Ask Pastor John

As a writer and musician, Trip Lee reads regularly to spark his creativity. So what three books have influenced his life most?

We may assume that we can always just do something later, but God never guarantees a “later.” We must make the most of the time we have now.

We will never find security if we think we have what it takes to make it through life. Only God himself can provide the fullness of hope we desperately long for.

God calls Christians to stand firm in the truth, but that doesn’t excuse us for being jerks when our culture turns against us.

Our phones offer us plenty of convenience, but it comes at the price of distraction. Sometimes we need to step back and make sure we control our phones and that they haven’t mastered us.

Explicit sexuality and nudity are pervasive in our culture. And because it’s everywhere, Christians need to guard their souls more than ever.

We may sometimes be tempted to think that God is just a cosmic killjoy with lots of rules. But in reality, he is working for our highest joy, even when he asks us to deny ourselves.

We can use social media as a tool for good, but all too often, the likes and retweets can consume us. How do we get sucked in so easily?

Joy in the Christian life doesn’t usually come without a struggle. We have to fight to delight in the Lord on a daily basis.

True strength doesn’t come from having the energy to do everything we want to accomplish. According to the Bible, when we are weak, then we are strong.

Jesus did not have a sinful nature like ours, but that doesn’t mean he can’t identify with our temptation. He was tempted as we are, but had to remain without sin to save us forever.

Jesus teaches us to pray that the Father would deliver us from evil. But what exactly does God deliver us from, and does he do it?

The world around us isn’t impressed with a church that lives just like everyone else. What they need to see are people who daily breathe the air of another world.

First Peter calls us to cast our anxieties on the Lord. But how can we know if we have really given over all our stresses and burdens to him?

The human heart longs to be part of a God-sized cause, and radical movements like ISIS tap into those innate desires to lure and recruit.

God values men and women alike, and so should his people. So does that mean we shouldn’t pray specifically to have a boy or girl when expecting a child?

Same-sex “marriage” is simply not permissible according to Scripture. And for a pastor to marry a same-sex couple is to bless eternal suicide.

We may not always know it consciously, but the fear of death motivates much of how we live. But what if we could be liberated from that primal fear and live to the full?

In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul commends singleness for the sake of the Lord. But does that mean that the married life is somehow less than the single, missionary calling?

The Scriptures not only tell us about God and his works, but shine with their own peculiar glory that open our eyes to vistas of majesty.

Just because John Piper has written so many books doesn’t mean they come easily. In this episode, he offers more tips for the writing process.

John Piper has written dozens of books, but that doesn’t mean the process is easy. So how does he begin laboring on a book project?

The clouds of suffering may darken the light for a time, but the steadfast love and mercy of the Lord never ever ceases.

Sabbath is not only a principle for rest, but the context from which we live. We work and play and have our being from the grace of rest in God.

In a digital age, a constant barrage of information can crowd out what matters most. Maybe we could all benefit from a break every once in a while.

The digital frontier presents countless opportunities, but also sobering dangers. Christians need wisdom to think through how technology shapes and impacts our faith.

We can fight pornography, but we have to want to battle it. We need a plan and some backup from fellow soldiers if we hope to see victory.

Not even the greatest good deed earns us anything with God apart from faith. We have favor with God on the basis of Jesus Christ alone.

When fear and anxiety creep up, we can cling to the most precious promise of all: God is with us, and he hears us.

The local church is essential to our growth in holiness. We need our brothers and sisters in Christ to spur one another on to love and good works.

Anger creeps up when we try to take God’s place. He is the only judge and lawgiver, and so we can relax our grip a bit on what pains and troubles us.

To our fears, God speaks beautiful promises. And the most precious of all may just be that he is with us, always and forever.

God deserves our highest allegiance, but too often, all we do is belittle him by choosing to find our hope in joy in something else.

Christians may live in exile, but we still have opportunities to serve and seek the welfare of wherever God has placed us.

Social media often draws out division and gossip — but it doesn’t have to. Christians can use their platforms to encourage and sustain.

The gospel isn’t just a solution to our sin, but a key that unlocks the fullness of life and joy that God desires for all his people.

Jesus Christ not only came to rescue us, but in his humanity, he identifies with his people and paves the way for us to know God’s redeeming grace.

Sin and suffering can set us back and even break our hearts. But in our risen Lord Jesus Christ, we have a hope that shines through even the darkest night.

We may like to think that words can never hurt us, but in fact, Proverbs tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Parenting can feel exhausting and tough. But our homes should overflow with the glorious goodness of God, because that is the ultimate foundation of reality.

God beckons his children to cast every care upon him, and to feel afresh the good news of the gospel in the communion of saints.

The Bible is no mere book. For Christians, the Scriptures are the scepter of the King: how he rules and reigns among us.

Sin not only suppresses the light of the truth, but also exchanges true glory for the false hope of idols — which, in our age, are often found on a screen.

The secret of lasting marriages is the biblical call to "rejoice in the wife of your youth." Remembering the spouse you feel in love with produces thankfulness for who God gave you.

Jonathan Edwards wrote frequently about the “excellency” of God and of Christ. But what does “excellency” mean, and how does it help us understand God?

Our happiness in God never has to contradict our obedience to God because to delight in God is to obey him, and to obey him is to find lasting joy in him.

John Piper has said that, outside of the Bible, Jonathan Edwards has influenced his life and theology most. So, if given the chance, what would he ask his hero in the faith?

We don’t come to Christ simply by making a decision for him. God needs to give us a fresh sight of his infinite, all-satisfying beauty and worth.

Reading serious theology takes time and commitment, but the world needs more people who read deeply to nourish their soul, not just inflate their heads.

If there is no resurrection, then Christians haven’t just wasted their lives. We’ve misrepresented God and falsely taught in his name.