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Desiring God God-Centered Resources from the Ministry of John Piper

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Excerpt

“Yes, there is Christian eloquence. It is not the decisive factor in salvation or sanctification; God is. But faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word” (p. 80).


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About the Book

Words carry immeasurable significance: The universe was created with a word; Jesus healed and cast out demons with a word; rulers have risen and fallen by their words; Christians have worshiped through words of song, confession, and preaching. Even in our technological age, politics, education, business, and relationships center on words.

Since the tongue is such a powerful force-for good or evil-we are wise to ask: What would homes, churches, schools, even the public square be like if we used words with Christian intentionality and eloquence? The Power of Words and the Wonder of God seeks to answer this difficult question. In these chapters, derived from Desiring God's 2008 national conference, John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, and Mark Driscoll team with worship pastor Bob Kauflin, counselor Paul Tripp, and literature professor Daniel Taylor to help readers harness their tongues and appropriately command their silences for the glory of God and the ministry of the gospel.

First Edition 2009
Crossway Books (Wheaton, Illinois)


Table of Contents

Introduction by Justin Taylor

1. War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God’s Sake by Paul David Tripp
2. The Bit, the Bridle, and the Blessing: An Exposition
of James 3:1–12 45 
by Sinclair B. Ferguson
3. Is There Christian Eloquence? Clear Words and the
Wonder of the Cross by
John Piper
4. How Sharp the Edge? Christ, Controversy, and
Cutting Words by Mark Driscoll
5. Story-shaped Faith by Daniel Taylor
6. Words of Wonder: What Happens When We Sing? 121 Bob Kauflin

Part 1: A Conversation with the Contributors by John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Sinclair Ferguson,
and Justin Taylor
Part 2: A Conversation with the Contributors by John Piper, Bob Kauflin, Paul Tripp, Daniel Taylor,
and Justin Taylor


Translations

Indonesian
Publisher: Momentum Christian Literature

Korean
Publisher: Duranno Press
Purchase: Aseben
ISBN: 978-89-531-1379-4

Portuguese
Publisher: Editora Hagnos
ISBN: 978-85-63563-28-6

Spanish
Publisher: Editorial Peniel
Purchase: Amazon


About John Piper

John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the author of more than 50 books including Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist. John and his wife, Noël, have five children and twelve grandchildren.


Endorsements

"Words are powerful. As the Scriptures indicate, they can create and destroy, build and burn down, save and condemn. The triune God created and upholds us by his Word, redeems us by re-narrating our lives by his gospel, and directs us by his commands so that our words become more conformed to his Word. These many facets of verbal communication-both divine and human-are displayed in one rich and enriching jewel. Faith and practice are wonderfully integrated in this collection of godly wisdom."
Michael Horton, J. G. Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California

"Given the contributors, I expected this book to be good, but it exceeds expectations. There's no weak link. Every chapter, including the introduction, brings a unique and vital perspective to a critical subject. It's impossible to overstate the power and eternal impact of our spoken and written words, for good or evil. With stylistic diversity but thematic unity, these men bring a rich, biblical, Christ-centered, interesting and immensely helpful perspective. I wholeheartedly recommend The Power of Words and the Wonder of God."
Randy Alcorn, author of Heaven and If God is Good



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