John Piper, in a sermon, “Risk and the Cause of God,” Our text is 2 Samuel 10, especially verse 12. “Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” The Amalekites had shamed the messengers of Israel … More May the Lord do what seems good to him.
2 Corinthians 12:11-21 is our reading for today. Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly … More “I seek not what is yours but you.”
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 John Piper, in a sermon, “Christ’s Power is Made Perfect in Weakness”- God’s design is to make you a showcase for Jesus’ power. But not necessarily the way the market demands: not by getting rid of all our weaknesses; … More A Showcase of Grace
John Piper helps us to see Jesus in Psalm 106, in our reading plan today. Psalm 106 is a summary of the history of Israel with a focus on her repeated sins and God’s repeated judgment and mercy. Psalm 106 is a picture of the Old Testament in miniature. It cries out for something more … More Psalm 106 and the OT: It’s all pointing to Christ
Many of the Psalms, including the one for our reading today, praise God for His mighty works and awesome deeds. Some of these Psalms even declare the ultimate reason God does these things. Notice the phrase in Psalm 106:8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. … More Why should we emphasize that God loves, forgives, and saves for his own glory?
For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.—2 Corinthians 10:17 John Piper asks: So the utterly crucial question for many of you, as you have prayed and thought about giving your life, or a … More 5 Missionary Tests
O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. —Psalm 104:24-26 John Piper in “The Pleasures of God in His Creation:” It seems to me that … More O Lord, how manifold are your works!
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. —2 Corinthians 7:9-10, from our reading plan John … More Godly Grief
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.—from 1 Samuel 15-16, our reading for today John Piper, in a sermon, “The Pleasure of God in Obedience”, comments on 1 Samuel 15:22- … More God delights in obedience
“We have this treasure in earthen vessels (or clay pots!) to show us that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” John Piper comments on 2 Corinthians 4, in our reading for today: Too many people say, “I’m so ordinary, so average and undistinguished. I can’t do anything significant.” 2 Corinthians 4:7 shows that … More Ordinariness is not a liability; it is an asset
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 