In the moments before He died, Jesus saw His mother, Mary, standing with John and tenderly commended them to one another's care. In this Mother's Day message, Alistair Begg ponders the history and heart of Mary, reminding us that Jesus' loving and temporal provision for her in this moment is an emblem of a far greater reality—the eternal provision Christ makes for all who believe in Him. With this act of loving grace, Jesus establishes a whole new category, fashioning a family of faith that finds both forgiveness and fellowship in the work of the cross.

Most pastors have experienced a Sunday (or many!) when they aren't on the same page as the praise musicians. This disconnect can result in discontinuity between the pulpit and music ministry, frustrating both the pastor and the worship team. In this breakout, Parkside Church's Jonathan Albright considers several practical music ministry scenarios and identifies key principles that lead to unified, intentional ministry between the pastor and praise team.

Between 2020 and 2023, over 400,000 Americans died drug-related deaths, with another 560,000 succumbing to deaths related to alcohol. The statistics are just as bad in Scotland. For the past eight years, Hope for Addiction UK has been seeking to make a difference in this arena. In this breakout session, Terry McCutcheon shares what the organization has been doing and learning as it seeks to minister in a culture of addiction.

In a world in which opposition to Christianity seems to be rising, what does it mean to echo the apostle Paul's stirring claim that he was "not ashamed of the gospel"? Thirdmill's Richard Platt helps us see that the answer lies in remembering the words that follow: "It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." The good news of Jesus, he reminds us, doesn't just have a strong arm; it also has a long reach. How can we be anything but eager to preach it?

In the final section of his first epistle, the apostle Peter issued a series of challenging exhortations to the elders of the churches to which he wrote. In the concluding message of Basics 2025, Alistair Begg shows how Peter's words remain relevant to today's pastors and church leaders, reminding them of the key imperatives of Gospel ministry. The only hope we have, he reminds us—in ministry and in life—is in the God of grace, who provides support so that we won't topple, strength so that we won't collapse, and a foundation so that we won't be blown away.

In this Basics 2025 question-and-answer session, Parkside Church's Matt Ross poses attendees' questions to Alistair Begg and fellow speakers Willie Philip and Richard Pratt. How do prospective ministers discern their sense of calling? How can pastors preach the Old Testament Christologically and still remain faithful to the text? What particular dangers does the church face in our politically divisive cultural climate? Hear answers to these questions and others as you listen in on the conversation.

Of all the chapters in Genesis, few are as challenging to understand, much less preach, as chapter 38, which recounts a sordid series of events involving Judah and Tamar. As the Tron Church's Willie Philip helps us see, however, this passage demonstrates that while God's arm is strong, it is also long. If He can work into His wonderful story of grace and mercy even people like those in this story, then surely there can't be any darkness or misery so great as to keep Him from doing the same today.

All Christian leaders, and especially those who minister the Word of God, must be sure that they remain firmly rooted in Christ. This is especially true when the world around us challenges the Christian faith in new ways. As Third Millennium Ministries' Richard Pratt explains, the apostle Paul experienced this in his own life—and in 1 Corinthians, he wrote how he was able to stay firmly rooted but also relevant in his changing world.

Those serving in ministry can easily lean too far toward idealism on the one hand or pragmatism on the other. In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul strikes a perfect balance between the hope that is ours in Christ and the necessity of speaking the truth in love to a lost and wandering world. Richard Pratt of Third Millennium Ministries walks us through this vital passage, helping us understand how we can live in a manner that is worthy of our high and holy calling.

Abuse is often a confounding issue for pastors and ministry leaders to navigate—and identifying abusive and oppressive behaviors in marriage can feel especially overwhelming. In this session, Fieldstone Counseling founder Jonathan Holmes discusses some core principles for caring for the abused well and understanding how abuse goes against God's intended designs and purposes for husbands and wives.