Brothers, we are not professionals.

That was John Piper’s plea to pastors for radical ministry a decade ago in the publication of the 2002 book of the same title. Since then, it’s become one of our most often quoted lines, along with “don’t waste your life,” “missions exists because worship doesn’t,” and “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”

But as central as Brothers, We Are Not Professionals is to Piper’s vision of the nature of Christian ministry, we’ve never taken up this theme at our annual pastors conference — until now.

On February 4–6, 2013, we will gather at the Minneapolis Convention Center, God willing, under the banner

Brothers, We Are S…

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Today is the official launch of the New City Catechism, which is marked by an extraordinary combination of fortes.

Produced by The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New York, this new catechism has a lot to be excited about in the various strengths coming together in this project. The New City Catechism

• both draws from the riches of history (being adapted from three outstanding Reformation-era catechisms — Calvin's Geneva Catechism, the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms, and in particular the Heidelberg Catechism) and takes care to address the kind of questions people are asking today

• is both substantive and conveniently sized — with 52 questions, one for each…

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It was fifty years ago today that Roman Catholicism launched what many consider to be the most ambitious of its 21 ecumenical councils. Called the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, the three-plus-year series of gatherings began under Pope John XXIII on October 11, 1962, and concluded under Pope Paul VI on December 8, 1965. Half a century later, Vatican II remains the most recent of Catholicism’s official worldwide councils.

For those of us younger than 50, all we’ve experienced of Roman Catholicism, whether from within or without, comes to us through the lens and practices of Vatican II. It’s an important reality to be aware of as we try to make sense of the (appropriately) deep rift …

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You have heard that it was said to those of old, “Pray to Mary, and petition the Saints.” But I say to you that there is only one mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). You need no other go-between than me. Do you not know that you already have an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1)? Do you not know that I am the way, and the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)? So, when you pray, ask in my name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).

You have heard that it was said, “Kneel before the consecrated host, and worship the one sacrificed in the mass.” But I say to you that when I had offered for all time a single sac…

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It is the paradox of paradoxes. The cross of Christ is both the most horrific happening in the history of the world, and the most beautiful. The universe's saddest moment and happiest turn came together one afternoon at Golgotha on a single tree.

Even now, those of us with the ears to hear, and eyes to see from God-given new birth, experience at the cross a kind of sadness that is not sad. And all the more, one day when freed from sinning and its ubiquitous effects, will we find our greatest treasure in the great sadness that is not sad.

In John Piper's sermon "Why Did God Create the World?", he concludes with four important soul-application questions related to the glory of God's g…

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Future Grace is one of John Piper’s most important books. Here’s how he explains it in the new preface of the revised edition.

In my own effort to live the Christian life in a way that magnifies the worth of Christ, the message of this book is central.

In the battle against my own sin, this book is my war manual.

In the quest to become a more sacrificial, servant-hearted lover of people, this book is my coach and my critic.

In the never-ending question of how Christians, who are counted righteous in Christ by faith alone, should nevertheless pursue righteousness, this book is my answer. It is my fullest attempt to explain why the faith that justifies also sanctifies, without mingl…

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The twelve of us sat in silence, on the edge of our seats. You could have heard a pin drop.

I had pilgrimaged from Minnesota to muggy Orlando, and her stifling August humidity, for a weeklong intensive course on evangelism with Steve Childers. Fortunately, Reformed Theological Seminary is as air-conditioned as it is Reformed.

With only a dozen students on board for five 9-hour days with one of the country’s top church-planting strategists, it was a rich week, to say the least. During these precious hours, the Beijing Olympics were playing second fiddle to learning about the advance of the gospel around the world and in personal conversation.

Time and again Childers had thrown us curveb…

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It took 40 years for John Piper to write a book on marriage. Still too much to learn, he’d say to himself when considering the project. But maybe someday.

At long last, the dream became a reality in recent years. As Piper approached his fortieth wedding anniversary, he realized the time was right. Not that he had marriage totally figured out. There’s still more learning to do, he admits. But hopefully after four decades of walking hand-in-hand with his wife Noël through life’s ups and downs, and standing firmly in the pages of the Scriptures, he has some helpful things to say.

Here are three ways to get your hands on the decades of reflection and lessons stored up in This Momentary Marr…

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Preparing well for marriage means asking hard questions.

Getting to know that special someone includes learning about family and friends and schooling and athletics, favorite pastimes, books, movies, life’s best moments and worst, the brightest places in our background and the darkest.

But what about theology? Ever think to ask about that?

We hope our free Preparing for Marriage ebook can be of some assistance.

With Help from Piper

At Desiring God, one of our most accessed pages online is a set of questions John Piper put together for couples preparing for marriage (chapter 1 in our new free ebook). There is some of the typical stuff — like friends and entertainment and lifestyle …

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Thanks to all who have been a part of the 2012 National Conference, whether by attendance or the live-stream. The audio and video of each session will be available for streaming and download by Friday, October 5.

Piper's Concluding Message

John Piper concludes the conference with his message, “Act the Miracle: Future Grace, the Word of the Cross, and the Purifying Power of God’s Promises” (the full manuscript is now available).

Here's a key excerpt:

The beauty of holiness in God’s children is the harmony, or the concord, between our lives and the infinite value of all God is. And that God predestined us to holiness because his aim is that earth be filled with the beauty of holiness —…

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