Podcast Summary: "Renewed Day by Day"

Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Date: December 26, 2025
Episode Theme: Spiritual Renewal, Grace vs. Self-Effort, and Living in Light of the Eternal

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt year-end episode, Sinclair B. Ferguson reflects on the central theme of spiritual renewal and the Christian journey of living by faith rather than sight. He draws on personal memories, Scripture, and key doctrinal truths to encourage listeners to embrace God’s grace, look beyond self-effort, and fix their eyes on eternal realities—inviting his audience to carry these lessons into the new year. The episode is a retrospective as well as a charge for continuing spiritual growth, with Ferguson expressing deep gratitude for the listeners and the Ligonier team as the podcast concludes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gratitude and Reflection on the Podcast Journey

[00:08]

• Ferguson opens the episode with warmth, expressing thanks to both Ligonier staff and listeners.
• He recalls the diversity of themes explored on the podcast – doctrinal, theological, pastoral, and personal.
• Acknowledges the varied relevance to different listeners:
  “Not all podcasts are equal…some of these themes will have been more helpful to us than others. And that's true of me too.”

2. The Passage of Time and the Importance of ‘Redeeming the Time’

[01:20]

• As the year comes to a close, Ferguson urges listeners to take seriously Paul’s encouragement in Ephesians 5:16 – to "redeem the time" or "make the best of the time".
• He shares a childhood memory: being asked by his parents to write 10 New Year’s resolutions, humorously noting the challenge of coming up with all ten.
• This leads to a reflection on self-knowledge and personal growth.

3. The Limits of Self-Improvement and Power of Grace

[03:05]

• Ferguson contrasts his moral upbringing with the transformative power of the gospel, confessing, “My life would be transformed not first by laws that told me where I needed to change, but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ actually transforming me.”
• Emphasizes that true change isn’t about ticking off resolutions, but about experiencing and relying on grace.

4. Grace at the Heart of Christian Living

[04:15]

• Returns to the prevailing theme: “We don't get God's grace by what we try to do. It's God's grace that transforms all we do.”
• Clarifies that Christians are not accepted by Jesus because of their efforts or attempts to follow his example, but rather as a consequence of recognizing their spiritual need and trusting wholly in Christ’s work.

5. The Gospel and the Work of the Spirit

[05:17]

• Expounds on Romans 8:3-4 to explain how the law points to our inability and Christ’s sufficiency:
  • Christ accomplished what the law could not, bearing our sins and enabling us to fulfill God’s righteous requirements by the Spirit.
• God’s law becomes a “light on our path,” and like “tracks on which a train runs,” is no longer crushing but empowering.

6. Living for God’s Glory and the Ultimate Goal

[06:05]

• Cites the Westminster Shorter Catechism, underscoring that the purpose of the Christian life is to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.”
• Encourages listeners to let Jesus “mean more and more to us as we go on in the Christian life.”

7. Closing with Scripture and Encouragement

[06:37]

• Ends with the uplifting words of Paul from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

  “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

• Prays for continued blessing and bids the audience a heartfelt farewell.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gratitude and Perspective:
  “Not all podcasts are equal…some of these themes will have been more helpful to us than others. And that's true of me too.” — Sinclair B. Ferguson [00:55]

• On Self-Effort vs. Grace:
  “My life would be transformed not first by laws that told me where I needed to change, but by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ actually transforming me.” — Sinclair B. Ferguson [03:30]

• On the Foundation of Christian Living:
  “We don't get God's grace by what we try to do. It's God's grace that transforms all we do.” — Sinclair B. Ferguson [04:17]

• Scriptural Encouragement:
  “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day...” — Paul, as quoted by Sinclair B. Ferguson [06:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:08] Gratitude to listeners and Ligonier staff; reflections on the year
• [01:20] The new year and redeeming the time; childhood resolutions memory
• [03:05] Reflection on self-improvement vs. gospel transformation
• [04:15] Emphasis on grace as the foundation of Christian life
• [05:17] Romans 8 and the Spirit enabling obedience
• [06:05] The goal: glorifying and enjoying God
• [06:37] Closing encouragement from 2 Corinthians 4 and final sign-off

Final Thoughts

Sinclair B. Ferguson’s closing episode is both a celebration and a distillation of the most vital truths of the Christian journey: that renewal comes not through our own striving, but through embracing the grace and sufficiency of Christ. As listeners step into a new year, the call is to fix their eyes not on the fleeting and visible, but on the eternal and unseen—trusting that, by God’s Spirit, they are being renewed day by day.