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Ask Pastor John
Ask Pastor John
Desiring God

John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.

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Episodes

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... more

21 Sep 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

18 Sep 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

14 Sep 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

11 Sep 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

07 Sep 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

04 Sep 2023 · 13 minutes
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?

31 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

28 Aug 2023 · 9 minutes
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... more

24 Aug 2023 · 10 minutes
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.

21 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

17 Aug 2023 · 13 minutes
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?

14 Aug 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

10 Aug 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

07 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

03 Aug 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

31 Jul 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

27 Jul 2023 · 12 minutes
Fifty Years of Theological Battles

If you want to prepare for the unknown controversies of tomorrow, know your Bible deeply, thoroughly, confidently, joyfully.

24 Jul 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

20 Jul 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

17 Jul 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

13 Jul 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

10 Jul 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

06 Jul 2023 · 15 minutes
Learning to Forgive Family

For some, forgiving family from the heart may be one of the hardest steps of obedience. Pastor John offers five... more

03 Jul 2023 · 15 minutes
On Sibling Rivalries

Sibling rivalries have fractured families since Cain and Abel. So, how does God work redemptively between siblings, and how might... more

29 Jun 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

26 Jun 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

22 Jun 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

19 Jun 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

15 Jun 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

12 Jun 2023 · 15 minutes
How Much Should Pastors Make?

“The laborer deserves his wages” — including those who labor in preaching and teaching. But how might a church decide... more

08 Jun 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

05 Jun 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

01 Jun 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

29 May 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

26 May 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

24 May 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

23 May 2023 · 3 minutes
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... more

22 May 2023 · 14 minutes
Death Can Only Make Me Better: Remembering Tim Keller (1950–2023)

On May 19, 2023, Tim Keller entered the reward of his Master. In this special episode of Ask Pastor John,... more

19 May 2023 · 16 minutes
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... more

19 May 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

17 May 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

15 May 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

12 May 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

10 May 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

08 May 2023 · 11 minutes
‘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... more

05 May 2023 · 12 minutes
What Makes You Happiest?

What is the deepest source of your joy — what God gives to you, or who God is for you?

03 May 2023 · 5 minutes
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... more

01 May 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

28 Apr 2023 · 11 minutes
Our Joyful Duty

At the core of Christian Hedonism is the glorious reality that the duty God requires of us is the path... more

26 Apr 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

24 Apr 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

21 Apr 2023 · 13 minutes
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?

19 Apr 2023 · 7 minutes
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... more

17 Apr 2023 · 15 minutes
Overcoming Fear

If God has really given us “a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” then why... more

14 Apr 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

12 Apr 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

10 Apr 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

07 Apr 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

05 Apr 2023 · 12 minutes
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.... more

03 Apr 2023 · 14 minutes
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?

31 Mar 2023 · 14 minutes
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?”

29 Mar 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

27 Mar 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

24 Mar 2023 · 14 minutes
John Piper’s Conversion Story

The book of Romans interprets life — and it also transforms life. Pastor John shares how Romans has shaped him,... more

22 Mar 2023 · 13 minutes
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?

20 Mar 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

17 Mar 2023 · 14 minutes
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... more

15 Mar 2023 · 2 minutes
How Does Childbirth Save Women?

Women, Paul says, “will be saved through childbearing.” How does childbirth save women — and what about women who never... more

13 Mar 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

10 Mar 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

08 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
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... more

06 Mar 2023 · 12 minutes
Are Christians Obligated to Vote?

Are Christians who have the opportunity to vote obligated to do so — or can we abstain from the whole... more

03 Mar 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

01 Mar 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

27 Feb 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

24 Feb 2023 · 11 minutes
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,... more

22 Feb 2023 · 17 minutes
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... more

20 Feb 2023 · 11 minutes
How Could God Be Jealous?

The jealousy of God shows his zeal for his own worth — and it also shows his zeal for our... more

17 Feb 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

15 Feb 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

13 Feb 2023 · 15 minutes
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... more

10 Feb 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

08 Feb 2023 · 13 minutes
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.

06 Feb 2023 · 16 minutes
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... more

03 Feb 2023 · 11 minutes
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.

01 Feb 2023 · 12 minutes
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... more

30 Jan 2023 · 15 minutes
Did Paul Oppose Fiction?

The apostle Paul strongly warned Timothy and Titus against the “myths” of his day. What might he have to say... more

27 Jan 2023 · 16 minutes
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... more

25 Jan 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

23 Jan 2023 · 16 minutes
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... more

20 Jan 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

18 Jan 2023 · 5 minutes
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... more

16 Jan 2023 · 13 minutes
When Does Despondency Become Sin?

Everyone passes through seasons of despondency — seasons when the soul is troubled and hope feels thin. But when does... more

13 Jan 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

11 Jan 2023 · 11 minutes
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... more

09 Jan 2023 · 11 minutes
Is Intermittent Fasting Sacrilegious?

Some people find intermittent fasting helpful for losing weight. But is fasting for merely physical purposes a sacrilegious use of... more

06 Jan 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

04 Jan 2023 · 10 minutes
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... more

02 Jan 2023 · 13 minutes
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... more

30 Dec 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

28 Dec 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

26 Dec 2022 · 16 minutes
The Christmas We Needed

The best gift anyone can receive at Christmas is deliverance from our two greatest enemies: sin and Satan.

23 Dec 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

21 Dec 2022 · 15 minutes
‘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... more

19 Dec 2022 · 18 minutes
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?

16 Dec 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

14 Dec 2022 · 19 minutes
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... more

12 Dec 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

09 Dec 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

07 Dec 2022 · 9 minutes
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?

05 Dec 2022 · 12 minutes
How Can Satan Harm Christians?

Scripture is clear that Satan is not ultimately sovereign — God is. But under that sovereignty, in what ways can... more

02 Dec 2022 · 12 minutes
Amusing Ourselves from Death

Outside of Christ, the fear of death is a slave master that holds everyone in bondage — even those who... more

30 Nov 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

28 Nov 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

25 Nov 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

23 Nov 2022 · 11 minutes
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?

21 Nov 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

18 Nov 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

16 Nov 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

14 Nov 2022 · 8 minutes
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... more

11 Nov 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

09 Nov 2022 · 10 minutes
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,... more

07 Nov 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

04 Nov 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

02 Nov 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

31 Oct 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

28 Oct 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

26 Oct 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

24 Oct 2022 · 12 minutes
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?

21 Oct 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

19 Oct 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

17 Oct 2022 · 9 minutes
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... more

14 Oct 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

12 Oct 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

10 Oct 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

07 Oct 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

05 Oct 2022 · 12 minutes
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?

03 Oct 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

30 Sep 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

28 Sep 2022 · 10 minutes
How to Live Fearlessly

How can Christians live fearlessly? Replace the fear of man with the fear of God. Fear man — live fearfully.... more

26 Sep 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

23 Sep 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

21 Sep 2022 · 9 minutes
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... more

19 Sep 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

16 Sep 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

14 Sep 2022 · 8 minutes
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... more

12 Sep 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

09 Sep 2022 · 12 minutes
Who Are My Enemies?

“Love your enemies,” Jesus says. But who are our enemies? The answer is broader than we might imagine.

07 Sep 2022 · 8 minutes
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... more

05 Sep 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

02 Sep 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

31 Aug 2022 · 8 minutes
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?

29 Aug 2022 · 14 minutes
Is Double Predestination Biblical?

Does the Bible teach that God has predestined some to disobedience and destruction, just as he has predestined some to... more

26 Aug 2022 · 16 minutes
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.

24 Aug 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

22 Aug 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

19 Aug 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

17 Aug 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

15 Aug 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

12 Aug 2022 · 12 minutes
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,... more

10 Aug 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

08 Aug 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

05 Aug 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

03 Aug 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

01 Aug 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

29 Jul 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

27 Jul 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

25 Jul 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

22 Jul 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

20 Jul 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

18 Jul 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

15 Jul 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

13 Jul 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

11 Jul 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

08 Jul 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

06 Jul 2022 · 9 minutes
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... more

04 Jul 2022 · 13 minutes
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?

01 Jul 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

30 Jun 2022 · 23 minutes
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... more

29 Jun 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

27 Jun 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

24 Jun 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

22 Jun 2022 · 17 minutes
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... more

20 Jun 2022 · 16 minutes
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... more

17 Jun 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

15 Jun 2022 · 17 minutes
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... more

13 Jun 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

10 Jun 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

08 Jun 2022 · 18 minutes
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... more

06 Jun 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

03 Jun 2022 · 12 minutes
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,... more

01 Jun 2022 · 17 minutes
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... more

30 May 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

27 May 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

25 May 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

23 May 2022 · 13 minutes
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.

20 May 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

18 May 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

16 May 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

13 May 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

11 May 2022 · 17 minutes
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... more

09 May 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

06 May 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

04 May 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

02 May 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

29 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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.

27 Apr 2022 · 16 minutes
Does Faith Cause Regeneration?

Does faith bring about the new birth, or does the new birth bring about faith? Pastor John offers three reasons... more

25 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

22 Apr 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

20 Apr 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

18 Apr 2022 · 12 minutes
What Are Church Traditions?

In his letters, Paul speaks not only of teachings he delivered to the churches, but also of traditions he passed... more

15 Apr 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

13 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

11 Apr 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

08 Apr 2022 · 16 minutes
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... more

06 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

04 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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,... more

01 Apr 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

30 Mar 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

28 Mar 2022 · 12 minutes
On Permanent Birth Control

If two spouses agree that they do not want to have more children, would it be sinful to pursue permanent... more

25 Mar 2022 · 13 minutes
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,... more

23 Mar 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

21 Mar 2022 · 11 minutes
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?

18 Mar 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

16 Mar 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

14 Mar 2022 · 13 minutes
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?

11 Mar 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

09 Mar 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

07 Mar 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

04 Mar 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

02 Mar 2022 · 12 minutes
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?

28 Feb 2022 · 12 minutes
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”... more

25 Feb 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

23 Feb 2022 · 22 minutes
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... more

21 Feb 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

18 Feb 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

16 Feb 2022 · 10 minutes
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... more

14 Feb 2022 · 11 minutes
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... more

11 Feb 2022 · 17 minutes
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... more

09 Feb 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

07 Feb 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

04 Feb 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

02 Feb 2022 · 18 minutes
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... more

31 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

28 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
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.

26 Jan 2022 · 7 minutes
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... more

25 Jan 2022 · 15 minutes
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... more

24 Jan 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

21 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

19 Jan 2022 · 15 minutes
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.

17 Jan 2022 · 13 minutes
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?

14 Jan 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

12 Jan 2022 · 13 minutes
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... more

10 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

07 Jan 2022 · 12 minutes
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... more

05 Jan 2022 · 11 minutes
What Is an Idol?

The Bible describes idols as actual objects people worship, but today many use the language of “idolatry” more broadly. So... more

03 Jan 2022 · 14 minutes
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... more

31 Dec 2021 · 13 minutes
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... more

29 Dec 2021 · 4 minutes
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... more

27 Dec 2021 · 10 minutes
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 —... more

24 Dec 2021 · 13 minutes
History Ended at Christmas

Christmas is not just another bend in the river of redemptive history. Christmas marks the end of the river and... more

22 Dec 2021 · 12 minutes
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... more

20 Dec 2021 · 14 minutes
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... more

17 Dec 2021 · 18 minutes
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... more

15 Dec 2021 · 12 minutes
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?

13 Dec 2021 · 14 minutes
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... more

10 Dec 2021 · 18 minutes
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... more

08 Dec 2021 · 9 minutes
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... more

06 Dec 2021 · 14 minutes
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 —... more

03 Dec 2021 · 20 minutes
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How Can I Resist a Critical Spirit?
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A love for excellence can easily grow into a hypercritical spirit. How can we resist the tendency to focus mostly on the... more