Truth For Life - Alistair Begg

After learning of the sorry state of Jerusalem's walls, Nehemiah responded with prayerful dependence, careful preparation, and quiet assessment before calling others to act. As Alistair Begg points out, his leadership combined trust in God's sovereignty with practical wisdom and courage in the face of opposition. Through Nehemiah's example, we're reminded that God's work advances through ordinary people who rely on Him, persevere through discouragement, and unite around a shared, God-given purpose.

While all Scripture is inspired, not all Scripture is equally inspiring. When we read the long list of names in Nehemiah 3, we might be prone to wonder at its purpose. As Alistair Begg reminds us, though, God's work requires the unified, active participation of those whose names will largely be forgotten, each contributing their part within a larger purpose. And as chapter 4 makes plain, while opposition to such work is inevitable, leaders must commit to meeting it with prayer, vigilance, and trust in God.

After overseeing the reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls and the restoration of the people's right worship, Nehemiah returned to Susa. When he later came back to Jerusalem, what he found was distressing: The people had embraced unhelpful associations, unfulfilled commitments, unkept promises, and unholy marriages. Alistair Begg walks us through each of these issues in turn, helping us to see why they mattered, how Nehemiah confronted them, and how they are mirrored in the problems confronting today's church and its leaders.

The first five verses of 2 Timothy 4 encapsulate Paul's concern for the ongoing ministry of the Gospel. At this point in his letter, Paul has reminded Timothy that he must continue in the Gospel himself and that the Scriptures are divinely inspired. Now, as Alistair Begg explains, Paul turns Timothy's attention to the solemn charge, stirring challenge, and straightforward and vitally important commitment that are intrinsic to his ministry—and to the ministries of all who follow in Timothy's line.

While an approach to Christianity that treats it as a soft option may sound attractive, it's certainly not scriptural. Truly biblical discipleship is muscular, demanding, and thoughtful. The apostle Paul made this clear to Timothy as he urged him to proclaim the Gospel boldly and to suffer for it bravely. In this conference message, Alistair Begg examines the three word pictures Paul used to clarify the believer's daily need for devotion, discipline, and diligence in the Christian life.