Letters From Alistair Begg

Dear Friend,

“Do you miss Scotland?” is a question routinely posed to me, even though America has now been my home for the greater part of my life. My usual reply is “Yes,” and when pressed for an explanation, I mention that at certain times of the year I’m tempted to succumb to a wee dose of nostalgia. It usually lasts for all of 20 minutes! The transition period between Christmas and New Year’s is one of those times. New Year’s Eve (known as Hogmanay in Scotland) was the one day in the year when, as a boy, I was allowed to stay up late so that I could attend the ‘watchnight service’ with my father. It was always timed to end on the stroke of midnight as the church bells around the city heralded the beginning of the new year. Throughout the night, we visited friends and family in their homes and toasted the new beginning with shortbread and some kind of ginger cordial reserved for the occasion.

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While most see Christmas as a time for giving, the story of Christ’s birth also encourages us to recognize our need—not for a process or a program, but for a person. As Alistair Begg points out, our plight is that of rebels in need of rescue. Confronted with a clear view of what we truly are and what we truly need, we face an important choice: will we receive Jesus as our Savior?

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Dear Friend,

It can be easy to complain about the harsh Cleveland winters, but sometimes on a bitter cold night when the sky is clear and star-filled, I stand outside, look up in wonder, and join with the psalmist in thinking, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

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Dear Friend,

In less than a week, those of us in the US will exercise our right to vote. I thought it would be timely to consider what the Bible has to say about the privileges and obligations of citizenship.

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Dear Friend,

The phrase “shepherds and teachers” in Ephesians 4:11 denotes one office. For the local pastor, this wording paints a helpful picture. Shepherding requires that we encourage, comfort, and at times, even warn, the members of our flock. Teaching requires us to provide a nourishing pasture—the pasture of God’s Word explained clearly and relevantly—so that all are fed and mature in their commitment to Christ.

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Dear Friend,

I’ve been thinking about a couple that Susan and I met on the California coast. They were throwing a Frisbee and clearly enjoying themselves immensely. There is nothing unusual about such a scene, but what surprised us as we stopped to talk with them was their age: they were both in their 80s, and very much in love.

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On Sunday morning, August 5, 1855, 21-year-old Charles Haddon Spurgeon stepped behind the pulpit of New Park Street Chapel to challenge his congregation to follow the example of one of the saints who had inspired his ministry, the apostle Paul. “As a preacher of the word,” Spurgeon said of Paul, “he stands out pre-eminently as the prince of preachers and a preacher to kings.”

Topics: Ministry Updates, Letters From Alistair Begg

Dear Friend,

On August 3, 1983, when Susan and I, along with our three children ages four and under, left Glasgow for Cleveland on a one-way ticket, none of us could have ever imagined the adventure awaiting us. I’m often asked, why I “deserted” Scotland when it is so spiritually needy.

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Dear Friend,

Although the winter hung on for a while, Northeast Ohio is finally in full summer bloom and the sunsets are spectacular, confirming for us the psalmist’s words, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).

Topics: Letters From Alistair Begg

Dear Friend,

Our current series of studies in Ephesians has reached the section that deals with children and parents. It is particularly challenging. Paul warns fathers not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. As Christian parents, we are to model Christian behavior for our children by walking in humility, gentleness, patience, and love—and by forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgives us (Ephesians 4).

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