Ask Pastor John

The Great Commission isn’t disconnected from the church — it’s given to the church. God designed the local church and missions to be wed together.

We cannot afford to ignore hell. Christians must care about suffering, but especially eternal suffering. And it must mobilize us to go and to send.

We were made to work, and we are happy only if we do work. But what should we do if our job makes us feel trapped, not fulfilled?

If we are not finding purpose in our work from God, then we will likely turn our job into a means of self-fulfillment and self-advancement.

Wherever we put our money, we are accepting risk. So is there any difference between educated sports gambling and investing in stocks?

“The bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast.” Did Jesus endorse polygamy here?

How can single people who desire marriage keep those desires in proper perspective? Pastor John offers six ways to cultivate godly desire.

God sends the wicked to hell because they deserve it. God welcomes the humble to heaven because Christ secured it. This isn’t inconsistent. This is the gospel.

Marriages die from neglect but grow with God-centered time and attention. Pastor John gives six ways to feed your marriage the time it needs.

When does diminishing time in God’s word become sinful? Pastor John identifies five symptoms of Bible neglect.

We wake up every day needing to meet God in his word. Don’t leave the word to fill the cracks. Force other things into the cracks.

If I have only an hour a day to read, how should I divide my time between the Bible and great Christian books?

As we begin another year of Bible reading, Pastor John takes us back to the basics: feed your motivation, grow in skill, and pray for illumination.

As you plan your Bible reading for 2019, know yourself, know your tendencies, but know most of all that you desperately need God’s word.

Can the Christlike virtues of patience, forgiveness, and gentleness survive in a cutthroat technology sector like Silicon Valley?

The famous hymn calls every heart to “prepare him room.” But what does it mean to receive Christ this Christmas?

The wrath of God is our biggest problem. If it didn’t exist, we wouldn’t need the gospel, and we wouldn’t need Christmas.

Will Christians be raptured before the tribulation? Or will we rise to meet the Lord only at his final coming?

We often say that our dead loved ones are with Jesus now. But Paul seems to say that Christians will meet Jesus at the second coming. Which is right?

Colossians 1:20 says that Christ will reconcile “all things” to himself. Does that include demons and unbelievers?

Gift giving, done rightly, doesn’t distract from the meaning of Christmas. Pastor John puts Christmas gifts in biblical context.

If we think Christ cannot compete with Santa in the hearts of our children, we don’t know the real Christ.

When we say “Jesus Christ,” we should be thinking “Jesus the Messiah”: the promised Priest, King, and Prophet, the one God anointed to redeem us.

When the prognosis is an early death, how can we live in a courageous manner that honors God and refuses to be jaded toward him?

What do you say when a professing Christian is ready to embrace the gay lifestyle? Pastor John offers a place to start.

Instead of seeing introversion as a fatalistic limitation, ask, “How can I make my peculiar personality bent a means of grace to others?”

Why did Pastor John name his book and ministry “Desiring God” instead of “Enjoying God,” “Delighting in God,” or “Rejoicing in God”?

What will happen to Christian Hedonism in generations to come? Pastor John shares eight dangers for young Christian Hedonists.

Christian Hedonism does not revise Reformed theology. Rather, it clarifies one of the central assumptions of Reformed theology.

Is there an alternative between empty, duty-driven worship and spontaneous, joyful worship? Pastor John gives six marks of a middle way.

We all want to know we are making the right decisions. To decide wisely, do we need to hear from God beyond what he has already written?

All of us experience harassing thoughts. Where do these thoughts come from? And how do we respond?

This podcast could bring life and joy, or it could be a deadly weapon in the enemy’s hands. Pastor John explains how not to use Ask Pastor John.

Does our obedience or our joy come first? Pastor John explains that joy-driven obedience is the only obedience worth pursuing.

Our greatest hope in prayer is not getting what we asked for, but rather in the goodness of our Father, who always gives what is best for his children.

Our past sexual sin is not beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness — unless we don’t give it up. It’s not too late to turn and receive God’s mercy.

What was Jesus commending in the parable of the dishonest manager, and what are the implications for Christians today?

God designs all our weaknesses — even those that leave us unable to do anything. And one of his purposes in our weaknesses is to sanctify the strong.

God designed us as male and female for his glory. And he intends for us to reflect him in every relationship, not just marriage.

What does it mean to be united to Christ? Pastor John shows how we can begin to mine the riches of this doctrine from Scripture.

Gambling your money — whether at a slot machine or with your fantasy team — is not just unwise. It is sin. Pastor John gives seven reasons why.

When the teenage years come, we get to teach our kids how to move from reading the Bible to studying it. Here are seven places to start.

How do we approach the deathbeds of professing Christians whose faith we are not sure is real? Pastor John offers four ways to love them.

Treasuring Christ is a key ingredient to saving faith. But what if you don’t remember treasuring him when you were converted?

A premarital pregnancy means a couple has chosen sin over God. But it doesn’t mean they need to continue to make that choice.

God clearly calls believers to marry only believers. But does a premarital pregnancy introduce an exception?

In general, Pastor John avoids talking about politics, breaking news, and hot trends. Why doesn’t he address such cultural issues more often?

God does not require any of us to keep a journal. But journaling may help some of us see Christ, love Christ, and become like Christ.

At what point, if any, does depression or joylessness disqualify a pastor from ministry? Pastor John gives several factors to consider.

Many of us spend our days running around with few breaks. So how do we repent of our sins when we find it hard to pause even for a moment?