John Newton: The Tough Roots of His Habitual Tenderness

One of John Piper's great desires is to see Christian pastors be as strong and durable as redwood trees, and as tender and fragrant as a field of clover. To this end, he recounts for us the life of John Newton — the slave- trading sea captain turned author of the world's most famous hymn, "Amazing Grace."

Newton believed that a Christian's life should be characterized by "an habitual tenderness and gentleness of spirit." The root of Newton's tenderness was truth, and the fruit of his tenderness was love. This powerful biography is an inspiring call to truth and tenderness, to conviction and compassion.

Listen to this message and all the other messages from the 2001 Conference for Pastors online.