Ask Pastor John
John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.
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desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-johnEpisodes
Marriage Survival After Betrayal
How can trust regrow in the aftermath of adultery? Pastor John identifies two needed miracles for a marriage to survive and thrive again.
2025-12-04Link to episode
The Apostasy of Impatience
Can a Christian lose patience and not be in sin? Pastor John explains why patience and impatience may be more complicated than we think.
2025-12-01Link to episode
Improving the Body Without Fixating on Image
As we steward the body, our appearance might change for the better. How do we keep our focus on being a whole person, not just an attractive shape?
2025-11-27Link to episode
Why Satan Persists
Satan wouldn?t exist if God didn?t keep him around ? so why is he here? Pastor John explains four ways in which God is using Satan for his glory.
2025-11-24Link to episode
What False Teachings Should Make Me Leave a Church?
Differences in belief can feel bigger than they are ? but sometimes they are truly big. What separates personal opinion from soul-damaging theology?
2025-11-20Link to episode
The God Who Breaks Us with Kindness
If God refuses to act ?for our sake,? does that mean he refuses to do us good? Pastor John resolves a perplexity and holds forth lavish grace from Ezekiel 36.
2025-11-17Link to episode
How One Bible Verse Disarmed a Mob
Does Psalm 82 teach that human beings are gods? Pastor John describes the moment when Jesus quoted the psalm to escape an early death.
2025-11-13Link to episode
Shame Today Is Worth It
How could Jesus, the King of kings and true Son of God, be ashamed at the final judgment? Pastor John digs into Jesus?s argument for following him.
2025-11-10Link to episode
What Is a ?Fleshly? Christian?
Are ?fleshly? Christians truly Christian? Pastor John traces Paul?s distinctions between natural people, carnal Christians, and spiritual Christians.
2025-11-06Link to episode
Eight Ways to Live Out Your Assurance
How can we learn to rest in the saving work of Jesus Christ? Pastor John offers eight God-given ways to increase our confidence in him.
2025-11-03Link to episode
How Can I Know I?m a Christian?
What is the bottom-line, existential, frightening, glorious question of Romans 8? Pastor John draws out two signs that a professing Christian is secure in Christ.
2025-10-30Link to episode
How I Decide What to Preach
When pastors have the freedom to decide what to preach, how do we make a wise decision in line with the mind of Christ?
2025-10-27Link to episode
Nine Steps to Find a Home Church
When we move to a new place, how do we find a good local church to call home? Pastor John offers nine steps to take in our search.
2025-10-23Link to episode
Does God Punish from His Heart?
What should we do when two texts seem to say opposite things about God and his character? Pastor John digs to the common root of truth.
2025-10-20Link to episode
Was Jesus Tempted by Evil Desires?
James says God cannot be tempted, but Hebrews says Jesus was tempted just like we are. How do these two passages fit together?
2025-10-16Link to episode
Sexual Purity Is an Act of Love
If a man wants to be married but is too young to pursue it, how can he keep his desires in the right place? Pastor John offers five weapons for the fight.
2025-10-13Link to episode
Sorrows Surprised by Happiness
Sorrow and joy are not just sequential emotional states: first sorrow, then joy. Miraculously, we can experience overflowing joy in the midst of deep sorrow.
2025-10-09Link to episode
Work as Worship
How can we delight in the good work we do while keeping our work in its proper place? Pastor John situates daily work within God?s larger purposes.
2025-10-06Link to episode
The Evil That Stuns Heaven
Does human evil really call for infinite punishment? Pastor John confronts the ultimate sin of ignoring God?s infinite value.
2025-10-02Link to episode
Does God Predict History?
Pastor John connects God?s word with his ability to perform that word, grounding our faith in the unstoppable purposes of our loving God.
2025-09-29Link to episode
Can Delight in God Become Self-Serving?
In Isaiah 58, does God condemn his people for having too much delight in his ways? Pastor John distinguishes hypocritical pleasure from true, generous joy in God.
2025-09-25Link to episode
A Better Hope for the Childless
God promised a home to faithful eunuchs in the Old Testament, but what about childless believers today? Pastor John sees three enduring blessings.
2025-09-22Link to episode
If God Knows Our Hearts, Why Does He Test Us?
In the Bible, God sometimes tests his people to see how they will respond. Why does he do this if he already knows every heart?
2025-09-18Link to episode
Does Mysticism Make Us Closer to God?
Should Christians seek mystical experiences as a way to grow closer to God? Pastor John looks at how Paul responded to his own visions.
2025-09-15Link to episode
Spiritual Dangers of Recreational Marijuana
When a society normalizes sin, how should the church respond? Pastor John calls for spiritual integrity that doesn?t depend on society?s opinion.
2025-09-11Link to episode
Should We Rejoice When God Destroys Our Enemies?
God destroys many enemies in the Bible, and he promises to destroy many more in hell. As his people, should we celebrate our enemies? downfall?
2025-09-08Link to episode
Waging War Against Drift
Sometimes, when the Bible describes indifference to God, it sounds like us. How can we resist our tendency to drift away from him?
2025-09-04Link to episode
Why Do Citations in the Bible Seem Sloppy?
How might we understand the apparently casual way some biblical writers quote earlier parts of Scripture? Pastor John explores how Hebrews handles God?s word.
2025-09-01Link to episode
Glorifying God in 1,000 Decisions a Day
With so many decisions for us to make every day, why doesn?t God tell us exactly what to do in each situation?
2025-08-28Link to episode
How Much Church Can I Miss to Serve?
Serving children in Jesus?s name is beautiful and God-pleasing. Gathering for worship is crucial and soul-preserving. So, how much corporate worship should we miss to serve?
2025-08-25Link to episode
The High Price of Watching Nudity
In a day when sexualized content seems to be everywhere, including in many shows and movies, Pastor John gives twelve reasons to never watch nudity.
2025-08-21Link to episode
We Can?t Endure on Our Own
What might Simon of Cyrene teach us about supporting one another in trials? Pastor John digs into the perseverance of the saints and the church?s crucial role.
2025-08-18Link to episode
How Can I Correct Others Gently?
How can we rebuke without compromising love and show gentleness without diminishing truth? Pastor John gives counsel for speaking with emotional wholeness.
2025-08-14Link to episode
How Attractive Women Abuse Their Beauty
What does a ring-wearing pig have to do with physical beauty? Pastor John describes God?s purposes for beauty and how we so often misuse it.
2025-08-11Link to episode
Silent Women, Speaking Women
Does the Bible say women should never teach anything anywhere? Pastor John traces and applies Paul?s argument from the created order.
2025-08-07Link to episode
Was My Pre-Faith Suffering Discipline or Justice?
To understand the two sides of pre-Christian suffering, Pastor John analyzes the two identities we had before we became believers.
2025-08-04Link to episode
Living Pure in a Corrupting Screen Age
What happens when Christians saturate themselves with worldly entertainment? Pastor John calls us to offer a resolute no for the sake of a better, sweeter yes.
2025-07-31Link to episode
Why Do You Focus on God?s Role in Our Suffering?
Why would anyone say that God causes suffering when Satan is so clearly at work? Pastor John leads us through the shocking sovereignty of God.
2025-07-28Link to episode
Loving God in Life?s Biggest Disappointments
How do we live with unfulfilled desires, especially when we thought God had promised them to us? Pastor John meditates on mature sorrow and persevering joy.
2025-07-24Link to episode
Coming to Christ for All the Wrong Reasons
What are some common but wrong reasons for coming to Christ? Pastor John warns against coming to Jesus to get something other than Jesus.
2025-07-21Link to episode
Does God Condemn Nations Today?
Jesus laid woes on cities and even an entire generation. Does God still render corporate judgments today ? and if so, what happens to believers in these groups?
2025-07-17Link to episode
Who Is Blocking My Life ? Satan or Jesus?
When we feel stuck, is God redirecting us, or are spiritual forces trying to derail us? Pastor John delves into the mysteries of providence.
2025-07-14Link to episode
Four Tests for False Teaching
The Internet is full of different teachers and various doctrines. So, how do we discern false teachers from true, and good doctrine from bad?
2025-07-10Link to episode
Distorted Doctrine Destroys Lives
As long as we sincerely love God, does it really matter if we have wrong doctrine? Pastor John shows what?s at stake in our knowledge of God and his ways.
2025-07-07Link to episode
Surviving the Social Media Flood of Life Advice
When we feel the pressure of worldly expectations, what should really matter to us? Pastor John defines true success in a world of conflicting advice.
2025-07-03Link to episode
Did We Sin Our Marriage Away?
If a couple sins their way into marriage, should they split up and start over? Pastor John calls a weary husband and wife back to their lifelong covenant.
2025-06-30Link to episode
Did God Forgive Me If I Don?t Feel Forgiven?
How can we be sure that God truly forgives us, especially when our past sins feel unforgivable? Pastor John ministers hope to the unassured.
2025-06-26Link to episode
Guard Your Mind from Trash
In a corrupted and corrupting world, how can we protect our minds without becoming isolated or indifferent to the world around us?
2025-06-23Link to episode
Jesus?s Warnings to the Comfortable
When Jesus calls down woes on the rich, full, and laughing, does he have any qualifications in mind? Pastor John uncovers a clue in the context.
2025-06-19Link to episode
Seven Ways to Break Free from Misplaced Hope
What if we feel more excited to see family than to see Jesus in heaven? Pastor John offers seven practical suggestions for pursuing deeper love for Christ.
2025-06-16Link to episode