Ask Pastor John
John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.
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- 793Do Christian Hedonists Deny Self-Denial?Does God’s command to deny ourselves contradict Christian Hedonism? Pastor John clarifies the God-centered, pleasure-seeking aim of all Christian self-denial.
- 794Does Free Will Exist?Do humans have free will — and if so, what is it? Pastor John considers the depravity of the human heart and the sovereign grace that saves us.
- 795How God Guards YouDoes God ultimately sustain our faith, or do we? Pastor John unfolds 1 Peter 1:4–5 to show how God guards us to the end.
- 796How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?How much money should we set aside for retirement? Pastor John commends three biblical principles to apply in our various contexts.
- 797What Future Judgment Will Christians Face?If Christians are no longer under wrath, why does Paul say that we will stand before God’s judgment seat? Pastor John clarifies the Christian’s future judgment.
- 798When Are Good Grades Good Enough?How much should we sacrifice in order to do excellent work? Pastor John encourages perfectionists to find wisdom from a strong, spiritually mature community.
- 799Perfectionism Makes Me Indecisive — What Can I Do?How can perfectionists make decisions without getting paralyzed by fear? Pastor John shares seven encouragements for those who feel stuck.
- 800How Not to Respond to Suffering“Curse God and die.” Why does the author of Job relate the apparent despair of Job’s wife? What purpose does she play in the message of the book?
- 801I Want God’s Wrath on My EnemyHow can we love our enemies when they treat us horrifically? Pastor John appeals to six biblical realities to help us face unimaginable darkness.
- 802Ministry After God Takes a Beloved WifeWhy did God take the life of Ezekiel’s wife and then command Ezekiel not to mourn? Pastor John considers the perplexing yet merciful ways of God.
- 803Can We Know Truth with Complete Certainty?Arguments, logic, and careful analysis may give us 99 percent certainty for some doctrine or truth claim. But what about the remaining 1 percent?
- 804Can a Church Require Tithing?Should church leaders require Christians to tithe since God commanded tithing in the Old Testament? Pastor John commends a better approach.
- 805What’s True and False in Job?How do we discern what’s true and what’s false in Job? Pastor John provides a grid for the entire book to help us interpret it accurately.
- 806Will We See God in Eternity?Will we be able to see God when we get to heaven? If so, how does that fit with Scripture passages that say no one can see God?
- 807‘Help, I’m Struggling to Believe Anything Is True’When we continually struggle with doubts and unbelief, how can we know what is true? How can we believe that truth even exists?
- 808Christian Thankfulness: What It Is (and Isn’t)What is Christian thankfulness? Pastor John commends the power of a heart filled with gratitude to the Giver of every good gift.
- 809On So-Called ‘Gender Pronoun Hospitality’Should Christians show so-called “gender pronoun hospitality”? Pastor John shares practical ways to speak the truth in love with those confused about their sexuality.
- 810On Creepy, Darker MediaSince the Bible calls Christians children of light, should darkness and violence have any place in the stories we create?
- 811Will I Suffer My Singleness Forever?Single Christians may be tempted to despair over missing the experience of marital love. But God himself will see to it that our joy is eternally full in Christ.
- 812Every Gift Points Us to ChristHow can we know that we love God more than his gifts, especially during the Christmas season? Pastor John unlocks the answer with two keys.
- 813How Does God Deliver Me from Pain by Pain?Sometimes God delivers us from affliction through affliction. But what kinds of affliction does he use — and how can we know when he does so?
- 814The God over GeopoliticsIn his infinite wisdom, righteousness, and power, God designs even the deeds of evil kings for the good of his people and the glory of his name.
- 815Does Christmas Bring Peace or War?At Christmas, Jesus came to bring God-exalting happiness through peace with God — and merciful warfare against everything that destroys such happiness.
- 816Am I Overusing Bible Commentaries?God gives the church teachers, including Bible commentators, to help us understand his word. But how can we tell if we’re relying on commentaries too much?
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