From The Archives

At the age of twenty-seven, Martyn Lloyd-Jones left his career as a doctor to begin his new life as a preacher. Over the next five decades, his bold proclamation of the Gospel led him to become one of the most influential preachers of the twentieth century. Alistair Begg shares his reflections on Lloyd-Jones’s life and beliefs, encouraging us to first preach to ourselves before preaching to others.

Topics: From the Archives

In a frantic and frenzied world, we all long for contentment, for peace. And yet, as Alistair points out, “contentment in the twenty-first century is a rarity.” He explains,

Topics: From the Archives

When hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, or other disasters occur, we tend to think that God has fallen asleep on the job. Why would He let something like this happen? This timeless question finds its answer in God‘s providential and loving care. This is a God who plants His footsteps in the sea, and the winds and the waves obey Him. This message was given in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but an understanding that God has loving reasons for all such events helps us rise above the storm, setting our minds and hearts on solid ground.

Topics: From the Archives

We all have memory problems: we forget what we should remember, but dwell on what is best forgotten. In this study of Joshua 3 and 4, Alistair Begg explains that God often gives His people memorials as reminders of His faithfulness and provision. Like the Israelites who built a memorial from the stones of the Jordan River, God's people in every generation must take care to commit a record of God's faithfulness to coming generations.

Topics: From the Archives

In the Gospel of Luke, the author begins by explaining that he has followed all things pertaining to Jesus’ life closely. He writes that he has taken time to compile “an orderly account” of all that has taken place so that the reader may have certainty concerning these things.

Topics: From the Archives

Amid personal affliction or worldwide pandemic, it’s important to understand our circumstances in light of God’s salvation plan. When ten lepers cried out for mercy, Jesus healed them all, but only one turned back to offer praise. He wasn’t just physically healed; his eyes were also spiritually opened to recognize Jesus. Ultimately, it’s sin, not leprosy or COVID-19, that separates us from God, spoils our lives, and spreads to our destruction, teaches Alistair Begg. Although many diseases lead to death, only Christ’s mercy assures eternal life.

Topics: From the Archives

Learning of Abner’s peaceful release, David’s army commander, Joab, confronted the king, sent for Abner, then cruelly murdered him upon his return. Did Joab really care about the kingdom, or simply his status within it? Exploring this question, Alistair Begg notes that the ways of the servant are not always the ways of the king. When we’re tempted to believe our plans are best, Scripture reminds us that King Jesus is faithful to His plan and all comings and goings are under His sovereign hand.

Topics: From the Archives

For David, Abner’s death was a cause not for celebration but for mourning. In his grief, David paid tribute to Abner and led his funeral, while Joab, having murdered Abner out of revenge, was met with a curse rather than a commendation. Joab’s experience is a warning to us, says Alistair Begg, when we’re tempted to advance God’s kingdom in a manner that is incompatible with our gentle, humble King.

Topics: From the Archives

The Lord’s ways are undeniably mysterious. Even so, they are sure, and He accomplishes all He sets out to do. As King Saul’s dynasty waned, Abner, once David’s enemy, negotiated and consulted to shift his allegiance to the rising king. Behind it all, though, God continued to work out His plan through imperfect people in less-than-ideal circumstances. Alistair Begg examines 2 Samuel 3, pointing out that David’s grace toward this unsavory character prefigures the peace offered to us through Christ Jesus.

Topics: From the Archives

Second Samuel 3 relates a story charged with ambition, sex, power, and politics. Arrogantly fancying himself the kingmaker, Saul’s army commander, Abner, defected to David’s expanding dynasty. Yet David’s imperfect, convoluted path to the throne wasn’t the result of human calculation or manipulation. Rather, God was accomplishing His plan despite, and even through, the messy circumstances. As Alistair Begg points out, only when God’s love is revealed and we believe in Jesus can we take our place on the right side of history.

Topics: From the Archives