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Legacies of Light
About This Series:
The word of God is filled with biography – one character after another, parading across the stage of redemptive history. It’s quite obvious that God loves to teach lasting lessons through the lives of individuals. With that in mind, Stephen has undertaken a special biographical series, illustrating biblical truths through the lives of contemporary believers – men and women who provide for us a wonderful legacy of light.
Sermons In This Series
Amy Carmichael
Throughout her life, Carmichael remained committed to her faith and her calling to serve others, and she left a lasting impact on the people of India and beyond. She is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated her life to helping others.
A. W. Tozer
Few men have magnified the Church's perspective of God's holiness and utter transcendence like A.W. Tozer. His deepest desire was to see the glory of God, and his words still radiate from the vision. Throughout his life, Tozer remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve God and others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today.
Susanna Wesley
The pervasive ministry of John and Charles Wesley is a direct result of the private ministry of their mother, Susanna. Her home was her mission field; but her legacy reaches worldwide. Susanna Wesley's influence on her children and the larger Christian community was significant. She played a key role in shaping the religious views and values of her children, and her hymns continue to inspire and encourage people today. She is remembered as a devoted mother, a talented hymnwriter, and a deeply spiritual woman who dedicated her life to serving God and others.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers alleviated so much of the so-called mystery of God's Will by offering believers a simple proposition for life: just trust God. Throughout his life, Chambers remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve God and others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today.
Adoniram Judson
Few missionaries in history ever suffered as much as Adoniram Judson, but that is also why few have left such a profound legacy. His biography is one of those rare stories that captivates like a grand novel but convicts like a great revival. Throughout his life, Judson remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in Burma and around the world. He is remembered as a pioneer of American missions and an inspiration to all who seek to serve God and others.
Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby is known for 2 things: her blindness and her remarkable hymns. But understanding how she endured her blindness and why she spent the latter part of her life writing hymns is where her real legacy is found. Throughout her life, Crosby remained deeply committed to her faith and her calling to serve others. She is remembered as a talented hymnwriter and a deeply spiritual woman who inspired and encouraged countless people with her words and her life. Her legacy lives on through her hymns, which continue to be sung in churches around the world.
Jim and Elisabeth Elliott
He was the model of sacrifice and she was the model of forgiveness. Together, they reminded the Church that while the cost of discipleship is great . . . the reward is far greater. Throughout their lives, Jim and Elizabeth Elliott remained deeply committed to their faith and their calling to serve others. Their legacy lives on through the many lives they touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in Ecuador and around the world. They are remembered as courageous and selfless missionaries who dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel and serving others.
John Newton
It's often been said that God brings us to the breaking point so that we can see our need for Him, and that was certainly the case with this slave-trader turned Pastor known as John Newton. His beloved and inspired hymn, "Amazing Grace," is merely a personal recounting of his own astonishing conversion. Throughout his life, Newton remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a talented hymnwriter and a deeply spiritual man who inspired and encouraged countless people with his words and his life. His legacy lives on through his hymns, which continue to be sung in churches around the world.
Hudson Taylor
Have you ever witnessed a riot in the parking lot of your church or been threatened by an angry mob of civilians? For us, that would be extreme persecution. For Hudson Taylor, that was just another day at the office! Throughout his life, Taylor remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a courageous and selfless missionary who dedicated his life to spreading the Gospel and serving others. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in China and around the world.
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon isn't called the Prince of Preachers because of his uncanny way with words. He's called that because of his undeniable dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Throughout his ministry and life, Spurgeon never got very far from that verse which arrested his attention and brought salvation to his soul. He had looked to Christ and acceptance by Christ had become his theme throughout his life. Stephen explores the lesson we can learn from his life in this message. Throughout his life, Spurgeon remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader and his legacy lives on through his writings, which continue to be widely read and studied today. He is also remembered for his commitment to social justice and his efforts to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized in society.
George Mueller
Jesus promised in Matthew 6 that our Heavenly Father will daily supply our needs, and the legacy of George Mueller is simply that he took Christ seriously. As a result, his life literally became a stage whereon God constantly displayed His faithfulness both in great and small ways. Throughout his life, Mueller remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a compassionate and selfless Christian leader who dedicated his life to helping those in need and spreading the Gospel. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of orphanages and other charitable organizations around the world.
David and Svea Flood
Of all the amazing biographies Stephen brings us in his "Legacies of Light" series, perhaps none will pull on your heartstrings like this testimony of faith. It's a story of a woman's endurance, a man's despair, and a Savior's incredible mercy. Meet David and Svea Flood. Throughout their lives, David and Svea Flood remained deeply committed to their faith and their calling to serve others. They are remembered as courageous and selfless missionaries who dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel and serving others. Their legacy lives on through the many lives they touched and the ongoing work of missionaries in India and around the world.
William Cowper
William Cowper struggled with despair and depression often throughout his life, but through each dark period God still moved and brought him back to the truths of scripture. The Apostle Paul’s words, Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, in Romans 3:24 is one verse that God used powerfully in Cowper’s life to remind him about the gift of salvation and Christ’s payment given to him through faith. These rich truths saw Cowper through the desperation life brought and inspired him to compose beautiful poetry reflecting the glory and praise of the Lord that live on to this day. Throughout his life, Cowper remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a talented hymnwriter and a deeply spiritual man who inspired and encouraged countless people with his words and his life. His legacy lives on through his hymns and poems, which continue to be widely read and studied today.
Katharina Luther
There is a contemporary saying that behind every great man is a great woman. Reviewing the life of Martin and Katharina Luther seems to prove this statement true. Living in the 16th century, this monk and nun broke many of the church-produced rules in favor of obedience to God and His Word. Their committed marriage was an example of humble ministry that impacted the church during the time of the Reformation and continues to serve as an example of faithfulness to this day. Throughout her life, Katharina remained deeply committed to her faith and her calling to serve others. She is remembered as a devoted wife and mother, and a deeply spiritual woman who inspired and encouraged countless people with her words and her life. Her legacy lives on through the many lives she touched and the ongoing work of the Lutheran Church.
E. V. Hill & S. M. Lockridge
E.V. Hill and S.M. Lockridge lived their lives in ways we should imitate today. What mattered to them was the gospel of Christ. What motivated them was the approval of Christ. What mesmerized them was the glory of Christ. Indeed, their dedication to truth and their love for God is worthy of imitation. Throughout their lives, E. V. Hill and S. M. Lockridge remained deeply committed to their faith and their calling to serve others. They are remembered as powerful and influential Christian leaders who inspired and encouraged countless people with their words and their lives. Their legacy lives on through the many lives they touched and the ongoing work of the Church.
Viggo Olsen
God is capable enough and wise enough to both design a universe to work according to His purpose and direct your steps. Eventually, His guidance will lead you all the way home. Viggo Olsen is an example of a life guided by the Lord; through a challenge to investigate Christianity from his wife’s parents, Olsen wrestled through his findings and his agnostic belief system to ultimately discover the truth of God and a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout his life, Olsen remained deeply committed to his faith and his calling to serve others. He is remembered as a powerful and influential Christian leader who inspired and encouraged countless people with his words and his life. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the ongoing work of evangelism and mission around the world.