Destroying the Dreamer

John Piper’s sermon, “The Sale of Joseph and the Son of God” concludes this way: The story of Joseph is the story of a righteous one who is sinned against and suffers so that tribe of Judah would be preserved and a Lion would come forth, and would prove to be a Lamb-like Lion, and … More Destroying the Dreamer

Jesus turns things around

John Piper in a sermon, “Jesus Still Turns Things Around” brings this encouragement from Acts 9, our reading for today: Luke drives this home by showing the persecutor becoming the persecuted. First, in verse 23 Luke tells us that the Jews in Damascus plotted to kill him. The hunter becomes the hunted. And he escapes … More Jesus turns things around

God-given Direction

John Piper in a sermon, “The Leading of the Lord in Personal Evangelism” from Acts 8:26-40, in our Bible reading plan today. …. the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch teaches us one of the ways God uses to evangelize the world. I say “one of the ways God uses” because it is clear … More God-given Direction

Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy.

Today we read Matthew 5:33–48. Here are verses 43-48: You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for … More Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy.

History as a defense

Today we come to the first half of Acts 7, the story of Stephen. Here is a sermon from Acts 7, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People by John Piper. So in Acts 7:1 the high priest gives Stephen a chance to defend himself, “Is this so?” he asks. And Stephen does a very strange … More History as a defense

God’s power- not ours

Today we read 5:17-42 in our Bible reading plan. But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors … More God’s power- not ours

John Piper: faking faith in the presence of God is a fearful thing.

Today we read about Ananias and Sapphira in Act 5:1-16. Here are insights from John Piper, in a sermon “Be Like Barnabas, Not Like Ananias!” Ananias and Sapphira stand for the exact opposite, namely, people who have not really been changed on the inside by being satisfied with all that God is for them in … More John Piper: faking faith in the presence of God is a fearful thing.