to Orlando in 1984. The author writes that from the beginning of his work at Ligonier, Sproul believed that one major purpose of the ministry was to help Christians know what they believe and why they believe it. Of all theological topics, the study of God seemed to captivate his mind the most.
We read that Sproul first taught on the holiness of God while he was pastoring in Cincinnati. He refined the lectures at the Study Center, putting it in a video series, and eventually in book form in 1985, under the title of The Holiness of God. The book would go on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies and serve as a marker of Sproul’s ministry.
Sproul would teach at Reformed Theological Seminary for fifteen years, and Ligonier would host their first National Conference in 1988. The Renewing Your Mind radio program was launched in 1994, and the New Geneva Study Bible (now known as the Reformation Study Bible), was published in 1995.
The author spends a good deal of time writing about the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT) document, which two of Sproul’s close friends in ministry – Chuck Colson and J.I. Packer were involved with. Sproul wrote “I cannot think of anything that has come remotely close to distressing to the depths of my soul as much as this document has distressed me.” Sproul’s friendship with Colson and Packer suffered, never to be fully restored to their pre-ECT state, and neither ever spoke at a Ligonier conference again. In 1995, Sproul would publish Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification as a response to ECT.
In 1997, several friends asked R.C. if he would consider starting a church and serving as the pastor. After much prayer, Sproul accepted the call, and Saint Andrews Chapel was founded in Sanford, Florida. In twenty years of pulpit ministry, Sproul preached through eleven complete books of the New Testament.
In 2011, Reformation Bible College opened with fifty students in the inaugural class. Sproul would later partner with composer Jeff Lippencott for two albums of hymns - Glory to the Holy One in 2015 and Saints of Zion in 2017.
Succession planning for Ligonier resulted in the appointment of Teaching Fellows, who have carried on the ministry of Dr. Sproul, who died on December 14, 2017.
In writing of Sproul’s legacy, the author tells us that he had a John Calvin mind with a Billy Graham reach. In sharing three virtues which characterized R.C. as a defender of the Reformed faith, the author tells us that Sproul:
1. Was committed to theological precision and accuracy.
2. Demonstrated grace and kindness to others.
3. Was bold and courageous.
R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith is a well-researched and written introduction to the life and ministry of R.C. Sproul, and a good companion to Stephen Nichols’ 2021 book R.C. Sproul: A Life. I highly recommend both books.
The author focuses primarily on Sproul’s public ministry, quoting liberally from Sproul’s books and on his defense of the faith. Each chapter begins with a quote from Sproul.
The author’s fast-moving biography tells us that Sproul knew at 13 years of age that he would marry Vesta Voorhis. They would marry in 1960. He writes of Sproul’s father’s multiple strokes and death, telling us that it would be his father’s suffering that would drive him into the arms of the Suffering Savior, writing about his conversion in his dormitory room in 1957.
We read about Sproul’s mentors, Dr. Thomas Gregory and Dr. John Gerstner, the latter of which he would meet at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. It would take five years of personal struggle before Sproul came to understand and embrace the doctrines of grace.
Gerstner convinced Sproul to study at the Free University of Amsterdam, even though he did not know the Dutch language. In 1965, Sproul was ordained at his childhood church, Pleasant Hills Community Presbyterian Church, into the United Presbyterian Church in the USA (UPCUSA) in 1965. Later that year, he would teach at his alma mater, Westminster College, before being appointed to the position of assistant professor of philosophical theology at Conwell Theological Seminary, located on the campus of Temple University. In 1969, Sproul accepted a call for pastoral ministry to College Hill Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.
In 1971, Sproul began the Ligonier Valley Study Center on fifty-two acres of wooded land, donated by Mrs. Dora Hillman. The Study Center was modeled loosely after Francis Schaeffer’s L ’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland. Christian students traveled to the Study Center from all over the world, oftentimes in groups. Early on, Sproul’s lectures were recorded on audio tape, and began circulating around the country. In 1974 the lectures began being videotaped.
The author writes about R.C.’s many books, beginning with his 1973 book The Symbol: An Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed. Tabletalk magazine was first published in 1977.
With the UPCUSA becoming more and more liberal, Sproul would end his affiliation with that denomination and begin his affiliation with the new Presbyterian Church in American (PCA).
The author takes us through Sproul’s work in the battle for the inerrancy of the Bible, which included the launching of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI) and the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy”.
The author tells us that more than anything else, Sproul wanted people to understand who God is, and would give his life to that end.
The Ligonier Valley Study Center would become Ligonier Ministries and move from Pennsylvania to Orlando in 1984. The author writes that from the beginning of his work at Ligonier, Sproul believed that one major purpose of the ministry was to help Christians know what they believe and why they believe it. Of all theological topics, the study of God seemed to captivate his mind the most.
We read that Sproul first taught on the holiness of God while he was pastoring in Cincinnati. He refined the lectures at the Study Center, putting it in a video series, and eventually in book form in 1985, under the title of The Holiness of God. The book would go on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies and serve as a marker of Sproul’s ministry.
Sproul would teach at Reformed Theological Seminary for fifteen years, and Ligonier would host their first National Conference in 1988. The Renewing Your Mind radio program was launched in 1994, and the New Geneva Study Bible (now known as the Reformation Study Bible), was published in 1995.
The author spends a good deal of time writing about the “Evangelicals and Catholics Together” (ECT) document, which two of Sproul’s close friends in ministry – Chuck Colson and J.I. Packer were involved with. Sproul wrote “I cannot think of anything that has come remotely close to distressing to the depths of my soul as much as this document has distressed me.” Sproul’s friendship with Colson and Packer suffered, never to be fully restored to their pre-ECT state, and neither ever spoke at a Ligonier conference again. In 1995, Sproul would publish Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification as a response to ECT.
In 1997, several friends asked R.C. if he would consider starting a church and serving as the pastor. After much prayer, Sproul accepted the call, and Saint Andrews Chapel was founded in Sanford, Florida. In twenty years of pulpit ministry, Sproul preached through eleven complete books of the New Testament.
In 2011, Reformation Bible College opened with fifty students in the inaugural class. Sproul would later partner with composer Jeff Lippencott for two albums of hymns - Glory to the Holy One in 2015 and Saints of Zion in 2017.
Succession planning for Ligonier resulted in the appointment of Teaching Fellows, who have carried on the ministry of Dr. Sproul, who died on December 14, 2017.
In writing of Sproul’s legacy, the author tells us that he had a John Calvin mind with a Billy Graham reach. In sharing three virtues which characterized R.C. as a defender of the Reformed faith, the author tells us that Sproul:
1. Was committed to theological precision and accuracy.
2. Demonstrated grace and kindness to others.
3. Was bold and courageous.
R.C. Sproul: Defender of the Reformed Faith is a well-researched and written introduction to the life and ministry of R.C. Sproul, and a good companion to Stephen Nichols’ 2021 book R.C. Sproul: A Life. I highly recommend both books.
March 27, 2022
I was privileged to have had Dr. Sproul as my pastor. It is a joy to help carry on his legacy as I serve at the Bible college he founded. This book was helpful and encouraging. I commend it to you. Read everything you can by R. C. Sproul. He was a mighty battlefield theologian and a kind, gracious man…a rare combination in our day.
June 3, 2022
An enjoyable read. Much of it was review, as I had already read “R. C. Sproul: A Life” by Nichols. There wasn’t much in this book that wasn’t in that. I also prefer the style of Nichols over Pickowicz, but that’s not to disparage the latter. It was well-written. This book focused more on Sproul’s defense of orthodoxy throughout his years. So it was narrower in focus and shorter than Nichols’s. Overall I’d recommend it for anyone new to Sproul, but if you’ve already read Nichols, you’re not getting much more here.
December 14, 2022
Sproul was a stalwart for the faith in such a bold yet relatable way. This short read complements Stephen Nichols' "R.C. Sproul: A Life" quite well. Much is the same, but Pickowicz also provides new insights into R.C.'s life that are absent in Nichols' longer work. Overall, this was simply a pleasure to devour.
July 27, 2025
Everyone should know the life of R.C. Sproul, the greatest theologian of our generation. He made the glories and depth of reformed theology accessible to all, and I pray his influence on the church only grows the further we get from his life and death. This book is a well-written, theologically-packed biography. Very much worth reading.
February 19, 2023
This book gave such great insight into a man who kept the faith and ran the race well. He was so intelligent and was such an asset in what we all gained by reading his books, listening to his audios and watching his DVDs. We have lost a great man when he passed away, but he is enjoying glory now.
November 21, 2022
Beautiful and concise synopsis of Sproul's ministry- I love that it stayed on the topic of his ministry. As a young pastor's wife, it encouraged me to see Sproul unmoved by the culture but continually moved by the Gospel.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews