Desiring God Blog : Posts on Recommendations

Abort73.com is a web-based ministry that is working to eliminate abortion through education.

Abort73 exists because abortion exists. And because a deep, accurate understanding of abortion does not exist. It's not provided in most classrooms or churches; it's not provided by most news outlets; and it's certainly not provided in the abortion clinics themselves. As a result, more than 100,000 innocent human beings lose their lives to abortion each day.

Abort73 believes that the more someone knows about abortion, the less likely they are to have one, recommend one, or support one as a matter of public policy. This is why Abort73.com provides education on abortion through comprehensive and engaging resources made accessible to a wide audience.

Education to Mobilization

Many people are pro-life, but don't really know how to get involved in helping abortion-vulnera…

Continue Reading →

When J. I. Packer first heard Martyn Lloyd-Jones he said that he had "never heard such preaching." It came to him "with the force of electric shock, bringing to at least one of his listeners more of a sense of God than any other man" he had known.

Zondervan has just published a 40th anniversary edition of Preaching & Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. This classic book on preaching includes the original text along with reflections by:

• Bryan Chapell
• Mark Dever
• Kevin DeYoung
• Ligon Duncan
• Timothy Keller
• John Piper

Each essay reflects on the impact that this book and/or the ministry of Lloyd-Jones had on their preaching. This is a book that will continue to speak to a new generation of preachers and teachers for years to come.

You can purchase the book from WTS Books for $13.79.

Endorsements

“It is one of the most important books on preaching in print. I p…

Continue Reading →

The foundation to our joy in God is God's own joy in himself. Christian Hedonism only makes sense when we understand God's supremacy in all things. He really is sovereign and he really is good.

And the five points of Calvinism are where we see these truths come together. The doctrines of grace articulate how God saves us in Jesus, for his glory and our joy.

This is why I'm excited about a forthcoming book from Crossway: Greg Forster's The Joy of Calvinism: Knowing God's Personal, Unconditional, Irresistible, Unbreakable Love (preorder from Amazon).

Forster has written this book to show that "real Calvinism is all about joy" . . .

I want to tell you what Calvinism says, especially what it says about your everyday walk with God and the purpose of the Christian life, and how you can have the joy of God even in spite of whatever trials and suffering the Lord h…

Continue Reading →

The KINGDOM Bible Reading Plan is another option to consider as you think about reading through the Bible in 2012. Compiled by Bethlehem professor Jason DeRouchie, this plan offers five distinctives:

1. Proportionate weight is given to the Old and New Testaments in view of their relative length, the Old receiving three readings per day and the New getting one reading per day.
2. The Old Testament readings follow the arrangement of Jesus’ Bible (Luke 24:44––Law, Prophets, Writings), with one reading coming from each portion per day.
3. In a single year, one reads through Psalms twice and all other biblical books once; the second reading of Psalms (highlighted in gray) supplements the readings through the Law (Genesis–Deuteronomy).
4. Only 25 readings are slated per month in order to provide more flexibility in daily devotions.
5. The plan can be started at any time of the year, and if …

Continue Reading →

John Piper was recently interviewed for the Catalyst podcast on race and the gospel, what it means to enjoy God, and lessons on leadership. The discussion with Pastor John starts at the 15:40 mark.

A couple highlights…

1. The 26:55 mark, Pastor John shares two ways the truth of God's glory in our joy has changed him personally.
2. The 34:52 mark, Pastor John talks about the most consistent advice he passes on to younger leaders.

If you'd like to send out a tweet from the interview…

• John Piper: "Christian should address both race and the sanctity of life, not be typed by either." http://dsr.gd/v91wQW
• John Piper: "Not only is joy in God permissible, it's necessary." http://dsr.gd/v91wQW
• John Piper: "If you renounce joy in God you won't be able to worship him and love people." http://dsr.gd/v91wQW
• John Piper: "God means to look really good in the lives of his people.…

Continue Reading →

Beginning today through December 31 Christian Audio is giving away the free audio book of John Piper's When I Don't Desire God.

Four easy steps to get the book:

1. Go to the book's link at Christian Audio
2. Click "Add to Cart"
3. Enter the code DG1211 and "Apply Coupon"
4. Checkout and "Download Now"

About this book . . .

"He has written many classics, but this is my favorite book by John Piper."
— C. J. Mahaney

For over thirty years, John Piper has been trumpeting the truth that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” He calls it Christian Hedonism.

The problem is that many people, after being persuaded, find out that this truth is both liberating and devastating. It’s liberating because it endorses our inborn desire for joy. And it’s devastating because it reveals that we don’t desire God the way we should.

When you discover the biblical truth…

Continue Reading →

In an effort to get affordable resources into your hands we've put together several bundles of John Piper titles. These bundles include recent releases, titles from Noel Piper, and a special Spanish package.

Orders shipped by UPS and placed by December 16 should arrive in time for Christmas Day. Expedited shipping is also available.

Books make great gifts. We hope these are some helpful ideas this holiday season.

• The (Almost) Complete Piper Library — $220
  28 titles from John Piper
• Recent Releases Package — $35
  Bloodlines
  A Holy Ambition
  The Innkeeper (Revised)
  Thinking Loving Doing
  DVD Thinking Loving Doing
• Bargain Package 1 — $15
  Bloodlines
  Don't Waste Your Life
  Finally Alive
• Bargain Package 2 — $10
  A Holy Ambition
  Think
  Portrait of Calivn
  DVD Desiring God
• Bargain Package 3 — $15
  Spectacular Sins
  Ruth-Under the Wings of God
  Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ
• Barga…

Continue Reading →

Today marks the fourth Sunday before Christmas, signaling the beginning of the Advent season. "Advent" is from the Latin word for "coming" — translated from the Greek word parousia. It's a stretch of four weeks where we reenact and remember how the Old Testament saints longed for Messiah to come.

On this side of the nativity and the cross, knowing about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Advent shows us that we're still waiting. The redemption that Jesus accomplished for us is not yet consummated (Romans 8:19–25). Noel Piper writes,

So here we stand in the middle. Advent is the season of looking back, thinking how it must have been, waiting for the promised salvation of God, not knowing what to expect. And at the same time, Advent is a season of looking ahead, preparing ourselves to meet Jesus at his Second Coming. (Treasuring God in Our Traditions, …

Continue Reading →

"God, Manhood, and Ministry: Building Men for the Body of Christ" — this is the theme of our 2012 Conference for Pastors, January 30 to February 1 in Minneapolis. Here's an overview of this years speakers and the topics they will address:

Doug Wilson

Pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, Doug will give two messages about leadership in the home and in the church concerning the cultural phenomenon he describes as "Father Hunger."

Darrin Patrick

Author of Church Planter and For the City, Darrin will talk about "Being and Building Men for the Local Mission."

Crawford Loritts

Having written numerous books on fatherhood and leadership, Crawford will take on the topic of "Lessons on Biblical Manhood Learned from His Father."

Ramez Atallah

A world Christian, Atallah will bring a global perpective in his message, "Pastoring with Vision, Creativity, and Cou…

Continue Reading →

The Gravity and Gladness Seminar with John Piper and special guest Bob Kauflin begins Friday evening. This is a free event at Bethlehem Baptist Church's downtown campus that centers on the meaning and manner of corporate worship.

Please join us at http://desiringGod.org/live.

Friday, November 11 (times are EST)
8:15pm – 10:00pm (singing led by Bob Kauflin; two sessions with John Piper)
10:15pm – 11:00pm (interview and Q&A with John Piper and Bob Kauflin)

Saturday, November 12 (times are EST)
10:15am – 1:00pm (singing led by Bob Kauflin; three sessions with John Piper)
2:30pm – 3:30pm (interview and Q&A with Bob Kauflin)
7:10pm – 8:00pm (John Piper's sermon at Bethlehem Baptist Church)