John Piper and Darrin Patrick recently discussed the Bible's teaching on biblical manhood and womanhood. In this ten-minute video they share about their journey to embrace biblical complementarity and why it matters:

Stream or download the interview.

Time-markers:

00:35 — John Piper's pilgrimage on the issue of biblical complementarity.

05:03 — Darrin Patrick's pilgrimage on the issue. . . .

07:33 — Why biblical complementarity matters in ministry.

Darrin's topic at our 2012 Conference for Pastors is on how to be and build men for the mission of the local church. Register before December 30 for the early-bird rate of just $130. We also have a group discount of $100 (per person) w…

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There are trillions of ways that Jesus is not like us. The Nicene Creed is only a sketch of what this looks like. These ways are vast — far more vast than what we're able to say.

Jesus Is Different

Jesus is the Lord. From everlasting to everlasting, he is God. Very God of very God. A non-blended person of the undivided essence. Triunely Sovereign, utterly independent, sourceless and satisfied. We'll never know what that's like.

Jesus was begotten, not made. He dwelled eyes-wide in his own presence, basking in a trinitarian glory we must call unapproachable. We'll never see this, nor could we anyway.

Jesus made everything that exists. Everything. He is the uncreated Creato…

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Tis' the most wonderful time of the year . . . and it's a unique opportunity to give the good news of Jesus to your unbelieving family.

Randy Newman's book, Bringing the Gospel Home, is a resource meant to equip Christians in how to talk about the gospel in their closest relationships. Because of the book's relevance in this season, Crossway is currently offering a free download.

Christmas with Family Who Don't Know Jesus

David Mathis recently extracted some practical ideas from the book in connection to all the family gatherings accustomed to the holidays. Here are those ten points again, or in his words, "a few thoughts from a fellow bungler to help us think ahead and pray about how…

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In this two-minute video, Noel Piper reflects on her and Pastor John's first years of marriage in seminary and the formation of what we now call Christian Hedonism:

Watch the entire End-of-Year Video Update.

Pastor John:

When Paul calls the power of Christ which changed him from great sinner to great apostle — when he calls this power "mercy," he exalts not himself but the Savior. The Christmas gift of change is always a gift, and never a wage. It can never be boasted in. It can be sought after the way a helpless, hungry man seeks food; and it can be accepted by faith. But it can never be earned. And so none of the changes God gives can be the basis of pride. The more like Christ you become, the more you exalt Christ and not yourself.

What God did on the first Christmas and what he does in forgiving and changing people today he did and does in utterly free, sovereign mercy, so that all his peo…

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Charles Spurgeon:

We have a fixed faith to preach, my brethren, and we are sent forth with a definite message from God. We are not left to fabricate the message as we go along. We are not sent forth by our Master with a general commission arranged on this fashion — "As you shall think in your heart and invent in your head, so preach. . . ."

Verily, we read not so. There is something definite in the Bible. It is not quite a lump of wax to be shaped at our will, or a roll of cloth to be cut according to the prevailing fashion. . . .

Believing, therefore, that there is such a thing as truth, and such a thing as falsehood, that there are truths in the Bible, and that the gospel consists in som…

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The newest Theology Refresh features a discussion with Ray Ortlund on the doctrine of union with Christ.

As one writer explains, "Union with Christ is theological shorthand for the gospel itself — a key image that pulls together numerous motifs in the biblical witness" (J. Todd Billings, Union with Christ). It's perhaps the least likely of all doctrines to stifle in the abstract. Saturating the writings of Paul, union with Christ changes everything in how we conceive of ourselves and minister to others.

Stream or download the 15-minute audio.

Recommended resources on union with Christ:

• Circle of Strength, by Raymond Ortlund, Sr.
• Saved by Grace, Anthony Hoekema
• Doctrine of the Chr…

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Jonathan Edwards:

His infinite condescension marvelously appeared in the manner of his birth. He was brought forth in a stable because there was no room for them in the inn. The inn was taken up by others, that were looked upon as persons of greater account.

The Blessed Virgin, being poor and despised, was turned or shut out. Though she was in such necessitous circumstances, yet those that counted themselves her betters would not give place to her; and therefore, in the time of her travail, she was forced to betake herself to a stable; and when the child was born, it was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. There Christ lay a little infant, and there he eminently appeared a…

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K. Scott Oliphint writes,

What then does Paul mean when he says that this preincarnate Son, who was in the form of God but who took on the form of a servant “made himself nothing”?. . .

We are, says Paul, to incubate within ourselves the same mind-set that Christ himself had when he chose to come down to us. More specifically, we are told, “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). We are not, then, to hold on to whatever status or position we think we might own, but rather to consider that the position or status of others is more significant.

In this light and because of this context, it becomes clearer to us …

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Every pastor knows the tension between caring for his family and caring for his flock. Pastor John talks about what faithfulness looks like:

Join us on January 30 to February 1 for our 2012 Conference for Pastors, "God, Manhood & Ministry: Building Men for the Body of Christ."

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Recent posts for the 2012 Conference for Pastors —

• Don't Lose Your Manliness by Pursuing Riches
• "Never" — A Word Worth Its Weight in Gold
• Your Best Things Are Yet to Come