America is the most affluent nation in the history of the world. And affluence is at once wonderful and perilous in its potential. Listen to what Michael Ramsden has to say:

Our affluent culture looks for ease in everything. Comfort is prized more than anything else. In his book, The Challenge of Affluence, Professor Avner Offer makes the observation that moral prudence is required in order to build up affluence and wealth. However, affluence gives rise to temptation. Temptation, if not morally recognized and resisted, gives rise to indulgence. Indulgence eats up wealth. Hence, the “rewards of affluence produce the disorders of affluence.” (Finish the Mission, 79)

The rewards of affl…

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A reality we don't deserve (eternally enjoying God) affords a price we're not able to pay (appeasing God's just wrath against our sin). But then there's Jesus.

As John Piper explains, "The gospel is the good news that God in Christ paid the price of suffering, so that we could have the prize of enjoying him forever."

Jesus died for us sinners to remove every barrier between us and the highest, fullest, deepest good, which is God himself. This truth is profoundly biblical and has characterized the theology of Bethlehem Baptist Church these past thirty years.

Considering two Scripture texts and a snapshot from church history, Piper shows that the "gospel-love of God" is the gift of himse…

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I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:16)

Jesus Christ is hard at work gathering the rest of his sheep that he “bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28) and that are “scattered abroad” (John 11:52). This is the main thing that is happening in the world. All the great geopolitical shifts in the world are connected to this mission. The world doesn’t know it.

But the church on earth, the sheep that are in the fold already, must remember this. It’s what history is all about and it’s why they are still here. It’s why God installs and removes rulers. It’s why economies surge …

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Sermons like these face us with a crucial question: Will we praise God's power and bow in glad submission or will we resist God's power and shake our fists?

God is sovereign over all things. Not a little bit sovereign. Not maybe-sorta-kinda sovereign. But absolutely sovereign. Everything that has happened or will happen is purposed by God to happen.

As a theological trademark of Bethlehem Baptist Church, John Piper expounds the biblical portrait of God's sovereignty and gives seven exhortations for why it is a precious foundational truth.

Stream or download this week's sermon.

Do you know what it means that God is your Father?

R W Glenn believes that many Christians miss out on experiencing the wonderful reality that we are truly loved. Because of Jesus, God's wrath toward us is turned away. We wake up each day accepted as his sons and daughters. "God has no reservations about us whatsoever and he marshals all of his omnipotence to do us good."

In the latest episode of Theology Refresh, David Mathis talks with Glenn about the vital doctrine of God's fatherhood, and even the sinister motivations behind rejecting this truth.

Stream or download this 14-minute podcast.

[Subscribe to Theology Refresh through iTunes.]

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Previous interviews from Theology Re…

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Thanks to everyone who joined us for this weekend's seminar on A Hunger for God.

The notes from Pastor John are now available (PDF) and the full audio and video will be added to the site soon.

 

The goal of missions is the worldwide worship of Jesus Christ. And that's what our new book, Finish the Mission, is all about.

Approaching the topic in a refreshing way, this book, edited by John Piper and David Mathis, encourages readers to take up the mantle of the Great Commission and its Spirit-powered completion.

Right now Westminster Bookstore is offering Finish the Mission for $8.50 (50% off the regular price). But this deal is only available for one week. So if you're interested, click over and get it today.

May the Lord use this book to breathe fresh missionary fire into a new generation, as together we seek to reach the unreached and engage the unengaged for the glory o…

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Dear Friends,

Why was John Calvin so mastered by the majesty of God? What kind of ministry did this produce?

In addition to the short Reformation Day video we made available today, we're offering three free ebooks to help you dig deeper into the life of John Calvin.

• With Calvin in the Theater of God
• John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God
• Portrait of Calvin by T. H. L. Parker (foreword by John Piper)

We like to think of Hebrews 11 as a divine summons for us to read Christian biography. Flawed but faith-fueling saints. Stories of grace. Deep inspiration. Some of the most worthy entertainment in the world are the stories of men of whom the world was not worthy.

Jo…

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This Friday and Saturday, November 2–3, John Piper will be leading a seminar on the theme of A Hunger for God. The seminar, totaling five hours of teaching, is completely free. Online registration is closed, but there is still space available on a first-come, first-serve basis if you'd like to register onsite.

But if you can't make it in person, no worries. The entire event will be live-streamed at www.desiringGod.org/live.

• Friday night: 8:00pm–10:00pm (EDT)
• Saturday morning: 10:00am–1:00pm (EDT)

Whether on the ground in Minneapolis or over the web, we'd love for you to join us this weekend!

Here's Pastor John's invitation:

More information regarding the schedule and recommended hotels.

"Never has God's voice been so easily accessible," writes John Piper, urging Christians to prefer Bible apps over the abounding options out there.

Resolve that today you will press the Bible app three times during the day. No five times. Ten times! Maybe you will lose control and become addicted to Bible! Again and again get a two-minute dose of life-giving Food. Man shall not live by Facebook alone.

A true leader in the market, YouVersion is ranked as the first Bible app in iTunes with over 50 million downloads and 144 languages. They have a five-star rating based on over half a million reviews worldwide. And best of all, it's completely free (see on iTunes or Google Play).

One neat…

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