Now and Later

Luke 17:20-21 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” John Piper, in the … More Now and Later

God has ordained to give the gift of supernatural light through thinking

John Piper, in a sermon, “Wonderful Things From Your Word” Consider 2 Timothy 2:7. The NASB has “Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Literally it is, “Think about (noei) what I say.” Does this mean that understanding Paul’s teaching is simply a human, natural enterprise of thinking? No. The … More God has ordained to give the gift of supernatural light through thinking

Piper: God is much more secular than we often think.

 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1 John Piper, in a 1987  sermon, “The Pleasure of God in Public Justice” The implications here are very far-reaching. But let’s get the specific picture clear in our minds. Suppose you were a merchant in the Old … More Piper: God is much more secular than we often think.

Delighting more in luxuries for himself than in love for Lazarus?

John Piper, in a sermon, “Preparing to Receive Christ: Hearing Moses and the Prophets”, comments on the Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16: So the rich man in the parable is one of those who presumed to say, “I am secure as a child of Abraham.” But he bore no fruit that befits repentance, … More Delighting more in luxuries for himself than in love for Lazarus?

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain not a factory

A longer-than-usual post today, but worth reading the whole thing… John Piper on Proverbs 10:11 (entire sermon text included here) Several things are clear and lie right on the surface of today’s text. The first obvious thing is that God is a lover of life; he likes to promote life, not violence and death. “The … More The mouth of the righteous is a fountain not a factory

The fight for faith

1 Timothy 6:6-11 says, But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many … More The fight for faith

More joy in heaven

“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:7 John Piper, on Luke 15:1-10, in a sermon “The Happiest Days of Heaven”- The Ninety-Nine Finally, consider the worship of the ninety-nine who are already in the … More More joy in heaven

Low expectations of the impact of your life toward those who are older?

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  John Piper, in a sermon, “Let No One Despise You For Your Youth” This is one of Paul’s words to the younger Timothy who needed to be reminded that … More Low expectations of the impact of your life toward those who are older?