The book of Judges records one of the darkest times in Israel’s history. This period was marked by cycles of sin, failure, and turning away from God. Though Judges describes past events, the pattern is familiar. Like ancient Israel, our world today rejects God’s authority and follows what is right in its own eyes. Yet when His people cry out for mercy, the Lord proves His faithfulness. In Light in the Darkness: The Message of Judges, Dr. Michael Barrett shows how even amid Israel’s repeated failures, God’s redemptive plan shines through. This accessible study reveals the enduring relevance of Judges, reminding us of God’s faithfulness, our weakness, and the hope of the coming Redeemer who never fails His people. Endorsements “Dr. Barrett is one of the best Bible interpreters of our present generation. His latest work on the book of Judges is a true page-turner, with many fresh and spiritually invigorating insights on every page.“ —Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes “This book is what I call a ‘gripper‘ — that is, neither a superficial survey nor a dense technical tome but a study that gives the reader a real grip on the book of Judges. And Dr. Barrett believes in ‘overspill‘ —he constantly points out implications for the believer‘s life and always has his eyes fixed on Jesus. Ideal for church study groups.“ —Dr. Dale Ralph Davis

There is no such thing as a neutral education. However we choose to educate our children, their upbringing is our responsibility. Are our children establishing their understanding of the world and their values on the foundation of God’s truth? Or are they learning a worldview that has no place for God and is ultimately hostile toward Him? Drawn from Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching ministry, A Battle for the Mind stresses the importance of developing a distinctly Christian philosophy of education. These biblical principles can vitally shape the lives of young people—and our own lives—for the glory of God.

The whole of our salvation—even our faith in Christ—is given to us as an extravagant gift of God’s mercy. Today, R.C. Sproul teaches that this truth should deepen our gratitude toward our gracious Redeemer.

unlikely that the garden of Eden was in a low-lying region near the head of the Persian Gulf. It is more likely that Genesis 2 portrays Eden as the source of four rivers, emphasizing an abundance of water to nourish the plants in the garden.

While the geographical details in Genesis 2 suggest that the garden of Eden was a real place in the Middle East, the account provides insufficient information to pinpoint its exact location. Importantly, it is unlikely that the garden continued to exist long after Adam and Eve’s expulsion. By its very nature as a garden, it was an enclosed area, distinct from the “field” mentioned in Genesis 2:5 and later associated with the “animals of the field” (Gen. 2:20; 3:1, 14). Without human residents, there is no reason to believe that God made alternative arrangements to maintain the garden. With no one “to work it and keep [or ‘take care of’] it” (Gen. 2:15), the garden is unlikely to have persisted (compare the story of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1–6).

Although the garden likely fell into disrepair and disappeared, knowledge of it remained important because it recalled the original harmonious relationship between God and humanity. As a sacred space, the garden image shaped the design of future Israelite sanctuaries. Although God could no longer be encountered in the long-abandoned garden of Eden, Israelites could meet with Him at the Jerusalem temple, which featured garden-like elements. Moreover, elements of Eden reappear in the Apostle John’s vision of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21–22. While it is pointless for readers of Genesis 2 to search for a long-lost garden of Eden, God has provided through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, a way to draw close to Him in a more glorious new Eden setting.

: J.H. Walton, “Eden, Garden of,” *Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch *(InterVarsity Press, 2003), 204.

: K. A. Kitchen, On the Reliability of the Old Testament (Eerdmans, 2003), 429.

God places His name on us in our baptism, marking us out as those called to trust in the Father, believe in the Son, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, Sinclair Ferguson singles out the central truth of baptism.

Discussions about baptism often focus on what we are baptized with—how much water and how it’s to be applied. Today, Sinclair Ferguson encourages us to consider what we are baptized into—and how that affects our identity.

the ages. Hear the gospel preached and see the gospel in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. You cannot do these things on your own. God’s people are made to gather. They always have and they always will. When you come to church, you receive blessings from the Lord that you cannot get anywhere else.

God has promised that as His church gathers together, He will bless them in a way that is distinct from when they are on their own. Jesus promises that when two or three are gathered in His name, He is in the midst of them (Matt. 18:19–20). The Apostle Paul, speaking of when the outsider comes into worship, says that our prayer should be that he realizes what is always true: “God is really among you” (1 Cor. 14:25). In the book of Revelation, Jesus tells us that He walks among the lampstands, which are His churches (Rev. 2:1). He still does that Sunday by Sunday as His church gathers.

There is nothing in this world more wonderful than being part of Christ’s church.

Sacraments are visible signs and seals of God’s sovereignly established covenant relationship with His people. The Lord appointed certain visible signs to indicate essential truths about His covenants with man. In the covenant of works, as in the covenant of grace, there are visible signs that may be considered sacraments (e.g., the tree of life and the rainbow). The promises of the covenant of grace are the same under each of the major outward administrations of the covenant of grace, the old covenant and the new covenant. Therefore, although there are different sacraments under the old and new covenants because each is a different outward administration of the covenant of grace, the two sacraments under each of those covenantal administrations signify and seal the same promises of God. Under the old covenant, the two sacraments were circumcision and the Passover. In the new covenant, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only two sacraments instituted. Each of these sacraments serves as a tangible sign of the same reality of redemption through the shed blood of Christ and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. The Protestant and Reformed understanding of the sacraments differs from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the number and nature of the sacraments.

In this thoughtful study and worshipful reflection, two influential pastors draw on decades of pastoral experience in order to guide us through the whole sweep of Scripture and examine seven key qualities of Jesus’s identity and ministry:• Jesus as the True Prophet• Jesus as the Great High Priest• Jesus as the Conquering King• Jesus as the Seed of the Woman• Jesus as the Son of Man• Jesus as the Suffering Servant• Jesus as the Lamb on the ThroneName above All Names helps us to see and meditate on the incomparable character of Christ—a spiritual exercise that enables us to readily respond to the exhortations of Scripture, to focus our gaze upon the King of kings, and to better understand just how great Jesus really is.

In this classic guide to The Westminster Confession of Faith, A.A. Hodge examines each chapter of the confession in a clear and understandable way.

of God. The first volley fired against the authority of God is an assault on His truthfulness, and it is intended to incite rebellion against God and over His inherent authority over His creation.

The serpent is saying, in so many words: Your Creator has lied to you. The King has betrayed you. He told you that if you eat of that fruit, you will die. I’m here to tell you that that’s not true. The reason that God told you not to touch that fruit is not for your protection or well-being, but that He is jealously guarding His own dominion and kingdom. He knows that if you eat of that fruit, you will awaken to a new dimension of knowledge that heretofore in your naïveté you haven’t penetrated at all. If you eat of that tree, you will know and understand good and evil. Once you have achieved that level of insight and knowledge, you will be like God.

The First Credo of Humanism

Protagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher, is sometimes called the father of humanism. He coined a phrase that was later translated into Latin as homo mensura, which literally means “man the measure.” Protagoras’ thesis was that man is the measure of all things—man, not God, is ultimate. Yet Protagoras didn’t invent humanism. It began much earlier than in ancient Greece. It began in the garden of Eden. Of course, the great irony is that the author of humanism isn’t even human. A serpent, not a man, gives the first credo of humanism. The original creed is not homo mensura but eritis sicut dii, “You shall be as gods.” That’s the seduction.

From a theological standpoint, what really provokes the fall? The temptation that seduces the entire human race is an offer of autonomy. Someone who seeks to be autonomous seeks to be a law unto himself, accountable to no higher authority. The serpent suggests to Adam and Eve that they are free to decide for themselves what is best. Why should they live under the authority of someone else?

This lie continues to be told today. It might sound something like this: “As long as there is one restriction on your freedom, you’re not truly free.” Since Genesis 3, the promise has been held out to man to be his own god, to create his own kingdom, to build his own city, and to throw off the kingdom and rule of God. The temptation is a test of obedience, and once the serpent’s suggestion is acted on, the cosmic war begins. As a result, conflict enters human experience.

Sinners were coming to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. Why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God, ask to be baptized with that same water? Today, Sinclair Ferguson considers the gospel message that this moment conveys.

How can we be confident that our faith will endure to the end? Today, R.C. Sproul teaches that our perseverance as Christians rests not in our own strength but in the ongoing intercession of Christ on our behalf.

The September 2026 issue of Tabletalk will explore the doctrine of assurance of salvation. Many Christians struggle at times with doubt regarding the genuineness of their faith and their standing before God. Some lack assurance because they look for confidence in themselves instead of in Christ, while others misunderstand the nature of assurance altogether, treating it either as unattainable or as something disconnected from holiness. Scripture, however, teaches that believers may attain a true and well-grounded confidence of their salvation through faith in Christ, the promises of God, the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit, and the evidences of grace at work in their lives. This issue of Tabletalk will help readers understand the biblical foundation, nature, obstacles, and growth of assurance so that they may be strengthened in faith, comforted in Christ, and encouraged toward greater maturity in the Christian life. Contributors include Thomas Brewer, Cornelis P. Venema, R. Carlton Wynne, Brian Cosby, Sinclair B. Ferguson, Stanley D. Gale, Jon D. Payne, Kyle Borg, John C.A. Ferguson, Joel Kim, Tessa Thompson, Lane Tipton, Aaron D. Messner, Rut Etheridge III, and Karrie Hahn Devlin.

Sin isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are. On this episode of Simply Put, Barry Cooper defines the term “original sin” and explains how it became our natural state.

Baptism wasn’t given to us just for the experience of a moment—it’s a sign that affects every day of our Christian lives. Today, Sinclair Ferguson reminds us what our baptism teaches us about Christ and what He has done for us.

trusted friend that we need most. Consider six benefits of Christian friendship:

Let us never underestimate the power of presence: “Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David.” Often, friendship begins with simply the presence of someone else.

What did Jonathan do that was so significant? Jonathan “strengthened [David’s] hand in God.” We don’t know exactly what that meant, but it is clear that God uniquely used Jonathan’s presence, pursuit, and words to strengthen David to continue to trust God.

Jonathan said, “Do not fear.” Apparently, Jonathan saw that David was afraid. Any of us would be afraid if the king was seeking our life. And yet, sometimes we need a comforting voice to remind us that we are not alone. We need a message from a friend who says: “Do not fear. I’m here with you, and God is with you.”

Jonathan said, “The hand of Saul my father shall not find you.” How could Jonathan say this? He couldn’t prevent Saul from finding David, but this was a statement from Jonathan that he would protect David. It was as if Jonathan were saying, “If my father comes after you, he must go through me to get to you.” Sometimes when we feel deeply alone, we need someone to declare, “They have to come through me to get to you.”

Jonathan reminded David of God’s purposes. He said, “You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you.” Sometimes in crisis, we need a friend to remind us of truth we already know but have forgotten. Jonathan, the rightful heir to his father’s throne, reminds David that God’s purposes are to make David king—not Jonathan. And yet, as his friend, Jonathan will be with him.

To seal this moving commitment of friendship in this crucial moment in their lives, Jonathan and David “made a covenant before the Lord.” This was a promise between these two men that was binding between them and before God. Based on these words of Jonathan, it was a commitment that said, “I will always be for you and with you.”

The relationship between David and Jonathan is a beautiful example of biblical friendship for Christians to pursue and experience. It is never good for man or woman to be alone. We need each other. We need friendships full of love, trust, and loyalty.

through:

Exhaustive verse-by-verse commentary from 75 distinguished scholars, Dr. Sproul’s clear and precise notes covering the whole scope of theology, And two millennia of historic Christian creeds and confessions of faith.

And when pastors are better equipped for their calling, the whole church benefits from the light of God’s Word.

We seek to equip 500,000 pastors with the Reformation Study Bible by 2035. God has blessed this outreach; our pace is quickening, and we’re already 40 percent of the way to this goal. Last month alone, Ligonier’s supporters enabled the equipping of tens of thousands of church leaders throughout Africa. I was privileged to see their profound gratitude and renewed encouragement firsthand.

Yet I also glimpsed the depth of the problem. Prosperity preachers are flooding Africa with containers filled with false teaching. The cults are there too. Darkness remains across the continent. To counteract this, we must accelerate the distribution of study Bibles to spread the light of God’s truth. 

Reaching our goal to equip half a million pastors still requires significant funds. Your support today can accelerate this outreach while fueling multi-year translations of the _Reformation Study Bible _into Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and other major languages.

All of Ligonier’s outreaches exist to serve the global church, from our newly upgraded app, to the expansion of RefNet, to YouTube and satellite TV broadcasts, to Tabletalk Bible studies and translated books, to conferences and training events around the world. Your prayerful and financial support can further each of these outreaches and strengthen pastors to shine the light of God’s truth.

Dr. Sproul said of Ligonier’s study Bible outreach, “We’re talking about an investment that has long-lasting impact in the lives of people.” Your gift today will help place study Bibles in the hands of pastors like Moses and accelerate worldwide Bible-teaching outreach.

Thank you for joining Ligonier to strengthen the church, equip the saints, and proclaim God's holiness among the nations.

Preaching is God’s appointed means through which He advances His kingdom and redeems the elect. By the proclamation of His Word, God perfects and strengthens His people through faith. The English word preaching captures the meaning of the New Testament words euangelion and kerygma. These words convey the idea of the proclamation of the good news of Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins. In the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles, preaching is revealed to be the central means of discipleship and evangelism. Preaching is the first mark of a true church. When the central message of the gospel is proclaimed, the risen and reigning Christ speaks through the preached Word as the Prophet of the church. The foolishness of the message and method of preaching highlights the sufficiency of God in accomplishing His eternal purposes of redemption in the lives of His people by the accompanying work of His Holy Spirit. The Spirit and the Word together create faith in Christ in the hearts of the elect. The Reformation was a reclamation of the ministry of the preached Word after it was obscured in the medieval church. Although there is no inspired manner of preaching set out in Scripture, many of the Reformers practiced exegetical and expositional preaching. In the history of Protestantism, a variety of approaches to preaching are represented.

brain is like a muscle. It can be strengthened by regular use. Apply yourself with diligence to your studies. Turn off your phone for lengthy periods of time to facilitate concentration. Whether reading a chapter, writing a paper, or completing a problem set, the greater the focus, the greater the quality of the work produced.

Don’t let fear of a bad grade be your motivator. Instead, aim for the joy of discovery, of nurturing whatever level of academic talent the Lord has entrusted to you. When love of the learning process replaces anxiety about the grading process, the results often take care of themselves. If faithfulness is your aim, the grade can never determine the final impact. The B- of a faithful student is more praiseworthy in God’s eyes than the A- of a lazy or unethical student. The former will also make a better employee. Christian character is often the seedbed of professional success.

Make Intelligent Use of Artificial Intelligence

It’s the elephant in the room: How does using AI relate to loving God with our minds? First, we will not be loving God with our minds if we resort to AI to flee the mental strain that education requires. Don’t outsource the mental or creative work to the detriment of your own learning. If it helps, outsource the busy work. But the development of critical thinking, and the ability to connect ideas together, these skills can only come from deliberate practice. This article was written because I was willing to first stare at a blank page. And I’ve cut twice as many words as I’ve included. Similarly, don’t let AI do your math or science problems for you without doing the necessary learning that math and science require. Instead, you can use AI to write math or science problems for you, or to check your solutions, or have the chatbot quiz you about whatever it is you’re trying to master.

Loving God with all our minds means leaning into the intellectual growth process. It means that to the extent we use AI, we use it as a tool to help us think, write, and solve complex problems better. We make AI our tool and we don’t let the tool become our master.

Dear Christian student, join me in the lifelong process of learning to love God with all your mind. It won’t always be easy, but it’s a journey filled with reward.

: Michael Torres, “The SAT’s Trust Fall: Legacy standardized-testing firms are cutting rigor to please students,” The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, June 18, 2025, https://jamesgmartin.center/2025/06/the-sats-trust-fall/.

One reason we find sin appealing is because we fail to believe what God says in His Word. Today, R.C. Sproul outlines the close relationship between sin and unbelief.

If we think of baptism primarily as a point of controversy rather than a gift from God, we need to take some time and think again. Today, Sinclair Ferguson shows that baptism is a sign that confirms the promise of the gospel.

We all long for the church to be marked by joyful unity. But what should we do when division, rivalry, and discouragement threaten genuine gospel fellowship?

In Sinclair Ferguson’s new video teaching series on Philippians, discover how Christ’s example of humility can renew our churches with steadfast faith, joyful fellowship, and unity in the gospel.

Get complete streaming access when you order the series today.

In My Joy and Crown, Dr. Ferguson explores the theology and pastoral wisdom in Paul’s affectionate letter to the Philippians. Start studying today to discover how the gospel provides a firm foundation for Christian living and fellowship with other believers.

12 Messages, Including:

A Joy and Crown Congregation Lessons on Prayer The Wonder of God’s Providence The Secret of Humility How to Think as a Christian And More

Watch the first message for free to start your study.

Several Teaching Series Formats Available

Digital download Ligonier Connect course Digital study guide

Preorder the DVD Edition and Study Guide

You can also be among the first to receive the DVD edition and paperback study guide for My Joy and Crown when they become available. Preorder Dr. Ferguson’s DVD teaching series and study guide for yourself or a loved one today.

Watch Now as a Ministry Partner 

Did you know that Ligonier’s Ministry Partners get streaming access to our entire teaching series library? Unlock My Joy and Crown, along with Ligonier’s entire catalog from dozens of teachers, when you partner with Ligonier today. 

Your prayers and monthly donation will help fuel gospel outreach so more Christians worldwide can benefit from this biblical teaching.

the Bible is the soul, which includes the mind, the will, the heart, and other aspects.