Tabletalk Magazine, September 1998: The Rare Jewel of Contentment

by Ligonier Ministries

Publisher:

Ligonier Ministries

, 1998

Overview

For more than thirty years, Tabletalk has existed as a magazine to provide a substantive study tool for believers. Generally speaking, laymen receive either very little instruction in the weightier matters of the faith, or the instruction is too academic, thereby making the material largely inaccessible to average person. This is the reason Tabletalk exists—to bridge the gap between these two poles, to explain to the people of God the important, biblical doctrines and events while admonishing them toward holy living.

Contributors include: R. C. Sproul along with Sinclair Ferguson, Jerry Bridges, Don Kistler, Eric Alexander, Robert Barnes, Edmund Clowney, Nevin Mawhinney, and Ligon Duncan. Tabletalk features articles on topics central to the Christian faith and contains daily, in-depth Bible studies.

Over the years, Tabletalk has been recognized for its excellence through several awards. Today, people all over the world read Tabletalk on a daily basis. Now with the Logos Bible Software edition of Tabletalk all Scripture passages are linked to your favorite Bible translation in your library. With the advanced search features of Logos Bible Software, you can perform powerful searches by topic or Scripture reference—finding, for example, every mention of "contentment" or "possession."

Key Features

• Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul
• "Coram Deo" note from an editor

Contents

• "Three Schools" by R. C. Sproul
• "Five Easy Steps" by Sinclair Ferguson
• "Measuring Up" by Jerry Bridges
• "The Winter of Our Discontent" by Don Kistler
• "The Discord of Discontent" by Eric Alexander
• "Israel and the Golden Calves" by Robert Barnes
• "Jealous Husband" by Edmund Clowney
• "The Mirror" by Nevin Mawhinney
• "The Lord’s Own Possession" by Ligon Duncan
• "The Cultural Mind: Fully Accredited"
• "Puritan Treasures: A Sufficiency of Satisfaction"
• "Hits and Missives"
• "Tolle Lege: A Study of Contentment"

Top Highlights

“You can no doubt detect a common thread running through all my experiences of learning to be content: a strong belief in the wise and sovereign rule of God in all the circumstances of my life. There is another biblical truth, though, that is just as important to me: the realization that all that I am and all that I have is by the grace of God. I have not received what I deserve, namely, God’s condemnation and wrath. Rather, I have received what I don’t deserve: the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of eternal life and all the blessings of this life. I believe these two fundamental truths—the sovereignty and the grace of God—have helped me learn to be content.” (Page 13)

“It is precisely this union with Christ and the discovery of His adequacy which we cannot turn on by the decision of the moment. It is the fruit of an ongoing, intimate, deeply developed relationship with Him.” (Page 10)

“It is painful to pride to discover that the Christian life is not rooted in what we can do, but in what we need done to us.” (Page 9)

“the providence of God, more than anything else, that was his secret to biblical contentment.” (Page 7)

“wealthiest?’ He replied, ‘He that is content with least, for ataraxia is nature’s wealth.’” (Page 5)

Praise for the Print Edition

Tabletalk has been a key ingredient in the diet of Christians conscious of their spiritual vitality.

—Michael S. Horton

Month by month, Tabletalk represents an oasis in a desert of false spirituality, mindless Christianity, and vapid conviction. Tabletalk represents theological rigor, biblical Christianity, and authentic Christian devotion. It is an antidote to the world of superficial Christianity. Read it and grow.

—R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

Tabletalk has been a wonderful resource in my own daily walk with the Lord.

—Ravi Zacharias

Product Details

• Title: Tabletalk Magazine, September 1998: The Rare Jewel of Contentment
• Editor in Chief: R. C. Sproul Jr.
• Associate Editor: Robert Barnes
• Series: Tabletalk
• Publisher: Ligonier Ministries
• Publication Date: 1998
• Pages: 62

About Ligonier Ministries

R. C. Sproul is founder and president of Ligonier Ministries and president of Ligonier Academy. He also servers as the senior pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he has written more than seventy books including The Holiness of God, The Intimage Marriage, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, Following the Cross, and the R. C. Sproul Exposition Collection.

Burk Parsons serves as editor of Tabletalk and associate pastor of Saint Andrew’s in Sanford, Fla., and he is editor of the books Assured by God: Living in the Fullness of God’s Grace and John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology.