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Ask Pastor John

Desiring God

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John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.

Ask Pastor John

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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 stands 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 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

Where can you go for resources that never apologize for any teaching in the Bible? Desiring God aims to be that kind of ministry.

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 we do 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 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.

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 someone loves 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 address an 8-year-old boy struggling to persevere in school.

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.

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 knitted each of us together 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?

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 a dying person, how can you minister to their soul 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 someone feels called to missions, should he 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?

God is the most important and most valuable reality in the entire universe. So 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. So 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 gives 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

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

Critical race theory is a divisive topic among many Christians today. Which means we should be all the more 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 do 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

In this special episode, Pastor John reflects on the life and legacy of J.I. Packer (1926–2020).

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?

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.

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 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?

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.

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 impacts 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 stake when we gather.

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?

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.