Even good things can become idols if we give them central importance in our lives. Having children changes everything, and as mothers, we risk looking for life, purpose and meaning in motherhood. While being a mother brings its unique set of challenges, these years of raising children and helping them grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord provide an opportunity to grow in our own Christlikeness as well. Writing from her own personal experience as a mom, Christina Fox encourages mothers to prayerfully and thoughtfully examine their own hearts, and to let God use motherhood as a means of sanctification. Split into three sections, the first chapter looks at the meaning motherhood; chapters 2–4 are about idolatry; chapters 5–9 focus on a few different idols that mothers might worship (not an exhaustive list, but a common few); and the final chapters are about facing idols, dethroning them, and turning our heart back to the One true God.

We live in an age where ‘friendships’ are prolific and contact is constant. But are all of these people really our friends? The bond of Christian friendship is different. Built on our unity with Christ, these are real life, flesh and blood relationships – both sacred and sacrificial. Christina Fox offers insight into how we can weave friendships that last through any season and reflect Christ to the world.

word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain” (2:16). We too can have godly pride in our own labors and in what others have done. We can tell a child we are proud of their efforts in school and rejoice in how the Lord uses us to grow the ministry.

It is arrogance to think that we can do anything apart from God. It is He who created us; it is He who sustains us. May we humble ourselves before the Lord and live in dependence upon His grace.

This article is part of the Virtues and Vices collection.

They don’t clean up the mess of their lives before seeking out their heavenly Father. God already knows what is going on in their minds and hearts, so they don’t pretend that their lives are better than they actually are. The psalmists voice the depths of their pain with vivid descriptions and adjectives: “I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping” (Ps. 6:6).

Asking for help. The psalmists then ask for help. They beg God to rescue them. They ask for relief from their pain. They ask for help and salvation. Whatever their needs are, they ask God to step in and provide for them: “O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!” (Ps. 71:12).

Responding in trust and praise. Throughout the laments, the writers often reference God’s character, His past acts of salvation, His power and wisdom, His love and faithfulness. As the psalmists cry out to God and remember who God is and what He has done, they end their laments with a response of trust, praise, and worship. For those of us reading these laments, it seems like an abrupt ending. We might wonder, how do the psalmists go from feeling as though their lives are ending to praising God? The laments do not take place in real time. Before writing, the psalmists have gone through a journey of wrestling with their thoughts and emotions, of crying out to God over and over, and of reminding themselves of the truth. And in so doing, they respond in trust and praise God: “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever” (Ps. 86:12).

This is just a small taste of what we can learn from studying the pattern that the psalms of lament follow. Learning this pattern and adopting it as our own helps us to cry out to God with our own pain, sorrow, grief, and fear. Following the way of the psalmists turns our gaze from ourselves and toward the One who alone can save us. The more we do so, the more we find ourselves in the presence of our gracious Father in heaven, that place where we are encouraged to go: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published May 6, 2016.

play times, activity and rest times. Spiritually, this includes patterns of time together to pray and learn from God’s Word.

As you develop these routines, talk about them with your child. Teach them how God is consistent in this world and in their life. Work together to create schedules and routines that help everyone accomplish what God calls them to. Discuss together what extra activities to include in the week, whether they will help or inhibit the family’s routines, and whether the additional activities bring glory to God.

Ground Your Family in God’s Word As Moses prepared God’s people to enter the promised land, he exhorted them to remember God’s Word: “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life. . .” (Deut. 32:46–47). As Christians, we know that God’s Word is the source of life and truth, yet in the craziness of daily life it’s often neglected for the sake of pressing things like getting out the door on time or finishing homework before bed. Yet our children cannot learn about the world God created apart from knowing Him. Math, science, and history unrooted from the God who created all things holds little value. We need to fill our children’s minds and hearts with the truth of who God is and what He has done. This equips them to separate truth from falsehood. It helps them develop a biblical worldview through which to filter all that they hear and see. It feeds their souls, helping them grow in their knowledge of the One who created them.

As you start a new school year, incorporate Bible reading and memorization into your day. Mealtimes or evenings before bed are ideal. Use these times to talk about your children’s day, what they learned, and the interactions they had with others. Help them think through and consider how God’s Word intersects with their daily lives. What might the gospel say to how they respond to another child being mean? Or to something a teacher said that is untrue? Or to a situation that seems unfair? As you have these conversations, they will learn that God’s Word is the source of truth for all of life.

The transition from summer to the return to school creates opportunities to teach our children about the God who made them. As we get back into the fall routine, may we seek to image God in our work and rest, in our schedules and routines, and in our dependence upon His Word.

kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth . . . hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord. (Isa. 37:16-20)

God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and delivered His people from Assyria. He became their refuge and defeated their enemies.

Egypt failed to rescue God’s people. So it is with every false god. At some point, they will show their uselessness; they will let us down. They cannot give us the life, hope, and meaning for which we long. Life is found in Christ alone.

When life is hard and trials come our way, when the pressure is overwhelming, when we are fearful or in despair, we must find our refuge in God. He is a bulwark never failing.

The March 2020 issue of Tabletalk will focus on the topic of fear. In this world, there is much to be afraid of, and most of us go through life with many fears on our hearts. Some of these fears are conscious, and others we may not be aware of; nevertheless, we are a fearful people, often driven by our fears to do foolish things. Importantly, Christians do not escape the reality of fear. We can be just as fearful as nonbelievers, though we often do not admit or confront our fears, believing that walking by faith means never acknowledging what we are afraid of. The answer to fear, however, is not to deny that it exists but to look to the Lord, who commands us again and again to “fear not.” Knowing who God is and that He is for His people is the only way to find lasting comfort. This issue of Tabletalk will seek to help Christians understand their fears better, to be willing to admit their fears, and to find comfort for their fears in God.Contributors include Ed Welch, Keith A. Evans, Mike Emlet, John P. Sartelle Sr., Rebecca VanDoodewaard, Jon Nielson, Jeremy Pierre, Jayne V. Clark, Kevin Struyk, John Perritt, Lou Priolo, Eric B. Watkins, Christina Fox, Guy Prentiss Waters, Jay Thomas, Peter Y. Lee, Mark G. Johnston, Ken Jones, Tim Keesee, David Strain, and Thomas Brewer.

Parenting can be both rewarding and overwhelming, and there seems to be no shortage of opinions regarding how fathers and mothers should raise their children. With so much conflicting and often unbiblical advice, how can parents orient themselves to God’s desires and purposes for their children? The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, can provide both a biblical framework as well as practical advice to parents seeking to raise their children to the glory of God.

Parenting by God’s Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace by Joel Beeke  This book unpacks the scriptural mandate for parents to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4) by exploring what that looks like in daily life. Practical wisdom is offered on topics including leading family worship, modeling Christian living, and exercising discipline, all while encouraging parents to look to the Lord and trust in Him as they raise their children.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp  God’s Word makes clear that human actions, words, and attitudes flow from our hearts (Luke 6:45). This book seeks to help parents better understand how to engage and guide their children’s hearts into the paths of life by clarifying parenting goals and teaching parents how to communicate with their children in fruitful ways.

Teach Them to Work: Building Positive Work Ethic in Our Children by Mary Beeke This book can provide helpful guidance for parents in how to teach their children to be faithful stewards. Parenting principles and their practical applications are discussed with the goal of helping parents bring clarity to God’s design for fruitful labor in society and the home.

The Duties of Parents by J.C. Ryle In this brief booklet written in the nineteenth century, Ryle describes the goal of parenting according to Scripture, training children to walk with God. This book can help fathers and mothers evaluate their own parenting goals and practices and examine how they line up with God’s character according to His Word.

Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for Our Parenting by Christina Fox This book focuses on studying the character of God to give readers a clearer picture of who He is and help them see how His character gives shape to their own parenting as image bearers. Some of the truths covered include that God is our adoptive Father, God provides boundaries, God disciplines us, and God gives us what we need.

This article is part of the Recommended Resources collection.

The May 2022 issue of Tabletalk will consider misunderstood attributes of God. Our God-centered theology emphasizes right understanding of the fullness of our Lord’s character, and we strive to understand what the Bible says about God’s attributes. However, it can be easy for us to misunderstand what the Bible and our confessional tradition mean when they talk about such things as God’s simplicity, love, wrath, goodness, omnipresence, and omnipotence. If we are not careful, we can misread the anthropomorphic language of Scripture in such a way that we end up putting the Lord on our level. This issue of Tabletalk will explore the meaning of several of God’s attributes, correcting common misunderstandings that arise when these attributes are considered. Contributors include James E. Dolezal, Robert Letham, Samuel D. Renihan, Terry L. Johnson, Gerald Bray, R. Carlton Wynne, D. Blair Smith, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Thomas Brewer, David P. Murray, Derek W.H. Thomas, Mantle A. Nance, and Todd M. Rester.

The February 2022 issue of Tabletalk will provide an introduction to Jewish life in the days of Jesus. Our Savior was born in a particular place, into a particular culture, at a particular time. Understanding the reality of life in this place, culture, and time is vital for understanding the person and work of our Savior and for understanding the gospel revealed in the Old and New Testaments. Specifically, Jesus was born a Jew, and He conducted His ministry against the backdrop of Jewish life and in light of particular historical realities for the first-century Jewish people. To assist readers with better understanding their Bibles and the history of the Christian faith, this issue of Tabletalk will consider the historical, political, and religious situation of first-century Judaism, situating the ministry of Christ and the Apostles in its original context and looking briefly at how both Christianity and modern Judaism developed out of that setting. Contributors include David E. Briones, Robert J. Cara, Joshua J. Van Ee, Benjamin Shaw, Jonathan T. Pennington, Andreas J. Köstenberger, Benjamin L. Gladd, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Nicholas T. Batzig, Andrew M. Davis, Don Bailey, and Sinclair B. Ferguson.

The November 2022 issue of Tabletalk will consider modern objections to Christianity and respond to these objections. Jesus said that people would hate His disciples, and one manifestation of that hatred consists in attempts to disprove the truth of the Christian faith. Over the centuries, great Christian thinkers have answered objections to the faith, and we are called to walk in their legacy by answering the objections raised to Christian truth in our day. This entails being conversant with the objections to Christianity that are popular in our day and endeavoring to provide sound answers to them. This issue will remind readers that Christians do indeed have answers for those who attempt to prove that the Christian faith is irrational, and it will consider several objections that are commonly raised against the Bible and Christian truth, providing answers to them. Contributors include James N. Anderson, Michael J. Kruger, J.V. Fesko, Robert Rothwell, Stephen J. Nichols, Greg Lanier, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Marissa Henley, Stephen J. Adams, Wiley Lowry, and David Gibson.

The June 2022 issue of Tabletalk will assist readers in dealing with the topic of anger. In the world and church today, there is much confusion regarding the emotion of anger and its proper expression. We live in what is often called an angry age, with the fires of anger continually stoked by politicians, the media, and many others. Some people believe that anger is wholly negative and should never be expressed by Christians, while others believe that all expressions of anger are proper as long as they have a righteous motivation. Scripture’s teaching on anger, however, is more complex. It both acknowledges that the anger of man cannot produce the righteousness of God and notes that there are times when it is good and right to be angry. This is rooted in a right understanding of God, who as the perfectly holy and righteous Creator shows a righteous anger toward sin. This issue of Tabletalk will help readers think through various theological and practical issues related to anger in order to help them follow the teaching of God’s Word more faithfully. Contributors include Burk Parsons, Jeremy Pierre, Caleb Cangelosi, Kevin Struyk, Ed Welch, Robert W. Carver, David Mathis, Mark E. Ross, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Michael O’Steen, Daniel Schrock, David E. Briones, and T. Desmond Alexander.

The December 2022 issue of Tabletalk will provide a field guide on eschatology. One of the most popular topics for discussion in the Christian church is eschatology, the doctrine of the last things. However, many Christians are confused by eschatological issues, having to sift through various positions on the timing of Christ’s return, the millennium, the Antichrist, the new creation, and more. Complicating discussion is the tendency for many believers to read the Bible with a newspaper in hand, as it were, trying to discern how end-times predictions are being fulfilled in our day. In turn, believers frequently lose sight of the most basic eschatological teachings in Scripture such as the nature of death and the intermediate state. Moreover, the truth that eschatology is taught on nearly every page of the Bible is often missed. This issue of Tabletalk will seek to help believers become better grounded in Christian eschatology through articles covering the main issues and themes of biblical eschatology. Contributors include Keith A. Mathison, Dennis E. Johnson, Benjamin L. Gladd, Cornelis P. Venema, Nick Batzig, G.K. Beale, Thomas R. Schreiner, W. Robert Godfrey, Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Aaron L. Garriott, James Faris, David Strain, Eric B. Watkins, and Derek W.H. Thomas.

The August 2022 issue of Tabletalk will feature articles that explain commonly overlooked biblical phrases. Often when believers read Scripture, they overlook particular biblical phrases and miss their importance. Some phrases are so specific to the original historical context of Scripture that we fail to understand them because our own cultural context is so different. Others are overlooked because we assume that the English meaning of a particular phrase is identical to the meaning of the same phrase in Scripture. Believers also overlook some biblical phrases because of our familiarity with them—we see them so often and have heard about them so regularly that we think we know what they mean when our actual knowledge of their meaning is incomplete. This issue of Tabletalk will look at many of the most commonly overlooked biblical phrases to help readers gain a fuller grasp of their meaning and significance. Contributors include Clayton J. Williams, Quentin B. Falkena, Bryan D. Estelle, Michael P.V. Barrett, Aaron D. Messner, R. Andrew Compton, Rhett P. Dodson, William Boekestein, Stanley D. Gale, Matthew H. Patton, Thomas Keene, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, Barry J. York, Timothy Z. Witmer, John P. Sartelle Sr., Gene Edward Veith, and Michael G. Brown.

The March 2022 issue of Tabletalk will address the topic of church conflict. Even professing Christians engage in conflict sometimes. Conflict threatens to divide true believers from one another, and it also forms pressure points where false teachers can infiltrate and lead people away from the truth. Thankfully, we are not left without resources for dealing with conflict in the church. Much of the New Testament addresses conflicts within the Christian community, as the Apostles had to deal with disagreements regarding doctrine, moral behaviors, indifferent matters, and other issues that were present in the infant church. Their instruction must guide us as we seek to resolve church conflicts even today. This issue of Tabletalk will look at what God’s Word has to say about church conflict so as to help readers respond better to conflicts in the church today. Contributors include Peter VanDoodewaard, Roland S. Barnes, Nate Shurden, Fred Greco, Paul Levy, Dan Dodds, Eric Landry, John Currie, David Strain, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Richard L. Pratt Jr., Michael S. Beates, Neil C. Stewart, and Mary Beeke.

The January 2022 issue of Tabletalk will seek to help readers better understand and apply the biblical teaching on humility. Throughout the history of the church, pride has been considered one of the greatest sins and humility one of the most important virtues. In fact, it is impossible to live as followers of Jesus unless we seek regularly to put pride to death and to grow in humility. This issue of Tabletalk will provide an overview of the biblical teaching on these subjects, correcting common misunderstandings of pride and humility while providing guidance for following Scripture’s instruction regarding this sin and its opposite virtue in several different areas. Contributors include Robert M. Godfrey, Keith A. Mathison, Erik Raymond, Tessa Thompson, C.N. Willborn, Melton L. Duncan, Tim Challies, Robert VanDoodewaard, Thomas R. Schreiner, Brandon D. Crowe, Brian Cosby, Mark G. Johnston, Ryan M. McGraw, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, and Robert Rothwell.

The September 2022 issue of Tabletalk will provide an overview of the doctrine of man. John Calvin said that one of the most vital things that we must understand is the nature of mankind. Indeed, while the Bible features God at its center, it does so with reference also to human beings, teaching us what man is to believe concerning God and what duties God requires of man. A sound grasp of biblical anthropology is needed to know the Lord truly and what He requires of us. Sadly, however, the doctrine of man is not well understood in our day, and the ramifications have been felt not only in the church but in the wider society as well. This issue of Tabletalk will seek to address this problem by giving an overview of the biblical doctrine of man, explaining the importance of understanding man as being made male and female in the image of God while also demonstrating the practical application of this teaching. Contributors include A. Craig Troxel, Kim Riddlebarger, Richard P. Belcher Jr., Rowland S. Ward, David VanDrunen, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Kevin DeYoung, Brian G. Najapfour, and Sharon James.

The October 2022 issue of Tabletalk will consider several virtues that have been ignored, forgotten, or lost in society and the church. Throughout history Christians have strived to embody several virtues or morally right actions that are revealed to us in nature and in Scripture. This has affected Western culture at large, with secular society also encouraging the practice of virtues such as honor, honesty, chastity, fortitude, temperance, and more. However, the esteem for these virtues has been in rapid decline over the last century, and results in the family, church, and society have been calamitous. This issue of Tabletalk will look at many of these lost virtues and help readers apply them today. Contributors include Joseph A. Pipa Jr., Susan Smith Bennett, Lowell A. Ivey, Brooks Buser, Kenneth Mbugua, Ken Montgomery, Mark Kelderman, Jason K. Allen, Ken Jones, Tyler Kenney, William Barcley, Todd Pruitt, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Kevin D. Gardner, Victor Cruz, Aaron L. Garriott, Emily Van Dixhoorn, and Michael Dewalt.

The July 2022 issue of Tabletalk will seek to help readers understand what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus declares that His disciples are salt and light and exhorts us to maintain our saltiness and to shine forth the gospel in all that we do. There are various ways that we can fulfill this call, but Christians sometimes do not know how to be salt and light or they think that being salt and light applies only to certain vocations. This issue will look at the biblical and theological significance of God’s people as salt and light in this world, and it will consider the many different ways that Christians can fulfill their calling to be the salt and light that Christ has made them. Contributors include Christopher J. Gordon, Donny Friederichsen, H.P. McCracken, David S. Apple, Tom Ascol, Warren Peel, Harry L. Reeder III, Mike Riccardi, George Grant, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Robert Rothwell, Margy Tripp, Joel E. Smit, Rosaria Butterfield, and Jonty Rhodes.

The April 2022 issue of Tabletalk will feature articles on the theme of world missions and Reformed theology. In our day, the concept of world missions is the subject of much debate. Sometimes the work of missions is construed far too broadly, considering any good work done by Christians under the umbrella of missions. At other times, the work of missions is viewed far too narrowly, neglecting the importance of long-term discipleship in the New Testament. Moreover, the wider church often underestimates the power of the gospel, focusing on programs or cultural accommodation in ways that actually obscure Christ’s work. Thankfully, the Reformed theological tradition is full of resources that can help solve these problems and many others. However, caricatures of Reformed theology by non-Reformed Christians and an inadequate grasp of our theology, history, and practice even by those who profess to be Reformed often prevent us from making full use of these tools. This issue of Tabletalk will seek to help believers and their churches more faithfully engage in world missions by providing the biblical framework for missions, looking at the history of world missions in the Reformed tradition, and exploring both the theological underpinnings and practical outworking of world missions done in a manner that is faithful to Scripture. Contributors include Craig Sheppard, Daniel R. Hyde, Michael A.G. Haykin, Sebastian Heck, Eric B. Watkins, Dustin W. Benge, Christina R. Fox, William VanDoodewaard, Barry J. York, Kevin D. Gardner, Dale Van Dyke, Aaron L. Garriott, Robert Ingram, and Kim Riddlebarger.

That’s a tricky question, but I think it’s a fascinating one and certainly one that many people are concerned about. We talk about foxhole faith, when people cry out in desperate moments of crisis or postpone to their deathbed the moment of committing their lives to Christ. Some people say that it doesn’t make sense for somebody who has been a Christian all their life to be in the same state as somebody who did as they pleased all their life and waited until the last second to get their accounts square with God.

There’s a parable in the New Testament in which Jesus speaks about those who agree to work for a certain wage, and then at the last minute some other people are hired and only work for a few minutes but they get the same pay. The first group is really bent out of shape, and they say, “What’s going on here? There’s no justice in this!” Does the second group receive the same salvation? Yes and no. They are brought into a state of salvation; that is, they escape the punishment of hell and enter into the kingdom if indeed that last-breath repentance is genuine. The requirement for entrance into the kingdom of God is to repent and believe in Christ.

The thief on the cross did it in the last minutes of his life, and Jesus assured him that he would be with him in paradise. There we have Exhibit A in the New Testament of somebody who actually did that and who was promised by our Lord himself that he would participate in Jesus’ kingdom. Certainly it’s possible for a person at the last moment of their life to repent sufficiently, believe, and be justified and enter into all of the benefits of membership of the kingdom of heaven.

However, Paul speaks of those who make it into the kingdom by the skin of their teeth. I think a “deathbed” believer would be in that category. We tend to think that all that matters is getting there because there is an unbridgeable chasm between getting into heaven or missing it altogether. Yet Jesus tells us to work and to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven because he promises emphatically that there will be rewards dispensed to his people according to their obedience and their works. You don’t get into heaven by your works, but your reward in heaven will be according to those works, according to the New Testament. What that says to me is that although people can make it by the skin of their teeth by repenting in their last dying breath, nevertheless, their degree of felicity will not be nearly as great as that of those who have been serving Christ faithfully for many, many years.

In two weeks thousands will gather in Orlando for our 2013 National Conference. These three days will be a call to stand with conviction, not bending with the winds of relativism and faithlessness.

Leading up to the conference we're giving you a preview of who will be teaching and what they'll be teaching on.

Cal Thomas has served in broadcast and print journalism for more than forty years and is the most widely syndicated op-ed columnist in the United States. He has hosted programs on CBNC and Fox News, and he is a frequent commentator on the major political, economic, and religious issues of our day. He has also authored and contributed to several books.

Mr. Thomas was interviewed last year in Tabletalk magazine. Speaking on Christians and politics, he said the following:

"How can a fallen leader repair a fallen society? He (or she) can’t. Only God can do that through changed lives. And lives can be changed only by the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it has always been so. As revivals of the past have shown us, the social impact was astounding. So if believers want to see a culture improved (fewer abortions, less drunkenness, fewer divorces, and so on), let their objective be to lead more people to Christ."

In addition to a questions and answers session, Mr. Thomas will be speaking at one session:

Session 5 — Family Tradition

What is a family, and who has the authority to define or redefine it? Our generation has witnessed radical attempts at redefinition by various interest groups. In this message, Cal Thomas will explore the culture’s assaults on the family and the very practical reasons why the church must speak to family issues. He will remind us that bad policy impacts the lives of real people in very negative ways.

Sinclair Ferguson is senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., professor of systematic theology at Redeemer Seminary, and distinguished visiting professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He serves as a teaching fellow for Ligonier and has also written more than two dozen books.

Dr. Ferguson has spoken at many Ligonier conferences. You can find his past messages here, however, below is his message from last year's National Conference where he encouraged us to wrestle with the deep things of God and to stretch ourselves by reading some of the great theologians of the past.

In addition to a questions and answers session, this year Dr. Ferguson will be speaking at two sessions:

Session 6 — Doctrine in the Dock

Throughout church history, there have been those who set theology and Christian living in opposition to one another. Yet, this was not the way of Jesus or the Apostles. In this message, Dr. Sinclair Ferguson will affirm the value and importance not only of the study of theology but the application of what we study to our hearts. It will look to Paul as a model of one who combined profound theology and heartfelt doxology.

Session 10 — On This Rock

Two thousand years ago, the church