Ask Pastor John

In many cultures, married couples live with the husband’s family. But does “leaving and cleaving” mean they should move out and get their own place?

George Ladd has done more to shape our view of the end times than almost any other theologian. Pastor John explains the man and his influence.

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.” Did Jesus intend this warning for believers or nonbelievers?

By default, Christians should submit to public officials. But how should Christians respond to rampant injustice in government?

If Christ died to pay our debt, whom did he pay? Did he pay Satan in order to free us from captivity, or did he pay God to free us from our penalty?

The Bible’s view of human sexuality is a beautiful truth that we should set on a pedestal — even if that means others hate us for it.

We don’t ever outgrow the gospel. So why does Hebrews call us to “leave behind the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity”?

On any given day, innumerable needs surround us that all call for prayer. So how do we navigate these endless needs and decide what to pray for?

If nothing happens outside of God’s control, then why is this world filled with events that clearly oppose God’s revealed will?

Most of us spend at least forty hours a week at work. So how do we leverage our time there to bring honor and praise to God?

Aim to be humble rather than defensive when it comes to criticism. Only then will we be able to listen to their words and change if we’re wrong.

Spreading damaging reports about others feels so good and comes so naturally. But why is this impulse so natural? And how do we fight it?

Under the threat of nuclear war, we could easily start preparing for the worst by stocking up on food and building a bomb shelter. But should we?

Why do some hear of God’s sovereignty and run into the mission field with confidence, while others passively say, “What will be will be”?

What should we do if the thrills of TV, movies, video games, and sports feel more interesting than spending time with God?

Dementia may turn God’s people into frail shadows of their former self, but these saints are sitting on the brink of a glory and power we can’t imagine.

The stakes are high when pastors do not root their points plainly from the text in front of them. Here are six consequences.

The Bible calls husbands to lead their wives. But where should you go for help if you’ve never seen anyone model Christlike leadership in the home?

Even the best churches and friendships can leave us feeling relationally jaded. So how can we persevere in love when others disappoint us so much?

God seeks our worship, not because it meets his need, but because it meets ours. God is the only one beautiful enough to satisfy us forever.

Someone recently claimed that 88% of our happiness is outside of our control. How should a Christian hedonist evaluate this theory?

The Reformation spread when an unknown monk leveraged a rudimentary piece of technology developed by a devout Roman Catholic.

Good biographies expose us to times, people, and thinking outside of our own day. Here are some of the best biographies of Reformation figures.

Choosing which of the five ‘solas’ is most important is like choosing which wing of an airplane matters most. All the ‘solas’ stand or fall together.

Racism, hate, and anger have all erupted in fresh ways this last year. Are we born with these ethnic prejudices, or do we learn them?

The Bible not only recognizes that God controls everything. It also demands that we build our lives around that truth.

What is the difference between God’s holiness and his righteousness? And what does that mean for us?

Is Ephesians 1:18 about God inheriting believers, or is it about believers inheriting God’s glory? Pastor John offers a few defenses for his view.

God did not design marriage for outbursts, verbal putdowns, or raised voices. If this describes your marriage, here’s some advice from Pastor John.

Falling in love is a wonderful gift, but for most the maturity to handle a relationship of that depth doesn’t come in high school.

Anger destroys relationships, but the Bible has a category for righteous anger. So what’s the difference between the good version and the deadly one?

Hearing the word of God is not a mere discipline — it is a matter of life and death. But how can we take in God’s word when reading feels like a chore?

Communion calls to mind the most tragic event in the history of the world and the greatest hope ever offered. Only mature believers can set that tone.

Jesus is clear that abiding in him is not optional. But what does it actually mean to daily remain attached to him?

This slogan became the heartbeat of Pastor John's life and the hallmark of Desiring God’s ministry. So where did it come from?

The ultimate sin in the garden was not eating the fruit. Adam and Eve lost their taste for God’s beauty before they reached for the tree.

We know that God has the ability to control everything, but does he always choose to exercise his full sovereignty?

All authors are flawed, but what should we do with an author’s work when a public failure discredits them as a sound teacher?

We don’t have to pretend we don’t feel pain from our losses. Grieving with hope means something far greater than moving on from the pain.

God doesn’t mean for us to forget him or minimize him when hurricanes devastate human life. Pastor Piper turns Godward and prays in the path of hurricanes.

Jesus focused a lot on the kingdom of God. But what is the kingdom? And why does the rest of the New Testament hardly mention the theme?

A pastor’s job is not to count how many people come on Sunday, but to make faith-filled, self-denying, fruit-bearing disciples.

Parents will fail hundreds of times as they strive to raise their kids biblically. So how can we find hope in the midst of these many shortcomings?

God never designed marriage to be our ultimate treasure. Here are some signs that we have made our marriage into something God never intended it to be.

God’s love and election work hand and hand. There’s no election that is not loving, and there’s no initiating love that is not electing.

When thinking about TV, music, or movies, don't ask, “What’s wrong with this?” but, instead, “Will it maximize my holiness?”

Wartime lifestyle seeks to glorify God — not to live with the least amount of stuff. It simply admits that life must be different during a battle.

When is it right to please people? When is it wrong to please people? Motive matters.

God has designed marriage to bring about a kind of cherishing that emerges nowhere else. But that doesn’t mean you are uncherishable if your single.

Jesus faced more opposition from the Pharisees than the Romans. Are religious formalists a greater threat to the church today than our secular neighbors?