CD Individual Messages

As Samuel aged and his succession plan failed, Israel clamored for a new leader. No longer wanting to be distinct, they chose to imitate the behavior of other nations and asked to trade God’s rule for that of an earthly king. While God granted Israel’s request, Alistair Begg explains, it led to great suffering, revealing ... Continue Reading 

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Although the Israelites had rebelled against God’s rule, the Lord mercifully provided a leader for His people in Samuel. As a spiritual leader, Samuel reminded Israel that their fall into idolatry was not an external problem but an issue of the heart. Alistair Begg notes that a pastor’s priority must similarly be to faithfully proclaim ... Continue Reading 

At Mizpah, the Israelites received thunderous, dramatic deliverance from their Philistine oppressors. Samuel had once again prayed on their behalf, his access to God granted through a blood sacrifice as atonement for sin. Alistair Begg helps us realize how this moment anticipated the perfect Lamb to come and depicted God’s enduring faithfulness to His children. As ... Continue Reading 

Weary of plagues and eager to rid themselves of the ark, the Philistines devised a plan to test whether their affliction was truly the result of God’s heavy hand or merely coincidence. Walking us through the twists and turns of this story, Alistair Begg reminds us that God judges those who violate His plans and is ... Continue Reading 

God cannot be defeated, even when His children are. When the Philistines vanquished the Israelites and captured the ark, all seemed lost. The tables were turned, though, when the almighty God toppled the Philistines’ worthless idol Dagon and inflicted them with tumors until they cried out. Alistair Begg explains that afflictions like these can be acts of ... Continue Reading 

What would Jesus think about Mother’s Day? The brief glimpses provided in Scripture reveal that while Jesus was respectful, courteous, and concerned for His mother’s care, His priority was to do the work of His Father—and although she gave birth to Christ, even Mary was in need of salvation. In this “charcoal sketch,” Alistair ... Continue Reading 

After their stunning victory at Jericho, the Israelites faced an equally stunning defeat at the city of Ai. The reason? Nobody could say—until the Lord told Joshua that someone in the camp had disobeyed one of His express commandments. The same danger faces ministry leaders today, guest speaker Rico Tice warns us. Hiding our sins from ... Continue Reading 

God gives pastors a vital role to play in His transformation of mere followers into committed believers. But what does this role involve? What do pastors actually do? Writing to the Colossians, the apostle Paul provided a succinct, simple answer: “Him we proclaim.” Such a task may seem straightforward. As Alistair Begg notes, though, proclaiming Christ—not ... Continue Reading 

In addition to preaching and teaching, pastors play a key role in developing the leadership team of a church. Whether we are working with other paid staff or volunteers, how do we build and maintain a healthy and Christ-honoring culture in which people can work alongside each other in grace, trust, humility, and honesty? How do we ... Continue Reading