Ask Pastor John
Desiring God
John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.
Advice for Reading Romans After Decades of Experience
Why does Pastor John believe Romans is the greatest letter ever written? And how would he encourage Christians to benefit from this monumental book?
Should I Use AI to Help Me Write Sermons?
Should pastors and ministry leaders use artificial intelligence as a tool to write their sermons and newsletters? If so, how? If not, why not?
Every Good Sermon Has Application
How much life application should pastors offer in their sermons? Pastor John commends interweaving exposition and application throughout each sermon.
What Makes Someone Spiritually Dirty?
When Jesus taught that impurity comes from within, was he departing from the Old Testament? Pastor John considers purity across the covenants.
Why Does the Bible Say Baptism Saves Us?
If God justifies by faith apart from works, then why do some passages seem to suggest that forgiveness comes through the act of baptism?
Living with Gospel-Sized Ambition
Acts 20:24 has encouraged and challenged Christians throughout the centuries. How, in particular, has it shaped the life and ministry of John Piper?
Why Is Witchcraft Handled So Differently Across Scripture?
In the Old Testament, witchcraft is met with capital punishment — but not in the New. Why does God handle this sin differently across redemptive history?
Is There Good Magic and Edifying Sorcery?
Do the signs and wonders in Scripture justify using righteous magic in fiction? Pastor John helps us discern the kinds of stories that serve our sight of Reality.
How Do I Become Happy in God?
Sometimes, the story of another Christian’s joy in God serves to kindle our own. Pastor John takes us to a remarkable moment in the life of Hudson Taylor.
If God Pastors Me, Why Do I Need Pastors?
God could have designed the world so that all the help we need comes from him directly. Instead, he often ministers to us indirectly through other people. Why?
How Do I Apply Bible Stories to My Life?
How can we begin to grasp the meaning of biblical narratives and their application to life? Pastor John offers an example from the story of Joseph.
One Believer Dies, Another Lives: On Reading Providence
In Acts 12, God allows Herod to kill James, but he thwarts the king’s plan to kill Peter. What might this chapter teach us about God’s providence?
The Pleasure That Defeats Pornography
How does a promise about the future help us fight for purity today? Pastor John unpacks the power of the greatest pleasure purchased at the greatest price.
Does God Believe in Atheists?
People for millennia have said, in one way or another, “There is no God.” Pastor John describes five ways we suppress the knowledge of God’s existence.
Is Heaven a Real Place Right Now?
Is heaven a physical place that exists right now? As Pastor John answers, he encourages us to focus mainly on the relational, not the spatial, aspect of heaven.
Why Pray for Protection When Suffering Keeps Coming?
Even when our prayers for protection feel pointless, they are not. God is our good and sovereign Father, and it is never pointless to ask him for what we need.
The Spiritual Battles in Your Bible Reading
As we begin a new year of Bible reading, what obstacles can we expect to meet along the way — and what benefits will keep us reading day by day?
‘A Man at Church Thinks We Should Marry — I Disagree’
If someone is convinced that he knows God’s will for us, yet we disagree, what can we do? Pastor John offers five ways forward.
Your Bible-Reading Feedback, and How to Help Us in 2025
Hear John Piper’s invitation to partner with us. A $10 monthly gift enables us to reach 70 more people with God-centered resources. https://dsr.gd/3AYGuj2
Am I Overusing Bible Commentaries?
God gives the church teachers, including Bible commentators, to help us understand his word. But how can we tell if we’re relying on commentaries too much?
Does Christmas Bring Peace or War?
At Christmas, Jesus came to bring God-exalting happiness through peace with God — and merciful warfare against everything that destroys such happiness.
The God over Geopolitics
In his infinite wisdom, righteousness, and power, God designs even the deeds of evil kings for the good of his people and the glory of his name.
How Does God Deliver Me from Pain by Pain?
Sometimes God delivers us from affliction through affliction. But what kinds of affliction does he use — and how can we know when he does so?
Every Gift Points Us to Christ
How can we know that we love God more than his gifts, especially during the Christmas season? Pastor John unlocks the answer with two keys.
Will I Suffer My Singleness Forever?
Single Christians may be tempted to despair over missing the experience of marital love. But God himself will see to it that our joy is eternally full in Christ.
On Creepy, Darker Media
Since the Bible calls Christians children of light, should darkness and violence have any place in the stories we create?
On So-Called ‘Gender Pronoun Hospitality’
Should Christians show so-called “gender pronoun hospitality”? Pastor John shares practical ways to speak the truth in love with those confused about their sexuality.
Christian Thankfulness: What It Is (and Isn’t)
What is Christian thankfulness? Pastor John commends the power of a heart filled with gratitude to the Giver of every good gift.
‘Help, I’m Struggling to Believe Anything Is True’
When we continually struggle with doubts and unbelief, how can we know what is true? How can we believe that truth even exists?
Will We See God in Eternity?
Will we be able to see God when we get to heaven? If so, how does that fit with Scripture passages that say no one can see God?
What’s True and False in Job?
How do we discern what’s true and what’s false in Job? Pastor John provides a grid for the entire book to help us interpret it accurately.
Can a Church Require Tithing?
Should church leaders require Christians to tithe since God commanded tithing in the Old Testament? Pastor John commends a better approach.
Can We Know Truth with Complete Certainty?
Arguments, logic, and careful analysis may give us 99 percent certainty for some doctrine or truth claim. But what about the remaining 1 percent?
Ministry After God Takes a Beloved Wife
Why did God take the life of Ezekiel’s wife and then command Ezekiel not to mourn? Pastor John considers the perplexing yet merciful ways of God.
I Want God’s Wrath on My Enemy
How can we love our enemies when they treat us horrifically? Pastor John appeals to six biblical realities to help us face unimaginable darkness.
How Not to Respond to Suffering
“Curse God and die.” Why does the author of Job relate the apparent despair of Job’s wife? What purpose does she play in the message of the book?
Perfectionism Makes Me Indecisive — What Can I Do?
How can perfectionists make decisions without getting paralyzed by fear? Pastor John shares seven encouragements for those who feel stuck.
When Are Good Grades Good Enough?
How much should we sacrifice in order to do excellent work? Pastor John encourages perfectionists to find wisdom from a strong, spiritually mature community.
What Future Judgment Will Christians Face?
If Christians are no longer under wrath, why does Paul say that we will stand before God’s judgment seat? Pastor John clarifies the Christian’s future judgment.
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?
How much money should we set aside for retirement? Pastor John commends three biblical principles to apply in our various contexts.
How God Guards You
Does God ultimately sustain our faith, or do we? Pastor John unfolds 1 Peter 1:4–5 to show how God guards us to the end.
Does Free Will Exist?
Do humans have free will — and if so, what is it? Pastor John considers the depravity of the human heart and the sovereign grace that saves us.
Do Christian Hedonists Deny Self-Denial?
Does God’s command to deny ourselves contradict Christian Hedonism? Pastor John clarifies the God-centered, pleasure-seeking aim of all Christian self-denial.
Joy’s Triumph over Spiritual Sloth
How does zeal for God relate to joy in God? With help from Jonathan Edwards, Pastor John traces the crucial connection in four steps.
Overcoming Spiritual Laziness
How do we overcome half-hearted spiritual laziness? Pastor John appeals to the apostle Paul and Jonathan Edwards to commend a life totally devoted to Christ.
Rome’s Seven Deadly Errors
The Roman Catholic Church teaches numerous unbiblical doctrines. So, can devout Catholics be genuinely saved?
Celebrate the Reformation with Us This October
Luther didn’t stand alone 500 years ago. Nor does he stand alone today. We’ve created a 31-day journey to introduce you to the many heroes of the Reformation. Join us at desiringGod.org/stand.
The Busy Soul Learning to Wait for God
How can active, impatient doers learn to wait on God? Pastor John describes spiritual waiting — and shows how we can answer such a question for ourselves.
DG’s Slogan, Coined 36 Years Ago Today
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” How did John Piper craft this memorable motto? Tony Reinke tells the story.
American Church, Is Your Christ Too Cheap?
Why do so many American Christians bear the marks of worldliness? Too often in our churches, Christ is too cheap, heaven is too distant, and earth is too big.
Why Do I Exist?
Why do you exist? Why does anything exist? Pastor John shows from Isaiah 43:1–7 that God created his people to glorify him by enjoying him.
Will God Forgive My Worst Sin?
Will God forgive my very worst sin? Pastor John shares seven powerful encouragements for those paralyzed with guilt.
The Pitfalls of Being a Thinker
Thinking is indispensable — but thinking is also dangerous. How can we use our minds to glorify God rather than puffing up ourselves?
On Hoarding
How can we help those struggling with hoarding? Pastor John shares five underlying factors and five practical suggestions for those who seem stuck.
How to Find the Meaning of a Bible Verse
How do we make sense of Bible passages that we don’t understand? Pastor John demonstrates how to patiently interpret Scripture with Scripture.
What Is ‘White-Hot Worship’?
Though our response to God often feels frustratingly inadequate, he is worthy of all our heart, soul, and mind. He is worthy of “white-hot worship.”
Did My Negligence Kill My Baby?
What comfort does God give to those who feel responsible for tragic loss? Pastor John offers eight words of hope to a brokenhearted mom.
Defining Success in My 9-to-5 Job
What does it mean to “work heartily, as for the Lord” in our 9-to-5 jobs? Pastor John considers five qualities of faithful work from Paul’s words in Colossians 3.
Your Holy Deeds Are Not Filthy Rags
In Christ, the righteous deeds you do by faith are emphatically not “filthy rags.” Pastor John corrects a common and profound misunderstanding.
Are Motorcycles for Fools?
If God is sovereign over life and death, does it matter what risks we take? Pastor John considers the place of precautions beneath God’s providence.
Should We Ever Speak Directly to the Devil?
Scripture gives us a category for addressing the devil, but our normal way of defeating him is by trusting the promises of God and killing our own sin.
Seven Encouragements for Parents of Prodigals
How can we not lose heart over children who wander from Christ? Pastor John opens the parable of the prodigal son to offer encouragement after encouragement.
Can We Pray for God to Teach Someone a Lesson?
Can Christians ask God to teach the unrepentant hard lessons? Pastor John helps us pray against others’ sins without presuming to be God.
Should My Construction Company Help Build a Casino?
Should a Christian construction worker help to build a casino — or any other building that facilitates sin? Pastor John offers principles for the Christian conscience.
When Love Wanes, the Marriage Covenant Remains
Staying married is not first about staying in love. It’s about keeping a covenant that reflects Jesus’s own faithfulness to his bride, the church.
Can a Single Pastor Date in His Church?
Where should an unmarried pastor look for a wife? Pastor John encourages single men in ministry to take practical steps while trusting God’s providence.
What Makes a True Friend?
What makes for a true friend, according to God’s word? Pastor John sketches the nature and importance of friendship across the Scriptures.
God Is Eager to Work for You
God looks throughout the earth, eager to work for those whose hearts are whole toward him. Pastor John unfolds glory from a favorite verse.
Will God Judge People for Being Born Muslim?
Will God condemn someone for being born into another religion? Pastor John responds to a former Muslim deeply worried about her loved ones.
On Repetitive Worship Songs
“For his steadfast love endures forever” appears 26 times in Psalm 136. What might we learn from this psalm about the right kind of repetition in worship?
Let the Bible Smash Your Bad Theology
If you want more of your thoughts to become captive to Christ, open the Bible and pray, “Anything in my thinking that needs to be destroyed, destroy it.”
The Good Grace of Being American
American citizens enjoy lavish blessings of common grace. Pastor John calls us to give thanks without giving away our far deeper allegiance to God’s special grace.
Is My Joy Commanded or Spontaneous?
If joy in God is a gift from God, why does he also command us to rejoice? Pastor John takes us into a paradox that lies at the heart of the God-glorifying life.
The Next Generation of Missionaries
The local church’s task of sending and sustaining long-term missionaries rests on several deep biblical assumptions. Pastor John shares five.
How Your Heart Governs Your Mind
At the root of our sin is not a mind ignorant of God’s ways, but a darkened love, a hardened heart, and a will bent away from God’s ways.
Resurrection Power for Our Pain
In this fallen age, resurrection power does not keep us from pain. Instead, it brings life to others as we keep loving Jesus in our pain.
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Bible Reading
Bible reading can bring comfort, but Bible reading can also bring fear. How can we rightly embrace both the comfort of God’s promises and the fear of his warnings?
Taste Test Your Way to God’s Will
Paul says that the renewed mind discerns God’s good will “by testing.” What does that testing look like in the thousands of everyday decisions we make?
God’s Purpose in Our Boredom
Our boredom in this world is meant to point us to another world — a world where the infinitely interesting God will banish boredom forever.
How Can I Convince Comfortable People to Embrace Christ?
No matter how comfortable our friends and neighbors may seem, they are headed for hell unless they repent. So, what words might break through their comfort?
Satan, the ‘Prince of the Air’ — What Does That Mean?
Why does Paul call Satan “the prince of the power of the air”? Pastor John explores the extent of Satan’s authority and Christ’s decisive victory.
If I’m Not Elect, How Am I Guilty for Not Believing?
If God has not chosen to save me, then why would he condemn me for not believing? Pastor John explains the kind of inability that does not remove responsibility.
What Shia LaBeouf Gets Wrong About Joy
Is Shia LaBeouf right to say that Jesus experienced “maximum joy” as he died? Pastor John considers the joy set before Christ and the horrors of the cross.
Killing Lust with the Cross of Christ
“Cross,” “nails,” “spear,” and “thorns” are words that evoke images in our minds — images with tremendous power to dispel lustful thoughts.
Ten Questions for Readers of Erotica
How should Christians think about sexually explicit material on the page rather than the screen? Pastor John offers ten questions for readers of erotica.
Warning Our Children of Rebellion
Parents have the God-given duty to warn their children not to rebel against Christ, and some of the most powerful warnings come from stories of failed rebellions.
Mom’s Role in Raising Boys
How can a mom raise boys to become strong and godly men? Pastor John offers counsel for training up the next generation.
The Prayer You Don’t Want Answered
Sometimes, God responds to our sinful requests with a merciful no. But other times, he gives what we ask, brings misery with it, and then amazingly works good through it.
How Can I Grow in Expressing Affection?
How can Christians grow in expressing their deepest affections for God and others? Pastor John offers eight pieces of counsel for those who struggle to speak.
Why Does God Allow Satan to Block the Gospel?
God could destroy Satan at any moment. So, why has God allowed Satan to blind the minds of unbelievers from seeing the glory of Christ?
Are Parents to Blame for Prodigals?
Does Proverbs 22:6 promise that children raised by godly parents will become Christians? Pastor John explains the proverb and points parents to their ultimate hope.
How to Write a Good Sentence
What makes a good sentence? Good sentences are true, clear, authentic, thoughtful, creative, well-timed, clean, loving, and glorifying to God.
A Daily Morning Exercise
How can we walk through this world of sin, suffering, and futility with strength and joy? Psalm 90:14 holds the key.
Am I Confident or Arrogant?
In a society steeped in self-worth and self-esteem, how can Christians aim for significance in a way that glorifies Christ?
Should the Church ‘Bless’ Same-Sex Relationships?
Should churches be willing to somehow “bless” same-sex relationships? Pastor John responds to Pope Francis’s concerning proposal.
How Can I Glorify God as I Pray for Myself?
God does everything he does for his glory, including answering our prayers. So, how can we align all our requests with this big, overarching purpose?
Am I Abusing Caffeine?
How can we tell if we’re abusing caffeine (or any food or drink)? Pastor John offers three questions to guide a Christian’s consumption.
‘Death Is Yours’ — What Does Paul Mean?
If death belongs to the children of God, as the apostle Paul says, then death not only loses its sting, but it turns around and becomes our servant.
The Man Who Died in the Pulpit
On September 22, 1967, V. Raymond Edman collapsed while delivering a chapel message at Wheaton. Pastor John reflects on his college chancellor’s final words.
How Do I Forget My Sinful Past?
Some Christians carry an ongoing sense of guilt for sins confessed long ago. What can we do with these stubborn guilt feelings?
God Delivers from the Suffering He Ordains
If God is sovereign over our suffering, then we can trust him to strengthen us in suffering, sanctify us through suffering, and ultimately save us from suffering.
The Gift of God’s God-Centeredness
From eternity, God has been self-sufficiently happy in himself. And because he has no needs of his own, he is gloriously free to meet ours.
Should Confidence in Sovereignty Make Me Prayerless?
If our souls are deeply satisfied in God, what room is there for petitionary prayer? Pastor John reframes the question by clarifying the nature of prayer.
Your Most-Asked-About Bible Verse
If God is sovereign over salvation, do the non-elect even have a chance to repent? Pastor John addresses Romans 9:22, your most-asked-about Bible verse.
How Much Error Can I Believe and Still Be Saved?
Some biblical truths are essential to believe for salvation — but not all. So, how much error can someone hold and still be saved?
Is My Child Transgender Because of Me?
How can parents resist the despair that comes from feeling like failures? Pastor John offers ten words of hope for parents of prodigals.
The ‘Ask Pastor John’ Book Is Here
After ten years and two thousand episodes, Tony Reinke has distilled the best of ‘Ask Pastor John’ in a remarkable new book.
Is Obedience Without Affection Still Love?
If we obey God outwardly but feel no affection for him inwardly, is our obedience still love? Pastor John takes us to the heart beneath God-pleasing obedience.
How Preachers Grow Graceless
How do preachers guard themselves from hypocrisy? Pastor John traces double-faced preaching to its deepest root: the love of human praise.
Your Suffering Is Not Meaningless
How did Paul endure such unimaginable sufferings without turning from Christ? Pastor John traces three threads of the apostle’s perseverance.
Why Did God Stigmatize the Disabled?
In Leviticus 21, God forbids men with physical defects from participating as full priests. How do we reconcile this prohibition with Jesus’s approach to the disabled?
Enjoying God in His Gifts
How do we enjoy pizza, friendship, or any other good gift without committing idolatry? Not only by enjoying God more than his gifts, but also by enjoying him in them.
What’s the Essence of Love?
How do Paul’s travel plans relate to the Trinitarian depths of God’s love? Pastor John shows how ultimate reality undergirds the love between the saints.
Political Flag-Waving Isn’t Enough
Christians have not only the right but the calling to speak truth to power. But such speech differs greatly from mere political flag-waving.
Does Hidden Sin Bring Physical Suffering?
The wrath of God is gone for those who are in Christ. But does God still sometimes bring physical suffering in response to unconfessed sin?
How Should I Choose a College Major?
What factors should Christian students consider when choosing a college or major? Pastor John gives five guidelines for those who don’t want to waste their lives.
Do I Have a Hard Heart?
How can we know if our heart is hard toward God? Pastor John diagnoses hardness of heart, and gives a remedy for remaining soft to God’s Spirit.
Was Jesus Confused by the Cross?
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Do these haunting words from Jesus suggest he was confused by the horrors of the cross?
What Would World War III Mean for Missions?
We live in a time of mounting global tensions, of wars and rumors of wars. What hope do we have for the future of missions should conflict continue to build?
Strategies for Building a Reverent Church
In a day starving for transcendence, how might church leaders arrange every element of the Sunday gathering to promote joyful Godward reverence?
Leading a Church out of Casual Culture
How might churches move away from casual culture toward heartfelt, happy reverence on Sunday morning? Pastor John shares five steps for preachers.
On Coffee-Sipping in the Sanctuary
Is it wrong to drink coffee during corporate worship? Pastor John moves beyond mugs to the heart of the issue.
Should Christians Make Bucket Lists?
From college grads to retirees, many people love to keep bucket lists. Should Christians? Pastor John puts rest and recreation within a biblical mindset.
How Do I Find the Main Point of a Psalm?
How can we discern the main point of not only a single verse, but an entire paragraph, section, or even chapter of the Bible?
The Good News of God’s Faithfulness to God
God’s faithfulness to God may not sound like good news. But the foundation of our hope rests on God’s zeal to display the worth of his name.
Read the Bible with Us in 2024
On the first day of a new year, Pastor John commends a yearlong Bible-reading plan and invites listeners to join him from Genesis to Revelation.
Appeal from John Piper
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My Bible Reading Feels Flat — What Can I Do?
Sometimes, perhaps even often, we read Scripture with our eyes, grasp its truth in our minds, yet feel little pleasure in our hearts. What can we do in such moments?
Four Reasons Christmas Is Special
Christmas is a day for marveling. Pastor John shares four earth-shaking, soul-satisfying reasons to glory in the coming of the Son of God.
Looking Back at 2023, Looking Ahead to 2024
As a new year nears, Pastor John marvels at God’s grace from 2023 and shares exciting plans for the months ahead.
Make the Bible Part of Your Everyday in 2024
What makes regular Bible intake not only helpful for the Christian life, but crucial? Pastor John gives ten reasons to make the Bible part of your everyday.
Feast on the Bible’s Grammar
The word “therefore” appears almost five hundred times in the New Testament. And every one of them is a doorway to life and love.
How John Piper Marks Up His Books
Pastor John never reads a book — even novels — without a pencil in hand. What does he do with it, and why won’t he use a pen?
Make Your Life Count: Twelve Rules for Teens
How can teens make their lives count? From dating wisely to failing well, Pastor John offers twelve rules for teenage followers of Christ.
Go to the Ant
We know God inspired the Bible, but we sometimes forget that he also spoke creation into existence. How might we begin to learn from both of God’s books?
How to Study the Bible on a Topic
How can normal Christians learn to study the Bible on a topic? Pastor John models his own approach as he prepares answers for ‘Ask Pastor John.’
Learning for Those Who Don’t Love Learning
The apostle Peter calls Christians to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. But how might we grow in knowledge if we don’t enjoy the process of learning?
How Thanksgiving Shapes Your Life Story
At the heart of our unbelief lies not only our refusal to glorify God, but our refusal to thank him. Apart from grace, we take the gifts and ignore the Giver.
How Does Learning Deepen Joy?
What role should emotions play in Christian education? If we take our cue from Scripture, appropriate feelings will be central, not peripheral, to all our learning.
Learning in a World Blind to God
God communicates through not just his word, but also his world. Christian learning presses deeply into the Bible, but the stars have something to say as well.
How to Lead Teens Deeper into Their Bibles
How can youth leaders lead teens deeper into their Bibles? By teaching with an eye on language, a heart for reality, and a knack for question-asking.
How Can I Return to Normal Life After Tragedy?
Seasons of affliction, however painful or even deadening they may feel, do not last forever. God will restore the souls he has saved.
Hoping in God When Our Heroes Die
Godly pastors and leaders are a tremendous gift to Christ’s church. So, how do we keep hoping in God when our spiritual heroes die?
How Can I Kill My Selfishness?
If you want to kill your selfishness, focus on more than your selfishness. Fill your soul to overflowing with Christ.
What Do We Celebrate on Reformation Day?
Over five hundred years after Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, what do we celebrate on Reformation Day? Pastor John traces five of the Reformation’s greatest recoveries.
Is My Painting Hobby a Wartime Waste?
When do our hobbies glorify God, and when do they become a wartime waste? Pastor John offers three guiding questions to ask of any hobby.
Should We Consult with Dead Ancestors?
What do the Scriptures say about communicating with dead ancestors? Pastor John explains four truths about God and the sufficiency of his revelation.
Can Pro-Life Advocates Lie to Save Lives?
With so much at stake in the fight against abortion, can pro-life advocates use doctrinal falsehoods to persuade parents to keep their babies?
John Piper on ChatGPT
Intelligence without affection is barren, mechanical — even artificial. Pastor John reflects on his ministry in the light of developing AI technologies.
Is It Sinful to Be Unhappy?
Given Paul’s command to “rejoice always,” do we sin when we lack joy? Pastor John offers a simple answer with three crucial qualifications.
Is Joy a Choice or a Feeling?
Genuine joy in God is far deeper than a choice we make. Even so, our actions can help or hinder the spontaneous experience of joy.
What Old Testament Promises Are for Me?
Can new-covenant Christians claim old-covenant promises? As long as we keep some key distinctions in mind, we not only can, but should.
Evidence for the Cross and Resurrection
God has not left us without evidence for the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. But evidence alone will never open the eyes of the blind.
Does God Love Us Simply for His Glory?
God-centered theology can raise all kinds of questions about God’s love for us. Pastor John asks and answers nine of them.
If Sin’s Penalty Is Eternal, Why Isn’t Jesus Still Suffering?
If the penalty for sin is eternal punishment, how could Jesus’s finite sufferings pay the price of our redemption?
Six Reasons Jesus Left Earth After Easter
Why did Jesus leave earth after his resurrection? Pastor John gives six reasons for Jesus’s ascension to the Father’s right hand.
Even If Our Faith Is False, Aren’t Christians Happier People?
If Christ has not been raised, Paul says, then Christians are “of all people most to be pitied.” But why should we be pitied when we live with such joy?
What Does Piper Mean by ‘Satisfied’?
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” What does Pastor John mean when he talks about “satisfaction in God”?
Christ, Our Sabbath Rest at Work
Christ is our rest on Monday as well as Sunday. But how do we experience the peaceful rest of Jesus in the midst of our labors?
How Can I Become a Humbler Calvinist?
The doctrines of grace are designed to destroy human boasting. So, what can we do if we find our theology becoming a platform for pride?
Will We Work in Eternity?
At least six biblical pointers give us reason to expect some kind of work in the age to come. But whatever eternity holds, it will be a future beyond disappointment.
Ten Authors for Your Soul
Rich doctrine makes the heart sing. So, where might Christians start if they want to read time-tested, soul-deepening books?
Why John Piper Reads Books
With so many demands on our time, why should we carve out precious minutes for books? Pastor John gives seven reasons he loves to read.
I Don’t Feel God’s Love — What Can I Do?
When life is hard and heaven seems silent, how can God’s people still feel his love? Pastor John offers six reminders for those in spiritual darkness.
Ten Reasons You Need Unconditional Election
How important is unconditional election for the Christian life? Pastor John offers ten reasons why Christians need this crucial doctrine.
Ten Criticisms of John Piper’s Preaching
Anyone who preaches for long will find his preaching criticized — sometimes unfairly, but often wisely. Pastor John shares ten criticisms that have shaped him.
Do Christians Really Suffer in America?
If Jesus and his apostles promised that faithful Christians would suffer, how can comfortable disciples make sense of their experience?
How Can I Explain Christian Joy to Unbelievers?
The Bible rings with the language of pleasure and joy in God. But how can we explain that pleasure and joy in ways non-Christian loved ones may understand?
Why Does God Choose the Foolish?
World evangelization would spread more quickly, it may seem, if God had chosen the wise and powerful. So, why did he choose the foolish and weak instead?
Resisting the Inner Skeptic in Our Bible Reading
When doubts disrupt our Bible reading, how can we resist the inner skeptic? Pastor John offers six ways to fight for faith in daily devotions.
Can I Still Have Joy in Seasons of Doubt?
Seasons of doubt may afflict our minds and shake our hearts, but they need not take our joy. Beneath the waves of doubt, joy’s deep waters can still remain calm.
How Does God’s Joy Become My Joy?
The New Testament seems to connect the person of the Holy Spirit with the joy we experience as believers. But how do the two relate to each other?
Fifty Years of Theological Battles
If you want to prepare for the unknown controversies of tomorrow, know your Bible deeply, thoroughly, confidently, joyfully.
What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual?
Some Christians identify spirituality with gifts like speaking in tongues and healing. Does that view match the Bible’s own description of truly spiritual people?
How Are We Being Saved Right Now?
If we are in Christ, then God has saved us from our sins in the past, and he will save us from his wrath in the future. But in what sense is he saving us right now?
How Can I Encourage Without Flattering?
How can we celebrate the good we see without succumbing to flattery? Pastor John traces a key distinction between godly and ungodly praise.
What Do We Give to God?
God is self-existent and self-sufficient, far beyond any need or lack. So, what can we give to God when we gather for corporate worship?
What Does It Mean to Serve God?
The command to “serve the Lord” appears all through Scripture — but Scripture also assures us that God has no needs. So, how do we serve an all-sufficient God?
Learning to Forgive Family
For some, forgiving family from the heart may be one of the hardest steps of obedience. Pastor John offers five ways forward when forgiveness feels impossible.
On Sibling Rivalries
Sibling rivalries have fractured families since Cain and Abel. So, how does God work redemptively between siblings, and how might parents do their part to promote peace?
Manhood and Womanhood in Parachurch Ministry
Increasingly, parachurch ministries are allowing women to occupy positions of spiritual authority once reserved for men. Do they have biblical warrant to do so?
What Will We Remember in the New Creation?
In Isaiah, God promises that “the former things shall not be remembered” in the new creation. Will we really have no memory of this age in the age to come?
Better Than Scrolling Your Phone in the Morning
Why do so many of us reach instinctively for our phones in the morning? Pastor John identifies six temptations and points to a better way to begin our day.
Dangers in Exposing Cultural Sins
How can a preacher faithfully call out a culture’s sins while still sounding the dominant note of amazement at the glories of God in Christ?
The Sick Love of Controversy
How can we recognize what Paul calls “an unhealthy craving for controversy” in ourselves and others? Pastor John identifies six traits of a controversy-loving spirit.
How Much Should Pastors Make?
“The laborer deserves his wages” — including those who labor in preaching and teaching. But how might a church decide what a pastor’s wages should be?
Can Single Men Pastor?
In Paul’s elder qualifications, he seems to assume that pastors will be married. So how should churches assess the qualification of a single man who wants to pastor?
Why Do We Pray for Our President?
Why does Paul call Christians to pray for kings and other political rulers — and what specifically might we ask God to do in them and through them?
Hope for the Fragile and Fragmented
In a world filled with wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines, a right understanding of the end times can bring stability to anxious minds.
The Joy of Jesus’s Return
When Jesus returns, he will magnify the radiance of his glory by multiplying our own joy in that glory. We will happily marvel, and he will forever shine.
Why God Wills Suffering for the Children He Loves
If we’re going to rejoice in even the worst circumstances, then we need clear and strong reasons for why God wills suffering for the children he loves.
Upcoming Changes to APJ
Tony Reinke shares two upcoming changes to ‘Ask Pastor John’ in light of a brand-new John Piper sermon podcast called ‘Light + Truth.’
Go to Work, Go to Church — Christ Is Coming Back!
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles draw some profound connections between the glorious second coming and our ordinary everyday lives.
Death Can Only Make Me Better: Remembering Tim Keller (1950–2023)
Today Tim Keller entered the reward of his Master. In this special episode of Ask Pastor John, Tony Reinke shares a sermon clip from Dr. Keller on the joy of God in the face of cancer.
Popular Blunders About Christ’s Return
Discussions of the second coming often spiral into speculation — or misconception. Pastor John explains five mistaken beliefs about Christ’s return.
Five Ways to Find Wisdom
In the midst of a busy life, how can we find the time to read great Christian books? We might begin by setting aside just fifteen minutes a day.
Nicotine, Amphetamines, and Holy Concentration
God does not give us a list of foods and drinks we can and cannot consume. Instead, he gives us his words and his Spirit to shape how we see all of life.
A Beautiful Savior for the Unattractive
If we are going to find lasting satisfaction in the beauty of Christ, despite the pain of rejection, four massive changes need to happen in our hearts.
The Hardest Act in Parenting Teens
Headship calls a man to put away his anger and initiate reconciliation — no matter how much of the fault lies with his wife or with his children.
The Path from Orthodoxy to Demon Theology
The movement from orthodoxy to demon theology happens sometimes slowly and sometimes suddenly — but always because love for Christ has grown cold.
‘Nothing Is to Be Rejected’ — Including Pot?
“Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,” Paul says. So can Christians enjoy pot if they thank God for it?
What Makes You Happiest?
What is the deepest source of your joy — what God gives to you, or who God is for you?
Can I Be Saved If I Never Evangelize?
Will a professing Christian go to hell if he never shares the gospel? Pastor John gets to the heart and offers practical suggestions for growing in evangelism.
Should Men Still Pray with Lifted Hands?
Paul desired that “in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands.” Should men in the church today still lift their hands when they pray?
Our Joyful Duty
At the core of Christian Hedonism is the glorious reality that the duty God requires of us is the path to our greatest joy.
Caring for Families with Cross-Dressing Children
Should parents allow children to cross-dress? Pastor John explains why this cuts across the grain of God-created reality and how to offer counsel to Christian parents.
Should the World Like Us or Hate Us?
Jesus promised that his followers would be “hated by all,” but Paul said pastors must be “well thought of by outsiders.” So should the world like us or hate us?
Why Did Jesus Use Spit and Mud to Heal?
Jesus could have healed the man born blind with a simple command; instead, he used spit and mud. Why?
Does My Sexual Past Disqualify Me from Pastoring?
If a man has a history of fornication, is he disqualified from the office of pastor — or can he still be considered “the husband of one wife”?
Overcoming Fear
If God has really given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” then why do we still struggle with fear and anxiety?
The Gospel’s War Against Our Fears and Insecurities
In the face of every fear and insecurity, the gospel says, “In Christ, God is for you — always and forever, with all of his heart and soul. So what can man do to you?”
Should We Despise the Vile — or Love Them?
In Psalm 15, David tells us to despise the vile; in Matthew 5, Jesus tells us to love them. How can we do both?
If God Desires All to Be Saved, Why Aren’t They?
God “desires all people to be saved,” Paul tells us — but clearly not all people are saved. Does this mean God cannot do what he wants to do?
Christ’s Plan for the Globe — and You
Christ’s global purpose to ransom people from every tribe and tongue can be summed up in his words, “I have other sheep. I must bring them also.”
Is Work a Blessing or a Curse?
God gave work as a blessing in the beginning, but we live now on the other side of the fall. So is our work today a blessing or a curse?
Best Commentaries on the Whole Bible
Alongside his personal study of Scripture, what whole-Bible commentaries has Pastor John found most helpful over the years?
How Do I Find My Identity?
If you want to settle the question of personal identity, don’t ask “Who am I?” Ask, “Whose am I?”
Can Satan Put Thoughts into Our Heads?
We know the devil can tempt us and attack us and try to deceive us, but can he put thoughts into our heads?
Does God Read Every Thought?
At every moment, God knows the thoughts and intentions of every human heart. Pastor John explores six vast implications of this foundational truth.
John Piper’s Conversion Story
The book of Romans interprets life — and it also transforms life. Pastor John shares how Romans has shaped him, from conversion to the pastorate.
How to Glorify God in Business Success
How can a Christian business leader speak about his success in a way that makes God, not him, look great?
Is Venting the Same as Complaining?
Is there really a difference between complaining about our problems and venting about them — or are we just kidding ourselves?
Christian Hedonism in Two Minutes
What is the simplest, shortest definition of Christian Hedonism? Pastor John explains in two minutes why pursuing joy in God is essential to the Christian life.
How Does Childbirth Save Women?
Women, Paul says, “will be saved through childbearing.” How does childbirth save women — and what about women who never have children of their own?
I’m Stuck in Sexual Sin — Should I Excommunicate Myself?
Those who play the victim to their sexual lusts act like slaves, like dogs eating their vomit, like washed pigs rolling in mud. But in Christ, they don’t have to stay that way.
1 Percent of a Book Can Change Your Life
Even if you remember only one sentence of a book, that one sentence can create an immeasurable moment, a flash of insight that shapes you forever.
Is ‘De-Gendering’ a Sin?
What might Scripture say to a woman who desperately wants to become a man? Pastor John offers six reasons why attempting to “de-gender” is a tragic act of sin.
Are Christians Obligated to Vote?
Are Christians who have the opportunity to vote obligated to do so — or can we abstain from the whole process for righteous reasons?
Why Christians Don’t Need Holy Shrines
Seven times in the book of Hebrews, the author captures the heart of Christianity in a simple, wonderful command: draw near.
Do Angels Carry Our Prayers to God?
No angel, no saint, and not even Mary herself can improve the access to God we already have through Christ and his finished work.
Was Paul Really the World’s Worst Sinner?
In 1 Timothy 1:15, the apostle Paul claims to have been “the foremost” of sinners. Is Paul speaking in hyperbole here, or was he really the world’s worst sinner?
Overcoming Fear and Passivity in Evangelism
How can we become bolder in evangelism? Pastor John shares a story of his stumbling attempts to love a neighbor, and God’s patient persistence through it all.
Was God at Work in My Pre-Conversion Life?
When we look with eyes of faith on our pre-conversion life, we find abundant reason to thank God for his mercy, and abundant reason to give others hope.
How Could God Be Jealous?
The jealousy of God shows his zeal for his own worth — and it also shows his zeal for our deepest joy.
The God-Centeredness of God Unlocks the Gospel
The biblical mindset puts God and his glory, not man and his desires, at the center of the universe. And grasping this blazing center unlocks the greatness of the gospel.
I Shipwrecked My Faith — Am I Doomed?
Is there any hope for the recovery of a shipwrecked faith? Pastor John offers four reasons shipwreck need not be final.
Sinners or Saints — How Should We Speak of Christians?
Should we speak of Christians as saints or sinners? Pastor John explores why Paul addresses Christians as saints dozens of times — and as sinners almost never.
Why We Share the Gospel
What drove the apostle Paul to win people to Christ? He longed to taste the joy of the gospel not only in his own heart, but in the hearts of countless others.
Preaching the Gospel of the Happy God
Sound preaching comes from those who live in the presence of God-centered glory and long to echo his infinite worth.
Can I Really Trust My Interpretation of the Bible?
“The law is good, if one uses it lawfully,” Paul says. But how can we tell if we are using the law in the way that God intends?
How to Keep Your Eyes on Christ
How can we guard against drifting in the Christian life? By looking and looking and looking at Jesus.
How Can I Have a Good Conscience?
You do not need to walk in sinless perfection in order to have a good conscience. You just need to walk in the light.
Did Paul Oppose Fiction?
The apostle Paul strongly warned Timothy and Titus against the “myths” of his day. What might he have to say about the fictional stories in our own day?
Turn Down the Noise and Listen to Jesus
If we’re going to listen to Jesus and not drift away from him, we likely will need to turn down the noises that capture so much of our attention.
Where Do You Draw Lines for Ministry Partnerships?
Where should pastors and other Christians draw lines for ministry partnerships? Pastor John shares the degree of unity he has pursued in six ministry settings.
Were Abortions Induced on Old Testament Adulteresses?
Does Numbers 5:22 suggest that women guilty of adultery were punished with miscarriage? And if so, how does this passage speak to the pro-life position?
Fight for Delight by Planning Your Devotions
If we don’t have a plan for when, where, and how we will read the Bible, our devotions will probably fall before the demands of the day.
Eight Counsels for Those Thinking of Quitting
Every pastor receives criticism. But at what point might criticism become so serious or sustained that a pastor should consider stepping down?
When Does Despondency Become Sin?
Everyone passes through seasons of despondency — seasons when the soul is troubled and hope feels thin. But when does despondency become sin?
How Do I Push Truth from My Head to My Heart?
How can we push the truth of the Bible from our heads to our hearts, so that our times of daily Bible reading become times of daily worship?
Getting the Tone Right on Sunday Morning
Given the pain of this world, the joy of salvation, and the glory of God, what kind of tone should a pastor seek to set on Sunday morning?
Is Intermittent Fasting Sacrilegious?
Some people find intermittent fasting helpful for losing weight. But is fasting for merely physical purposes a sacrilegious use of a spiritual gift?
The Bible’s Main Road Out of Discouragement
The psalmists show that darkness and discouragement are part of the normal Christian life. And they also show a crucial strategy for finding the light again.
John Piper’s Favorite Things
Pastor John, like the rest of us, has his likes and dislikes. From movies and soft drinks to breakfasts and songs, here are twelve of his favorite things.
Can I Be a Nurse for a ‘Gender-Reassignment’ Surgery?
If a hospital asks a Christian nurse to participate in a “gender-reassignment” surgery, should she agree — or should she take her nursing skills elsewhere?
Beat a Path to the Word in 2023
Strong Christians read the Bible, memorize the Bible, meditate on the Bible, and live on the Bible. They make intentional plans for the word to be their daily bread.
How Do I Put Away My Desire for Praise?
A desire to do good can easily become a desire to look good. So how do we put away our hunger to be praised by other people?
The Christmas We Needed
The best gift anyone can receive at Christmas is deliverance from our two greatest enemies: sin and Satan.
What Makes for a Good Musical Worship Experience?
A good musical worship experience involves head and heart, truth and affections. It will lead people to know their God and to embrace him with joy.
‘Though He Slay Me’ — Why the Silence on This Verse?
“Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” Why has Pastor John barely mentioned these remarkable words of Job throughout his decades of preaching and teaching?
Does God Still Save the Lost Through Visions?
Does God save the lost through visions today — or does someone need to hear the gospel to be saved?
John Piper’s 2022 Year-in-Review
Pastor John discusses personal and ministry highlights from 2022, including podcasts, books, global outreach, and a new goal for ‘Look at the Book.’
Good and Bad People-Pleasing
How can we find freedom from living for the opinions of people? Pray for and pursue a big vision of God. Find a firm identity in Christ. Look to your eternal reward.
How Can I Cast My Cares on God?
Casting your cares onto God begins with believing that he really is the infinitely powerful, all-wise, always-good God he reveals himself to be.
Satan Cannot Scare You into Hell
Satan may oppress you, attack you, and rage against you. But if you are in Christ, he holds no power to finally destroy you.
Build Structures to Serve Your Calling
How can leaders prevent the pressures of running an organization from squeezing out opportunities for face-to-face work and ministry?
How Can Satan Harm Christians?
Scripture is clear that Satan is not ultimately sovereign — God is. But under that sovereignty, in what ways can Satan still harm God’s people?
Amusing Ourselves from Death
Outside of Christ, the fear of death is a slave master that holds everyone in bondage — even those who seem unaware of their chains.
Give Young Christians a Chance to Lead
Our churches grow in wisdom and maturity when the young honor the old, the old listen to the young, and all clothe themselves with humility.
Should We Seek to Suffer?
Suffering may be the price of Christian love, but it is not the aim of Christian love. Our aim is to do as much good as we can on the lowly path of service.
Pray Your Way into Thanksgiving
How can we aim to be done with anxiety and enjoy peace in any circumstance? By bringing every circumstance to God in prayer.
How Does Baptism Save Us?
If God saves his people through faith alone apart from works, why does Peter say that baptism now saves us?
Do Unbelievers Get a Second Chance After Death?
In 1 Peter 3:19, we read that Christ “went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey.” What might Peter mean?
How Do I Pray from the Misery of My Sin?
There is no distress that puts you beyond the good news that God brings — not even the distress caused by your own sin.
Let the Nations Be Glad! — Thirty Years Later
Thirty years after ‘Let the Nations Be Glad!’ was published, Pastor John reflects on the book’s beginnings and its lasting legacy.
What If I Don’t Have a Spiritual Gift?
Paul and Peter charge Christians to use our spiritual gifts for the good of the church. But what if we don’t seem to have any spiritual gifts?
What Makes My Gift a Spiritual Gift?
If God has given helpful skills to both believers and unbelievers, what makes the difference between a merely natural ability and a spiritual gift?
What Makes My Life Christian?
How can Christians live so that, at bottom, we can say with Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”?
Should I Charge Other Christians for My Expertise?
Christ bids his people both to wisely get and freely give, and he supplies us with the grace we need to discern when to do what with our talents.
Christ’s Death Was No Accident
The death of Christ was no accident. He came to be crucified, that he might hang the sins and sufferings of those he loves with him there.
How Does Love Cover a Multitude of Sins?
Christian love labors to overlook the sins of others, just as Christ went to the cross to forgive us, not to shame us.
Christian Unity in Three Steps
Real differences exist between real Christians. But where we lack unity of conviction, we can share unity of humble, sacrificial disposition.
Step One in Preparing to Suffer
We ready ourselves to suffer well when we look our life dead in the eye and say with Paul, “I count it all as loss compared to Christ.”
Is Suffering a Paradox for Christian Hedonists?
When Christ died, so did our sin-loving selves. Now, God sends suffering to weed out the sin that lingers and stunts our joy in Christ.
How Much Speculation Should We Bring into Sermons?
Preachers are emissaries of God’s revealed truth. So how should we talk about parts of the text we don’t understand?
The Relational Pain of Ministry
Christian ministry is relationally painful. Friends in the ministry can leave and never return, as even the apostle Paul experienced near the end of his life.
How Do People Shipwreck Their Faith?
Jesus, Paul, Peter, and the author of Hebrews all describe people who begin well in the Christian life before eventually making shipwreck of their faith.
How Can I Learn to Receive Criticism?
No one likes to receive criticism, even when it’s well-intended. How can we learn to control our emotional responses and remain grounded in the love of Christ?
Becoming Unshakable in a World of Pain
We all face crises, and without grace, we find our world collapsing in the midst of them. But there is strong and stable hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Is Any Part of Life Morally Neutral?
Scripture calls us to do everything for the glory of God. Does that mean no action we take is morally neutral?
Will My Spouse Be My Best Friend in Heaven?
What will the relationship between husband and wife be like in the age to come? Pastor John explains how the best parts of marriage point ahead to eternal joy.
How Do I Persist in Prayer?
How can Christians always pray and not lose heart? In part, by remembering the generous heart of God and his delight to hear his people.
How Do I Pray for My Husband’s Salvation?
How can a wife go on praying for her unbelieving husband after years, or even decades, of no evident change?
How Do I See the Glory of Christ?
How can we see the glory of Christ? Renounce the praise of man. Devote yourself to Scripture. Turn to Christ through his word. Keep praying for sight.
What’s the Real Problem with Fearing Man?
Why is the fear of man such a big problem? Because those who fear men cast their vote against the trustworthiness of God.
How to Live Fearlessly
How can Christians live fearlessly? Replace the fear of man with the fear of God. Fear man — live fearfully. Fear God — live fearlessly.
I Want to Be Baptized — My Husband Opposes It
Godly submission does not require that a woman do everything her husband says. Before she is a wife who submits to her husband, she is a Christian who submits to Christ.
Am I Called to Ministry? Five Tests
How do we know if we are able to bear the heavy calling of being the aroma of life to some and the aroma of death to others?
What Should We Think of Flashy Pastors?
Pastors who flaunt their riches will not draw anyone to the hope of the gospel. They will draw men and women to the hope of luxury.
Who’s More Sinful: Men or Women?
Men and women may face temptations peculiar to their sex, but we both share a deep, common depravity and a profound need for mercy.
The Godly Woman’s Charm
Hope in God clothes a woman with a beauty that will never fade, never perish, and never cease to be precious in God’s sight.
How Much Jewelry Is Too Much Jewelry?
How might we as parents teach our daughters, even at young ages, how to express their femininity without flaunting their body?
Does God Call Us to Submit to Everyone?
God calls church members to submit to their pastors, wives to their husbands, employees to their bosses. But is there also a sense in which God calls us to submit to everyone?
Who Are My Enemies?
“Love your enemies,” Jesus says. But who are our enemies? The answer is broader than we might imagine.
My Husband Left Me — How Do I Respond?
In the wake of great betrayal, how do we respond with love and forgiveness without minimizing the evil of the sin?
How Do I Address My Spouse’s Ongoing Sin?
Peter tells wives to win their husbands “without a word.” Does that mean a wife should never confront her husband over a pattern of habitual sin?
Overcoming Anger in the Home
How can a father governed by anger begin to recover kindness and tenderheartedness? By freshly embracing God the Father’s forgiveness through Christ.
Can I Be Angry with God and Be Holy?
Is heartfelt anger toward God ever righteous, or even morally neutral — or is such anger always sinful?
Is Double Predestination Biblical?
Does the Bible teach that God has predestined some to disobedience and destruction, just as he has predestined some to salvation?
The Two Greatest Questions in the Universe
What are the two greatest questions in the universe? Pastor John explains by looking at 1 Peter 2:11–12.
How Do Passions Wage War Against the Soul?
When do innocent desires of the flesh become threats to the soul? When they cross over from serving God’s will to serving our rebellious self.
What’s the Difference Between Faith and Hope?
The biblical authors often intertwine faith and hope, yet they also distinguish them. So what is the difference between these two gifts of the Spirit?
Why Do So Many Reject Jesus?
When the light of Christ shines upon the darkness of our sin, we either run to Christ as the only covering for our shame, or we run further into darkness.
Who Will Judge the World?
Scripture speaks of the Father judging the world, the Son judging the world, and sometimes even the word of Christ judging the world. So, in the end, who will judge?
How Are We Born Again?
The new birth is a sovereign work of the Spirit, but it is a work bound to the word. The Spirit of God works through the word of God to glorify the Son of God.
How Money Fears Kill Our Worship
When we trust God with our money, we not only enjoy freedom from worry, but we magnify the shepherd, Father, and King who provides for us.
What Makes Christian Love Different?
What makes Christian love different from non-Christian love? It is rooted in the cross of Christ, sustained by the Holy Spirit, and aimed at the glory of God.
What Does It Mean to Be ‘Overly Righteous’?
Ecclesiastes tells us not to be “overly righteous,” but Jesus calls us to a righteousness that exceeds even that of the Pharisees. How can we put these two texts together?
Gospel Drift — and How to Avoid It
You don’t have to commit great sins in order to fall away from Jesus. You just have to neglect your great salvation.
Why Did Jesus Need to Suffer and Die Publicly?
Did Jesus have to die a public, agonizing death, or could he have saved us by living sinlessly and dying in obscurity?
Does God Ever Tempt Us to Sin?
God clearly tests his people, but does he ever tempt them to sin? Pastor John explores the distinction between tests and temptations in James 1.
Trembling Before God on Sunday
Hundreds of times, God tells us to “fear not.” So why does he also call us to work out our salvation “with fear and trembling”?
Is My Humorous Personality a Liability?
Sober-mindedness keeps us from the silliness that is allergic to serious moments, but it also keeps us from the somberness that doesn’t know how to be joyful.
Are Eternal Rewards and Inheritance the Same?
Peter assures us of an inheritance kept safe in heaven; Jesus calls us to lay up treasures in heaven. Are eternal inheritance and rewards the same?
Fighting for Faith in the Entertainment Age
In an age inundated with entertainment, how do Christians stay awake to the glory of Christ and help others do the same?
Should Non-Christians Pray for Faith?
Saving faith is the gift of God, who opens blind eyes and raises dead hearts. So what can unbelievers do when they find themselves unable to believe on their own?
How Do I Prioritize My Busy Life?
Sometimes, busyness and stress are reasons to realign our priorities. Other times, they are invitations to pray that God would empower us to do the seemingly impossible.
Learning to Follow God’s Will
God doesn’t give us a blueprint for our futures, but he does give us biblical trajectories by which we can discern his will and follow it with confidence.
The Key to Knowing God’s Will
How do “spiritual wisdom and understanding” fill us with the knowledge of God’s will for our daily lives? Pastor John explains from Colossians 1:9.
Does God Send ‘Strong Delusions’ into the World?
In our sin, we refuse to hear the truth, receive the truth, believe the truth — until God intervenes to give us a deep and abiding love for the truth.
God’s School of Prayer
When God puts us in the flames of suffering, he often intends to rescue us from self-sufficient comfort and awaken in us desperate, earnest prayer.
Politics, Patriotism, and the Pulpit
We need pastors who will regularly remind us that our greatest allegiance is not to any political party, ethnicity, or nation, but to King Jesus.
Who Is the Man of Lawlessness?
Paul teaches that Jesus will not return until “the man of lawlessness is revealed.” Who is this man of lawlessness?
Roe v. Wade Has Ended — Our Pro-Life Work Has Not
The Christian pro-life cause goes far deeper than legislation. We aim not only to change laws and behavior, but to change hearts and eternities.
Sustain Your Prayer Life with Sleep
Satan will try to put us to sleep in prayer. And he does so, most commonly, by tricking us into staying up too late the night before.
Is God Present or Absent in Hell?
Is God present in hell, as John seems to say in Revelation 14:10 — or is he absent, as Paul seems to say in 2 Thessalonians 1:9?
What’s the Center of Our Holiness?
Scripture describes the process of sanctification in many different ways. How can we weave the various strands together into one coherent picture?
God’s Love and My Sickness
Because Jesus loved Lazarus, the Gospel of John tells us, he did not come to him right away, but lingered and let him die. How is that love?
Crucial Texts for Our Hardest Battles
When temptation strikes, we need more than a vague sense of God’s goodness — we need specific promises. Pastor John shares his favorite passages for fighting sin.
Is God More Honored or Dishonored in the World?
If God aims to be glorified in this world, why is human history and the daily news filled with so much that dishonors him?
The Pervasive Problem of Loving Money
The love of money often lives where others least suspect, like in the hearts of Pharisees, miracle workers, and those who seem most moral.
How Do I ‘Wrestle’ in Prayer?
Paul speaks of wrestling in prayer, and many of us use his phrase. But what might our prayer lives actually feel like if we wrestled like the apostle?
Counsel for Wives with Harsh Husbands
“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them,” Paul writes. But what can a wife do if she finds herself with a harsh man?
Eight Essentials for Christian Living
How does God bring us from the grace of new birth to the glory of heaven? Pastor John explains eight essentials for Christian living from 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12.
Did Jesus Tell Us to Give to Every Panhandler?
Jesus tells us to give to those who ask, but Paul warns the church against giving to the lazy. How might we apply these teachings when we meet a panhandler?
Did Jesus Disregard the Sacrificial System?
If there is no forgiveness without shed blood, how could Jesus forgive sins apart from the sacrificial system and prior to his own death?
Prayer in the Age of Global Hate
In an age of hate, Christians testify to God’s grace by praying for all kinds of people: high and low, white and black, Democrat and Republican, friend and enemy.
How Will I Find My Ministry Calling?
When God grants us a ministry, does his leading come to us through internal impulses, external affirmation, or some combination of the two?
Should We Pray for Unbelievers or for Evangelists?
Does Scripture ever command us to pray for unbelievers, or does it only command us to pray for the evangelists who speak to them?
The Easiest Step of Love
Prayer is the easiest step of love, and it is also the most powerful. God can do far more for others in response to our prayers than we could ever do on our own.
Have I Sinned If I Fall Short of Excellence at Work?
God is honored when we do our jobs with technical excellence, and he is also honored when we give ourselves to the kinds of excellence that cannot be measured.
How Do I Not Provoke My Children?
How can we require obedience of our children without provoking and discouraging them? Pastor John offers eight pitfalls for fathers.
Do Answered Prayers Depend on My Holiness?
Throughout Scripture, God warns that he will not hear the prayers of the disobedient. So do answered prayers depend on our holiness?
For Christians Whose Testimony Seems Boring
We will never plumb the depths of sin and grace merely from past experience. Only God’s word can tell us how lost and dead we were, and how found and alive we are.
Would You Have Supported Prohibition in 1913?
In the early twentieth century, many Christian leaders lent their approval to the cause of Prohibition. Would Pastor John have done the same if he lived back then?
How Greatly Am I Loved?
In Christ, God has chosen us from eternity, and called us in time, so that we would boast no longer in ourselves, but only in him and his great love.
How Do I Make Christian Hedonism My Own?
Some teachers influence us so deeply that we find ourselves imitating them without trying. So how can we move past imitation to make biblical truth our own?
Why Dead Men Must Die
Paul says we all were dead apart from Christ, but he also says we died when we were united to Christ. In what sense, then, do dead men die?
God Saves to Make Much of Himself — Doesn’t That Lessen His Love?
Nothing but God can forever satisfy hearts that are made for God. And so, in great mercy, God loves us in a way that makes much of himself.
Should Gospel Disagreements End a Friendship?
Christians can disagree over many doctrines and stay friends. But what should we do when a friend rejects a doctrine central to the gospel?
My Spouse Died Prematurely — Was It My Fault?
How might Christians process feelings of guilt over the death of a loved one? Pastor John offers counsel to a new widow struggling not to blame herself.
How God Makes Much of You
In Christ, God makes more of us than we could ever imagine. And he will go on doing so forever.
Does Faith Cause Regeneration?
Does faith bring about the new birth, or does the new birth bring about faith? Pastor John offers three reasons why getting the order right matters.
Does God Delight in Justification or Holiness?
Does God delight in his people based on Christ’s work alone, or does his delight also depend on our own holiness?
Why God Makes Much of You
When God makes much of us, he does it for his sake, not ours. And that makes his love far greater than we could have imagined.
Shame: Its Uses and Abuses
Some shame condemns and destroys, and some shame heals and restores. So how can we tell the difference between misplaced and well-placed shame?
What Are Church Traditions?
In his letters, Paul speaks not only of teachings he delivered to the churches, but also of traditions he passed on. What kind of traditions does he have in mind?
The Heart of Fake Happiness
Many nominal Christians go to church, believe God loves them, and yet are on their way to hell. So what marks the born again from those who only think they are?
Should Pro-Lifers Embrace Embryo Adoption?
In America, there are hundreds of thousands of frozen embryos, left over from in vitro fertilization. How might Christians weigh the decision to adopt one of them?
Does Romans 7 Describe a Christian?
What kind of person does Romans 7:14–25 describe? Pastor John offers nine reasons to read Paul’s description as part of the Christian experience.
What’s Lost When We Only Pray Alone?
The church of Acts often gathered together to praise God and intercede for his people. So what might we lose if we pray only by ourselves?
Should We Dramatize Jesus’s Life for Television?
God gave us a book about Jesus, not a video. So how might Christians think about dramatic portrayals of Jesus’s life in television or movies?
Do Christians Still Have Evil Desires?
If God’s wrath comes against evil desires, and not only evil behaviors, why will his wrath not come against Christians, who still battle evil desires?
How Fleeting Pleasures Sidetrack Our Love
A lack of love for other people doesn’t show that we’re trying too hard to please ourselves — it shows that we’re far too easily pleased.
I’m Too Distracted with Life to Meditate on Christ
How can we turn our attention away from regrets, dreams, and other consuming thoughts so that we can set our minds on things that are above?
On Permanent Birth Control
If two spouses agree that they do not want to have more children, would it be sinful to pursue permanent forms of birth control?
How Does God Lead Us in Daily Decisions?
How do I follow God’s lead in my daily decisions? I know he’s my shepherd, and that he’s leading me, but how do I know if I am following him?
In Our Racial Differences, How Is Christ ‘All’ and ‘in All’?
To be a Christian is not only to trust Christ and treasure Christ, but to be indwelt by Christ. And that new identity transforms all our relationships.
What Should We Make of Healing Ministries?
God still answers prayers for physical healing today. But how should Christians evaluate the claims of so-called healing ministries?
When Will Christ Heal My Body?
We know that Jesus has purchased both our forgiveness and our physical healing at the cross. But what kind of healing can we expect in this life?
All My Sins Were Canceled — So Why Continue to Confess?
If all our sins are forgiven — past, present, and future — does ongoing confession show that we doubt Christ’s finished work?
My Flesh Was Crucified — So Why Do I Still Sin?
If our sinful flesh was crucified with Christ when we first believed, why do we keep sinning like we do?
How Do I Know If My Good Deeds Are Worthless?
How do we make sure the good we do is not done in vain? Listen to Pastor John’s answer more than thirty years ago, just weeks after becoming a pastor.
If God Is Sovereign, Why Is His World Full of Suffering?
When we look around at our world of horrific suffering, how can we keep believing in an all-good, all-wise, totally sovereign God?
Is There a Place for Asceticism in the Christian Life?
Some self-denial exalts self and feeds sin, and some self-denial exalts Christ and kills sin. So how can we practice the right kind?
How Do I Handle My Disordered Desires?
Every Christian battles excessive and distorted desires. And in Christ, God gives every Christian daily forgiveness, hope, and strength to keep fighting.
How Did the Cross Disarm the Devil?
At the cross, Paul says, God “disarmed the rulers and authorities.” So what weapons are no longer in Satan’s hands?
How Can I Avoid Worldly Thinking in My Studies?
How can Christians pursue education without being taken captive by worldly thinking? Pastor John reflects on Paul’s warning against “philosophy” in Colossians 2:8.
God’s Providence in the Ministry of Crossway Books
In 1938, a small publishing ministry began distributing gospel tracts. Today, that ministry has spread millions of tracts, books, and Bibles all over the world.
How Did God Reconcile ‘All Things’ to Himself?
Paul says that God has reconciled to himself “all things” in heaven and on earth. Does that mean even unbelievers and demons will be saved in the end?
Are Divisions in the Church Necessary?
How should Christians respond to divisions in the church? Don’t make light of them, for they are tragic. And don’t make death of them, for they are predicted.
Singing Sends Lovers of Christ to the Nations
Under God, musical worship can mobilize the church to finish the Great Commission. The gladness of Godward singing sends lovers of Christ to the nations.
Can We Speak with Angels?
Scripture includes stories of angels talking with humans through dreams and visions. So should Christians expect, and even pursue, conversations with angels today?
What Does It Mean to Cry, ‘Abba, Father’?
When God puts the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, giving us a spiritual sight of his fatherly care in Christ, we can’t help but cry, “Abba! Father!”
Escaping the Love of Comfort and Safety
The freest people in this world are those most in love with the next. If our hope is safe in heaven, we can afford to take risks on earth.
Has the Gospel Already Reached the Entire World?
Colossians 1:23 says the gospel “has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.” Does that mean the gospel has already reached the entire world?
Is My Salvation an Event or a Process?
If our final salvation rests on the condition that we persevere in faith, how can we know that we really will make it to heaven?
Embracing Unpopular Truth in an Age of Political Correctness
Unless we become mature in our thinking, we will regularly be blown about by the winds of subtle, clever, politically correct language.
Why Did God Make Eve from Part of Adam?
In creation, God made Adam and all the animals from the ground. So why, when God made Eve, did he take a rib from Adam’s side?
If Every Gift Comes from God, Why Thank Anyone Else?
All good gifts are from God, through God, and to God. But in his providence, those gifts often come to us through others, who rightly deserve our thanks.
The God Who Dwarfs Big Tech
Pastor John commends Tony Reinke’s new book — a panoramic, penetrating theology of technology, tethered to God’s infallible Scriptures.
Is Technology Holy or Worldly?
How can Christians live faithfully in the day of Big Tech? In ‘God, Technology, and the Christian Life,’ Tony Reinke explores God’s relationship to the innovations of our age.
Did Bathsheba Sin with David?
Does the story of David and Bathsheba suggest that Bathsheba was a willing partner in his adultery, or that David took her against her will?
I Enjoy Being Alone — Is That Unloving?
God made some Christians to enjoy spending a lot of time alone. But what makes the difference between a Christian loner and a self-centered loner?
When Life Shrinks to the Size of Our Problems
The God of the universe cares about every problem you have, no matter how small. And he wants to draw you up into purposes far greater than your problems.
How the Lottery Preys on the Poor
Pull-tabs and scratch games incentivize risky, destructive behaviors, especially among those who can least afford to play.
I Have Multiple Disabilities — How Do I Not Waste My Life?
What might it look like for a Christian with significant disabilities to live a productive, spiritually fruitful, God-glorifying life?
Should I Become a Preacher?
Should I become a preacher? Pastor John’s own road to the pastorate shows that God often makes preachers in unexpected ways.
Should I Leave an Inheritance for My Children?
If Scripture doesn’t obligate parents to leave a financial inheritance to their children, how might Christians decide what to do with their money?
Why Does God Hide Himself from Christians?
God will never leave or forsake his children. But for our lasting good, he may sometimes hide his face and allow us to walk through seasons of darkness.
Let God’s Word Dwell in You Richly This Year
When we memorize and meditate on God’s word, we create a deep, transforming connection between the Bible, our minds, and our hearts.
What Is an Idol?
The Bible describes idols as actual objects people worship, but today many use the language of “idolatry” more broadly. So what is an idol?
Is Sanctification the Pursuit of Perfection?
In our pursuit to be holy as God is holy, how do we move past our failures to obey without feeling condemned in the process?
What Desiring God Wants to Be Known For
The ministry of Desiring God is fueled by the prayers and financial gifts of God’s people. If you have been blessed by our resources in 2021, would you consider becoming a monthly partner? https://give.desiringgod.org/#monthly
End-of-Life Medical Intervention — or Not?
God may use medicine to lengthen our lives, but he will always use habits of grace, like prayer and Bible reading, to sustain our faith in suffering.
Why Is Christmas Precious to You?
We miss the miracle of what Christmas is if we forget why Christmas happened: God the Son became man — to die in our place.
History Ended at Christmas
Christmas is not just another bend in the river of redemptive history. Christmas marks the end of the river and the arrival of the ocean.
Do the Non-Elect Have a Chance to Repent?
The Bible teaches both the absolute sovereignty of God and the genuine accountability of man. And nowhere are they considered contradictory.
Is It Normal to Have a Divided Heart?
No Christian consistently longs for God, which is one reason God gives us prayers like Psalm 86:11: “Unite my heart to fear your name.”
The God Who Brings Us into Everlasting Pleasure
Those who live for joy in God now will possess joy in God forever. And until then, God pledges his protection over body and soul, through life and death.
Can We Really Give God More or Less Glory?
Christians sometimes talk about giving God “some” glory, “more” glory, or “most” glory, but are those really biblical categories?
How ‘Progressive’ Can a Christian Get?
None of us has an infallible understanding of the Bible, but at what point does open contradiction of Scripture call into question someone’s profession of faith?
God’s Plan When Our Plans Fail
God, in his grace, does not keep us from trouble and pain. But he does order and measure our trouble and pain — and then uphold us through it all.
How Can I Resist a Critical Spirit?
A love for excellence can easily grow into a hypercritical spirit. How can we resist the tendency to focus mostly on the failures of others?
John Piper’s Ministry in One Bible Text
John Piper’s ministry has been marked by rigorous attention to God’s word paired with deep delight in God’s word — a double emphasis captured in Psalm 119:97.
The God Who Turns Hearts to God
The story of Elijah on Mount Carmel shows that God rules over fire and rain, bulls and rocks — and even over every human heart.
Does Righteous Anger Kill Our Joy?
If we allow anger to come quickly and stay long, it will eventually consume love, consume gratitude, consume mercy, and consume true perceptions of reality.
How Do I Write a Personal Mission Statement?
God has reasons for everything he does — and an ultimate purpose driving it all. Personal mission statements help us align all of life with that great purpose.
The Glorious Duty of Thanksgiving
Gratitude is a duty — we ought to thank God for the grace he has given. But genuine Christian gratitude is far more than mere duty.
How Can I Serve My Disabled Friends?
Jesus healed people with deep, lifelong disabilities. So should we pray that he would heal loved ones with disabilities like Down syndrome or cerebral palsy?
Is Violent Crime Under God’s Providence?
When we don’t understand God and his ways, we can still rest here: God is always totally sovereign, and God is always infinitely good.
Only Jesus Knows the Full Force of Temptation
Jesus never lied, stole, coveted, grumbled, lusted, or sinned in any other way. And that means Jesus alone knows the full force of temptation.
Parenting Young Children Through Life’s Pains
When suffering overshadows the life of a family, how can parents help their children embrace God’s all-good, all-wise, all-governing providence?
Is Complementarity Merely Functional?
Are God’s callings for men and women merely functional and practical, or do they flow from something deeper in his design?
One Day Tolerance Will End
We live in the day of salvation, the day of patience, the day of tolerance. But when Jesus returns, that day will end forever.
On Cigarettes, Vaping, and Nicotine
Despite the warnings, cigarette smoking and other forms of nicotine use persist. How concerned should parents be about whether their teens smoke, chew, or vape?
Does God Command Our Praise for His Sake or Ours?
Pleasure in God is not complete unless it overflows in praise to God. And praise to God is not sincere unless it overflows from pleasure in God.
How to Find More Joy in God
Joy in God was never meant to be a solitary pursuit. Joy sends us out to serve — and serving fills us up with joy.
Why Did God Make Me Unattractive?
Few of us feel as attractive as we would like, and some of us feel downright ugly. Why does God allow such unattractiveness in a world that prizes physical beauty?
The Church’s Calling in an Age of Recreational Pot
Fifteen states have now legalized the recreational use of marijuana. What message might God be sending to the church in an age of legal pot?
Finding a Life of Gospel Boldness
The boldest people in the world are those who can look into the face of God, in all of his holiness and power, and know that he is for them in Christ.
How Do You Find Meaning in the Bible’s Narratives?
Whether Old Testament or New Testament, stories fill the pages of Scripture. How can we begin to discover God’s meaning in the Bible’s narratives?
Is Stress Making Me More Holy or More Sinful?
Life’s pressures have a way of exposing hidden sins and introducing new temptations. So how do we know if pressure is making us more holy or more sinful?
Would I Trust Jesus More If I Had Seen Him?
Many wish they could have seen Jesus in person as he walked on the earth. But to have the four Gospels is even better than being there.
Reckoning with the Message of Job
Until we begin to grasp the infinite worth of God, and the horrific evil of sin, much of the Bible will make no sense — including a book like Job.
How Do We ‘Dwell in the Shelter of the Most High’?
Psalm 91 offers spectacular promises for the one who “dwells in the shelter of the Most High.” What does dwelling in the shelter of God mean for us today?
Five Ways Pastors Fail
Countless pastors carry out their ministries faithfully — and some abuse their position and cause many to stumble. What does God have to say to hypocritical pastors?
Are Non-Christian Marriages Valid in God’s Eyes?
God made marriage to picture the relationship of Christ and his church. Does it follow that a marriage between an unbelieving man and woman is illegitimate?
Has God Abandoned Me?
God has promised never to leave us or forsake his people. So how do we respond when it feels like he has?
Parenting Through a Family Crisis
If we’re going to parent well through family troubles, we need to know, first, that our own sin is our worst problem, and second, that Jesus’s blood covers it all.
Ingredients for a Theology of Feasting
The Bible talks a lot about feasting — far more than about fasting, in fact. So what is feasting, and how might we enjoy it in our Christian lives?
How Do We Prepare for the Second Coming?
We know from the New Testament that Jesus will return in power and glory. What can we do to prepare ourselves for that long-expected day?
You Don’t Need More Self-Love
Jesus’s command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves isn’t a call to raise our self-esteem. It’s a charge to seek others’ good in the same way we seek our own.
Should Couples Use Role-Play in the Bedroom?
When the glory of God grows dim in our eyes, bodily appetites become gods. When we lose sight of a big purpose for our lives, sexual urges become too big.
My Boyfriend Is Spiritually Lethargic — Should I Still Marry Him?
At what point should a Christian woman keep encouraging her spiritually lethargic boyfriend — and at what point should she call it off?
Does God Love Me?
When do we experience the love of God most deeply? Not when we get whatever we want, but when he does whatever it takes to satisfy us in himself.
How Do I Stop Rooting My Joy in My Circumstances?
We seem hardwired to be happiest when life goes well, and saddest when life goes poorly. How can we root our joy in Jesus instead of circumstances?
Should Rich Christians Downgrade Their Lifestyle?
Jesus and the apostles regularly warn against the dangers of wealth. So, should rich Christians take steps to downgrade their lifestyle?
Prayers That Work
Jesus promises spectacular responses to our prayers, but only if our desires are shaped by his word abiding within us.
How Do We Discern False Teachers?
The Bible repeatedly warns us against false teachers. But how can we actually identify them, especially if their ministry is mainly online?
John Piper’s 9/11 Radio Interview
On the morning after September 11, 2001, a radio station interviewed Pastor John about the day’s stunning and tragic attack. Listen to the 47-minute recording.
What Does It Mean to Be Blessed?
The New Testament never pairs the blessing of God with material prosperity in this age. So, what does it really mean to be blessed?
The Power of Your Personal Testimony
Don’t be intimidated when people far smarter than you level arguments against Jesus. Your personal testimony has power to trump the most sophisticated arguments.
How Will Love Grow Cold in the End Times?
At the end of this age, “the love of many will grow cold.” What will such coldness look like — and how can we guard ourselves against it?
Did Christ Already Return?
Does Revelation suggest that Jesus already returned when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 — and therefore that we should not wait for another coming?
We Become Like the Videos We Behold
For better or worse, we become what we behold. How should this truth affect our media consumption in the digital age?
What’s the Difference Between Sloth and Rest?
Both the sluggard and the diligent might take a nap on their day off. So, what distinguishes the laziness of the sluggard from the rest of the diligent?
God Never Runs Out
Everything in this world eventually runs out: money runs out, health runs out, pleasure runs out, time runs out. But God never runs out.
How Can I Make Daily Bible Reading Authentic?
How can we prevent Bible reading from becoming a lifeless routine? Pastor John offers three principles for authentic daily devotions.
How Can I Honor My Parents If I Don’t Respect Them?
God calls his people to show honor to everyone — but not for the same reasons, and not in the same ways.
Does Christ Rule the Nations Now?
If Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth, does he rule over the nations now? Or is he waiting to exercise his rule until his second coming?
You Don’t Know God If You Don’t Love Christ
If you want to know whether others love God, ask if they love the Jesus of Scripture. Love for Jesus is the litmus test of love for God.
Is Death Past, Present, or Future?
According to Paul, Christians have died, will die, and die every day. What do these different deaths mean, and how else does Scripture speak of our dying?
Six Dangers of Podcasts
Podcasts, including Christian podcasts, have great potential for both good and evil. Pastor John explains six dangers to beware of as you listen.
Living the Mystery of Joy in Suffering
Christians are sorrowful, yet always rejoicing: sorrowful because of the ugliness and horrors of sin, and rejoicing because of the infinite worth of Jesus.
If All My Sins Are Forgiven, Why Pursue Holiness?
If Christ already paid for all our sins — past, present, and future — then why do we need to work so hard to put sin to death and grow in holiness?
Is Sex During Menstruation Sinful?
The Old Testament prohibited a husband and wife from having sex during menstruation. Is that command still in force today?
Controversy Is Essential — and Deadly
Controversy is essential — and deadly. Slowly, we can begin to care more about defending the truth than enjoying the truth.
How Do We Pray in the Spirit?
What do Paul and Jude mean when they command Christians to pray “in the Spirit” — and what would it mean to pray “out of the Spirit”?
If We Read Our Bibles, Why Do We Need Sermons?
The Bible is perfect; preachers are not. So, why listen to the sermons of fallible men when we can read God’s infallible word for ourselves?
How to Argue Like a Calvinist
John Newton cherished the doctrines of grace. And he knew that the best way to commend them was with a spirit of graciousness.
Doing Math to the Glory of God
Why learn math — especially if studying math feels agonizing? Pastor John addresses an 8-year-old boy struggling to persevere in school.
Can I Marry a Woman Half My Age?
The Bible doesn’t say how old Christians should be when they marry — or how close in age. So, can a Christian marry someone significantly younger?
The Strong Murder the Weak Every Day in America
Killing an unborn child is illegal if the mother wants the baby — but legal if she doesn’t. The rights of the weak rest in the hands of the strong.
How Much Media Is Too Much Media?
In a media-saturated age, obedience to Jesus requires intentional detachment from the patterns of the world — especially its patterns of entertainment.
Will I Suffer More If I Follow Jesus?
Those who follow Jesus may suffer more in this life than those who don’t. But from the standpoint of eternity, they will suffer infinitely less.
The Supremacy of God in Preaching: Conclusion
People are starving for the grandeur of God. Christian preachers, more than all others, should know this truth — and shape every sermon accordingly.
Faith Won’t Survive Without Friends
We all need people who will remind us that Christ is far better than sin, and that unrepentant sin destroys. Without friends, our faith won’t survive.
Does the Bible Say I Am Unique?
God made everybody, knitting each of us intricately in our mother’s womb. Does that mean we are each unique, unlike any other person God created?
Will God Really Praise Us?
If God deserves all glory and praise, what does Scripture mean when it mentions God’s glorifying and praising us?
Why Comfortable Christians Go Prayerless
Until we come awake to the great spiritual war that surrounds us, we will never truly know the privilege and power of prayer.
Do Angels Walk Among Us Today?
Hebrews tells us that, by showing hospitality to strangers, “some have entertained angels unawares.” Does this suggest that angels walk among us in human form?
On Codependent Dating Relationships
God made us to need other people — but not to be codependent on them. So, how can we tell the difference between healthy need and disordered neediness?
Why Would God Create a Baby to Live for Two Minutes?
With eternity in view, any span of life is a vapor. However long we live, our time here is preparation for the endless days of heaven.
Should We Watch for Signs from God?
Some Christians seem to be always on the lookout for signs from God in creation or circumstances. Does the Bible encourage us in that search?
Should Christians Visit Cemeteries?
Should Christians make a habit of visiting loved ones’ graves? And if we do visit, how can we honor Christ in the cemetery?
One Surprising Reason for Pain
Many wonder how a good God could govern a world filled with pain. But sometimes, pain becomes the very means God uses to awaken us to his goodness.
Who Is the Disciple Jesus Loved?
The Gospel of John speaks of a “disciple whom Jesus loved” five times. Who was this beloved disciple, and why does he single himself out like this?
Plans for 2021 and Beyond
After a year unlike any other, Pastor John looks ahead to new books and renewed ambitions to spread Christian Hedonism farther across the globe.
How Not to Correct a Fellow Christian
How can Christians challenge and correct one another in a way that honors Christ and acknowledges our common neediness before him?
The Disabled Wife and the Proverbs 31 Woman
God expects faithfulness of all his people. But faithfulness for one Christian may look far different than faithfulness for another Christian.
Are Our Enemies Spiritual, Human, or Both?
Paul tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. But Paul himself had many human enemies. So, are our enemies spiritual, human, or both?
To Be Loved Infinitely
The essence of God’s love is not that he makes much of us, but that he frees us, at great cost to himself, to enjoy making much of him forever.
How Do I Serve Dying Unbelievers?
Many medical professionals regularly find themselves around people only hours or minutes from hell. How would love call us to act in those moments?
Should Christian Jurors Show Mercy to the Guilty?
Christians display the character of God through both mercy and justice. But how do we know when to show mercy and when to give justice?
Why Do You Want to Be Loved by God?
Almost everyone wants to be loved by God. But our reasons for wanting God’s love may reveal whether we truly know him or not.
Is It Sinful to Pray for a Larger Income?
When God restored Job’s fortunes, he also doubled his wealth. Should Christians pray for God to do the same for us today?
A Better Promise for Serial Daters
Serial dating, if left unconquered, often turns into serial marriage. So, what hope does Jesus offer to those addicted to the pleasures of a new relationship?
Flee to Christ in Fear
God commands us both to fear him and to flee to him for refuge. How can we possibly do one without contradicting the other?
Where Is Providence in the Vanity of Ecclesiastes?
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that “all is vanity.” But if God providentially guides all things, then doesn’t he give meaning to everything in this world?
What Is a Baptist?
As with other Protestants, many Baptists trace their lineage to the Reformation. But what makes Baptists unique among the heirs of the Reformation?
The Key to Killing Lust
Strategies are important in our battle against lust. But nothing arrests our souls with the urgency of purity like the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
What Does the Bible Say About Purgatory?
What is purgatory, and why have thoughtful Christians like C.S. Lewis believed in it? Does this belief in afterlife cleansing find support in Scripture?
How Do I Love Neighbors Who Ignore Me?
Jesus commands us to love our neighbors. But how can we love them if they don’t want our help, or if they even actively ignore us?
Reckoning with Personal Failure
Christians are new creations in Christ — yet we still feel the familiar pull of the old self. How do we reckon with the persistence of indwelling sin?
Why Have Africans Suffered So Much?
Some parts of the world seem to endure far more sorrow than other parts. Does God favor some places and peoples more than others?
Is My Repentance Real If I Keep Committing the Same Sin?
Some of us find ourselves confessing the same sins over and over. How do we know our repentance is real if we repeatedly lose the same battles?
How Churches Sabotage the Love of God
If we try to make much of the love of God by downplaying the wrath of God, we destroy the love of God.
How Can I Protect My Child from State Indoctrination?
The primary responsibility for a child’s education belongs to parents, not to the state. So, what can parents do when the state tries to take control?
Why Did the First Humans Live for So Long?
The book of Genesis records life spans in the hundreds of years. Why did the first humans live for so long — and why are our life spans today so short?
How Have You Processed the Sin of Ravi Zacharias?
How might Christians process the failures of once-beloved figures like Ravi Zacharias? Pastor John draws out lessons from the ministries of fallen leaders.
What’s Stopping You from Coming to Christ?
Some wait to come to Christ because they feel powerless to live the Christian life. But that power becomes ours only by coming to Christ.
What Are Angels Doing Today?
Angels appear all over Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. But why did God create angels in the first place — and what are they doing today?
How Should We Respond to Christian Conspiracy Theories?
Conspiracy theories — Christian or otherwise — are nothing new. But how can we talk to friends who find themselves gripped by them?
What ‘No Condemnation’ Does to a Heart
“No condemnation” means that you are finally free: free to love, free to serve, free to forgive, and even free to die for the good of others.
Did Abraham Laugh at God’s Promise?
Paul looks back to Abraham and celebrates his unwavering faith. But is Abraham’s laughter at God’s promise in Genesis 17 really a faithful response?
What Makes Women the ‘Weaker Vessel’?
The differences between male and female are not obstacles to overcome or facts to ignore. They are distinct glories that God calls “very good.”
The Problem with Asking, ‘What’s Wrong with It?’
If we want to follow Jesus, we will need to give up more than just sins. We will also need to give up everything that dulls our hearts for him.
Hope for Children from Dysfunctional Families
How can children who come from dysfunctional or abusive families begin to embrace the perfect fatherhood of God?
How Does Chronic Pain Glorify God?
Why might God allow his children to endure years, or even decades, of unremitting suffering? How does such chronic pain bring him glory?
Escape the World’s Infatuation with Sex
The deepest cure for lust never comes from strategies or accountability. The deepest cure comes from seeing the soul-staggering grandeur of God.
How Will Heaven Change Our Joy?
Joy isn’t just a nice byproduct of the Christian life, but an essential part of it. From propitiation to glorification, joy animates our life in Christ.
How Does Easter Change Us?
Christ’s resurrection secures our future hope that we too will rise one day. In the meantime, it also grants us spiritual power for everyday life.
What You Need More Than Self-Confidence
Everything good in the Christian life grows in the soil of rich, deep, and happy humility.
What Didn’t Christ Accomplish?
The cross of Christ accomplished everything we need to glorify God by being eternally happy in him. But is there anything the cross didn’t accomplish?
How Can I Serve the Dying?
When you have the privilege of caring for dying people, how can you minister to their souls in addition to meeting their physical needs?
What Is the Gospel For?
Forgiveness, justification, adoption, and eternal life are all a means to something even greater: enjoying God himself.
How Can I Fight Sin Without Losing Sight of Christ?
Christians rest on Jesus not only for justification, but also for sanctification. Both are blood bought. Both are certain.
I Feel Called to Missions — Should I Date Someone Who Doesn’t?
If I feel called to missions, should I be open to dating a Christian who doesn’t share the same calling?
Finding Hope in God’s Unfolding Plan
God determines the direction of history down to the smallest detail. But what is his ultimate goal in all his providence?
Who Is God?
God is the most important and most valuable reality in the entire universe. Who has he revealed himself to be?
How Can We Know God?
Before we can ask who God is, we need to know where to find the answer. Where can we go to learn the truth about who God reveals himself to be?
The Courage We Need for Mission
God’s providence isn’t an obstacle to evangelism and missions. It is, instead, our only hope to see the good news of the gospel reach all nations.
Do We Dishonor God by Neglecting His Gifts?
We dishonor God when we love the gifts more than the Giver. But we also dishonor him when we forget all the gifts he has given.
John Piper’s Big Book on the Providence of God
John Piper’s newest book, ‘Providence,’ celebrates the all-embracing, all-pervasive, invincible providence of God.
Why Did Jesus Choose Judas?
If Jesus knew that Judas would betray him in the end, why did Jesus choose Judas as a disciple to begin with?
Finding the Confidence to Pray
The doctrine of God’s all-governing providence is not a problem for our prayers. It is our only hope for our prayers coming to pass.
I’m Likely Going to Prison — Now What?
Where is God when I face life-changing consequences for my sin? Can he really work for my good, even in a punishment as severe as prison?
Should I Ever Pursue My Dreams?
Can we pursue our own dreams while also obeying God? Or do we need to give up our dreams in order to follow what Jesus is really calling us to?
Protected from False Teaching
Joyful faith in the all-governing providence of God immunizes us against false teaching that exalts man and detracts from the glory due to God alone.
Who Wrote the Bible?
The question “Who wrote the Bible?” has a double answer: God and man. Humans held the quill, but God ultimately inspired their words.
What Is the Meaning of Life?
When life just doesn’t seem to make sense, or even when it seems void of any meaning at all, what can help us to know our purpose again?
Sustained Through the Hardest Suffering
God’s providence not only governs all things, but it gives us hope in our suffering. We can trust that our all-good God will turn every sorrow to joy.
Why Is Baptism Important?
Jesus commands the church not only to make disciples, but also to baptize them. But why is baptism so important?
My Teen Is Sexually Active — What Can I Do?
What can Christian parents do if they discover that one of their children is living in serious sexual sin? Pastor John offers counsel on where to begin.
The Root of Beautiful Patience
God’s all-pervasive providence is the key that unlocks enduring patience. He is always working more good than we can ever see.
Do My Sins Hinder My Prayers?
Peter tells us that a husband’s prayers are hindered if he dishonors his wife. Is this just a marriage principle, or does sin always obstruct our prayers?
Is My Happiness Moral or Not?
Does the presence or absence of happiness say anything about us morally, or is happiness simply a nonmoral state of affairs?
Escaping the Fog of Triviality
In a culture filled with silliness and superficiality, seeing and savoring the providence of God protects our hearts from trifling with divine things.
Has Porn Already Broken My Future Marriage?
Pornography distorts our souls. But with the transformation of the Holy Spirit and a hard, honest fight, there is still hope for godly intimacy in marriage.
Before You Tweet Criticism: Six Considerations
Social media feeds are often infernos of insults and anger. How can Christians engage online in ways that make much of Christ?
Everything Made Meaningful
Even the tiniest details of history move forward under the providential care of our sovereign, all-good God. Nothing is random. Nothing is meaningless.
Why Did God Create Us?
If God doesn’t need anything in this world in order to be who he is, then why did he create the world at all?
Am I Too Hard on Myself?
God has given us a high and holy calling in Christ. But can a Christian ever be too hard on himself as he strives to live up to that calling?
Trembling at Sin, Marveling at Grace
Seeing and savoring God’s providence in our redemption fills us with wonder and trembling joy. We owe everything to his grace.
Martin Luther King and His Partner in the Cause
Christian citizenship expands far beyond the country on our passport. We share a citizenship with those from every nation who call upon the name of Jesus.
Is an Audio Bible Sufficient for Devotions?
Is listening to the Bible just as good as reading it? Or do we risk missing something if our Bible intake comes mainly through listening?
Confronting Lukewarm Worship
When we see and savor the providence of God, lukewarm worship gives way to wonder, awe, and holy reverence before our majestic God.
How Do I Bear with Immature Christians?
Faithful pastors long to see their churches grow up in faith, hope, and love. So, how does a pastor bear with those who seem to be going backward?
How Often Should I Question My Salvation?
The Bible instructs believers to examine themselves, but does it tell us to what extent or how often we should question our salvation?
What Difference Does Providence Make?
What difference does seeing and savoring the providence of God make? Pastor John explains why providence overflows with practical implications.
Can I Take a Vaccine Made from Aborted Babies?
Several vaccines in current use are developed from the cells of aborted babies. Can Christians use these vaccines in good conscience?
How Do I Become Passionate About Bible Reading?
Regular, disciplined Bible intake is not optional for God’s people. It is God’s plan for preserving us and bringing us safely to glory.
Eight Years of APJ, and What’s Ahead
At the end of another year, Pastor John reflects on 2020, the world of Ephesians, and the need for a new tidal wave of God-centered teaching.
Should We Talk More About ‘Following Jesus’?
In the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly tells people to follow him. But why doesn’t that call ring out in the rest of the New Testament?
Is Christmas Too Pagan for Christians?
Christmas offers an opportunity to look upon the incarnation with fresh amazement. But does the timing of our celebration just reflect pagan tradition?
Why Did Christ Need a Body?
In the person of Jesus Christ, we encounter incarnate Deity. But why did he have to take on flesh that first Christmas?
Do We Have the Exact Words of Christ, or a Paraphrase?
Do the Gospels give us the exact words that Jesus spoke, or do they give us a paraphrase that captures his meaning?
Does Joy Come After Suffering, Or in It?
Faith does not shield us from waves of sorrow. But it does plant our feet on a rock of immovable joy. And when the waves leave, the rock remains.
The Sweetness of Christ in 2020
As 2020 draws to a close, Pastor John describes the one reality that shaped everything else for him: the experience of sweeter fellowship with God.
What Happens to Non-Christians Who Take the Lord’s Supper?
What happens when unbelievers eat the Lord’s Supper — either because they think they are believers or because the church has welcomed them to participate?
Christian Marries Non-Christian — How Does a Church Respond?
How should pastors respond to a Christian who marries a non-Christian? And what might repentance look like in such a situation?
Fight Sin Like a Victor, Not a Victim
When Christ gives you new life by the Spirit, you are no longer a victim under sin’s power, but a victor who has the strength to triumph.
How Do I Battle Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome can make us feel like frauds in the workplace — like we are never good enough and always about to be exposed. How can we respond?
Did Jesus Say We Are gods?
In John 10, Jesus quotes from Psalm 82, saying, “You are gods.” Does this mean human beings are gods, or is something else going on?
What’s Keeping Me from Seeing Jesus?
By nature, we all want to be made much of. Until that craving for praise is laid to rest, we’ll never know the joy of making much of Jesus.
Can I ‘Name It and Claim It’?
God can do far, far more than we can think to ask. But that doesn’t mean whatever we wish lines up with his sovereign plans to bring us good.
Critical Race Theory, Part 2: The Root Problem
How should Christians respond to critical race theory? In a special episode, Pastor John explains the theory’s goals, assumptions, and root problem.
Critical Race Theory, Part 1: The Relationships
Critical race theory is a divisive topic among many Christians today. In a special episode, Pastor John explains why we should be careful in how we talk to each other about it.
Ten Effects of Seeing and Savoring the Providence of God
When we see and savor the all-embracing, all-pervasive providence of God, we cannot help but show the worth of his providence in all of life.
Have You Seen the Providence of God?
Immersing ourselves in the ocean of God’s providence helps us to know him, fear him, trust him, and love him as we ought.
God’s Providence in 2020
In January 2021, John Piper releases his newest book: a 750-page study of the all-embracing, all-pervasive providence of God.
Does God Regret Making Me?
We know that God is committed to saving his people. But does he ever become so frustrated with us that he regrets having made us in the first place?
What Makes Us Want to Move and Travel?
Our cravings can take us to new spouses, new jobs, or even new cities or countries. But there is only one place we’ll find the satisfaction we seek.
My Wife Is More Spiritual — How Do I Lead Her?
As a husband, I know that God calls me to lead my family. But what if my wife is more capable and more spiritually mature than I am?
Am I Completely Surrendered to Christ?
Jesus calls us to renounce all we have to follow him. But how can we gauge if we are fully and completely committed to him?
How Can I Grow in Obeying God?
Unless God enables our obedience, we work and serve in vain. All true obedience flows from the strength he supplies.
I Sought a Prostitute — Am I Doomed?
Proverbs says that no one who visits the “forbidden woman” will return to the paths of life. So, is a man who seeks a prostitute doomed?
When Does God Harden a Sinner’s Heart?
Does God harden sinners’ hearts only in response to their persistent sin, or is their sin a result of his prior hardening?
God’s Good Design in Our Suffering
In this life, we will have trouble. But every trial paves the way to an inheritance with Christ that will satisfy us forever.
Do My Past Sins Work Toward My Future Good?
We know that God works all things together for the good of his people. But does “all things” include even our sins?
How Do We Raise Kids Who Are Not Naive or Cynical?
As Christians, we aspire to live out the paradox of brokenhearted boldness. But how do we teach and model this attitude for our kids?
How Did God Call Me to Himself?
From our perspective, coming to Jesus Christ feels like placing our faith in him. But God himself enabled and awakened that faith in us.
I’m Obsessed with My Appearance — How Can I Stop?
We know outward beauty is insignificant compared to inward beauty. But what should we do if we still feel insecure about our looks?
Are Our Standards for Sexual Purity Too High for Pastors?
Is faultless chastity an appropriate standard for pastors, or are our expectations simply too high?
My Suffering Feels Meaningless — What Can I Do?
Sometimes pain seems meaningless, but in Christ, every millisecond of your suffering is producing for you an eternal weight of glory.
How Can I Love God More Than My Boyfriend?
As a couple’s affection for one another deepens, how can they make sure they are loving God more than each other?
Is My Suffering a Correction for Sin?
When trials come, how can I know whether God is calling me to patiently endure, or whether he wants me to repent of a specific sin?
How Do We Get Tricked into Sinning?
When we obey sin, we obey a liar, a deceiver, a murderer. Sin is a slave master who tricks his subjects into eternal death.
Why Did Demons Ask Jesus for Pigs?
When Jesus comes, he brings deliverance, freedom, grace, and power. But some people prefer what life is like without him.
Why Do I Need to Read the Bible When We Have Bible Teachers Online?
Today more than ever, Christians have access to a wealth of faithful Bible teaching online. So, why do we need to read the Bible for ourselves?
Dismiss the Devil with a Song
Singing together is not merely the prelude to the sermon. When God’s people sing from the heart, more happens than we imagine.
Is Enjoying God the Same as Glorifying God?
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” Does that mean enjoying God and glorifying God are the same thing?
Why Is the Bible So Violent?
The Bible depicts more violence than our modern sensibilities often want to admit. How do we handle these parts of Scripture when we come across them?
How Do I Overcome My Fear of the Future?
In this life, we will have trouble. In this world, we will have reasons to fear. But in Christ, our God is with us through it all.
Why Does It Matter That Christ Was ‘Begotten, Not Made’?
The Nicene Creed speaks of Jesus as “begotten, not made.” What does that mean, and why does it matter?
Money Motivates Me to Work Hard — Is That Okay?
How can we tell if our desire for money is a good, God-given desire, instead of a love for Mammon? Pastor John offers seven ways to discern the difference.
How Do I Tell If I Am Lukewarm?
How can we tell if we are spiritually lukewarm, like the Christians in Laodicea? We can look at our private prayer life.
What Do You Love Most About God?
Unless the Bible informs what we love most about God, we risk imagining a god in our own likeness, rather than treasuring him for who he really is.
‘Always Learning but Never Arriving’ — Is That Me?
Paul warns us about some who are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” What kind of person does he have in mind?
What Is God Accomplishing in My Suffering?
Suffering often feels meaningless in the moment. So how can Christians learn not only to endure trials, but to rejoice in the midst of them?
What Do My Entertainment Habits Reveal About My Soul?
If we cope with stress by watching movies, posting on social media, or consuming other forms of entertainment, what does that say about our souls?
Does Every Sin Cost Me an Eternal Reward?
God promises eternal rewards for his people’s present obedience. But does every sin cost us one of those rewards?
I Feel Unappreciated — How Should I Respond?
Ingratitude can make us feel unwanted and unnoticed. But our Father in heaven sees in secret, and he will more than make up for every thankless deed.
Is My Career in Marketing Vain?
Some marketing succeeds by cultivating consumerism in the human heart. Can a Christian glorify God in that kind of job?
How Do I Recover from an Unbearable Tragedy?
Some tragedies make life feel barely worth living anymore. So is there any hope that we could one day be happy and at peace again?
What Does My Stealing Say About My Soul?
Whether we steal time, money, glances, or anything else, our impulse to take what is not rightfully ours reveals a lot about our view of God.
Will the New Creation Look Like This One?
The new creation will probably seem familiar to us. But there will also be new dimensions of life and joy we can’t even begin to fathom.
Is Angry Prayer Okay?
We have nothing to hide from God since he already knows our hearts. But that doesn’t mean we can do or say whatever we want in prayer.
How Did John Piper Become a Calvinist?
When John Piper entered seminary in 1968, he believed in the self-determining will of man. But then he encountered Philippians 2 and Romans 9.
When Should I Follow My Heart?
If a Christian desires God above all, then shouldn’t he follow his heart? Or are our hearts so deceitful that we can never trust them at all?
Ten Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day
If we are going to grow up into maturity in Christ, we need to feast on Scripture — and not just here and there, but every day.
How Does Christ Change How I Work?
When you come to know Jesus Christ, something about everything in your life changes — including how you approach your vocation.
How Do I Lead Someone to Christ?
To lead someone to Christ is a spectacular gift from God. But what should you actually say and do in the moment?
Do We Need Extrabiblical Texts to Understand the Bible?
Extrabiblical sources can help fill in some details of our Bible study, but all the gold we need to mine for life and godliness is in our English Bibles.
Did God Save Me to Call Attention to Himself?
Over and over in the Bible, God says that he saves us in order to draw attention to himself. Why did God design salvation that way?
Are Christian Couples Required to Have Kids?
The Bible is clear that children are a gift from God. So is there any room for a Christian couple to decide not to have any?
Can a Christian Hedonist Get Depressed?
If we glorify God by enjoying him, how do we think about seasons of darkness in the Christian life, when joy seems far away?
How Do I Wait for God?
God works for those who wait for him. But what does it mean to wait for God?
John Piper Interviews J.I. Packer
In a 72-minute interview, John Piper and J.I. Packer discuss the Puritans, theology, the Christian life, and our heavenly hope.
How Do I Glorify God in My Daily Life?
God created us to glorify him by enjoying him forever. But how do we fulfill that purpose in the little things, in the small moments, in the day to day?
Am I Wasting My Life in a Secular Job?
Our vocation doesn’t automatically determine our fruitfulness for Jesus. God uses all kinds of people in all kinds of places to accomplish his purposes.
How Does God Become Totally for Me?
God won’t settle for anything less than perfection from us. Either we depend on Christ’s perfection in our place, or we keep the entire law.
How Do I Wage War on My Self-Pity?
At the cross, Christ canceled all our sins through his blood. Now, by the Spirit, we work to conquer every canceled sin.
A Seriously Happy Puritan: Praising God for J.I. Packer
On the morning of July 17, J.I. Packer passed into glory. Pastor John shares a tribute to the man he looked up to as a father in the faith.
Seven Lessons for Productivity
After fifteen hundred episodes of the Ask Pastor John podcast, Pastor John shares seven lessons that have inspired him to labor faithfully over decades.
What Does Freedom from the Love of Money Look Like?
Our hearts were never meant to find their meaning in money. God made us for something far more valuable.
How Can I Disagree with My Husband and Still Submit?
How can a wife disagree with her husband about a decision while still submitting to his leadership in the home?
How Do I Know If I’m Doing Enough for God?
Before you get overwhelmed by all of the Bible’s commands, remember your right standing with God and focus first on the anchors of faithful obedience.
Why Do I Need to Be Saved?
At the cross, God not only clears a path for sinners to himself. He also vindicates his righteousness after passing over centuries of sin.
Why Does ‘Atonement’ Disappear in the New Testament?
The word “atonement” appears all over the ESV’s translation of the Old Testament, but never in the New. Didn’t Jesus make atonement for our sins?
How Much Patriotism Is Too Much Patriotism?
If Christians are first and foremost citizens of heaven, then is it ever appropriate to show patriotism for a homeland?
How Can I Be Free from Materialism?
For many Western Christians, materialism has transformed our wants into needs and distorted our view of biblical Christianity. How can we be free?
Did Moses Think Sinners Could Keep the Law?
The Mosaic law requires obedience over and over again. Does that mean old-covenant believers earned their way to a right standing with God?
Do I Need to Understand the Trinity to Be Saved?
What does someone need to know about the Trinity in order to have saving faith in Jesus?
How Do I Find Freedom from Worry?
In the moment when troubles come or worries rise, we need the precious truth of specific promises from God’s word.
Would God Have Been More Loving Not to Create Anyone?
If God knew before he created the world that millions of people would suffer eternally in hell, would he have been more loving not to create at all?
Which Characters in Job Can We Trust?
Job is a famously difficult book to understand and apply. But God has not left us without interpretive guides to help us discern the book’s message.
Update from John Piper and How You Can Help Us
Hear from Pastor John on his latest ministry projects, and learn how you can partner with us to spread joy in Jesus Christ for years to come.
What Do You See When You Look at the Sky?
All creation rings with its Maker’s praise. If we pause to look and listen, God can show us glory in all that he has made.
Why Does Christ Want Some Not to Believe?
If God desires all people to be saved, why did Jesus sometimes speak in a way that kept people from believing?
How Should Christians Respond to Climate Change?
Climate-change activists warn of dire consequences if nations and individuals refuse to care for the environment. How should Christians respond?
Why Must Our Bodies Get Resurrected?
Our resurrection bodies will allow us not only to experience life without disease and decay, but also to enjoy God in the bliss he intended.
Does the Law Aggravate Our Sin Nature?
The Mosaic law raises countless questions for Christians. But how might we begin to understand the function of the law in redemptive history?
What Are the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Jesus gave his disciples the keys to the kingdom of heaven so that they could loose and bind. What does that mean for Christians today?
What Do You Say to Evangelicals Who Affirm So-Called ‘Same-Sex Marriage’?
When someone close to you affirms so-called “same-sex marriage,” how do you respond in both faithfulness to Scripture and love for that person?
My Pastors Don’t Preach Against Sin — Is That Okay?
Addressing sin and repentance may sound harsh to some, but genuine biblical preaching names and denounces specific sins.
Does John Piper Deny Personal Assurance?
God gives believers warnings not to strip us of our assurance, but to keep us clinging to Christ and killing sin by the Spirit.
What Are God’s Purposes in a Recession?
God has thousands of purposes in all that he does — including recessions. What does Scripture tell us about God’s designs in our financial uncertainty?
How Much Joy Did the Curse Cost Me?
Because of the fall, we are by nature dead to joy in God. Because of the cross, we can experience more joy in God than we ever could have had in Eden.
Do My Sins Ruin God’s Plan for My Life?
Some sins unalterably change the course of our lives, leaving us to live with the consequences. Do these sins sabotage God’s best plan for us?
The God over Viruses
If we say God is sovereign, does that mean he’s in charge of everything — even down to the tiniest molecule?
Does Christ Govern Every Storm?
Jesus stilled a storm for his disciples two thousand years ago, but does that necessarily mean he controls every single storm today?
Am I Living by Faith or Unbelief?
The Bible calls us to walk by faith, but how can we actually know if we are living by faith instead of unbelief?
Could a Recession Serve Our Joy?
Sometimes it takes a recession to dig up the roots of our lives and replant them in soil that causes us to bear the fruit of generosity.
What Is Hyper-Calvinism?
Doctrinal systems can help us summarize the Bible’s teaching, but they are never a substitute for Scripture itself.
What’s the Comfort If the Coronavirus Is Judgment?
Even in the most bitter providences, Christians have comfort to offer. The gospel is best news in the world for the hardest moments in the world.
What Is Grace?
We often define “grace” as “undeserved favor.” But the grace of God has another meaning in the Bible that is filled with encouragement and comfort.
How Can I Receive Christ?
The help Jesus offers isn’t a commodity you can buy with money or morality. To have the Son, you must receive him by faith.
Is the Calvinist-Arminian Debate Really Important?
Are Calvinism and Arminianism just points of debate for theologians, or do they actually have real-life implications on our relationship with God?
How Should We Dress for Church?
How we dress for church will depend on our vision of God, our understanding of God’s people, and our grasp of what is at stake when we gather.
What Are the Spiritual Dangers of Technology?
Technology can make our lives easier and more efficient than ever. But it can also slowly numb our affections to the things that matter most.
Is the Christian’s Heart Deceitfully Wicked?
Is the Christian heart still wicked and deceitful? Or does God give us a completely new heart at the new birth?
What Sins Disqualify a Pastor for Life?
Should churches ever consider calling a pastor who has committed adultery in the past? And if so, how should they evaluate his repentance?
Sovereign Comfort for Uncertain Times
When crisis hits, Jesus Christ remains on his throne. He reigns supreme, and he will never leave nor forsake his people.
Why Do We Confess If Our Sins Are Already Forgiven?
If Christians are already fully forgiven, justified, and united with Christ, then why do we need to continually confess our sins to God?
Is God Humble?
As we seek to put away pride and become more humble, is there any humility in God for us to imitate? Or is humility fitting only for creatures?
More Precious Than Praise and Possessions
How we handle our possessions in this world and the praise of man not only shapes our lives now, but determines our fate for eternity.
Fighting Loneliness in the Coronavirus Outbreak
God created us to live in community, not to self-isolate. But when we do experience loneliness, to what promises can we turn?
I’m Afraid of Surrendering to Christ — What Can I Do?
The life Jesus promises when you follow him far surpasses anything you might have to give up. There is no greater joy than in walking with him.
Why Do We Celebrate Easter?
If Jesus remained in the grave, then his followers have no hope. But Jesus didn’t stay dead. Christ is risen.
Why the Sovereignty of God Is Good News
The doctrine of God’s sovereignty does not sit on the periphery of theology. Without the sovereignty of God, we have no gospel.
Coronavirus and Christ (Audiobook)
What is God doing through the coronavirus pandemic? He is not silent about what he is doing in the world. He has given us the Scriptures. In this special edition of APJ, Pastor John narrates his first-ever audiobook entitled Coronavirus and Christ.
How Do I Know If the Holy Spirit Is in Me?
Whether you became a Christian at age 5 or 85, God worked in you, by his Holy Spirit, to open your eyes to the wonder and beauty of Jesus Christ.
Is It a Sin to Back Out of a Commitment?
Honesty, integrity, and reliability should characterize every Christian. Since God delights in truth, so should his people.
Plan for Something Greater Than Retirement
Retirement is not the last chapter of life — eternity is the last chapter. And the hope of being with Jesus forever should shape our final years on earth.
How to Talk to Children About the Coronavirus
Little hearts need the hope and security of a big God. What can parents tell kids and teens in the middle of a pandemic?
Public, Private, Online, Homeschool?
When Christian parents have a number of educational options for their children, what biblical principles help us decide what’s best?
What’s Next for an Aging Pastor?
God never wastes his children. If you devote yourself to serving the Lord, he will never leave you without significant opportunities for good works.
How Do I Fight My Coronavirus Fears?
The coronavirus is a wake-up call for everyone. Have we built our lives on a fragile foundation, or do we have true, unshakable hope in Jesus Christ?
Grace for Our Hardest Moments
Jesus may not give us everything we want, or even everything we think we need. But he will give us everything we truly need — all the way to the end.
Are IVF Babies Knit Together by God Too?
No technology can ever thwart God’s sovereignty. His oversight extends even to those advancements that seem to take his place.
A Word to Men Who Demean Their Wives
God calls husbands to provide and protect, not demean and belittle. Husbands must lead, but always with gentleness and grace, especially in the home.
Jesus Didn’t Die for Our Present Prosperity
Jesus doesn’t want disciples who seek him merely for what he can provide. He wants disciples who treasure him for who he is.
Jesus Came to Bring Violence — but What Does That Mean for Us?
Jesus told his disciples, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What kind of sword does the Prince of Peace bring?
How Do I Take Risks Without Being Unwise?
Jesus calls us away from self-protection and toward taking risks of love. To follow a sacrificial Savior is to give and sacrifice with him.
John Piper’s Death-Row Plea
Jesus does not discriminate. He offers the bread of life to anyone who calls on his name — even to those who have committed unspeakable crimes.
Am I Mainly the Product of My Background?
Are we free to be who we want to be, or are we instead the products of our backgrounds and environments?
If God Is Sovereign, Are My Prayers Pointless?
If all of God’s plans stand, and all of his purposes come to pass, is praying for what we want pointless?
Will Suffering Weaken My Ministry?
Suffering is not a hindrance to the spread of the gospel. Suffering is, very often, God’s means of spreading the gospel where it has never gone before.
How Do I Care for My Depressed Wife?
How can a husband cultivate an atmosphere of holy joy at home if his wife struggles with chronic sadness or depression?
How Can Couples Heal After Adultery?
After adultery, couples may feel like their marriage is ruined beyond repair. What biblical realities can help them begin to find healing?
How Do We Make Sense of the Coronavirus?
How can Christians make sense of the coronavirus, which has infected and killed so many people all throughout the world? Pastor John offers four biblical realities.
How Can I Jumpstart My Prayer Life?
Prayer offers us a lifeline to our Lord, a vital connection we need every day. But unless we plan ahead, we will be prone to wander.
How Much Victory Can I Expect over Sinful Desires?
The new birth brings an awakening of delight in Christ and increasing victory over sin. But how much delight and victory should Christians expect?
How Do I Bless My Children Before Bed?
If you want to raise your children to know and love Jesus, then a regular rhythm of blessing may prove to be a helpful habit of grace.
Why Is My Theology Not Changing My Life?
If I believe all the right things, then why does my growth in holiness seem so tedious and slow?
Should Christians Attend Alcoholics Anonymous?
Alcoholics Anonymous, and programs like it, seem to genuinely help hurting people. But what do such programs miss that Christians can’t overlook?
Can We Love Both God and Pleasure?
If the Bible says that loving pleasure is a sign of ungodliness, then can we really make joy and pleasure essential to our pursuit of God?
How Do I Let Go of Anger over Past Wrongs?
How do we lay down our anger, our bitterness, our grudges against those who have wronged us and gotten away with it?
Would God Be Just as Glorified If We Were His Slaves?
God gets maximum glory from his people, not when we work for him out of begrudging duty, but when we run to him out of sheer delight.
How Do I Find a Good Church?
If you live near a number of gospel-preaching churches, how do you decide which body is best for you to join? Pastor John suggests nine steps.
How Do I Grow in Wisdom?
How do I become a sage who overflows with godly wisdom? Pastor John recommends a path too few of us choose to tread.
Should My Husband Pray with Me More?
We all need private, regular communion with God. But the Bible presents a vision for prayer that reaches well beyond our personal quiet times.
Should We Call Female Leaders ‘Pastors’?
The New Testament doesn’t apply the term “pastor” to any leader in the church, but only to qualified men who oversee and teach the flock.
Who Is Yahweh?
The God of our Bibles is more glorious than we can even begin to imagine. And it all begins with this fact: God absolutely and simply is.
Is John Piper Popular Because He Makes Christianity Look Intelligent?
What happens when a preacher saturates himself with the Scriptures, walks into a pulpit, and overflows with a God-entranced vision of all things?
Did My Dad Die Because I Lacked Faith?
James tells us that we have not because we ask not. But do we still lack sometimes because we don’t ask with enough faith?
Is Something Evil Only If It Harms Others?
Evil goes beyond the harm we commit against other humans. Evil is preferring anything above God, even if we harm no one in the process.
What Is the State of Race Relations in the Church?
Our perceptions of race relations in the church are of some importance. God’s vision for where race relations are heading is of infinite importance.
Is a Similar Sense of Calling Required for Marriage?
Most fundamentally, marriage is not a convenient matchup of vocations, but a covenant that displays the love Jesus has for his church.
How Should I Parent My Non-Christian Teen?
Should parents require non-Christian teens to attend church with them? And if so, how do they avoid creating hypocrites of their kids?
Are Hell and the Cross Overkill for Sin?
The cross will seem like an overreaction as long as man is big and God is small. The essence of sin is not harm done to man, but indignities done to God.
How Do We Respond to Claims That Christianity Is Dangerous?
How should Christians live in a culture that increasingly views our faith as bigoted, immoral, and even dangerous?
What Every Marriage Needs Most
What our marriages need most is probably not new and novel counsel from the latest book or seminar, but this one piece of timeless, biblical truth.
How Do I Respond to Sexual Dreams?
What do sexually illicit dreams reveal about our souls? Pastor John offers biblical principles for understanding dreams and practical ways to overcome them.
What Should I Expect My First Time Through the Bible?
What can you expect when you set out on a journey through the entire Bible? Pastor John offers three cautions and nine life-transforming hopes for every Bible reader.
Are Personal Resolutions Effective or Futile?
Are New Year’s resolutions helpful, are they harmful, or are they just a setup for eventual failure?
I Have a New Journaling Bible — How Should I Mark It Up?
Journaling Bibles can be a great way to go deeper in God’s word, but many feel paralyzed, not knowing what to write (or not).
How Concerned Should Christians Be with Consumerism?
In our good concern for what and how we consume, how do Christians keep from being consumed by ethical consumerism?
Why Was Christ Born into This World?
The wonder and glory of Christmas will never dry up because the manger lets loose waterfalls of mercy that will flow forever.
Should I Use Christmas Dinner for Evangelism?
As we gather around the dinner table this Christmas, how might we share the gospel with family who don’t understand the meaning of Jesus’s birth?
Does the Bible Forbid My Nativity Set?
The second commandment forbids using an image or likeness of God in worship. Does that mean we should take down our nativity sets?
How Do I Banish Low Thoughts of Christ?
The Christ who took on flesh and dwelt among us never had a beginning. He existed eternally before, and will be forever after.
How Do I Battle Subtle Temptations to Lust?
Victory over pornography use is no small thing, but that doesn’t mean our battle is over. God lays claim to every impulse in our hearts, however small.
Will All Nations Be Reached Before Christ Returns?
Did the biblical writers expect Jesus to return at any moment, or were they waiting for certain events to take place before the end would come?
What’s the Deepest Desire of My Heart?
The greatest ache of the human heart is not to have wealth, comfort, or power, but to see and savor the glory of God in the face of Christ.
Does Christmas Create Racial Tensions?
Why was Jesus born a Jew? The incarnation undercuts all ethnic boasting and throws people from every tribe, tongue, and nation on the mercy of a Jewish man from Nazareth.
I’m Not Good at My Job — Is the Lord Telling Me to Quit?
If we don’t see much success in a career we thought God called us to, did we misread his call?
How Can I Revitalize My Church from the Pulpit?
Whether a church is healthy or needs revitalization, every local congregation needs a consistent window to the greatness and glory of God from the pulpit.
What Happens When We Sing Together
Singing together is never just a formality in a church service. God uses truth in song to sustain, encourage, and recharge his people.
Why Do I Still Struggle with My Pre-Conversion Sins?
Every believer is already new in Christ, and yet vestiges of our old selves remain. We must fight every day to become who we already are.
My Life Is Endless Drudgery — How Do I Find Joy in Christ?
The burdens and drudgery of life may feel like walls keeping you from joy. But inside these walls, God Almighty is working for your everlasting good.
How Do We Feast to the Glory of God?
If God made everything good, then do we honor him just by using what he has made? Pastor John explains the essential steps to God-honoring feasting.
How Should I Handle My Regrets?
Every single one of us can look over our lives and find failures we regret. How do we deal with remorse in light of God’s mercy?
Is It Sinful to Watch Sin on a Screen?
Our culture saturates itself with entertainment that hardly gives a passing thought to God. Should Christians consume such media?
Is the God-Centeredness of God Precious?
When you discover that God is not only perfectly glorious, but that everything he does is for his glory, your life may get flipped upside down.
How Do I Stay Attracted to My Aging Spouse?
Sexual desire doesn’t begin and end with physical attraction. God made us to cherish inner beauty and glory, not just looks that pass with age.
Will We Pray in Heaven?
If heaven is a world of love, with no grief or pain or loss, then will we have any need to pray to God once we are there?
The Key to Our Victory over Sin
Only the grace of supernatural delight can empower us to resist the allure of sin’s constant temptations.
I Feel No Sexual Attraction — Should I Still Pursue Marriage?
If someone’s sexual desires are low to the point of indifference, should he or she still be open to marriage down the road?
Why Does the Bible Stress the Power of Jesus’s Name?
The Bible stresses repeatedly the power and greatness of Jesus’s name. But why does it emphasize his name, and not just his person?
‘I Don’t Believe in Christ — Why Is Faith So Hard?’
If Jesus promises that his yoke is easy and his burden light, then why do some people struggle so much to put their faith in him?
When Has My Career Become My Idol?
If God created us for good works and wants us to labor diligently, then how do we determine when our career has become an idol?
Advice for Christians Who Work Sundays
If your job requires you to work on Sundays, how do you honor the Lord’s Day? Pastor John offers three pieces of counsel.
What Did the Reformation Give Us?
Every Protestant owes a debt of gratitude to the Reformers, especially for one of their most precious gifts to us: expository exultation.
Should We Stop Reading Dead White Guys?
Christians should judge a book not by the color of its author or the number of its century, but by the God-exalting or God-ignoring content of its pages.
Should Anyone Say, ‘I Am of Calvin’?
As we sit under preaching in our churches, what matters most is not how eloquent the teacher is, but how much truth shines forth in his content.
What Makes a Sermon Good?
Sermons are more than a transfer of facts and stories. They are a part of worship that God uses to work miracles in both the preacher and the people.
Should Stay-at-Home Moms Take a Day Off?
With all the demands on our time, how can young families pace themselves to run the marathon of life without burning out halfway through?
Are God’s Providence and God’s Sovereignty the Same?
God’s sovereignty is his right and power to do whatever he pleases. God’s providence is his wise and purposeful sovereignty.
When to Stop Listening to This Podcast
If God has given you elders in your local church and brothers and sisters in Christ, then why should you bother seeking wisdom from this podcast?
How Do I Follow God’s Will in the Face of Two Good Options?
God may not reveal every detail we want to know about our future, but he does promise to walk with us and direct our steps.
What Does the Bible Say About ‘National Coming Out Day’?
Our culture may celebrate sin and stifle truth, but that doesn’t mean we should lose hope. God can still grant an awakening.
How Do We Respond When a Pastor Leaves the Faith?
If we believe in the sovereignty of God, then how do we explain friends or prominent leaders who turn their backs on Jesus?
How Much ‘Lover’ Language Should We Use in Worship Songs?
Our song choices influence our churches nearly as much as our sermons. If we don’t choose our music with care, we aren’t shepherding well.
Should We Call Out False Teachers or Ignore Them?
False teachers threaten churches all over the world. Every Christian, and especially pastors, should know how to respond to their danger.
How Do I Submit to My Unbelieving Husband?
A wife’s submission to her husband is qualified submission. She follows Jesus first, and then does whatever she can to honor her husband’s leadership.
Is Everyone Punished the Same in Hell?
The Bible describes degrees of happiness for the saints in heaven. Does that mean there are degrees of despair in hell?
John Piper’s Most Bizarre Moment in Preaching
If John Piper wants Christians to find their ultimate happiness and joy in God, why hasn’t he ever told a joke from the pulpit?
Who Is John Piper?
We make plans and prepare for what’s ahead, but only God orders our steps. Pastor John shares his path toward a lifetime of fruitful ministry.
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
The Bible commands us to be baptized, but what does the water actually do? Does it save us, like 1 Peter 3:21 appears to say?
We’re Back! — Update from John Piper
Pastor John recently finished a book on the providence of God — the purposeful sovereignty of a heavenly Father who loves and cares for his children.
How Do I Live Like a Son Rather Than a Slave?
God has called us sons and daughters, but his people sometimes talk as if we were still slaves. What does it mean to talk like children of God?
How Does ‘Christ Live in Me’ (Galatians 2:20)?
When we are saved, we’re united to Christ by the Spirit. Our old self — our unbelieving, rebellious, sin-loving self — dies, and we live by the Spirit.
Does Jesus Teach Us to Sell All Our Possessions?
Jesus said, “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.” Are we disobeying Jesus if we don’t literally give away all that we have?
How Can I Forgive My Parents for Childhood Abuse?
How can we forgive others who have hurt us deeply? Pastor John gives three practical suggestions for pursuing forgiveness.
I’m Terrified of Giving Birth — Should I Still Pursue Marriage?
The fall has made childbirth painful and dangerous. But in Christ, the deepest dangers of the curse have been removed.
How Do I Survive This Midlife Crisis?
God keeps his children through midlife crises by empowering them to keep fighting to be kept.
Is God Just as Sovereign over Damnation as Salvation?
What role does God play in the redemption and damnation of sinners? Is he just as sovereign over both?
What Is a Father’s Role in Caring for an Infant?
A godly father will want to show God the Father to his children. He will want to model for them the heart of Jesus.
Would God Be Less Glorious If He Never Created?
If God created the world to display the fullness of his attributes, would he have been less glorious without creation?
Is God Angry at Me When I Sin?
We go from a rebel against the King to a child of the King. God’s attitude toward us completely changes. But does he still get angry at us when we sin?
The Heart of the Calvinist-Arminian Divide
Both Calvinists and Arminians see grace as powerful and necessary, but not in the same way. Pastor John gets at the heart of the theological divide.
What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
If you are a Christian, then you have the Holy Spirit. But is this the same as being baptized in the Holy Spirit? Pastor John explains the difference.
How Do I Trust God with the Eternal Destiny of My Child?
We know God will accomplish his purposes for good, but he doesn’t promise our children’s eternal good. How can we be satisfied in God with this unknown?
Does God Ever Soften a Heart He Has Hardened?
When we think God has hardened someone’s heart, we should not assume that the hardening is permanent. God can and does break in and save.
How Should a Husband Treat His Quarrelsome Wife?
“Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.” What are readers of Scripture supposed to learn from a proverb like this?
Should My Boyfriend and I Travel Alone?
Is it wise for a girlfriend and boyfriend to travel together and stay in the same hotel? Should they? Pastor John gives three reasons why they shouldn’t.
Do Human Technologies Ever Threaten Divine Sovereignty?
At any moment, God can put a complete stop to the plans of man. Rebellious human plans never threaten a sovereign God.
Was Job a Man or a Myth?
Job is a profound book on human suffering, worthy of a lifetime of study. But was Job himself a real, historical character? And does it matter?
Why Does God Discipline Some Christians with Death?
Why would God take some of his children home as a means of discipline when he could have prevented their sin another way?
How Do I Kill My Pride?
Faith kills pride by forcing us to look away from ourselves to God to receive the gift of salvation that we could never earn on our own.
Do I Need to Love Myself More?
Jesus said we should love our neighbors as ourselves. How is this kind of self-love different from the mantra we hear in advertising and social media?
How Much Authority Does Satan Have in the World?
All Satan’s power is by permission. He has no authority to do anything God does not permit for infinitely wise purposes.
Are Christians Righteous or Unrighteous?
Are Christians righteous or unrighteous? Pastor John explains two forms of righteousness in Scripture that get to the core of the gospel.
Should We Postpone Children While I Finish My Degree?
Deciding when to start a family can be complex. Pastor John shares how he and Noël decided, and what biblical truths should inform the process.
Why Is It Better That Christ Went Away (John 16:7)?
It’s better for us that Jesus is gone. He said so when he left. But why is Christ’s physical absence from us better for us than his physical presence?
Will Marriage Cure My Lust?
Sex in marriage, just like other physical gifts from God, is not an absolute cure for lust, but it can be a great help in the battle.
Can an Elect Person Die Without Hearing the Gospel?
Letting the truth of election deter evangelism isn’t only illogical, but unbiblical. Pastor John shows how election moves us to action, not inaction.
Should a Gay Couple, Once Converted, Stay ‘Married’?
The union of two men or women is not “gay marriage.” It’s no marriage. When they come to Christ, that former relationship has no binding authority.
Is It Sinful to Want to Die?
Pain surrounds us in this world, and for those in Christ, the exact opposite awaits us after we die. Is it sinful to want to die and be with Jesus?
Should We Expect Revival or More Social Decay?
Scripture tells us that the last days will bring an upsurge of evil in the world. Does that mean we should stop expecting revivals to take place?
How Does the Gospel Speak to Self-Hate?
The Bible has a lot to say about the issue of self-hate. Where should we begin if we’re talking to a non-Christian who struggles in this area?
Does Christ’s Righteousness Cover My Joylessness?
Jesus is our substitute, the one who became sin so we might be saved. So does his righteousness also cover our joylessness?
Does God Direct All the Details of My Life?
God’s sovereign control is complete, not partial. He governs every aspect of nature, every aspect of history, and every aspect of personal life.
What Does It Mean to Live ‘in the Flesh’?
Over ninety times, Paul speaks of “the flesh.” So what does this word mean to the apostle? Pastor John forms a definition from two key passages.
Is Cremation Okay If I Give My Body to Science?
We testify to the hope of resurrection when we choose burial over cremation. But if we first donate our body to science, is cremation okay then?
Does Junk Food Dishonor God?
When it comes to food, many of us are in greater danger of judging people where we shouldn’t than of eating what we shouldn’t.
I Want Jesus to Be My Treasure — Is the Wanting Enough?
Our satisfaction in God will be in measure, not in fullness, until the day we see him face-to-face.
My Joy Is So Short-Lived — How Do I Make It Last?
God promises lasting joy. But what should we do when we feel full on Sunday but empty by Monday?
What’s the Significance of Simon Carrying Jesus’s Cross?
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell us that Simon of Cyrene helped carry Jesus’s cross. What’s the significance of this story?
Where Was the Holy Spirit on Good Friday?
At the cross, the triune God was at work, securing our redemption. But what role did the Holy Spirit play in Jesus’s crucifixion?
Is There Any Place for Fear in the Christian Life?
Fear does not govern the Christian life. But we have a skewed view of the Christian life if we exclude fear.
How Does God Answer Today’s Skeptics?
Many of today’s skeptics ask questions that God himself has already addressed. Sometimes, we just need to hear how God responds to his critics.
How Do Christians Survive in Middle-Class America?
“Woe to you who are rich. Woe to you who are full now. Woe to you who laugh.” What do Jesus’s woes mean for middle-class Americans?
What Is the Sovereignty of God?
God’s sovereignty over all creation is one of the grandest themes in the Bible. Pastor John overviews some of the basics.
Why Have Kids If They Might End Up in Hell?
Every child is an eternal being, someone who will live forever. So if our children may end up in hell, would we be better off not having kids?
I’m Eager to Pastor Now — Should I Skip Seminary?
With so many urgent spiritual needs in the world, is it wise to spend years of life in a seminary classroom? If someone is eager for ministry, why wait?
Why Did Jesus Need to ‘Become Superior’ to Angels?
If Jesus is God, why does the Bible say that he “became” superior to angels? Hasn’t he always been superior to angels?
How Much Can Christians Learn from Non-Christians?
Christians can learn many important facts from non-Christian teachers. But they cannot learn the most important facts — or how to love them.
He Killed His Wife and Children — Can He Really Be Forgiven?
Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters. A few months into his prison sentence, he said he found God. Can he really be forgiven?
Does the Old Testament Alienate the Disabled?
In the Old Testament, the disabled were excluded from the holy place. In the New Testament, Jesus touched and healed the disabled. Why the difference?
Why Does God Choose Some and Not Others?
God could have chosen all to inherit eternal life, but he didn’t. So why would God choose some and not choose others?
Money, Mardi Gras, and Something Far Better: Stories from South America
Dozens of countries are experiencing a resurgence of biblical Christianity. Pastor John shares several stories from his recent trip to Brazil and Argentina.
How Do I Resist Smartphone Overuse?
Your smartphone is changing you, whether you realize it or not. Tony Reinke explains the costs of smartphone overuse, and how we can resist.
Can a Coin Flip Reveal God’s Will for My Life?
Making a decision with a coin flip glorifies chance. But making a decision from a renewed mind glorifies God.
My Girlfriend Affirms Homosexual Love — Is This a Deal-Breaker?
“My girlfriend affirms homosexual love — is this a deal-breaker?” Yes. Pastor John gives five reasons why.
What Does Jesus Mean by ‘I Never Knew You’?
When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” he means, “I don’t recognize you as my disciple, as my follower. You are a spiritual stranger to me.”
My Husband Is Passive — What Can I Do?
God may use you to change your spouse. But if you press in to him, no matter how disappointed you are in marriage, he will certainly change you.
How Do I Break My Entertainment Addiction?
As God’s child, you are not enslaved to entertainment or anything else. Christ has purchased a way out for you.
How Much Entertainment Is Too Much?
Watching a movie, playing a board game, reading a novel — is God disappointed if we use free time for these instead of reading Scripture and praying?
I’m an Anxious Person — How Do I ‘Rest in Christ’?
In Jesus, God has given us what we need to rest — even while we work. To every anxious soul, Jesus says, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”
How Can I See the Beauty of God?
Seeing and loving art and seeing and loving divine glory are not the same. They require different ways of seeing. So how can we see the beauty of God?
Is Street Evangelism Better Than Building Relationships?
God has not given us a formula for when to share the gospel quickly and when to share over time in the context of a relationship. Both are needed.
Why Global Missions Requires Healthy Churches
The Great Commission isn’t disconnected from the church — it’s given to the church. God designed the local church and missions to be wed together.
Should Hell Motivate Our Missionaries?
We cannot afford to ignore hell. Christians must care about suffering, but especially eternal suffering. And it must mobilize us to go and to send.
I Feel Trapped in My Job — What Should I Do?
We were made to work, and we are happy only if we do work. But what should we do if our job makes us feel trapped, not fulfilled?
How Your Career Could Crush You
If we are not finding purpose in our work from God, then we will likely turn our job into a means of self-fulfillment and self-advancement.
Is Investing in Stocks Any Better Than Gambling?
Wherever we put our money, we are accepting risk. So is there any difference between educated sports gambling and investing in stocks?
Did Jesus Endorse Polygamy in the Parable of the Ten Virgins?
“The bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast.” Did Jesus endorse polygamy here?
Why Is God Withholding Marriage from Me?
How can single people who desire marriage keep those desires in proper perspective? Pastor John offers six ways to cultivate godly desire.
Are Calvinists Inconsistent with Romans 9?
God sends the wicked to hell because they deserve it. God welcomes the humble to heaven because Christ secured it. This isn’t inconsistent. This is the gospel.
How Can We Prioritize Our Marriage over Work and Kids?
Marriages die from neglect but grow with God-centered time and attention. Pastor John gives six ways to feed your marriage the time it needs.
When Does Bible Neglect Become Sinful?
When does diminishing time in God’s word become sinful? Pastor John identifies five symptoms of Bible neglect.
I’m Tired and Busy — How Do I Make Time for the Bible?
We wake up every day needing to meet God in his word. Don’t leave the word to fill the cracks. Force other things into the cracks.
I Have an Hour a Day to Read — How Much Should Be Bible?
If I have only an hour a day to read, how should I divide my time between the Bible and great Christian books?
Three Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day in 2019
As we begin another year of Bible reading, Pastor John takes us back to the basics: feed your motivation, grow in skill, and pray for illumination.
How Do I Make the Most of Daily Bible Reading?
As you plan your Bible reading for 2019, know yourself, know your tendencies, but know most of all that you desperately need God’s word.
Can a Christian Survive in Silicon Valley?
Can the Christlike virtues of patience, forgiveness, and gentleness survive in a cutthroat technology sector like Silicon Valley?
How Do I Welcome Christ at Christmas?
The famous hymn calls every heart to “prepare him room.” But what does it mean to receive Christ this Christmas?
What Makes Christmas So Controversial?
The wrath of God is our biggest problem. If it didn’t exist, we wouldn’t need the gospel, and we wouldn’t need Christmas.
What Is the Rapture?
Will Christians be raptured before the tribulation? Or will we rise to meet the Lord only at his final coming?
Will We Meet Jesus as Soon as We Die?
We often say that our dead loved ones are with Jesus now. But Paul seems to say that Christians will meet Jesus at the second coming. Which is right?
How Will Christ ‘Reconcile’ Unbelievers to Himself?
Colossians 1:20 says that Christ will reconcile “all things” to himself. Does that include demons and unbelievers?
Why Do We Give Christmas Gifts?
Gift giving, done rightly, doesn’t distract from the meaning of Christmas. Pastor John puts Christmas gifts in biblical context.
What Should I Tell My Kids About Santa?
If we think Christ cannot compete with Santa in the hearts of our children, we don’t know the real Christ.
How Do We Know Jesus Is the Messiah?
When we say “Jesus Christ,” we should be thinking “Jesus the Messiah”: the promised Priest, King, and Prophet, the one God anointed to redeem us.
I Will Die Young — How Do I Fight for Hope?
When the prognosis is an early death, how can we live in a courageous manner that honors God and refuses to be jaded toward him?
My Friend Claims She’s Gay — What Do I Say?
What do you say when a professing Christian is ready to embrace the gay lifestyle? Pastor John offers a place to start.
How Do Introverts Guard Against Selfishness?
Instead of seeing introversion as a fatalistic limitation, ask, “How can I make my peculiar personality bent a means of grace to others?”
Why Is the Ministry Called ‘Desiring God’?
Why did Pastor John name his book and ministry “Desiring God” instead of “Enjoying God,” “Delighting in God,” or “Rejoicing in God”?
What Will Become of Christian Hedonism After You’re Gone?
What will happen to Christian Hedonism in generations to come? Pastor John shares eight dangers for young Christian Hedonists.
What Does Christian Hedonism Add to Reformed Theology?
Christian Hedonism does not revise Reformed theology. Rather, it clarifies one of the central assumptions of Reformed theology.
Should I Ever Go Through the Motions in Worship?
Is there an alternative between empty, duty-driven worship and spontaneous, joyful worship? Pastor John gives six marks of a middle way.
Do I Need to ‘Hear from God’ Before I Make a Decision?
We all want to know we are making the right decisions. To decide wisely, do we need to hear from God beyond what he has already written?
How Do I Respond to Blasphemous Thoughts?
All of us experience harassing thoughts. Where do these thoughts come from? And how do we respond?
Seven Ways This Podcast Will Kill Your Joy
This podcast could bring life and joy, or it could be a deadly weapon in the enemy’s hands. Pastor John explains how not to use Ask Pastor John.
What Comes First: My Obedience to Jesus or My Joy in Jesus?
Does our obedience or our joy come first? Pastor John explains that joy-driven obedience is the only obedience worth pursuing.
How Do I Pray for Healing and Honor God’s ‘No’?
Our greatest hope in prayer is not getting what we asked for, but rather in the goodness of our Father, who always gives what is best for his children.
Does My Sexual Past Make Me Unsavable?
Our past sexual sin is not beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness — unless we don’t give it up. It’s not too late to turn and receive God’s mercy.
Does Jesus Commend Dishonesty in Luke 16?
What was Jesus commending in the parable of the dishonest manager, and what are the implications for Christians today?
How Can God Be Sovereign and Good and Allow Suffering?
God designs all our weaknesses — even those that leave us unable to do anything. And one of his purposes in our weaknesses is to sanctify the strong.
Do Gender Roles Apply Beyond Marriage?
God designed us as male and female for his glory. And he intends for us to reflect him in every relationship, not just marriage.
What Is Union with Christ?
What does it mean to be united to Christ? Pastor John shows how we can begin to mine the riches of this doctrine from Scripture.
Is It Sinful to Gamble on Fantasy Sports?
Gambling your money — whether at a slot machine or with your fantasy team — is not just unwise. It is sin. Pastor John gives seven reasons why.
How to Read the Bible for Teenagers
When the teenage years come, we get to teach our kids how to move from reading the Bible to studying it. Here are seven places to start.
How Do I Question Someone’s Salvation at the End of His Life?
How do we approach the deathbeds of professing Christians whose faith we are not sure is real? Pastor John offers four ways to love them.
I Didn’t Treasure Christ When I First Believed — Was I Unsaved?
Treasuring Christ is a key ingredient to saving faith. But what if you don’t remember treasuring him when you were converted?
My Girlfriend Is Pregnant — What Do I Do Next?
A premarital pregnancy means a couple has chosen sin over God. But it doesn’t mean they need to continue to make that choice.
Does Premarital Pregnancy Nullify ‘Unequally Yoked’?
God clearly calls believers to marry only believers. But does a premarital pregnancy introduce an exception?
Why Does Piper Avoid Politics and What’s Trending?
In general, Pastor John avoids talking about politics, breaking news, and hot trends. Why doesn’t he address such cultural issues more often?
Why Does John Piper Journal?
God does not require any of us to keep a journal. But journaling may help some of us see Christ, love Christ, and become like Christ.
Does Depression Disqualify a Pastor?
At what point, if any, does depression or joylessness disqualify a pastor from ministry? Pastor John gives several factors to consider.
When You Sin at Home: Learning to Pause and Repent
Many of us spend our days running around with few breaks. So how do we repent of our sins when we find it hard to pause even for a moment?
How John Piper Became a ‘Christian Hedonist’
How does our passion for happiness fit with God’s passion for glory? Pastor John lived with this tension for years, until he found Christian Hedonism.
Are We Fighting Against Sin or for Joy?
Should we focus on fighting against our sin? Or should we focus on fighting for pleasure in God, which will in turn kill our sin?
Should We Raise Our Hands in Worship?
Should we lift our hands during musical worship, or keep them in our pockets? Pastor John shares some principles from Scripture and his own experience.
How to Raise Children in a Pornographic Culture
What can parents do to protect their children from pornography? Pastor John shares eleven ways to guard our families.
My Funding Dried Up — Is This My Sign to Leave the Ministry?
If my funding dries up, is this God’s sign that I should leave the mission field? Pastor John suggests three ways to interpret a lack of funding.
What Part Does God Play in Positive Social Change?
When good happens in society — a government is fixed, slavery is abolished, or minorities are given equality — is God secretly at work?
Should I Attend the Wedding of a Couple Already Living Together?
Whether we attend the wedding of a couple living together or decide to stay home, we are saying something. So what exactly should we say?
How Do I Teach ‘Christian Hedonism’ to My Kids?
Children don’t need to use the label “Christian Hedonism,” but parents can help them grasp what it means to be happy in God.
Should I Ever Take an Action I Don’t ‘Have Peace’ About?
Peace and calm are not the only factors in determining what we should do. Pastor John explains what else should govern our decisions.
Five Ways Jesus Changes Our Relationship to the Old Testament
How do Christians know which Old Testament laws apply to them? Pastor John explains five ways Jesus shapes our approach to the Old Testament.
What Is the Place of Faith in My Unanswered Prayers?
When God consistently answers prayers with “no,” many of us wonder if our faith is the problem. So what role does faith play in unanswered prayers?
What Hope Does God Offer in My Depression?
God promises hope to the downcast, fullness of life to the broken, and joy to the depressed. Here are five passages to turn to when darkness falls.
Ministering Without R.C. Sproul
R.C. Sproul went home to be with the Lord on December 14, 2017. Burk Parsons shares what it’s like to live and minister without him.
Real Sermons Are Not Lectures or Moral Stories
Pastors are not merely teachers or lecturers. They are shepherds to needy sheep. Burk Parsons describes the kind of sermons a shepherd should give.
How Do I Feed My Joy in Jesus Every Morning?
If Christ is not our supreme treasure, something else will gladly take his place. So how do we preserve our joy in God through the day?
How Do I Choose Good Books and Grow My Library?
Millions of books compete for our attention, but only a fraction of them are worth reading. So where do we start when trying to grow our library?
I Have Chronic Fatigue — How Do I Not Waste My Life?
How do people not waste their lives if a chronic illness has stolen their strengths, taken their time, and put them in bed all day?
How Self-Esteem Ruins Bible Reading
A relentless pursuit of self-esteem can increase your confidence and soothe your emotions. And it can also ruin your Bible reading.
How Has Social Media Changed Bible Reading?
Hand-lettered verses on Instagram may comfort and encourage us, but they will never suffice. We need more than devotional tidbits to survive.
Women of the Word: Reading the Bible for Ourselves
Comprehension, interpretation, and application — these three steps from Jen Wilkin have helped thousands of women dive deep into God’s word.
Is It Wrong for Men to Have Long Hair?
Long hair may be acceptable for men today, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore what Paul was saying to the Corinthians. Pastor John explains why.
How Do We Respect Others While Rejecting Their False Beliefs?
How do we respect Buddhist priests? How about imams? Pastor John helps explain how to treat everyone with respect but still make our differences known.
Piper’s Reflections After a Mainline Church Service
Pastor John shares six tragic observations from a mainline church, and a helpful report card to check our tendencies to make assumptions about God.
What Can We Learn from the Jordan Peterson Phenomenon?
Jordan Peterson has a bestselling book and a fast-growing following, especially among young men. What should Christians learn from him?
Why Is My Child Disabled?
God could have prevented every disability we know today, but he didn’t. And he has ten thousand reasons why.
Three Threats to the Joy of This Generation
God wants his people to have serious joy. But at least three obstacles threaten the joy and the seriousness of this generation.
What’s the Point of My Life?
All people want to be a part of something larger than themselves. This is no accident. God designed you to join him in his goal of global glory.
John Piper’s Most-Used Promises
We kill sin with superior promises. Pastor Piper shares his most-used promises and how they have served him over the decades.
How to Win the War for Morning Devotions
When you wake up more interested in Twitter than God’s word, the battle is not lost. It has just begun. Fight to get into his word.
The Miracle of Waiting Faithfully
Whether we’re hoping for a job, a spouse, or something else, no one likes to patiently wait. But God transforms us in our waiting.
How Do I Cling to God — When Life Feels Easy?
We’re needy people. But when life’s going well, we often forget just how needy we really are.
How Much Joy Can We Really Expect in This Life?
In this life, our indwelling sin clouds our joy in God. But every Christian has the promise of never-ending, ever-increasing joy in God’s presence.
Make War on Your Urge to Sulk
We all know that anger will only wound those around us. But its silent brother, sulking, can be just as deadly.
When God Answers ‘No’ to Our Prayers
How do we not let a no from God squelch our joy in him? John Piper offers two anchors of hope to help us remain steady in the struggle.
How to Navigate Conversations About Sexual Identity
A harvest awaits Christians in the gay community. Sam Allberry shares how he engages LGBT students with the message of Jesus.
Am I Less Human If I’m Sexually Unfulfilled?
You don’t need sex to be happy. Jesus never married, never had a romantic relationship, never had sex, and he was the most complete man to ever live.
The Christian Debate over Sexual Identity
Sam Allberry, who has been attracted to the same sex his whole life, gives an insider’s take on the current debates over sexual identity.
Does God Want Me to Be Happy or Holy?
Does God want us to be happy or holy? How are holiness and happiness not at odds, but work together?
Did Paul and Moses Prioritize Mission over Joy in God?
If Moses and Paul wished to be personally damned so others could be saved, didn’t they prioritize mission for others over joy in God?
Does John Piper Add (Joy) to the Gospel?
We don’t receive Jesus in a saving way when we receive him as a ticket out of hell. He’s not a ticket. He’s a treasure — the greatest treasure.
Universalism Distorts the Grace of God
When everyone gets grace, no one actually gets grace. Michael McClymond explains how universalism expels the biblical view of grace.
Universalism Is ‘Alive and Well’ — How Do We Oppose It?
What is Christian universalism, and how should we respond? Michael McClymond, author of a new book on the topic, details the basics.
Did C.S. Lewis Warn Against Christian Hedonism?
Do Christian Hedonists call people to experience a level of joy now that will be available only in heaven?
What Does It Feel Like to See the Beauty of Christ?
We often miss Christ’s beauty in his word because our hearts are out of sync. Pastor John explains how he prepares his heart to meet God.
Is God Glorified in Those Who Reject Him?
We know God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. But is God at all glorified in those who reject him?
What 40-Year-Old David Platt Would Say to His 20-Year-Old Self
David Platt, like all of us, has past regrets and future hopes. Here’s what he would say to his 20-year-old self.
Isn’t the Joy-Centered Life Just an Emotional Roller Coaster?
If our affections are the thermometer of our relationship with God, how can we remain stable through all our emotional ups and downs?
How Do I Find God’s Will for My Life?
Security, comfort, and wealth aren’t the primary guides for our job decisions. God is. But how do we discern his will?
Does Scripture Forbid Entrepreneurs from Raising Big Money?
A bank account with seven, eight, or nine zeros is not necessarily sinful. But it is dangerous for hearts that easily treasure dollar signs.
How Do I Overcome Crippling Self-Consciousness?
An excessive self-focus leads to either discouragement or pride. So what steps can we take to conquer the curse of self-consciousness?
Where Is Satan Most Visibly Active Today?
Wherever saving truth is hated, distorted, and muted, Satan is at work. Our best weapon against him is to tell and live the truth.
A Word to Strengthen Parents of Disabled Children
Caring for a disabled child often goes unthanked and unrecognized in this world. But God sees every sacrifice, and he will reward you.
How Do I Overcome My Fear of Death?
Everything we need in life and death was bought by the blood of Jesus. We have nothing to fear — not even death.
Should Christians Save for Retirement?
The Bible doesn’t have a category for retiring from ministry. We may retire from a paid vocation, but never from loving and serving others.
Drug Users and Christian Hedonists — Aren’t Both Just Chasing the Next High?
Both drug users and Christians feel ups and downs. But the parallels end there. Pastor John gives five reasons why the experiences are different.
How Can We Tweet to the Glory of God?
Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat — they allow us to say more words to more people than ever before. So how can we use them for an eternal purpose?
The Secret to Fighting Anxiety
Worry gains us nothing. As soon as we discover we have a problem, God has already been working on it, and the solution is on the way.
Should We Sing of God’s ‘Reckless Love’?
Is the term “reckless” too reckless? Pastor John offers pastors, worship leaders, and congregations ways to think about the popular lyrics.
Is My Joy Essential in Glorifying God?
Our enjoyment of God is not only a response to God’s glory — it is the way we glorify him. Therefore, joy in God is not optional.
Reflections on the Seashells Sermon, 18 Years Later
Eighteen years after OneDay 2000, Pastor John reflects on a sermon that roused thousands of young people to not waste their lives.
How Do I Know If a Sermon Is Too Long or Too Short?
Is there an ideal sermon length? Pastor John gives five factors to consider when trying to decide how long to preach.
What Is the Place of Eloquence in Christian Preaching?
From alliteration and assonance to metaphors, imagery, and illustrations — what role does creativity, imagination, and rhetoric have in preaching?
How to Read the Bible — and Preach It
Good sermons and good Bible reading push into a writer’s words, grammar, and logic to embrace all the glorious realities behind them.
Piper’s Six-Stage Process for Writing Books
After writing over fifty books, Pastor John explains his six-stage process, from gathering the initial idea to seeing the project come to life.
How Does God’s Sovereignty Not Violate Our Decision-Making?
How does God’s sovereignty not make us robots? Pastor John explores the relationship between God’s sovereignty and the human will in seven steps.
My Body: Friend or Foe?
True freedom from body hatred does not come from finally liking what we see in the mirror. It comes from being swept up in the greatness of God.
Isn’t God Most Glorified in Me When I Am Most Self-Giving?
Enjoying God and loving our neighbors are not competing goals. True love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.
How to Keep Your Faith When You Lose Confidence in a Local Church
Christian community is a precious gift from God. But our love for the community must never replace our love for the Lord of the community.
Why Do We See So Few Miracles Today?
There were fewer miracles in the Bible than many of us think, and there are more miracles today than many of us know.
Where the Gospel of Roman Catholicism Fails
Protestants insist that God imputes Christ’s righteousness to believers, while the Catholic Church claims that he imparts it. What’s the difference?
Do Paul’s Missions Leave Us with a Geographic Pattern to Follow?
Paul’s missionary journeys do not mandate how we should do missions today, but we can certainly learn from the methods he used.
Why Will Some of Us Get Fewer Rewards in Heaven?
There will be no envy in heaven. Perfect love will reign. Those who have more will have humility; those who have less will rejoice in others’ gifts.
Will Profanity Make Us More Relevant in Reaching Our Culture?
Crude language won’t transform the culture. It won’t convict sinners. It may make us more relatable, but in the end it will backfire.
Can We Skip the Parts of the New Testament Not in the Original Manuscripts?
The first manuscripts of the Bible no longer exist, but that doesn’t need to shake Christians’ faith. Pastor John gives three reasons why.
Do the Biblical Warnings Against Riches Apply to Most Americans?
The aim of wartime simplicity is not to be as poor as possible, but to use all of our resources for the advancement of the gospel.
Have I Really Forgiven Someone If I Keep Remembering Their Wrong?
The sign of forgiveness is not that you forget the pain another caused you, but that you relinquish the desire to punish, and instead seek their good.
How Do I Avoid the Pitfalls of Too Little Introspection and Too Much?
Self-examination can quickly turn into self-condemnation. Pastor John offers three strategies to keep introspection in its proper place.
When Do We Intervene in Other People’s Conflicts?
God calls Christians to be peacemakers. But when and how should we intervene in other people’s conflicts?
Does the Bible Portray Women as Emotional and Men as Rational?
Our culture often stereotypes women as hyperemotional and men as rational. But is this a biblical dichotomy?
How Do I Show Kindness to My Children and Expect Them to Obey?
How do we teach our children to respect our God-given authority, while also treating them with Christlike humility and servant leadership?
Is the Great Commission for Every Individual Christian?
God may not call you to move to another country to join the Great Commission, but he has called you to play a significant part.
Does Reformed Theology Impede Racial Reconciliation?
Some have suggested Reformed theology is a hurdle to racial harmony. Pastor John explains why the opposite has been true over decades of urban ministry.
Dating: Good Jealousy and Bad
Is all jealousy bad? No, God models perfect jealousy, and calls us to have the same zeal for his glory in all we do — even in dating.
Is It Sinful for My Husband and Me to Pray Against Pregnancy?
God’s highest priority is not for us to have children, but for us to have Christ-exalting faith that overflows in meeting the needs of others.
Isn’t It Loving to My Family to Prepare for Doomsday?
Has a husband and father failed in his God-given responsibility if his family is suffering when he could have prevented it?
How to Climb the Corporate Ladder — for Jesus’s Sake
How can we glorify God in our jobs? Pastor John offers ten reflections to help Christians integrate their Christian life with their working life.
My Midlife Crisis — and Counsel for Yours
Some men may avoid a midlife crisis, but many of us will face one. Pastor John describes his own midlife crisis, and how God carried him through.
Sex-Abuse Allegations and the Egalitarian Myth
For fifty years, our culture has denied that men have any unique responsibility to care for and protect women. It was a myth, and it isn’t working.
When God Feels Distant, He May Want Us to Grow Up
When God feels distant, he may be calling us away from a flimsy faith to a tough, unshakable allegiance to Jesus.
God’s Sovereign Plans Behind Your Most Unproductive Days
God’s priorities for efficiency in this life are not ours. His aim is not to provide the most direct route, but to sanctify the traveler.
How Do We Avoid Over-Thinking (or Under-Thinking) the Christian Life?
The Bible calls us not to over-think, under-think, think poorly, or think falsely. So how can we avoid slipping into these ruts?
Do Christians Carry More Emotional Stress Than Non-Christians?
Many believers experience deep emotional stress over the sin and pain in the world. When these emotions become paralyzing, what should we do?
Christians Are Marrying Later — How Do I Wait in Faith?
Although some singles are delaying marriage for the wrong reasons, many are not. What does God say to those who yearn to marry but have no prospects?
Will We Be Finally ‘Saved’ by Faith Alone?
Protestants have long championed justification by faith alone. But we distort this truth when we confuse justification and final salvation.
Do Reproductive Technologies Oppose God’s Design?
What encouragement does God give to those who are the product of reproductive technology and feel like they were abandoned by a biological parent?
In What Way Will Christians Judge Angels?
In the new heavens and new earth, Christians will sit with Jesus on his throne. Ordinary believers will join God in judging the universe.
Do Cessationists Miss Out on the Full Joys of Christianity?
God calls us to pursue our fullest joy in him. Will we fall short if we don’t pursue the extraordinary supernatural gifts like tongues and prophecy?
On the Day Billy Graham Died
In this special episode, Pastor John reflects on the life and legacy of Billy Graham.
Can a Devout Roman Catholic Be Genuinely Born Again?
Roman Catholic teaching has led many astray, even into destruction. But are there some genuine Christians in the Roman Catholic Church?
How Does ‘Willful Sinning’ Threaten My Salvation?
All sin involves the will. But continuing to sin deliberately — with eagerness and persistence — will destroy the soul.
Isn’t Veganism Closer to God’s Original Design?
Bacon, ground beef, sausage — God allows us to eat meat. But he didn’t always allow it. Is it wise to return to a pre-fall diet?
In What Sense Did Christ Die for the Non-Elect?
Don’t let the truth of God’s electing love prevent you from declaring that Christ died for all. Whoever believes in him will have eternal life.
Avoiding Pride in a World of Selfie Sticks and Social Media Platforms
Instagram selfies, Facebook updates, and endless Snaps feed off our self-focus and self-exaltation. But the sins behind the technology are not new.
Did Jesus Advocate Castration to Break Sex Addiction?
If you pluck out your right eye to fight lust, your left eye will pick up the slack. We need more than self-mutilation to fight this enemy.
How Important Is It to Confess My Sin to Someone Other Than God?
The New Testament teaches that Christians should confess their sins regularly — not only to God, but also to each other.
Did Jesus Say I’d Be Healthier If My Faith Were Stronger?
If you have a mustard seed of faith and mountains aren’t moving, you may have the wrong kind of faith — or God may have a better plan.
How Do I Fight Pride When Competing in School, Business, and Sports?
Grading on a curve, competing for a job against others, sports-team tryouts — how do we seek the good of others when they are our rivals?
Two Strategies to Win the War on Lust
God calls us to not only resist lustful thoughts, but to fill our minds with the beauties of Christ so that our desires gradually conform to his.
Following Christ Is Costly — But How Do You Count the Cost?
We don’t get to negotiate the cost of following Christ. But there is no cost you can pay that won’t be made up a thousandfold in the resurrection.
“Let Your Light Shine” — Should I Instagram My Good Works?
Jesus commands us to do our good deeds in secret, but he also commands us to let our good deeds shine before others. How can we do both?
Is This Life Too Short to Determine Our Eternal Destiny?
God would be just to condemn us even if we only sinned for five seconds. The time it takes us to sin does not measure the gravity of the offense.
Is There a Place for Female Professors at Seminary?
Seminary professors need to be more than competent exegetes, linguists, or theologians. They need to embody the pastoral office.
Does God’s Happiness Depend on Mine?
When one sinner repents, God and his angels rejoice in heaven. Does that mean that God’s happiness depends on ours?
What Value Is the Old Testament to the Christian Life?
All Scripture is profitable — not just the pages of the New Testament. But how should Christians read the Old Testament in light of Christ’s coming?
Does God Love the Non-Elect?
God has a special love for his adopted children, but that does not mean he has no love for those who reject him.
Do Non-Christians Ever Please God?
Can a non-Christian ever please God? If not, how should we understand the account of Cornelius in Acts 10?
What’s Wrong with Dressing Immodestly for Attention?
When billboards, TV commercials, and even dolls tell women that beauty comes from tight, trim-cut clothing, how can we cultivate beauty in the heart?
To Discouraged Pastors and Their Wives
What should a pastor do if he feels discouraged, defeated, and almost ready to quit? Pastor John gives a series of diagnostic questions.
Why ‘Falling Out of Love’ Never Justifies Divorce
Staying married is not first about staying in love. It’s about keeping a covenant that reflects Jesus’s own commitment to his bride — the church.
Deep Bible Reading Strategies for the Tired and Busy
Deep study of Scripture yields deep payoffs, but many of us can’t engage in rigorous study every day. So how do we strike a proper balance?
A New Year, A New Bible Reading Plan
We need to read large sections of Scripture and stop to meditate on short passages. Pastor John recommends a reading plan that allows you to do both.
I’m Retired and Want to Do Missions — What’s My First Step?
Retirees, what a glorious exchange it would be to give up our golf game and bridge club for the mission field. But where should we start?
Where Is Heaven Right Now?
We can say with confidence God does not dwell in a geographic place we could go to in a spaceship. So what can we say about the location of heaven?
Why Did Jesus Need to ‘Learn Obedience’?
Why does Hebrews tell us that Jesus needed to “learn obedience” and “be made perfect” if the Bible also says he never sinned?
Why Christmas Never Lives Up to the Buildup
Christmas may fall short now, but one day our delight will be full — and it will go on increasing for all eternity. This is what Christmas is all about.
Do I Love God for His Gifts or for Who He Is?
Every good gift we receive comes through the death of Christ. So every gift from God is an opportunity to enjoy God himself.
Did Jesus Diminish His Divine Power to Become Human?
Jesus is one hundred percent God, one hundred percent man. This union of divinity and humanity may be mysterious, but it’s the only hope for sinners.
Keep Close to the Heart of Christmas
Let’s stay close to the heart of Christmas: God took on flesh that he might die to destroy our enemies, deliver us from sin, and give us eternal life.
To Live Is Christ — What Does That Mean?
The key to magnifying Christ in life and in death is to find him more precious and more satisfying than everything we lose in death.
What Is the ‘Sin Not Leading to Death’ in 1 John 5?
The only kind of sin that does not lead to death is the sin that we confess, repent of, and resolve to fight by God’s grace.
Can I Leave and Cleave If We Live with My Parents?
In many cultures, married couples live with the husband’s family. But does “leaving and cleaving” mean they should move out and get their own place?
How to Live Wisely in the End Times
George Ladd has done more to shape our view of the end times than almost any other theologian. Pastor John explains the man and his influence.
We Are Accountable for What We Know
“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” Did Jesus intend this warning for believers or nonbelievers?
When Do Christians Resist a Government That Kills Its Citizens?
By default, Christians should submit to public officials. But how should Christians respond to rampant injustice in government?
To Whom Did Jesus Pay Our Ransom?
If Christ died to pay our debt, whom did he pay? Did he pay Satan in order to free us from captivity, or did he pay God to free us from our penalty?
Did Public Controversy over the Nashville Statement Hurt the Cause?
The Bible’s view of human sexuality is a beautiful truth that we should set on a pedestal — even if that means others hate us for it.
Does Hebrews Tell Us to “Grow Up” Beyond the Gospel?
We don’t ever outgrow the gospel. So why does Hebrews call us to “leave behind the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity”?
How Do You Structure Your Prayer Life?
On any given day, innumerable needs surround us that all call for prayer. So how do we navigate these endless needs and decide what to pray for?
Does God Decree Events He Doesn’t Want to Happen?
If nothing happens outside of God’s control, then why is this world filled with events that clearly oppose God’s revealed will?
How Do I Glorify God in My Job?
Most of us spend at least forty hours a week at work. So how do we leverage our time there to bring honor and praise to God?
How Do I Process Personal Criticism?
Aim to be humble rather than defensive when it comes to criticism. Only then will we be able to listen to their words and change if we’re wrong.
Why Does Gossip Feel So Good?
Spreading damaging reports about others feels so good and comes so naturally. But why is this impulse so natural? And how do we fight it?
Am I Wrong to Prepare for a Nuclear Doomsday?
Under the threat of nuclear war, we could easily start preparing for the worst by stocking up on food and building a bomb shelter. But should we?
Why Does God’s Sovereignty Make Some Ambitious and Others Apathetic?
Why do some hear of God’s sovereignty and run into the mission field with confidence, while others passively say, “What will be will be”?
How Do I Love God More Than My Entertainment?
What should we do if the thrills of TV, movies, video games, and sports feel more interesting than spending time with God?
The Dignity of Those with Dementia
Dementia may turn God’s people into frail shadows of their former self, but these saints are sitting on the brink of a glory and power we can’t imagine.
Six Common Ways Preachers Dishonor God’s Word
The stakes are high when pastors do not root their points plainly from the text in front of them. Here are six consequences.
How Do I Know If I’m Loving My Wife Well?
The Bible calls husbands to lead their wives. But where should you go for help if you’ve never seen anyone model Christlike leadership in the home?
Church Membership Has Left Me Relationally Jaded
Even the best churches and friendships can leave us feeling relationally jaded. So how can we persevere in love when others disappoint us so much?
Is God a Megalomaniac?
God seeks our worship, not because it meets his need, but because it meets ours. God is the only one beautiful enough to satisfy us forever.
How Much of My Happiness Is Settled by Factors Outside My Immediate Control?
Someone recently claimed that 88% of our happiness is outside of our control. How should a Christian hedonist evaluate this theory?
How Martin Luther Built a Brand That Changed the World
The Reformation spread when an unknown monk leveraged a rudimentary piece of technology developed by a devout Roman Catholic.
What Are the Best Reformation Biographies?
Good biographies expose us to times, people, and thinking outside of our own day. Here are some of the best biographies of Reformation figures.
Why the Reformation Remains Relevant After 500 Years
Choosing which of the five ‘solas’ is most important is like choosing which wing of an airplane matters most. All the ‘solas’ stand or fall together.
Is Anyone Born a Racist? Or Is It Learned?
Racism, hate, and anger have all erupted in fresh ways this last year. Are we born with these ethnic prejudices, or do we learn them?
Is Knowing God’s Sovereignty Important to My Daily Life?
The Bible not only recognizes that God controls everything. It also demands that we build our lives around that truth.
God Is Holy and Righteous — Are Those the Same?
What is the difference between God’s holiness and his righteousness? And what does that mean for us?
Ephesians 1:18: Who Will Receive the Riches of Heaven?
Is Ephesians 1:18 about God inheriting believers, or is it about believers inheriting God’s glory? Pastor John offers a few defenses for his view.
Confronting Emotional and Verbal Abuse in the Home
God did not design marriage for outbursts, verbal putdowns, or raised voices. If this describes your marriage, here’s some advice from Pastor John.
Is It Harmful to Date in High School?
Falling in love is a wonderful gift, but for most the maturity to handle a relationship of that depth doesn’t come in high school.
The Great Marriage Killer
Anger destroys relationships, but the Bible has a category for righteous anger. So what’s the difference between the good version and the deadly one?
Reading Is Agonizing for Me — How Can I Study the Bible in Small Bits?
Hearing the word of God is not a mere discipline — it is a matter of life and death. But how can we take in God’s word when reading feels like a chore?
The Lord’s Supper — Somber or Cheerful?
Communion calls to mind the most tragic event in the history of the world and the greatest hope ever offered. Only mature believers can set that tone.
What Does It Mean to ‘Abide in Christ’?
Jesus is clear that abiding in him is not optional. But what does it actually mean to daily remain attached to him?
What’s the Origin of Desiring God’s Slogan?
This slogan became the heartbeat of Pastor John's life and the hallmark of Desiring God’s ministry. So where did it come from?
Did Adam and Eve Sin Before the Bite?
The ultimate sin in the garden was not eating the fruit. Adam and Eve lost their taste for God’s beauty before they reached for the tree.
Does God Control All Things All the Time?
We know that God has the ability to control everything, but does he always choose to exercise his full sovereignty?
Popular Author Stumbles — What Should We Do With His Books?
All authors are flawed, but what should we do with an author’s work when a public failure discredits them as a sound teacher?
Are We Called to Thank God for Our Severest Suffering?
We don’t have to pretend we don’t feel pain from our losses. Grieving with hope means something far greater than moving on from the pain.
John Piper’s Prayer in the Path of Hurricanes
God doesn’t mean for us to forget him or minimize him when hurricanes devastate human life. Pastor Piper turns Godward and prays in the path of hurricanes.
What Is the Kingdom of God?
Jesus focused a lot on the kingdom of God. But what is the kingdom? And why does the rest of the New Testament hardly mention the theme?
Are Small Churches Less Fruitful?
A pastor’s job is not to count how many people come on Sunday, but to make faith-filled, self-denying, fruit-bearing disciples.
How Did I Fail My Unbelieving Children?
Parents will fail hundreds of times as they strive to raise their kids biblically. So how can we find hope in the midst of these many shortcomings?
Has Marriage Become My Idol?
God never designed marriage to be our ultimate treasure. Here are some signs that we have made our marriage into something God never intended it to be.
Did God Choose Me Because He Loved Me or Love Me Because He Chose Me?
God’s love and election work hand and hand. There’s no election that is not loving, and there’s no initiating love that is not electing.
Six Questions to Ask Before You Binge on Netflix
When thinking about TV, music, or movies, don't ask, “What’s wrong with this?” but, instead, “Will it maximize my holiness?”
Is Wartime Living the Same as Minimalism?
Wartime lifestyle seeks to glorify God — not to live with the least amount of stuff. It simply admits that life must be different during a battle.
If Someone Doesn’t Like Me, Have I Ruined My Christian Witness?
When is it right to please people? When is it wrong to please people? Motive matters.
Am I Single Because I’m Defective?
God has designed marriage to bring about a kind of cherishing that emerges nowhere else. But that doesn’t mean you are uncherishable if your single.
Local Atheist or Modern Pharisee — Who Is the Greater Threat?
Jesus faced more opposition from the Pharisees than the Romans. Are religious formalists a greater threat to the church today than our secular neighbors?
How to Stay Christian in College
Students, attending college means stepping out into the front line of the war for your faith. In order to hold fast, arm yourself for battle.
Our Wedding Date Is Set — Why Not Have Sex Now?
God created sex for marriage. He designed it as beautiful gift and placed it precisely where he knew it should be.
Is God’s Grace Really Free, or Does It Cost Me Everything?
We by nature don’t delight in God but in his gifts. New cars, our job, even our phones all compete for our supreme joy unless God transforms our hearts.
Retirement Homes and Caring for Aging Parents
One way to honor our parents is to love them as we love ourselves. If we would hope to be helped in our old age, we should find ways to help our parents.
When Worship Lyrics Miss the Mark
Members of our churches learn truth not only from the sermons they hear, but also from the songs they sing. Lyrics on Sunday morning matter.
Do All Religions Lead to God?
Jesus provides the litmus test for all religions. Any religion that refuses to worship him is a false religion.
Should a Single Parent Get Married?
Two parents are better than one. But does God require a single parent to marry if he or she doesn’t desire marriage?
My Best Life Now?
Following Jesus brings suffering we could have avoided. But the alternative is losing your soul while only gaining the cheap pleasures of the world.
Does John Piper Overplay Bible Literacy?
Was Piper right to say, “You don’t have a chance against the devil unless you know how to read and understand God’s word”?
Should We Memorize Catechisms or Scripture?
A catechism can help children interpret the Bible, point them to important Scriptures, and capture the whole counsel of God’s word.
Why the Coming Kingdom of Christ Is Really Bad News
For millions of people, the future reign of God is terrible news. His rule will not be an invitation to eternal joy, but a final verdict: eternal damnation.
Glorifying God in Unshakable Grief
Joy will come, even when it feels like the pain will never end. In the meantime, God promises to be near you in ways you can’t feel outside of suffering.
“My Life Feels Pointless”
Our aging bodies and nearness to death need not sap the joy that God gives us while we remain on earth. He still has a purpose for us.
Does My Sex Life Affect My Prayer Life?
When couples temporarily suspend sexual intimacy for the purpose of prayer, they say with their bodies how desperate they are for God to answer.
“I Had an Abortion”
Those who have had an abortion should own the guilt, but they should not stop there. God has more than enough grace reserved at the cross.
Soul Care for Exhausted Young Mothers
Moms, your walk with God is as essential for the good of your children as the milk you feed them and the diapers you change.
Does God’s Pursuit of His Glory Ever Detract from His Love?
Our deepest, sweetest joy will not come from God making much of us, but from God freeing us to make much of him forever.
Should I “Dream Big” for God When I Have a Huge Ego?
Egos do not shrink when we stop dreaming big. With big, small, and even stagnant dreams, we will need to kill our self-promoting instinct.
How Much Sleep Is Too Much Sleep?
Sleep shatters our God complex because we have to put down our tools, take off our boots, and remember that God is the decisive worker, always.
Can I Remarry If My Spouse Dies? Should I?
Widows and widowers should feel no pressure to rush into a remarriage, but they shouldn’t exclude the possibility either.
How Would You Lead an Overly Patriotic Church?
The goal of any change in a local church is to shepherd people into a deeper love for God. We must not lose sight of that in our zeal to align with God’s word.
Should Patriotism Have a Place in Church?
A Christian’s first identity is with the King of the universe, not with any country or nationality or political party or governmental regime.
How Is Jesus Both Joy and Master?
The Bible calls us to serve God, but we must remember that we can only do that because God first came to serve and help us.
How Do I Study a Specific Topic in the Bible?
Studying the Bible does not need to be complex. Simple tools can help us glean amazing insights from the word.
Jesus Said He’d Return Soon, So Where Is He?
A careful study of New Testament prophecy should never lead us to assume that Jesus and the apostles were wrong about the timing of Jesus’s return.
How Can I Better Study a Bible Passage?
“Think over what I say,” commands the Lord. How can a faithful student of the Bible do this without leaning on commentaries and scholars?
What Can We Say to Friends Facing Suffering?
When suffering drones on and on, what can we do to stay steadfast in our call to share in this suffering?
How Do I “Give My Life to God”?
Settle it in your mind and heart whether you believe Christ purchased you. If so, you are utterly dependent on God for life, meaning, and satisfaction.
I Know God Loves Me, but Does He Like Me?
If you live in the flesh, you will never please God. But those who have the Spirit delight God as they bear fruit. Even the small harvests please him.
Did Israel’s King Consult with a Witch?
God’s people must not consult with mediums — not because there’s no such thing as communication with the dead, but because it is an abomination to do so.
When Do I Unfollow My Pastor?
To be united to God is to be united in principle and in love to the people of God. We don’t choose between belonging to God and belonging to his people.
How Do I Escape Regret over Hurt I’ve Caused?
Don’t be paralyzed by feelings of regret. Rather let those very feelings empower you with a sense of greater grace, gratitude, and joy in God’s grace.
How Do I Follow Big Sections of Scripture?
As you study the Bible, study larger portions by looking for similarities in the sections that fit together.
The Only Solution to Spiritual Blindness
Spiritually dead and blind people are willfully dark. It’s what they prefer. Therefore, they can only be rescued by a divine miracle.
What’s the Point of Your New Trilogy of Books?
John Piper believes nothing is more important for his remaining years than to focus on the authority and the meaning and the heralding of God’s word.
God’s Work in Your Depression
Depression is not simply black and white. There are many degrees of discouragement, and God is able to provide help in them all.
Will You Ever Write a Piper Bible Commentary?
Good commentaries should ask and answer questions that enable people to see things for themselves, and probe into reality, not just verbal relations.
My Sin Feels Good in the Moment — Why Stop?
God commands us not merely to flee evil, but to hate evil — not merely to do mercy, but to love mercy.
Can We Be Legalistic About Not Being Legalists?
Christ’s righteousness is the sole ground of our acceptance into God’s favor, but our new life of holiness is necessary to demonstrate that we are truly in him.
Is Body Image My Idol?
Pursuing physical fitness becomes sinful self-glorification when we no longer do so to overcome our own sin, serve others, and glorify Christ.
Will You Write More Biographies?
Tell stories of Christians to inspire others to love Jesus, give them insight into perplexing difficulties, and motivate them to follow him no matter what.
What’s the Difference Between ‘Foolish’ and ’Sinful’?
Foolishness in the Bible is always sinful. To act foolishly is sin, and to sin is to act foolishly.
Can I Forgive Someone Who Doesn’t Confess Wronging Me?
Renounce revenge, trust your cause to God, and return good for evil. You can do that whether your adversary admits wrong or not.
Is Homosexuality Really the Worst Sin?
The blood of Christ is sufficient to wash away every sin and remove all judgment and bring us to everlasting healing and joy.
Why Does John Piper Complicate Saving Faith?
To come to true saving faith, you have to experience the miracle of spiritual sight of the supremely valuable glory of Christ, the image of God.
Explaining Hell to Our Children
God intends for our real and wise fear of hell to be a means of clarifying and establishing his glory and truth in our hearts.
How Will God Judge What I Do Today?
Teachers need to be vigilant over what they teach, and all Christians need to be vigilant over what they do with what they are taught.
Is John Piper Happy?
The promise of future joy penetrates back into the present and sustains us with joy now in the midst of sorrow.
Three Strategies for Overcoming the Superficial Life
Our tragic loss of wonder and amazement is epidemic, especially in our age of ever-present distraction by superficial input from every manner of media.
God Made Me — So Doesn’t He Owe Me Salvation?
Thinking that God owes us naturally leads to arrogant abuse. But knowing that we deserve nothing good from God naturally leads to brokenhearted love.
Does the Bible Prescribe Alcohol to the Depressed?
Don’t open your mouth to alcohol to numb your pain. Open your mouth to speak right things that would deliver you from misjudgment.
Is Male Headship a Lost Cause?
There will always be complementarians willing to die for the truth who will give their lives rather than conform to an unbiblical culture.
How Do I Love My Unbelieving Spouse?
The key to persevering in a discouraging marriage is hope and faith from God’s word that he can overcome the divide.
The Glory of Good Friday
Christ was a just and merciful substitute for sinners. When he died for his elect, he bore their punishment. They experience no condemnation.
The Horror of Crucifixion
Studying the historical and physical realities of crucifixion shows how deplorable and inhumane that form of human extermination is.
What’s the Last Thing You Would Tweet?
Jesus, God’s Son, died in the place of sinners and rose so that all who love him supremely might be forgiven all and have eternal joy in God.
Campus Ministry and the Local Church — Do They Work Together?
When parachurch campus ministries are an extension of the local church, they can strategically reach and disciple the lost together.
How Do Finite Beings Worship an Infinite God?
God does not require finite man to love him infinitely. But he does require total and supreme love.
Was Calvin a Christian Hedonist?
Because John Calvin loved the glory of God and our pursuit of happiness in him, John Piper believes he would have been a Christian Hedonist.
Should Christians Vacation to Religious Shrines?
It is a terrible sign of spiritual obliviousness to visit religious shrines and not feel heartbreak and caution for demonic powers of deception.
My Parents Say Missions Is a Waste of American Blessings
If your parents think pursuing missions is a waste, win them to your vision and show them that Christ is sufficient to satisfy your soul.
What’s the Appeal of Heavenly Rewards Other Than Getting Christ?
Christ is our reward — as is everything else that more fully reveals him and more fully enables us to enjoy him.
Should We Baptize the Dead?
Baptism demonstrates and symbolically reenacts our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection in Christ. But it does not save anyone.
I’m Confused — Are We to Pray with Few Words or Without Ceasing?
Pray to God at all times, but don’t think you can twist God’s arm by repeating your requests. He seeks heartfelt, authentic fellowship.
How Can My Difficult Marriage Glorify Christ?
A faithful, covenant-keeping spouse can display the truth of Christ’s covenant with us — even after a failed marriage.
Do We Really Need Musical Worship?
Qualified leaders should help God’s people come together to express his infinite value by lifting their voices and hearts in song.
When Should Christians Use Satire?
While satire, irony, sarcasm, and ridicule all have their place in exposing evil and harm, Christians should patiently seek to win others in love.
Why Does the New Testament Cite Extrabiblical Sources?
Sometimes biblical authors drew in material from outside the Bible in order to strengthen their points for their audience.
What Is Revival and Where Do We Find It?
Revival is a concentrated work of God where Christians in various churches earnestly desire more of Christ, boldness in witness, and commitment to missions.
The Benedict Option and American Politics: 12-Minute Audio with Don Carson
Christians are called to be different from the world, but engaged with the world. That’s not comfortable, but it is essentially Christian.
Why I’m Baptist
First, be a Bible-guided Christian. Second, embrace the Bible-rooted doctrines of grace. Third, come to your convictions on baptism.