Latest Sunday Audio: Recent Episodes
Alistair Begg
Truth For Life is the Bible-teaching ministry of Alistair Begg. The ministry's mission is to teach the Bible with clarity and relevance so that unbelievers will be converted, believers will be established and local churches will be strengthened. Join us as Alistair helps us apply the Scripture to our daily lives.
If Jesus offered to pray on your behalf, what would you ask Him to pray for? In His High Priestly Prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples, distinguishing them from the world, declaring them to be agents of His glory, and asking the Father to keep them in His name. Alistair Begg unpacks how over two thousand years later, that same prayer is still being answered for all those who follow Christ, in whom we are securely, eternally kept.
Just hours from the agony of Calvary, Jesus prayed to His Father in front of His disciples. In this message on Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, Alistair Begg explores the vast theological truths revealed in God’s gift to the Son, Jesus’ request to the Father, and the disciples’ response to both. From all eternity, God purposed to have a people for His own, sending His Son into the world to manifest His name and to save His people. As a result of Christ’s finished work on the cross, all who believe, no matter how weak or strong their faith, are eternally secure.
In His High Priestly Prayer, recorded in John 17, Jesus prayed for Himself and all His followers—including believers today. Alistair Begg examines the eternal nature of Jesus’ request for glory and the victorious report He shared as He prayed to the Father. Because of His immense love for sinners, God the Father planned the work of salvation, God the Son accomplished it on the cross, and God the Spirit applies the reality of redemption to all who believe and trust in Christ.
When “the hour had come” for the fulfillment of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He turned to God the Father in prayer. Alistair Begg explores this pivotal historical moment by taking a closer look at what Jesus asked, the work He was assigned to do, and the way He assured believers of the nature of eternal life. While the world may view the cross of Christ as an emblem of defeat, Scripture reveals how it’s at Calvary that God’s ultimate power, love, mercy—and glory—were displayed.
A “Live for today!” attitude is widely embraced by our contemporary culture—and it leads to endless restlessness. In sharp contrast, Scripture teaches that the past and future are also important, because God has appointed a day of judgment. To be prepared to face that day, we need to understand history through the lens of the Bible. Alistair Begg walks us through the real human predicament, God’s costly intervention, and the divine promise made to those who come to His Son in repentance and faith: “You will find rest for your souls.”
Why are we, as saved sinners, given the privilege of feasting at the Communion table before a holy God? Because He has provided an atonement for our rebellion! Alistair Begg traces man’s search for a substitutionary sacrifice throughout Scripture, starting with Isaac, who asks his father, “Where is the lamb?” The ultimate answer, of course, comes centuries later, when John the Baptist introduces Jesus as the unblemished Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. By becoming sin for us on the cross, Christ Jesus provides perfect redemption—and perfect communion—for all who believe.
By nature, men and women act self-reliant, often burdened by the futility of trying to make sense of their existence or attempting to please God through self-effort. Jesus invites all sinners to come and find rest in Him. While His call is universal, it’s also very personal. Those who accept His invitation are expected to learn from Him. Encouraging us to become Christ’s pupils, Alistair Begg considers who Jesus is, what He does for believers, and what He’s like as a teacher.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
Every invitation calls for a response—including Jesus’ call in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Alistair Begg walks us through Christ’s gracious invitation, demonstrating how it is a timeless, personal, and universal call to all who are weary, burdened, lost, or sad. It is an offer not for the self-sufficient but for the broken and empty-handed. Yet while respite is promised, it’s not automatic; we first must respond to His invitation to “come.”
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
After His resurrection, Jesus reappeared to His disciples several times. One such encounter involved a hard but necessary conversation in which Peter, who’d previously denied knowing Jesus, affirmed his love for Him. Christ then disclosed Peter’s future death and restored him to the mission of “fishing” for men and shepherding God’s people. Alistair Begg points out that the disciple’s previous denial of Christ didn’t disqualify him from ministry, because with Jesus, failure is never final.
When the resurrected Jesus appeared to Peter, recommissioned him, and told him what the future held, the restored disciple had to confront the task before him. Initially, his attention was focused on his friend John—perhaps in empathy or concern, or perhaps in jealousy. Yet Jesus redirected Peter and echoed His initial invitation to follow Him. While Peter and John were different men with different instincts and convictions, they shared the same hope: that one day, after He had gone, Jesus would return to bring His people home.
Derek Prime, Alistair’s mentor and coauthor of ‘On Being a Pastor,’ has gone home to be with the Lord, but his legacy continues to impact pastors throughout the world. In this breakout session, pastors Jonathan and Andy Prime—Derek’s son and grandson respectively—illustrate how Derek Prime was first a disciple of Jesus before being a pastor and consider how his way of life and faith in the Lord Jesus can be imitated for greater Gospel impact.
“Him we proclaim.” Prolific theologian and author Sinclair Ferguson challenges pastors and church leaders to take this simple statement as their “motto text,” informing every element of their preaching as it did for the apostle Paul himself. In order to do so, we must preach Jesus Christ from the totality of Scripture and in concert with the wisdom of the church fathers. We must also remember that when we preach Christ, He preaches Himself, meeting every need of everyone who truly hears the message.
In this Q and A session, Rico Tice, Alistair Begg, and Sinclair Ferguson respond to questions from the attendees of the Basic Conference. Listen to these men laugh and teach together as they offer a gold mine of practical wisdom. Among other topics, they discuss their individual callings to pastoral ministry, the advantages and disadvantages to denominational ties, plagiarism, corporate worship, and words of concern and advice for the upcoming generation of pastors.
Can faithful biblical interpretation without affection lead to life transformation? Theologian Sinclair Ferguson argues that it is possible for people to be correctly instructed without being well-nourished and that holy affection is a key to effective pastoral ministry. As Jesus loves and yearns for us, so a pastor ought to live as an example and expresser of Christ’s love. God’s truth comes with power on the wings of warm care and friendship.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. So why do preachers skip over some parts? If the Holy Spirit inspired and included genealogies, border descriptions, Levitical offerings, and narratives that offend modern sensibilities, shouldn’t pastors preach them? And shouldn’t preachers be able to capture and hold a congregation’s attention even in such passages? In this breakout session, Hershael York, dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, teaches preachers how to preach these notoriously difficult texts in a manner that both reveals their purpose in God’s revelation and holds a listener’s interest.
In this practical session, Rico Tice and Richard Borgonon share resources for evangelism in a world with increasing barriers to Christianity. Despite these obstacles, currently one-third of people are open to a conversation about the faith. Two foundational convictions should inform our evangelism: that the Lord is actively at work in the lives of non-Christians, preparing them to be open to the Word, and that God’s Word is powerful to save. Christians must be effectively equipped to take God’s Word to nonbelievers.
Relationships are a precious and weighty influence on a pastor’s ministry. Even the apostle Paul could not fulfill his calling alone and felt vulnerable to the affections of those around him. In this message, Alistair Begg teaches from the end of Paul’s letters to Timothy, admonishing us to value our co-laborers and be mindful of our greetings and farewells. Every pastor will benefit from loyal and useful friendships, which serve as channels of God’s love and affection from one to another.
To “do the work of an evangelist,” as Paul urged his protégé Timothy to do, is often seen as an individual project—particularly, the specific work of individual pastors. However, as Rico Tice argues, the world needs the entire church body to engage in evangelism. In this talk, he surveys tools and techniques for accomplishing this task while making clear that God is the one who opens blind eyes and transforms lives.
Paul exhorted Timothy and all ministers of the Gospel to nurture their God-given gifts, not to be ashamed of the Gospel, and to devote themselves to the life-giving Word of God. Teaching from 2 Timothy 1, theologian Sinclair Ferguson helps pastors and church leaders appreciate the pastorate’s holy calling. As he walks through Paul’s exhortation to Timothy and the pastoral pattern he sets forth, he unpacks key aspects of Timothy’s ministry worth considering and emulating, including the humbling impact of suffering and the necessity of sincere faith.
In a complicated world, Paul’s charge to Timothy was simple: “Preach the Word.” The same charge has been laid on today’s pastors and church leaders, who minister in a world that is no less complicated. As such, Alistair Begg calls upon them to do as Timothy did: to take their solemn call seriously, to face the hostilities and difficulties that stand before them, and to “do the work of an evangelist” for a culture that sorely needs the Gospel.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
When studying the Bible, context is crucial. In John 14, Jesus promised His disciples that they would do “greater works” than He and that if they would “ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” Alistair Begg provides incisive perspective into the context of Jesus’ words, reminding us that the greatest work of God is the redemption of His people. When we pray according to God’s purposes and promises, we can be assured that God will answer our prayers for His glory.
Jesus’ claims are exclusive; salvation is found in Him alone. At the same time, He extends salvation to all who believe in Him and points out that those who follow Him will do the works that He did, and “greater than these.” What did Jesus mean by this phrase? In this study in John 14, Alistair Begg explores the relationship between Christ’s miraculous works of redemption and regeneration and the ongoing work of believers. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we’re called to point others to the love and grace of the one true Savior.
All the world’s major religions teach that there is some sort of life beyond this one. What, if anything, is behind the mysterious curtain we call death? In this Easter message, Alistair Begg reminds us that the whole of Christianity hinges on two facts: that Jesus Christ was delivered over to death as a substitute for sins and that He was raised to life to justify all who believe in Him. By trusting in Christ and His work on the cross, we can have life—even after death—allowing us to stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.
Although Peter declared that he would lay down his life for Jesus, when he was questioned by a servant girl, he denied Him three times. Rather than view Peter’s actions with judgment, Alistair Begg explains that Peter’s failure serves as a warning to all believers. The seeds of every sin are latent in our own hearts—and, like Peter, if we trust in our own strength, we will fall. The life of faith cannot be built on our promises to Christ but must be fixed on the promises He makes to us.
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus issued a new commandment, telling His disciples to love one another just as He had loved them. Commitment to loving like Jesus—perfectly, ceaselessly, and sacrificially—is to be the distinguishing feature of every Christian community. Alistair Begg explains that this challenge, which is the great opportunity for every generation, is only possible after Christ takes up residence in our lives, empowering us to love freely and generously, demonstrating with our actions how He has worked for us, in us, and through us.
After washing His disciples’ feet at the Passover supper, Jesus, in yet another generous expression of love, prepared them for what was to come and announced that one of them would betray Him. As we consider this intimate scene in John’s Gospel, Alistair Begg teaches that it contains both warning and encouragement for believers. Followers of Christ must resist temptation in all its forms and trust in the Lord, even as we recognize that the God who sovereignly overruled Judas’ betrayal can be trusted in our present circumstances.
With the public ministry of Jesus now at an end, John’s Gospel records that during the Passover supper, Christ rose and washed His disciples’ feet. With full knowledge of all that was about to transpire in the days to come, Jesus demonstrated His humility and love toward His followers. As Alistair Begg explains, His foot washing serves as both an illustration of what would take place at the cross—the King laying down His life for His people—and an example of how believers should live in humble service to one another.
After reporting the animosity exhibited toward Jesus by the chief priests and Pharisees, John’s Gospel records the curiosity of the Greeks, who, at the Passover, sought Him out to speak with Him. In this setting, Jesus spoke of how a grain of wheat must die to bear fruit. Explaining the pivotal moment marked by the arrival and interest of the gentiles, Alistair Begg reminds us that although the disciples wished Jesus not to die, His death is the key to life.
The Gospel of John is a highly concentrated look at Jesus’ life, during which He performed many signs and miracles. Frustrated by these signs and in concern for themselves, the chief priests and Pharisees rejected Jesus and planned to put Him to death. Discussing key events in the first half of John’s narrative, Alistair Begg emphasizes the evangelistic purpose of the biblical record, written so that we may believe and have life in Him. Only Jesus has the authority to defeat death, as His death and resurrection are the source of our spiritual life.
Jesus proclaimed Himself the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name. In this study from John’s Gospel, Alistair Begg teaches that when it comes to gaining access to God and heaven, there’s only one Door, one Shepherd, and one flock. Ultimate security lies not in the walls of our enclosure or in the strength of our faith but in our proximity to Jesus, the indestructible Shepherd in whom we place our trust. Believers will know His voice and enjoy abundant life.
In this interview about his book <em>The Christian Manifesto</em>, Alistair Begg considers the challenge presented to us in Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain and its relevance two thousand years later. The Lord’s teachings on forgiveness, possessions, obedience, and more speak to and make demands on believers from every background. But as we remember the compassionate character of our Lord and put our trust in Him, we can learn to live the life He’s called us to with perseverance and humility.
Jude closed his letter to Christ’s followers with a doxology praising the splendor and sovereignty of the one true and timeless God. Wrapping up a study in Jude, Alistair Begg explains why our knowledge of God shapes the way we worship Him and directs how and why we share the Gospel with others. Like Jude, those who have experienced God’s mercy and salvation should be driven to humbly declare His glory to a predominantly lost and self-focused world.
Can knowing the God of the Bible help us tackle life’s issues or fix our problems? The closing verse of Jude’s letter returns his readers to where he began, focusing on the greatness of “the only God, our Savior,” who has dominion and authority over all things. Far from being impractical or irrelevant, as this and every worldly culture is prone to think, Alistair Begg reminds us that knowing God through Christ provides the only framework, focus, and foundation for living an abundant life.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
With so much opposition to a biblical worldview surrounding us, how do we navigate the time in which we live with grace, kindness, mercy, and sensibility? In this message, Alistair Begg provides four words that frame our discussions about the Christian faith: the “good,” the “bad,” the “new,” and the “perfect.” Beginning with the creation account in Genesis, we can understand how we came to be, what happened when sin entered the world, and why God has chosen to renew all things—including His children—in Christ.
In the closing portion of his letter, Jude reminded his readers of the scoffers who would come, encouraging believers to deal mercifully with “those who doubt.” Explaining Jude’s exhortation, Alistair Begg addresses how we should care for these three types of doubters: with the first group, kindly and patiently bearing with them; with the second, pursuing them wholeheartedly to save them from imminent danger; and with the third, proceeding cautiously to avoid being pulled into sin ourselves. In all scenarios, we are reminded that the answer and hope for each group is at the cross of Christ.
In our attempt to make recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make recent discussions available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In every generation, the church will encounter those who oppose the things of God. Jude therefore urged believers to contend for the faith and to keep themselves “in the love of God.” Alistair Begg reminds us that this “keeping” is not mysterious or isolated; rather, it is an exhortation to the regular assembly of worship, where we hear from God’s Word and cultivate relationships with other believers. It is a call to steadfast prayer and hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return, trusting that the one who loves us and brings us into His family keeps us, even as we keep ourselves.
“Did God really say that?” Such challenges to God’s word began in the garden of Eden and continue to this day. In his letter to the early church, Jude identified telltale signs of false teachers who distort the truth, cause division, and lead others astray. Walking us through Jude’s warnings, Alistair Begg explains that life and peace are only truly enjoyed when we experience Christ’s forgiveness. God’s indwelling Spirit enables believers to understand and obey the living, unchanging Word of God—and to recognize its counterfeits.
In our attempt to make recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In verses 11–13 of his epistle, Jude used three Old Testament examples and six stark word pictures to warn his readers about those who distort the Gospel through false teaching and ungodly living. These “certain people,” he explained, are untethered and fruitless, and their path is one of destruction and ultimate separation from God. Alistair Begg urges us to heed Jude’s warning, acknowledge the danger, and keep the faith by trusting in Christ, our eternal fixed point and the only one who can save us, shepherd us, and preserve us.
Unpacking Jude’s exhorting letter, Alistair Begg reminds us that we must defend the faith in every generation. After introducing his theme, Jude addressed it not with condemnation but with consternation, pointing to three examples from biblical history: Israelites who experienced the exodus but disbelieved, angels who overstepped God’s appointed boundaries, and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who gave themselves to wide-ranging sexual immorality. We must heed the warning their sad stories issue and hold fast to God’s Word.
What is the state of modern evangelicalism? In this bonus roundtable session, ‘Truth For Life’ cohost Bob Lepine sits down with Alistair Begg, Colin Smith, and Hershael York to answer that question. As you get to know more about the Basics 2023 speakers, you’ll hear why these men are both encouraged and discouraged about the shape of the global church, how young preachers can grow in faithfulness and skill, what unites Christians all around the world, and more.
All pastors need a safe place to ask hard questions and receive godly advice. In this Basics session, Colin Smith, Hershael York, and Alistair Begg answer audience questions on navigating difficult parts of church ministry and pastoral life. Topics include how to handle seasons of doubt, ideas for smooth transitions of leadership, what information is healthy to share with your wife, ways to gain a church’s trust, and more.
In this Q and A, Alistair Begg addresses assorted topics related to life and ministry. In serving God’s church, he reminds us, everything is related to the Scriptures—a focus that prevents distraction. Other topics include cultivating pastoral authenticity, how to prioritize grace, leading from the front, and trusting God’s Word to accomplish God’s work.
In 2022, drug overdoses killed more than one hundred thousand Americans—and the statistics in Scotland are just as bad. Both countries have declared this to be a national public-health emergency. In this Basics breakout session, guest speaker Terry McCutcheon shares what Hope for Glasgow has been doing and learning as it seeks to minister God’s Word in a culture of addiction.
In his epistle, Jude sounded a wakeup call to a sleeping church. The real danger, Alistair Begg explains, is not the world outside the fold of God’s people but individuals inside it who pervert God’s love and grace into sensuality and license. Jude couldn’t sit idly by as the flock was destroyed, and so he boldly responded, urging them to awaken and contend for the faith. The Gospel calls sinners to come as we are—but never to stay that way.
The second chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is marked by a clear picture of pastoral care: the shepherd of the flock is gentle, affectionate, and caring, much like a nursing mother. Alistair Begg underscores that the all-encompassing nature and sacrificial role of motherhood, which is a responsibility and a privilege from God, provides a helpful pattern and purpose for pastors. Although ministers of the Gospel should boldly proclaim God’s Word, in doing so, they take care to reflect Jesus, the one who bids all people come, for He is “gentle and lowly in heart.”
The faithful pastor spends countless hours in his study preparing to feed the flock week by week. But what about preparing the man behind the message? Listen and learn as Basics guest speaker Colin Smith speaks to the necessity and practicality of the pastor readying himself for the ministry of the Word.
If marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with His church, and if the church has the right to examine a pastor’s marriage to ensure his qualification for leadership, then few things in a pastor’s life should have a greater priority than maintaining a relationship with his wife that honors the Lord, reflects the Gospel he preaches, and serves as an example to the church. Basics guest speaker Hershael York shares biblical and practical wisdom that will help pastors and their wives experience joy while faithfully serving the Lord in life and ministry.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In the closing verses of Psalm 139, David zealously prayed for the destruction of the wicked—then submitted himself to divine scrutiny as well. Like David, Christians should hate evil and long for its eradication, explains Alistair Begg. Vengeance, however, isn’t our responsibility. God alone judges righteously. Only when we understand His holiness and purity will we realize how lost and sinful we truly are, trust Jesus, and be saved by grace from God’s wrath.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
Can we hide from God? The Bible contains many examples of people trying to do just that. In Psalm 139, however, David ponders this question and rightly understands that since God is everywhere, there is no place we can flee from His presence, nor should we wish to. Alistair Begg reminds us that although by nature each one of us hides from God, the Lord still lovingly seeks us, guides us with His hand, and comforts us with the remarkable truth that because of Christ, He is Immanuel, “God with us”—everywhere!
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
Parents generally put considerable thought into choosing their children’s names. Not so with Mary and Joseph’s firstborn! Instead, an angelic messenger declared they would have a son and name Him Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” In a special Christmas message, Alistair Begg explains how Christ’s birth fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the long-awaited Immanuel, “God with us.” Jesus promises to save all who come to Him in repentance and faith. Have you trusted Him as your Savior?
The transition from one year into another gives us an opportunity to reflect on what we believe, to consider why it matters, and to think Christianly about all of life. From selected Bible passages, Alistair Begg considers three “But God…” statements, examining the doctrine of providence in Joseph’s life, the doctrine of judgment in the parable of the rich fool, and the hope of salvation offered in Romans 5. All who hear God’s voice are called not to delay but to trust today in Christ, who seeks us out in our brokenness and gives us new life in Him.
The beautiful world that God created is broken by sin that legislation and education can’t fix. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul taught that when people refuse to acknowledge the Lord’s reign, He gives them over to their own debased minds. Standards disappear, society crumbles, and moral chaos and wickedness ensue. Cautioning against the inclination to judge and admonish others, Alistair Begg encourages us instead to confess our self-righteousness, recall what we were like apart from Christ, and lovingly proclaim the news of God’s salvation.
Christmastime provides a great opportunity to reflect on what the Bible says about the birth of Emmanuel, “God with us.” In this Christmas concert message, however, Alistair Begg challenges us to consider the reason Jesus came, in His own words. The book of Mark records that before healing a paralytic man, Jesus gave him some life-changing news: his sins were forgiven. This same grace, regarded as outrageous by the Pharisees at the time, is extended to all who cry out to Him in their need. He came to grant forgiveness!
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
When Jesus accepted an invitation to dine with a Pharisee, it quickly became a meal few would forget! An uninvited, despised woman created a stir when she intruded upon the scene and offered an extravagant demonstration of devotion to Christ. Walking us through the extraordinary event, the various reactions, and Jesus’ intervention, Alistair Begg explains that love, not morality, is the measure of forgiveness. Only when we humbly acknowledge our sin and our need for a Savior do we discover true and lasting peace.
Why is there so much chaos and suffering around us? How did God’s perfectly created world come to be so broken down? Like Adam and Eve, we turn our backs on God whenever we exchange His truth for the devil’s lies. Yet while God has given the unrepentant over to their idols, He has also provided an escape from judgment through Christ. Alistair Begg urges that instead of becoming calloused to sin, Christians are to imitate Jesus, shining the light of the Gospel into a dark, bewildering world.
The apostle Paul urgently warned others about the Lord’s wrath and preached the Gospel of salvation. In his letter to the Romans, in particular, he was clear that all are sinners, with no exceptions, no excuses, and no escape from judgment except through faith in Jesus. Noting that Paul’s explanation of our predicament remains relevant today, Alistair Begg explains that the sobering reality of God’s wrath is matched by the wonder of His provision. Our Creator doesn’t hide from us, nor does He change. Rather, He seeks us and offers peace in a chaotic world.
The wrath of God is an uncomfortable topic that many prefer to avoid. Yet it is only when we understand God’s righteous judgment against sin that we can truly face our predicament as sinners and see our dire need for a Savior. Alistair Begg explains that the cross of Christ is all that stands between us and God’s wrath—and therefore, the salvation God provides is the need of every person in the entire world.
In a culture increasingly interested in therapy over theology, the Bible alone is able to make us wise for salvation. In this Reformation Sunday message, Alistair Begg highlights the Gospel’s power to reveal God’s righteous character and activity. If believers are to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus to a world that would shame us into silence, we must be convinced of this truth: the Gospel alone is the power of God to save men and women from eternal condemnation.
What does it mean to love one’s neighbor? Luke 10 records how Jesus answered this question with a story about a Samaritan who helped a robbed and injured man. Alistair Begg reminds us that while the unexpected and sacrificial actions of the Samaritan are not presented as the way to life, they are nevertheless, for those who trust in Christ, evidence that we have truly been born again. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can believers truly love our neighbor as ourselves.
When Jesus issued the Great Commandment—to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself—He wasn’t reducing the Ten Commandments to two. Rather, He was teaching that all of God’s law hangs on those two concerns. Alistair Begg walks us through the role of the law in the believer’s life, explaining that when the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love, then we’ll follow His rules—not to receive rewards or avoid penalties but because we love Him.
Before His ascension, Jesus established one of the church’s main priorities, which is to share the Gospel so that people will be converted, be baptized, grow in faith, and tell others the good news of salvation. Unfortunately, some churches have replaced this call to mission with a comfortable “maintenance” approach. Challenging all Christians to embrace Jesus’ Great Commission, Alistair Begg takes a closer look at the claim that only Christ can make, the command that only Christ can give, and the comfort that only Christ can provide.
With the royal succession plan settled, the aged King David issued a commandment to his son Solomon, directing him to act on unfinished matters of the kingdom—with kindness for some and with justice for others. Was David’s decree simply a matter of personal vengeance? Or did God’s anointed king bear the responsibility to administer justice? Alistair Begg considers how the Bible’s answer points forward to the fixed day when Jesus, as King, will judge the world with fairness and finality.
God promised that a king from David’s line would reign eternally; and so, facing imminent death, David established his son Solomon as his successor. Aware of his own failings but confident in the Lord's promises, David advised Solomon to walk in God’s ways. The Lord’s faithfulness doesn’t depend on our obedience, teaches Alistair Begg—but the enjoyment of His blessings does. Any success, whether great or small, always comes by God’s grace alone.
On November 3, 2020, Tim and Aileen Challies received the shocking news that their twenty-year-old son Nick had died. Tim, an author and blogger, began to process his loss through writing, which eventually led to the book ‘Seasons of Sorrow.’ During this launch event, Tim reads a brief excerpt from the book and then has a discussion with Alistair Begg and Bob Lepine about God’s purpose in and through our sorrows, reminding us that lasting comfort is something that only He can provide.
For more information about the book or to order your copy, click here. Listen to the song “In the Valley (Bless the Lord),” which was inspired by ‘Seasons of Sorrow.’
King David called for a census that he imagined would bring pleasure, but instead, it brought pain and God’s wrath. Seeking to intervene on behalf of his people, David built an altar, offered sacrifices, and asked that he alone would bear the punishment. While much remains unexplained in this passage, Alistair Begg points out that God’s sovereign plan is revealed in His mercy as well as His wrath. Ultimately, only Jesus’ intervention can save us from ourselves, our sin, and God’s wrath.
Every relationship has its last goodbye. In the closing verses of 2 Timothy, Paul sent his final greetings to several people who encouraged him during his ministry. Alistair Begg briefly examines Paul’s words to Priscilla, Aquila, Onesiphorus, and a handful of others, explaining how these men and women served Paul and in turn all future believers. In the same way today, every life lived for Christ—no matter its reach—can be eternally significant in Gospel ministry.
With his final written words, the apostle Paul left both personal instructions for his protégé, Timothy, and greetings to his fellow believers. Alistair Begg considers these words, explaining how the mighty apostle was strengthened and encouraged by the individual giftings of fellow believers. As we survey the men and women whose lives intersected with Paul’s ministry, we find warnings to heed, examples to follow, and a poignant reminder of the interdependence of God’s people in every age and place.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
Christians increasingly understand what it means to be sojourners and exiles in a Western world that, not long ago, commonly gave those with biblical convictions a seat at the table. Drawing from Peter’s first letter to the early, scattered church, Alistair Begg explains how to live faithfully in a world that has turned its back on God. By reminding ourselves—and each other—that we’re God’s children and foreigners in this place, we can live according to God’s will, stand firm in His grace, and focus on His everlasting kingdom.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
In our attempt to make Alistair’s recent sermons available as quickly as possible, the audio and video of the sermon are often posted before other supplementary elements. Please check back later this week for the finalized sermon title, description, topics, and transcript.
God promised that through King David, He would save Israel from the Philistines. Second Samuel 21 recounts four incidents when an older, battle-weary David relied on his mighty warriors to strike down the Philistine giants. Alistair Begg compares and contrasts David’s reign as described in these verses to Jesus’ ultimate, victorious, and eternal reign. Just as God granted victory to David’s men in battle, Christ’s followers can be assured of victory over the giants of Satan, sin, and death.
Prompted by prolonged famine, King David sought the Lord for an explanation. Once he received it, though, he sought human counsel for the cure. The result was heartbreaking devastation, particularly for one family. Alistair Begg explains that while the world we live in is beautiful, it can also be harsh and cruel—a fact that, as Christians, we must confront. King David’s endeavors to deal with sin and brokenness were totally inadequate, as are our own. In Jesus, however, we have a perfect King in whom God’s just wrath has been fully satisfied.
Pastors and church leaders have always faced conflict and criticism. How do we maintain our integrity in the face of these challenges? Pastor and author Tony Merida points to the apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, as a model to follow—one marked by the pursuit of holiness, love for others, and, above all, consistent proclamation of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to be an afflicted yet faithful minister of the Gospel.
It’s no secret that some parts of the Old Testament can be confusing or even tedious. Careful studying of these passages, however, can produce real insight to guide us today. Biblical scholar John Woodhouse illustrates this principle using the story of Ahaziah, who made the same mistake so many in our world make today: he traded the glory of God for idols and as a result became foolish. As Christians, our call is to help our world discover the wisdom, light, and life that only God provides.
While pastors have the ministry of preaching the Gospel, men can talk about the cross in ways that empty it of its power. In this message, Alistair Begg explains how the apostle Paul embraced his weakness as a vehicle for the Gospel and encourages pastors to pray for the gift of studied simplicity. True salvation and redemption for sinners can only be found in one place: the cross of Christ. Therefore, it must be the central message from the pulpit.
With an eye on preaching Old Testament narrative, John Woodhouse examines the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. A prominent man suffering leprosy, Namaan visited God’s prophet in Israel, Elisha, laden with treasure to purchase healing—and was instead humbled when Elisha instructed him simply to wash in the Jordan. God’s word, Woodhouse reminds us, always seems unreasonable to the proud: “Wash and be healed. Believe and be saved. Repent and be forgiven.” Yet those who do not receive what is promised can only blame themselves for the blessings they forgo.
Preaching from Old Testament narratives can be a daunting task. It is all too easy to miss Christ and the Gospel in the details of the narrative or, conversely, to leave the narrative in the name of focusing on Christ. In this conference session, biblical scholar John Woodhouse lays out a strategy for aligning the purposes of one’s sermon with the purposes of the Old Testament narrative, proclaiming Christ in such a way that all who hear will be profoundly affected by the Gospel’s power.
The devil is untroubled by moral improvement plans or people becoming more religious. What Satan does not want is Christ being preached. Tony Merida reminds us of the importance of proclaiming Jesus by unpacking the priority, purpose, and power of Christ-centered preaching, which was exemplified by Paul’s ministry to the Colossians. Jesus, Merida reminds us, is fully sufficient. He must be the focus of every sermon we preach, as He is the focus of whole of God’s Word.
What is the right response to terrible suffering in the world? While hardship causes some to blame God, it can also turn hearts toward Him. In this message, biblical scholar John Woodhouse teaches about the catastrophic siege of Samaria and how God worked in unseen ways to fulfill His promises and rescue His people with a day of great salvation. When we experience suffering, he reminds us, the source of our best hope is God’s own word, which always proves faithful and true.
In this Basics 2022 preconference interview, Bob Lepine chats with one of the main speakers, Tony Merida. He discusses church planting, the blessings and burdens of adoption, the importance of evangelism and community involvement from local churches, and much more. Merida is pastor for preaching and vision of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, the dean of Grimké Seminary, and the director for theological training for Acts 29.
God the Father has unmeasured love for His people. The supreme manifestation of this love is displayed at the cross of Christ. In that provision, teaches Alistair Begg, the Father arranged for our atonement, and the Son willingly laid down His life. And still today, the Spirit opens the eyes of our hearts to the salvation that was procured—a salvation that is for all rebels who turn from their sinful ways and trust Christ.
In the days after Christ’s crucifixion, His disciples hid behind locked doors, broken, confused, and convinced that Jesus’ death was the end of the story. But the grave could not hold Him! Jesus appeared in His resurrected body, showing the disciples His hands and His side and speaking peace into their troubled hearts. As Alistair Begg explains, no idea, philosophy, or code of ethics can transform our broken world. True restoration is found in Jesus alone.
Who is Jesus? In this Palm Sunday sermon, Alistair Begg describes three pictures that show how Christ fulfilled prophecy and revealed important aspects of His identity. The illustrations depict Jesus as the humble messianic King entering Jerusalem on a donkey, as the Prophet weeping over His unbelieving hometown, and as the Priest cleansing the temple of empty rituals and hypocrisy. Alistair explains that it’s only in light of the Gospel message that these pictures give significance to Palm Sunday.
In the midst of chaos and confusion that just doesn’t seem to end, how do we stay strong in the faith? The answer, teaches Alistair Begg, is to steadily focus on the one who is unchanging. According to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This simple fact gives us confidence to face uncertainties about the future with the assurance that He will never leave us. Are you trusting in Him as your Savior, Shepherd, Friend?
Following Jewish custom, Mary and Joseph took the twelve-year-old Jesus to the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. When they started home, they assumed Jesus was with their relatives—but Jesus had actually stayed behind in His Father’s house. As Alistair Begg explains, Jesus’ understanding of the Old Testament and of His own messiahship governed His decision. This glimpse into Jesus’ boyhood underscores His full divinity and humanity as the Son of God and Son of Man who came to bear our sins.
In the eighth century BC, as Israel faced oppression, humiliation, and apparent abandonment by God, the prophet Micah foretold the coming of one who would bring victory, security, and peace. Two thousand years after Christ’s birth, our circumstances aren’t much different: for many, life is still marked by unfulfilled longings, deep-seated dreads, and the fear, ultimately, of death. As Alistair Begg reminds us, such fears cannot be met from within ourselves. We must look away from ourselves to Christ, who died in our place to give us an eternal hope.
After a prolonged period of silence, God’s word came to His people through a devout Jewish man named Simeon. In accordance with the law, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. When Simeon beheld Jesus, he took Him in his arms and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, declared that he could die in peace because his eyes had seen God’s salvation. As Alistair Begg explains, our only hope for peace with God is to receive the deliverance He provides.
Jesus’ birth is no myth; it’s the wondrous, supernatural entry of the eternal God into a specific time and place in history. Examining Luke chapter 2, Alistair Begg notes that the angel’s message to the shepherds was the very word of God, compelling them to go and see all that had happened just as the angel said. God’s Word does not demand blind faith but encourages us to consider and declare the historical reality of the baby in a manger—a baby born to be the Savior of the world.
Following Absalom’s death, King David returned to Jerusalem—but his homecoming was not marked by joyous celebration. Instead, all the men of Israel withdrew their allegiance to David to follow Sheba the Benjaminite. As Alistair Begg explains, while David used his military might to crush Sheba’s rebellion, he could not establish an enduring kingdom. Only Jesus will reign forever in perfect righteousness when He returns to usher in His kingdom.
Sin always has consequences. Few people knew that better than David, whose once robust kingdom declined into a shadow of its former self, marked by instability and injustice. Focusing on the final verses of 2 Samuel 20, Alistair Begg draws a line between David’s sin with Bathsheba and the ultimate failure of his dynasty. But as we consider David’s failure, we also turn our eyes to the one perfect King, Jesus, who promises to restore what sin destroys.
As King David returned to his kingdom after Absalom’s defeat, tragedy overshadowed triumph. His grief over the death of his enemy-son impacted those around him: foolish arguments erupted between the tribes of Judah and Israel, and lives changed as people scrambled to align themselves with the victor. Shimei sought clemency, Mephibosheth declared his loyalty, and Barzillai faced his mortality while recognizing God’s providential purpose. Alistair Begg compares and contrasts David’s fragile, divided kingdom to God’s kingdom, which will be perfect and united when Jesus, the true King, returns.
King David’s son Absalom was also his enemy. So should love have set aside justice? Should justice have prevailed at love’s expense? David strategized to defeat his enemies while preserving his son’s life—yet the message of victory was accompanied by the announcement of Absalom’s death, and the king was consumed with guilt-laden grief. Examining God’s providential role in tragedy as well victory, Alistair Begg points us to the one place where perfect love and perfect justice meet: at the cross of Christ.
The Reformation marked a pivotal event in church history—namely, a return to the apostolic Gospel. In this Reformation Day message, Alistair Begg examines the good news of salvation as proclaimed in Romans 3: that a right standing with God is not something that we are called to produce but something which God has chosen to provide to us as a gift by faith in Jesus. Only the cross of Calvary can bring undeserving sinners into a living relationship with a holy God.