Category: Letters From Alistair Begg

The arrival of spring signals all kinds of new beginnings. Plants that have been dormant “spring” into life, and birdsong, long silent, beckons us to a new day. The clocks change, and Easter arrives, bringing us once again to the cross, the empty tomb, and then to the ascension and Pentecost. At Pentecost, we are reminded of the indispensable work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life.

Jesus promised His disciples, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). He went on to tell them that His departure would prove to be a plus. The Holy Spirit would come and convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Surely the disciples must have wondered just how that would happen. Perhaps no one was more surprised than Peter when the response to his first post-Pentecost sermon was that his listeners were “cut to the heart” and asked, “What shall we do?”

The apostles realized the truth we must embrace: Only the Holy Spirit opens blind eyes and softens hard hearts. This is our confidence in speaking to others about Jesus. Let’s encourage one another to be proactive this Easter by inviting friends and colleagues to learn more about the risen Savior who now reigns as Lord and King. And let’s not be remiss to pray for the Holy Spirit to work savingly in their lives.

We’re offering resources this month that will be helpful in this endeavor. Is Easter Unbelievable? Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the Resurrection Story is a short, informative book that addresses questions commonly asked by those unfamiliar with the Gospels. We’ll send you three copies to give away, perhaps along with an invitation to your church’s Easter Sunday service. You might also want to include a copy of the small booklet The Story. Also, beginning April 22, we’ll explore Paul’s final missionary journey as recorded in Acts on our daily program. Please encourage your friends to download the app and listen along with you. Nancy Guthrie’s new book Saved: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Acts is a helpful companion to the teaching.

Thank you for your kind greetings and assurances of prayer as I step away from the Parkside pulpit. At the same time, be assured that I am not going away but rather will be ramping up my involvement at Truth For Life. Your prayers and financial support are even more vital as we look to reach the world with the greatest story ever told: that “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.”

As ever, with my love in the Lord Jesus,

Alistair

PS: Let me also recommend watching the symphonic event, From the Garden to Glory: A Musical Journey Through the Story of Redemption at truthforlife.org/garden.

Dear Friend,

As I looked out at the crowd that had gathered for the CMS Summer School in Katoomba, Australia, this past January, a number of thoughts were running through my mind. I was humbled by the invitation that had brought me to the event and by the upholding prayer from my own congregation, which was, at that moment, so far away. I was also struck by the extent to which those attending were engaged in CMS’s vision to seek “a world that knows Jesus.”

John Newton was one of the founding members of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), a group of evangelicals passionate about worldwide Gospel outreach. I think he could scarcely have imagined the global impact of CMS today. You will not be at all surprised when I say that a couple of lines from a hymn came bubbling up:

Elect from ev’ry nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth

Sitting beside the archbishop of Sydney in a congregation that was largely Anglican, we sang to God’s praise, and I rejoiced in the fellowship of the Gospel, which in Christ transcends denominational distinctives. Evangelical unity is what marked the ministry of George Whitefield in the eighteenth century when he preached at least eighteen thousand times to vast crowds. As we come to the end of our studies in John 17 at Parkside, we are challenged and encouraged to think, pray, and act along these lines.

At the heart of God’s plan for the world is the Church, which Jesus is building throughout the nations. We receive many calls asking for guidance about what to look for when choosing a local church. I usually say, “If you find a perfect church, don’t join it, because it will then no longer be perfect!”

If you’re seeking direction, there are essential attributes that mark a congregation faithfully adhering to the foundation given in the book of Acts: The church believes that the Word of God does the work of God through the Spirit of God in the people of God, Christ is supreme, the sacraments/ordinances and prayer are honored, and the fellowship is humble, joyful, generous and welcoming. “Is the pastor a Gospel man?” is an important question to answer.

I’m greatly encouraged to hear from many pastors who are convinced of our commitment at Truth For Life to see local churches strengthened. The ministry of TFL exists to see this happen more and more. My ongoing involvement at Truth For Life after my redeployment from the Sunday-by-Sunday preaching at Parkside will allow me time to be of help and encouragement to men in pastoral ministry.

Soon, the snow here in Cleveland will be gone, and you can pay us a visit at Truth For Life and attend a worship service at Parkside! For now, this comes with the expressed gratitude of our entire team for your partnership in the Gospel and with my love in the Lord Jesus.

Alistair