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John Piper

John Piper is founder and teacher of Desiring God and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist and most recently Foundations for Lifelong Learning: Education in Serious Joy.

Panel Discussion

T4G 2008 Panel Discussion

T4G 2008 Panel Discussion

Sacrificial obedience can only be empowered and sustained by a view of the surpassingly great value of Christ over all things.

Conference Message

How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice

How the Supremacy of Christ Creates Radical Christian Sacrifice

Our life and ministry should reflect Jesus’s own and have a radical, risk-taking, sacrificial flavor.

Is God Less Glorious for Choosing Us Rather Than Having Us Choose Him?

John Piper explains how God's electing love brings him more glory than self-determined human wills could.

An Effect of Passion for Christ

One of the reasons pursuing a passion for Christ (or if you prefer the old word, “zeal” for Christ) is so important is the good effects it has on others This is not the decisive reason for wanting passion. Passion…

How to Be a Fountain of Life

Every Christian should want to be a “fountain of life” for others. How does that happen Here is a group of passages that answer this question. The answer is in the order. Psalm 36:9, For with You is the fountain…

The Happy Paradoxes of Christian Freedom and Slavery

For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. (1Corinthians 7:22-24) I would have expected Paul to switch the places…

Should All of My Tithe Go to the Local Church?

John Piper shares some guidlines on where and how much to give.

I'm Sending You to Open Their Eyes

10 practical encouragments to evangelize.

It's Good We Aren't All Like Jesus

Jesus never wrote anything. He hung out, and talked, and healed. But if his followers had only done that, we wouldn’t know even that about him. Both-And, not Either-Or. And some people more one than the other.

Can I Remarry If My Spouse Divorces Me and Marries Another?

John Piper explains why "till death do us part" should never be broken.

Preaching as Concept Creation, Not Just Contextualization

We need to both contextualize and teach gospel ideas that no one can grasp without new categories.

How Can I Explain God's Love to a Suffering Child?

John Piper suggests three ways to help hurting children trust God.

Conference Message

Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer

Part 2

For those who are in Christ Jesus, there is no divine punishment in suffering, only purification; even death Itself will serve the good of God’s people.

Conference Message

Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer

Treasuring Christ and the Call to Suffer

Part 1

Our greatest treasure in life is Jesus himself. When we value him above anything else, we can face anything that comes our way.

5 Tips for Clear Writing and Talking

5 Tips for Clear Writing and Talking

C. S. Lewis’ advice to children on writing is good advice to pastors on preaching, or anybody on talking Always try to use the language so as to make quite clear what you mean and make sure your sentence couldn't…

How Can I Minister to a Family Member Who Is Practicing Homosexuality?

John Piper clarifies how we are to minister with conviction and compassion.

You Are God's Midwife for the New Birth of Others

When God gives new birth, he does so through us speaking his word, the gospel.

Falling Dew and Falling Hammers

Especially on Sundays, preaching is paramount in a pastor’s life. When we prepare to preach, we remember that our words should fall “as gentle rain upon the tender grass” and “like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.” Such…

“These Narrow and Ebb Souls”

There is a knowing of love that surpasses ordinary knowledge. All thoughtful and true lovers know this. Being loved isn't identical to knowing that one is being loved. This is not spooky. It is in fact gloriously ordinary. Just as…

Why Is Jesus Called “Son of Man”?

John Piper explains the significance of Jesus' favorite self-designation.

When MLK First Met God

On this 40th anniversary of his death, I thank God for the life and cause of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was not the first day that he had met God. Twelve years earlier there was another meeting He put…

Preaching What You Don't Feel

Can a pastor preach on joy when he is feeling little of it Yes. He is preaching what the word says and will say it whether he feels it or not. Yes. He will be praying that in the very…

How Can I Comfort My Brother Whose Daughter Has Cancer?

John Piper offers counsel on how to help others endure suffering.

Evangelical Humiliation

Outside the Bible I have never read anything more devastating to the impenetrable permutations of pride than the section in Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections titled, “Sign #6, Gracious affections are attended with evangelical humiliation.” It ends with one…

Overcome Contradictory Compassion

The inconsistencies of liberal and conservative compassion do not define the nature of good and evil That there are liberals who talk compassion for the weak and oppressed, but support the butchery of the weakest persons (the unborn even to…

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