JOHN PIPER

John Piper Reveals Timeless Cultural Themes in the Old Testament Story of RuthSex. Race. Scripture. Sovereignty. The book of Ruth doesnt shy away from addressing them all head on. Though it recounts events from 3,000 years ago, this ancient story of a poor widow seeking protection in a foreign land holds surprising relevance for Christians in the twenty-first century. In Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God (previously titled A Sweet and Bitter Providence), John Piper explores unchanging truths and inspiring hope in the life of Ruth.Topical: Dives into cultural issues including biblical examples of manhood and womanhood, ethnic diversity and harmony, and Gods mysterious purposes in suffering Understand Gods Providence in Ruths Story: Follows her mother-in-law Naomis anguish and loss, Ruths relationship with Boaz, and her familys ultimate lineage to David Study Key Biblical Themes: Explains the sovereignty of God, the sexual nature of humanity, the gospel of Gods mercy for the undeserving, and the glory of Gods grace

The four Gospels are filled with demands straight from the mouth of Jesus Christ. These demands are Jesus way of showing us who he is and what he expects of us. They are not the harsh demands of a taskmaster. For example, the demand that we come to Jesus is like the demand of a father to his child in a burning window, "Jump to me!" Or like the demand of a rich, strong, tender, handsome husband to an unfaithful wife, "Come home!" What Jesus demands from the world can be summed up as: "Trust and treasure me above all." This is good news!In What Jesus Demands from the World, John Piper has gathered many of Jesus demands from the four Gospels. He begins with an introduction that puts the demands in a redemptive-historical context, then concisely examines each demand. The result is an accessible introduction for thoughtful inquirers and new believers, as well as meditative meat for veteran believers who want to know Jesus better.

From Bestselling Author John Piper: 27 Biographies of Notable Figures from Church History, including Augustine, John Calvin, and Martin LutherThroughout church history, the faithful ministries of Christian leadersthough full of struggle, sin, and weaknesshave magnified the worth and majesty of God. Their lives and teachings are still profoundly relevant. Their voices live on in the stories we read and tell today.In this book, John Piper celebrates the lives of 27 such leaders from church history, offering a close look at their perseverance amidst opposition, weakness, and suffering. Let the resilience of these faithful but flawed saints inspire you toward a life of Christ-exalting courage, passion, and joy.Written by Best-Selling Author John Piper: The author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God; Dont Waste Your Life; Providence; The Supremacy of God in Preaching; Expository Exultation; and Why I Love the Apostle PaulShort Biographies of 27 Inspiring Figures from Church History: Features short biographies of Augustine, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Martin Luther, John Newton, William Wilberforce, and more Updated from 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy: Includes new chapters about Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Jonathan Edwards, Bill Piper, J. C. Ryle, Andrew Fuller, and Robert Murray McCheyne

Reflecting on forty years of matrimony, John Piper exalts the biblical meaning of marriage over its emotion, exhorting couples to keep their covenant for all the best reasons.Even in the days when people commonly stayed married "til death do us part," there has never been a generation whose view of marriage was high enough, says Pastor John Piper. That is all the more true in our casual times.Though personal selfishness and cultural bondage obstruct the wonder of Gods purpose, it is found in Gods Word, where his design can awaken a glorious vision capable of freeing every person from small, Christ-ignoring, romance-intoxicated views. As Piper explains in reflecting on forty years of matrimony: "Most foundationally, marriage is the doing of God. And ultimately, marriage is the display of God. It displays the covenant-keeping love between Christ and his people to the world in a way that no other event or institution does. Marriage, therefore, is not mainly about being in love. Its mainly about telling the truth with our lives. And staying married is not about staying in love. It is about keeping covenant and putting the glory of Christs covenant-keeping love on display."This Momentary Marriage unpacks the biblical vision, its unexpected contours, and its weighty implications for married, single, divorced, and remarried alike.

In This Bestselling Book, John Piper Challenges Christians to a God-Exalting LifeMany spend their lives on trivial diversions, seeking earthly comfort and pleasure above all else. But Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it," calling us into the eternal purpose and God-exalting life for which we were made. In this bestselling book, John Piper warns readers of the dangers of an irrelevant life that counts for nothing and calls Christians to the deeper joys, and risks, that matter for eternity. This new edition features a revised preface and updated statistics.Over 1 Million Copies SoldWritten by Bestselling Author John Piper: Author of Desiring God; Providence; and Come, Lord JesusSecond Edition: Features a new preface, redesigned cover, and small revisions to the content Great Gift for High School or College Students: Inspires Christians to make a lasting difference for the cause of the gospel

Advent is for adoring Jesus.The Christmas season is one of the busiest times of year. But its also a season of reflection and preparation for that special day when we mark Immanuels comingthe arrival of our eternal God in our own frail humanity.This is the greatest of historys many wonders, something too stupendous to celebrate just on one day. Advent is a way of lengthening and intensifying the joy of Christmas.These 25 brief devotional readings from John Piper begin on December 1 and carry us to Christmas Day. Our hope is that God would use these meditations to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus and help you keep him at the center of your Christmas season.

Our appetites control much of what we do each daywhether it is the cravings of our stomachs, the desire for possessions or power, or the longings of our spirits for God. But for the Christian, the hunger for anything apart from God is ultimately detrimental to spiritual health and enduring joy. In this classic meditation on fasting, John Piper helps Christians apply the Bibles teaching on this long-standing spiritual discipline, highlighting the profound contentment that comes from delighting in God above all else. Piper helps readers put to death self-indulgence by directing them to the all-satisfying, sin-conquering glory of Christ. This volume is now redesigned with a new cover and a foreword by New York Times best-selling authors David Platt and Francis Chan.

A choice lies before you: Either waste your life or live with risk. Either sit on the sidelines or get in the game. After all, life was no cakewalk for Jesus, and he didnt promise it would be any easier for his followers. We shouldnt be surprised by resistance and persecution. Yet most of us play it safe. We pursue comfort. We spend ourselves to get more stuff. And we prefer to be entertained. We are all tempted by the idea of security, the possibility of a cozy Christianity with no hell at the end. But what kind of life is that really? Its a far cry from adventurous and abundant, from truly rich and really full, and its certainly not the heights and the depths Jesus calls us to. Discover in these pages a foundation for fearlessness. Hear Gods promise to go with you into the unknown. And let Risk Is Right help you see the joys of a faith-filled and seriously rewarding life of Jesus-dependent abandon!Risk Is Right is a significantly expanded version of a chapter previously published in the book Dont Waste Your Life (chapter 5).

John Piper delivers powerful biblical reassurances to bolster readers trust in the sovereignty of God and the supremacy of Christ when evil and tragedy come.If God governs the sinful acts of men, then does the devastation caused by those terrorists, dictators, murderers, cheats, and abusers discredit Jesus words: "All authority in heaven and earth belongs to me"? When heart-rending news comes of the latest accident, illness, or natural disaster, can we really believe that in Jesus, "all things hold together"?Though God has not answered all of our questions about sin and suffering, there are things he wants us to know, things he declares in his Word-such as whats at stake in the "spectacular" sins of others and the horrible tragedies of this life; their global purpose, both historically and today; and what these events say to us personally.As John Piper works through these biblical truths, this book will bolster readers trust in the utter sovereignty of God such that theyll be less timid in their witness and less afraid of whatever may come. It is also a joy-infused declaration that because everything occurs through Christ and for Christ and his glory, they are forever secure in him.

Bestselling Author and Pastor John Piper Reflects on the Relationship between Treasuring Christ and Saving Faith What happens in the heart when it experiences real saving faith? John Piper argues that faith in Christ is not saving unless it includes an "affectional dimension of treasuring Christ." Nor is God glorified as he ought to be unless he is treasured in being trusted. Saving faith in Jesus Christ welcomes him forever as our supreme and inexhaustible pleasure. What Is Saving Faith? explains that a Savior who is treasured for his all-satisfying worth is more glorified than a Savior who is only trusted for his all-forgiving competence. In this way, saving faith reaches its God-appointed goal: the perfections of Christ glorified by our being satisfied in him forever. Written by Best-Selling Author and Pastor John Piper: Explores a critical and misunderstood element of the Christian faith, urging believers to ask the unsettling question, Do I have saving faith?Theologically Robust: Studies respected theologians work regarding salvation, including John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Henry Scougal, John Owen, Wayne Grudem, and J. I. Packer Accessible: Written for students, nominal or thoughtful Christians, and church leaders of all levels, as well as anyone interested in the nature of faith and the essential relationship between faith and feeling

"Love Your Enemies"This is one of the few statements Jesus made that is readily accepted by believers and skeptics alike. Its authenticity is not seriously questioned and yet it is a revolutionary command.Giving attention to various critical theories, John Piper presents evidence that the early church earnestly advocated for non-retaliatory love, extending it to those who practiced evil in the world. Such love was key to the churchs own ethical tradition or paraenesis.Piper illuminates the Synoptics and passages in Romans, as well as 1 Thessalonians and 1 Peter, with non-canonical evidence, investigating the theological significance of Jesuss love command.Originally published as #38 in the Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, this is John Pipers doctoral dissertation from the University of Munich. It is a serious work of Christian scholarship by a long-time respected author and pastor. This repackaged edition features a new, extensive introduction and will be of interest to scholars, students, and lay people who have training in New Testament studies.

In his essay The End for Which God Created the World, the great theologian Jonathan Edwards proclaimed that Gods ultimate end is the manifestation of his glory in the highest happiness of his creatures.Pastor John Piper has devoted his years of ministry to exploring the implications of this stunning truth for life and ministry. Understanding that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him has made all the difference for John Piper-and can transform your life as well.Here Piper passionately demonstrates the relevance of Edwardss ideals for the personal and public lives of Christians today through his own book-length introduction to Edwardss The End for Which God Created the World. This book also contains the complete essay supplemented by almost a hundred of Pipers insightful explanatory notes. The result is a powerful and persuasive presentation of the things that matter most in the Christian life.

Are There Two Wills in God?Divine Election and Gods Desire for All to Be Saved In this short, theological essay, John Piper builds a scriptural case that Gods unconditional election unto salvation is compatible with Gods genuine desire and offer for all to be saved. Helping us to make sense of this seemingly paradoxical relationship, Piper wisely holds both truths in tension as he explores the Bibles teaching on this challenging topic, graciously responds to those who disagree, and motivates us to passionately proclaim the free offer of the gospel to all people.

Who is Jesus Christ?Youve never met him in person, and you dont know anyone who has. But there is a way to know who he is. How? Jesus Christ-the divine Person revealed in the Bible-has a unique excellence and a spiritual beauty that speaks directly to our souls and says, "Yes, this is truth." Its like seeing the sun and knowing that it is light, or tasting honey and knowing that it is sweet.The depth and complexity of Jesus shatter our simple mental frameworks. He baffled proud scribes with his wisdom but was understood and loved by children. He calmed a raging storm with a word but would not get himself down from the cross.Look at the Jesus of the Bible. Keep your eyes open, and fill them with the portrait of Jesus in Gods Word. Jesus said, "If anyones will is to do Gods will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." Ask God for the grace to do his will, and you will see the truth of his Son.John Piper has written this book in the hope that all will see Jesus for who he really is and will come to enjoy him above all else.

Genocide. Terrorism. Hate crimes. In a world where racism is far from dead, is unity amidst diversities even remotely possible?Sharing from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South, pastor John Piper thoughtfully exposes the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hopeteaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God.Learn to pursue ethnic harmony from a biblical perspective, and to relate to real people different from yourself, as you take part in the bloodline of Jesus that is comprised of "every tongue, tribe, and nation."

The Bible reveals glorious things. And yet we often miss its power because we read it the same way we read any other book. In Reading the Bible Supernaturally, best-selling author John Piper teaches us how to read the Bible in light of its divine author. In doing so, he highlights the Bibles unique ability to reveal God to humanity in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love. With insights into the biblical text drawn from decades of experience studying, preaching, and teaching Scripture, Piper helps us experience the transformative power of Gods Worda power that extends beyond the mere words on the page. Ultimately, Piper shows us that in the seemingly ordinary act of reading the Bible, something supernatural happens: we encounter the living God.

Longtime Pastor and Author John Piper Walks through Jesuss Commands and Their Meaning for the Christian LifeThe four Gospels are filled with commands straight from the mouth of Jesus Christ. They are not the harsh demands of a taskmaster, but Jesuss way of showing his followers who he is and how to be more like him. In All That Jesus Commanded, John Piper walks through Jesuss commands, in 50 short chapters, explaining their context and meaning to help readers understand Christs vision of the Christian life and what he still requires today. The result is a helpful guide for thoughtful inquirers and new Christians, as well as veteran believers, whether for their own study or as a resource in disciple-making. Replaces ISBN 978-1-58134-845-3. Biblical and Theological: Piper examines Jesuss commands and explains their context, meaning, and application today Comprehensive: Features Scripture, person, and subject indexes Accessible: Written in a clear, engaging tone, this book is an excellent resource for new and seasoned believers alike, and for use in discipling younger believers Written by Bestselling Author John Piper: Other books include Providence; Desiring God; and Dont Waste Your Life

"God has appointed preaching in worship as one great means of accomplishing his ultimate goal in the world." John PiperJohn Piper makes a compelling claim in these pages about the purpose of preaching: it is intended not merely as an explanation of the text but also as a means of awakening worship by being worship in and of itself. Christian preaching is a God-appointed miracle aiming to awaken the supernatural seeing, savoring, and showing of the glory of Christ.Distilling over forty years of experience in preaching and teaching, Piper shows preachers how and what to communicate from Gods Word, so that Gods purpose on earth will advance through Biblesaturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered preachingin other words, expository exultation.

"Besides Jesus, no one has kept me from despair, or taken me deeper into the mysteries of the gospel, than the apostle Paul." John PiperNo one has had a greater impact on the world for eternal good than the apostle Paulexcept Jesus himself. For John Piper, this impact is very personal. He does not just admire and trust Paul. He loves him. Piper gives us thirty glimpses into why his heart and mind respond this way.Can a Christian-killer really endure 195 lashes from a heart of love? Can a mystic who thinks he was caught up into heaven be a model of lucid rationality? Can an ethnocentric Jew write the most beautiful call to reconciliation? Can a person who lives with the unceasing anguish of empathy be always rejoicing? Can a mans description of the horrors of human sin be exceeded by his delight in human splendor? Can a man with a backbone of steel be as tender as a nursing mother?If we know this manif we see what Piper seeswe too will love him. Pauls testimony is a matter of life and death. Piper invites you into his relationship with Paul in the hope that you will know life, forever.