The doctrine of hell is important — and extremely unpopular.

In this episode of Theology Refresh, David Platt talks about the priority of God's word as we approach this doctrine and faithfully serve the gospel in light of its reality.

Platt explains that hell is the manifestation that our sin against an infinitely holy God warrants infinitely eternal punishment. Moreover, when we minimize the reality of hell, we actually malign the mercy of God — because central to the fact of hell is that it is escapable. Jesus has endured the wrath of God on our behalf so that all who trust in him will be delivered from God's wrath and brought into fellowship with him forever.

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Watch, listen to, or read all of Pastor John's sermons, articles, online books, blog posts, and more on the new Desiring God App for the iPhone and iPad.

Pastor John introduces and demonstrates the new app in this video:

As Pastor John mentions, the new app meets a growing trend among Desiring God web users:

• In 2009, less than 1% of website visits came from mobile devices.
• In 2010, just under 5% of website visits came from mobile devices.
• In 2011, 13% of all website visits originated from mobile devices.

These numbers reflect a growing trend in international mobile technology. A few stats to consider:

• Smartphones are expected to increase from 23% of total phone shipments in…

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Session 4, John Piper's biographical sketch of J. C. Ryle —

Read the entire manuscript of the message:
"The Frank and Manly Mr. Ryle" — The Value of a Masculine Ministry"

The audio and video will be posted on Friday.

Jesus tells us a story about a fool in Luke 12.

This fool was a rich man — a productive farmer who built big barns to store his increase. And there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. We need productive farmers in this world.

But if it's not riches that makes this man a fool, what is it?

Expounding this story and giving personal application, John Piper explains the heart matter of money, and how what we do with it brings hazard or help.

Stream or download this week's message.

Theology Refresh is a podcast for pastors and Christian leaders designed to sharpen our grasp of key doctrines used in everyday ministry. Each podcast is around 15-minutes (or less), which is the time it takes for the average daily commute.

The latest discussion is with Ed Stetzer on spiritual warfare.

It's a mistake to dismiss the battle that's going on around us. God is sovereign, reigning over all, and his creatures have rebelled. This includes everyone until Jesus intervenes to save. Then we become citizens of another kingdom — we rebel against the rebellion.

Stream or download this 13-minute audio.

Recommended resources on spiritual warfare:

• Spiritual Warfare and Mis…

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I am overjoyed that The Pleasures of God is here in a new edition. You can order the book, DVD and study guide, all for $10 total. [Note: This special is no longer available.]

Here’s how I would describe it. First, compare it with its older cousin, Desiring God.

Desiring God is about our glad experience of God. The Pleasures of God is about God’s glad experience of God. Desiring God argues that the essence of man’s virtue and worship consists in our delight in God. The Pleasures of God argues that the essence of God’s virtue and worship consists in his delight in God. Yes, God worships: He infinitely prizes and delights in the single Object of infinite worth—God. He is not an idola…

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We are children of the light. Abortion is a work of darkness. The apostle Paul said, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

Our aim, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, through the authority of his word, is to glorify God by making much of his image in the unborn, and his mercy in forgiving sinners.

We would like to give you a free eBook based on three sermons I preached on abortion. We hope it helps you speak out. Please feel free to download it, print it, copy it, and share it with as many people as you like.

Here’s a sample sentence:

God is calling passive, inactive Christians today to engage…

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At the recent Campus Outreach National Conference, speaking to a gathering of men, John Piper tells the story of the life of Augustine — bishop of Hippo in the fifth century.

This talk gives a hope-giving example of how we fight sin by a sovereign joy that masters us and severs the root of all competing, controlling pleasures.

The latest Theology Refresh features a 12-minute dicussion on biblical complementarity with Darrin Patrick, speaker at our upcoming Conference for Pastors.

It's important to remember that there is more than one danger in this issue. We can miss it on the left, becoming egalitarian. And we can miss it on the right, not calling men to sacrificial leadership.

There's a new dynamic in what it means to be a man: love your wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). We're not trying to replicate Adam. Men, be like Jesus.

Stream or download the audio.

Recommended resources on biblical complementarity:

• Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Piper and Grudem
• What's the Difference (DVD a…

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Bloodlines is one of the most autobiographical books I have written. It tells my story from racism to the path of redemption. I preached on the theme of Bloodlines yesterday to mark Martin Luther King weekend. The title of the message was “From Bloodlines to Bloodline.” I argued that God is calling his people to move from the alienation of many bloodlines to the reconciliation of the single bloodline that began on the cross of Christ.

I urged my people to read the book. Not because I care about selling books, but because I want them to know my story, to be aware to the global relevance of the issue, and to feel the hope that comes from the power of the gospel.

In making the book avai…

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