January
The New Bethlehem Star Is Rising …
First Bethlehem Star Newsletter
Nine reasons why churches should have a weekly newsletter.
A Promise for You! …
Can you think of any fact more encouraging than that God rejoices to do you good?
"For Our People and for the Cities of God" …
When it comes to persons, one plus one is more than two!
February
Two Sundays on Sex …
The great tragedy of sin is the good we miss, not the evil we attain.
"Only Wounded Soldiers Can Serve" …
When a person strikes rock bottom with a sense of helplessness he may find that he has struck the Rock of Ages.
The Spirit of Spring …
No one can stop the coming of spring—in nature or in the church—when God has appointed its time.
The Spirit of Encouragement …
The Holy Wind of God will not break or quench. He will lift up your head and fan your spark into a flame.
March
The Spirit of Joy …
Is it really possible for one's face and heart to be filled with sorrow and joy?
The Spirit of Thankfulness …
One of the things you do when you are full of the Holy Spirit is spill over with gratitude to God for everything.
Early Services in History …
An early church service is the mark of a vibrant church.
New Year's Resolutions? Oops. …
The possibilities of joyful service are too great to let yourself be paralyzed by the past.
Bethlehem's Nerve System …
How it Works
A church's nerve system needs the divine stimuli that comes through its fingers and toes.
April
Pow-Wow with the Pastor …
How do you satisfy your pastor-congregation communication needs?
Our Incense Before the Lamb …
Have you ever thought of your prayers as the aroma of heaven?
In Praise of Those Who Help Us Praise …
A pastor expresses his gratitude to those who minister in his church through music.
Bethlehem: House of Bread …
Can we be a people who embrace with gratitude both the scholarly enterprise and the simple joy of breaking bread together?
May
On Laboring in Vain …
The Lord measures the faithfulness of our labor, not our success.
Project '84 and the Fear of the Lord …
God is a joy and a refuge to those who cling to his neck, but he is a terror to those who flee.
The Pride of Being Afraid …
Every time we let fear hinder us we are proudly trusting our emotions more than the promises of God.
Update: Project '84 …
John Piper updates, honors, and urges his church in their financial campaign.
June
A Word on Bruce Leafblad... …
John Piper outlines the responsibilities of a worship pastor.
Heaven-Bent: A Prayer for Evangelism at the House of Bread …
Hindrances to forthright witnessing rise mainly from taking our eyes off God.
Satan's Bible Knowledge …
Satan often tries to destroy us by affirming and then distorting Scripture.
July
Sunday School as Liberation …
Freedom is not doing what you please, but knowing the truth, loving the good, and never fearing the future.
Planning Life into Our Vacation …
John Piper outlines eight goals he has set to fill his vacation with vitality.
On Lending to God …
Trusting him is the one thing we can do to put God in debt.
Saturday Night at the Manse …
All rich and meaningful experiences require preparation and expectancy.
August
You Almost Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks …
Human hearts are hard to change, but don't forget the Holy Spirit.
September
He Will Fight Your Battles …
Memorize Hezekiah's words to Jerusalem under siege, and you'll know God's power in a new way.
A Call to Fast for Humility and Power …
Fasting fosters humility, and humility positions us for the Father's blessing.
Light Beckons …
Pastors should yearn for their people like Isaiah yearned for Israel.
A Call to Small Togetherness …
Nine characteristics of fruitful small groups.
A Very Precious and Practical Doctrine …
God's mercy and sovereignty are the twin pillars of the Christian life.
October
When the Potter Is for Us: Boom! …
Mixing God’s absolute power with his rights as Creator causes combustion in the heart.
On Thursday with the Pastor …
On Children's Finances
John Piper lays out six things that he wants his children to understand about money.
The Issue Is Scripture! …
There's no biblical support for excluding people from church membership whose consciences condone occasional drinking.
God's Favorite Color …
A Meditation on Crossing Portland Avenue
Precautions have lengthened many lives; anxiety has lengthened none and shortened many.
November
A New Full-Time Minister? …
Winning college students for the Lord and for the local church is crucial.
December
How We See Christmas Symbols …
We want our Christmas decorating and festivities to be as explicitly Christ-centered and Christ-exalting as possible.
Christmas Solidarity …
Christmas is a call to go on strike at the assembly plant of sin.
Lenin, Francis and Paul …
Saint Francis left a legacy of delight and gratitude to God.
Meditation on a Manger-Mustard Seed …
For the People of Bethlehem on Christmas
A poem on the glory of the Incarnate God and the gain of believing in him.
"We Have Not Because We Ask Not" …
When God aims to do a great work, he starts by planting a spark of desire in a few hearts. Then he fans it into flame through prayer.


