Ask Pastor John

Desiring God

John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

1,000 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes1000

Newest first

Nov 11, 2024 · 13 min
Can We Know Truth with Complete Certainty?
Arguments, logic, and careful analysis may give us 99 percent certainty for some doctrine or truth claim. But what about the remaining 1 percent?
Nov 7, 2024 · 12 min
Ministry After God Takes a Beloved Wife
Why did God take the life of Ezekiel’s wife and then command Ezekiel not to mourn? Pastor John considers the perplexing yet merciful ways of God.
Nov 4, 2024 · 10 min
I Want God’s Wrath on My Enemy
How can we love our enemies when they treat us horrifically? Pastor John appeals to six biblical realities to help us face unimaginable darkness.
Oct 31, 2024 · 12 min
How Not to Respond to Suffering
“Curse God and die.” Why does the author of Job relate the apparent despair of Job’s wife? What purpose does she play in the message of the book?
Oct 28, 2024 · 10 min
Perfectionism Makes Me Indecisive — What Can I Do?
How can perfectionists make decisions without getting paralyzed by fear? Pastor John shares seven encouragements for those who feel stuck.
Oct 24, 2024 · 11 min
When Are Good Grades Good Enough?
How much should we sacrifice in order to do excellent work? Pastor John encourages perfectionists to find wisdom from a strong, spiritually mature community.
Oct 21, 2024 · 13 min
What Future Judgment Will Christians Face?
If Christians are no longer under wrath, why does Paul say that we will stand before God’s judgment seat? Pastor John clarifies the Christian’s future judgment.
Oct 17, 2024 · 14 min
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?
How much money should we set aside for retirement? Pastor John commends three biblical principles to apply in our various contexts.
Oct 14, 2024 · 14 min
How God Guards You
Does God ultimately sustain our faith, or do we? Pastor John unfolds 1 Peter 1:4–5 to show how God guards us to the end.
Oct 10, 2024 · 12 min
Does Free Will Exist?
Do humans have free will — and if so, what is it? Pastor John considers the depravity of the human heart and the sovereign grace that saves us.
Oct 7, 2024 · 12 min
Do Christian Hedonists Deny Self-Denial?
Does God’s command to deny ourselves contradict Christian Hedonism? Pastor John clarifies the God-centered, pleasure-seeking aim of all Christian self-denial.
Oct 3, 2024 · 13 min
Joy’s Triumph over Spiritual Sloth
How does zeal for God relate to joy in God? With help from Jonathan Edwards, Pastor John traces the crucial connection in four steps.
Sep 30, 2024 · 11 min
Overcoming Spiritual Laziness
How do we overcome half-hearted spiritual laziness? Pastor John appeals to the apostle Paul and Jonathan Edwards to commend a life totally devoted to Christ.
Sep 26, 2024 · 10 min
Rome’s Seven Deadly Errors
The Roman Catholic Church teaches numerous unbiblical doctrines. So, can devout Catholics be genuinely saved?
Sep 23, 2024 · 12 min
The Busy Soul Learning to Wait for God
How can active, impatient doers learn to wait on God? Pastor John describes spiritual waiting — and shows how we can answer such a question for ourselves.
Sep 19, 2024 · 13 min
American Church, Is Your Christ Too Cheap?
Why do so many American Christians bear the marks of worldliness? Too often in our churches, Christ is too cheap, heaven is too distant, and earth is too big.
Sep 19, 2024 · 9 min
DG’s Slogan, Coined 36 Years Ago Today
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” How did John Piper craft this memorable motto? Tony Reinke tells the story.
Sep 16, 2024 · 12 min
Why Do I Exist?
Why do you exist? Why does anything exist? Pastor John shows from Isaiah 43:1–7 that God created his people to glorify him by enjoying him.
Sep 12, 2024 · 13 min
Will God Forgive My Worst Sin?
Will God forgive my very worst sin? Pastor John shares seven powerful encouragements for those paralyzed with guilt.
Sep 9, 2024 · 12 min
The Pitfalls of Being a Thinker
Thinking is indispensable — but thinking is also dangerous. How can we use our minds to glorify God rather than puffing up ourselves?

Ask Pastor John

Can We Know Truth with Complete Certainty?

Ministry After God Takes a Beloved Wife

I Want God’s Wrath on My Enemy

How Not to Respond to Suffering

Perfectionism Makes Me Indecisive — What Can I Do?

When Are Good Grades Good Enough?

What Future Judgment Will Christians Face?

How Much Money Do I Need to Retire?

How God Guards You

Does Free Will Exist?

Do Christian Hedonists Deny Self-Denial?

Joy’s Triumph over Spiritual Sloth

Overcoming Spiritual Laziness

Rome’s Seven Deadly Errors

The Busy Soul Learning to Wait for God

American Church, Is Your Christ Too Cheap?

DG’s Slogan, Coined 36 Years Ago Today

Why Do I Exist?

Will God Forgive My Worst Sin?

The Pitfalls of Being a Thinker