Suffering &
The Sovereignty of God
with
Ligon Duncan
Derek Thomas
David Garner
Brian Cosby
Charles Barrett
October 17–19, 2025
A big thanks to our Sponsors!
Reformation Heritage Books
Ligonier Ministries
Reformed Theological Seminary
Gospel Reformation Network
Schedule
Friday, October 17
5:45pm – Doors Open | Registration, Coffee, & RHB Bookstore
6:30pm – SESSION 1: Dr. Ligon Duncan – “Suffering and the Sovereignty of God”
7:30pm – Q&A Panel: Ligon Duncan, Derek Thomas, Brian Cosby, Charles Barrett
Saturday, October 18
8:00am – Light Breakfast & Coffee in Fellowship Hall
8:30am – RHB Bookstore Open
9:00am – SESSION 2: Dr. Derek Thomas – “Lessons from Job in the School of Affliction”
9:45am – SESSION 3: Dr. Ligon Duncan – “The Suffering Servant: Why Did Christ Suffer?”
10:30am – Break
10:45am – SESSION 4: Dr. Derek Thomas – “Preparing for and Responding to Suffering”
11:45am – Lunch (on your own) & Break
3:30pm – SESSION 5: Dr. Charles Barrett – “Ministering to Sufferers”
4:15pm – Break
4:30pm – SESSION 6: Dr. Brian Cosby – “The Courage to Suffer Persecution”
5:30pm – Dinner (provided in Fellowship Hall)
6:30pm – SESSION 7: Dr. David Garner – “Suffering and Our Longing for Heaven”
7:30pm – Q&A Panel: David Garner, Brian Cosby, Derrick Brite, Charles Barrett
Sunday, October 19
9:00am & 10:45am – Dr. David Garner, preaching
6:00pm – Dr. Allen Hawkins, preaching
SPEAKERS
Ligon Duncan
Ligon Duncan is the Chancellor/CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary and the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology. Dr. Duncan has authored, co-authored, edited or contributed to more than 35 books including, Covenant Theology, When Pain is Real and God Seems Silent, and Does Grace Grow Best in Winter?. A former Moderator of the PCA's General Assembly, he serves on the executive council of the Gospel Reformation Network.
Derek Thomas
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. For many years, Dr. Thomas served as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC. He is the author of many books, including Heaven on Earth, Strength for the Weary, Let Us Worship God, and Calvin's Teaching on Job.
David Garner
Dr. David B. Garner is Chief Academic Officer, Vice President of Global Ministries, and Charles Krahe Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Author and editor of over 100 essays and articles, Dr. Garner is the author of several books, including Sons in the Son, Did God Really Say?, and How Can I Know for Sure? He also serves on the executive council of the Gospel Reformaion Network.
Brian Cosby
Dr. Brian Cosby serves as Senior Pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church on Signal Mountain, TN. He is an adjunct professor of historical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta, and serves on the boards of Covenant Theological Seminary and Beeson Divinity School. He’s a content writer for Ligonier Ministries and author of over a dozen books, including Uncensored: Daring to Embrace the Entire Bible, A Christian's Pocket Guide to Suffering, and Suffering and Sovereignty.
Charles Barrett
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Barrett serves as Associate Pastor of Wayside Presbyterian Church on Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Before coming to Wayside, Chuck served as the Interim President and Professor of Theology at Geneva Reformed Seminary in Greenville. He has written several articles and book chapters, a regular conference speaker and guest preacher, and is Adjunct Professor at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Puritan Reformed Seminary.
The Reformation
Heritage Conference
Each year, Wayside Presbyterian Church sets aside a weekend to focus on our Reformed heritage, stemming from the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. We invite world-class scholars in Reformation history to present a series of lectures for every-day Christians, which are meant to encourage a love for the Scriptures, to foster an appreciation for those who have gone before us, and to cultivate a joy for God through Christ.
In recent years, we've been privileged to have a variety of excellent speakers, including:
