Podcast appearances and mentions of John Piper

The hope of the resurrection radically changed the way Paul lived. His life counted. His suffering was meaningful.

Why does preaching belong at the heart of worship? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper expounds 2 Timothy 4:2 to show how preaching helps us see God clearly and savor him deeply.

How can those who have wandered far from God come back home to him? Pastor John offers hope in the face of deep failure.

Tragedy can hit without warning, shattering the life you thought you had and leaving you questioning everything. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar sit down with Granger and Amber Smith to unpack how the sudden loss of their son, River, became a catalyst for a deeper faith and a radical encounter with God. The guys explore Granger's journey from the moment he almost took his life to the point he encountered Christ through the preaching of John Piper, and how that pivot transformed his heart. Amber shares her parallel journey, describing the nights of raw grief and relentless prayer that brought her face-to-face with God, showing listeners that hope can exist even in the most unthinkable loss.The guys discuss the Smiths' books, especially Amber's, which reads like a friend walking alongside the reader through suffering. Granger and Amber reflect on how their grief prompted them to confront real sin, misunderstandings about God, and the false peace offered by the world. The guys highlight how lament is a biblical response to pain, showing listeners that crying out to God brings healing. They stress that grief and repentance are not signs of weak faith but pathways to deeper intimacy with God. Through their story, the guys underscore the need for the church to preach sin, righteousness, and judgment, helping believers suffer well and experience true revival of the heart.The conversation turns to hope for those struggling with suicidal thoughts or despair. Granger shares his experience and the importance of understanding God rightly, emphasizing that suicide is rooted in self-centeredness while the gospel redirects us toward others and toward Christ. The guys talk through the power of honest fellowship and prayer to release the hold of despair, illustrating that God's presence transforms suffering into purpose. Amber and Granger describe how the Lord allowed them to walk through grief and find the ability to comfort others, highlighting the gospel as a living hope even in loss.Finally, the guys reflect on practical ways the Smiths have integrated grief and faith into daily life. They talk about walking their remaining children through sorrow, showing the power of modeling faith over minimizing pain, and pointing to Jesus rather than focusing solely on the loss. Granger and Amber explain how their marriage grew stronger, their ministry deepened, and their desire to see others meet God intensified. The guys leave listeners with the reminder that even in unimaginable trials, God is present and the gospel provides the ultimate hope and healing for every loss.Send a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

God's wrath was once on us. But because he made us alive, all that wrath is removed. He is now 100% for us.

What makes preaching central in worship? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper teaches 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5 and shows how the Spirit opens blind eyes to Christ.

Take heart. If you have faith in Jesus, God himself declares, “You are greatly loved.”

What if you stopped fearing people? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper teaches Matthew 10:24–31 and shows how Jesus gives us reasons not to fear.

Through good times and bad, God's worth should still be perfectly displayed mightily through you. -------- Thank you for listening! Your support of Joni and Friends helps make this show possible.     Joni and Friends envisions a world where every person with a disability finds hope, dignity, and their place in the body of Christ. Become part of the global movement today at www.joniandfriends.org   Find more encouragement on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

The clearest answer in Acts to the question why a person believes the gospel is that God opens the heart.

Why is truth so hard to hear today? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper explains from 1 Timothy 4:3 how preaching to real needs (not just felt needs) leads sinners to lasting joy.

When Christ gave himself for our sake, what did he accomplish? His redeeming work breaks the power of sin and purifies us so that we belong to him.

How do Jesus's teaching and example shape our leadership? Pastor John examines the traits of a godly leader in the home, church, or workplace.

Those who suffer for Christ will receive the Holy Spirit's power and rest at their greatest hour of need.

Does God's self-exaltation sound unloving to you? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows how God's pursuit of our praise is actually the fullest expression of love.

The fullness of Jesus Christ is a divine, accessible, glorious, delivered, blessed, true fullness.

Jesus Christ is exuberant with omnipotent service for the sake of all who trust him.

When God ordains sufferings for the good of his people, he also sustains them and cares for them with all the strength of his love.

Jesus's second coming is supposed to be our greatest hope. But what is it about that hope that should make us wait so eagerly?

Because of Jesus's resurrection, he now has the glory for which we were made. Our ultimate destiny is to see him as he is.

How can a holy God say, “Fear not” to guilty people? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper explains from Ezekiel 20:44 why God's commitment to his name is the foundation of our hope.

What is God doing while we wait in a painful place? Pastor John shows how God uses waiting to produce a new security, a new song, and a new significance.

When it's forty degrees warmer in your freezer than it is outside, the message is clear: Don't mess with God.

What makes a song endure in Christian worship? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper explores how music that speaks to shared human depths continues to serve the church over time.

Today's episode covers the history of Lent and explores whether Christians should celebrate it. John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, Tim Challies and others weigh in (via quotes)  This will be more of a pop-history overview, and not a deep dive, but that should be sufficient for most who are curious about the origins of Lent, or are unfamiliar with its practice.    First, and this is pretty important, Lent is NOT a mandated biblical practice, BUT in many ways it has roots in biblical practices, and many wings of the Christian church have been practicing Lent, or Lent-like observances since at least the second or third century, possibly earlier, but the word Lent itself is first mentioned by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, though the way they mention it, it is clear that this is an accepted practice of the church at the time. In other words, the first extant mention of Lent is 325 AD, but the church had been observing Lent for quite some time before that.    Second, what does the word even mean? Has somebody borrowed something? Not at all. Lent comes from an old English word, lencten, which stood for the spring season…that word seems to come from a word that could potentially mean long, as in longer days, which begins to happen in the Spring season. In other languages, like Greek and Latin, the word for Lent Tessarakostí and quadragesima, indicates 40 - as in the 40 days before Easter.    Also, why does Lent start today when today, Ash Wednesday is not 40 days before Easter, but FORTY-SIX? Well the answer lies in church history, and the practice of the early church to FEAST on Sundays. In 601, Pope Gregory I moved the beginning of Lent to 46 days before Easter, allowing for the usual 40 days of fasting plus six Sundays of feasting when the rules of fasting did not apply. Into modernity, the Lenten season is 46, rather than 40 days, and most suspend fasting on Sundays. Further, most Christians who observe Lent do not do a complete fast. In the early church, Christians might have fasted from meat, or rich foods, or richly seasoned foods. Many today fast until sundown. Almost nobody does a complete food fast, as the one that Jesus did in the wilderness. 

Today's episode covers the history of Lent and explores whether Christians should celebrate it. John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, Tim Challies and others weigh in (via quotes)  This will be more of a pop-history overview, and not a deep dive, but that should be sufficient for most who are curious about the origins of Lent, or are unfamiliar with its practice.    First, and this is pretty important, Lent is NOT a mandated biblical practice, BUT in many ways it has roots in biblical practices, and many wings of the Christian church have been practicing Lent, or Lent-like observances since at least the second or third century, possibly earlier, but the word Lent itself is first mentioned by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, though the way they mention it, it is clear that this is an accepted practice of the church at the time. In other words, the first extant mention of Lent is 325 AD, but the church had been observing Lent for quite some time before that.    Second, what does the word even mean? Has somebody borrowed something? Not at all. Lent comes from an old English word, lencten, which stood for the spring season…that word seems to come from a word that could potentially mean long, as in longer days, which begins to happen in the Spring season. In other languages, like Greek and Latin, the word for Lent Tessarakostí and quadragesima, indicates 40 - as in the 40 days before Easter.    Also, why does Lent start today when today, Ash Wednesday is not 40 days before Easter, but FORTY-SIX? Well the answer lies in church history, and the practice of the early church to FEAST on Sundays. In 601, Pope Gregory I moved the beginning of Lent to 46 days before Easter, allowing for the usual 40 days of fasting plus six Sundays of feasting when the rules of fasting did not apply. Into modernity, the Lenten season is 46, rather than 40 days, and most suspend fasting on Sundays. Further, most Christians who observe Lent do not do a complete fast. In the early church, Christians might have fasted from meat, or rich foods, or richly seasoned foods. Many today fast until sundown. Almost nobody does a complete food fast, as the one that Jesus did in the wilderness. 

Christ said Paul was going to Rome. And that was that. No ambush can stand against the promise of Christ.

What sparks new worship songs? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Psalm 98:1 to show how a renewed sight of God's glory gives rise to fresh praise.

Leon Morris once said that Romans 3:21-27 is the most important paragraph ever written. The reason that he said this is captured well by what Charles Spurgeon said of this passage. He said "I do not know any passage in Scripture in which the way of salvation is more clearly and fully set forth than this one." John Piper said about this passage that, "if you understand this passage, you understand Christianity." Martin Luther said that this passage is "the central place of the book of Romans, and of the entire Bible." Nowhere is the gospel so clear. Nowhere is the logic of salvation so powerfully set forth as it is in this passage. In this passage we see that salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone. This episode is a sermon that was originally preached by Jackson Hankey at a Christian Retreat for College Athletes.

Oh, how sweet are the designs of God in the sovereign salvation of hardened, hopeless sinners!

What if worship sounds different when lives are at stake? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper uses Psalm 57:9 to show why urgency rightly reshapes expression.

How do we know the difference between a godly desire and a worldly desire? A godly desire will only grow sweeter as our desire for God grows.

How can we find peace when struggling to see the goodness of our individual design? Pastor John illustrates God's love and wisdom in his creation.

Do you desire God? Will you trust him? The word of God to you is: God is worthy and God is able.

What does faithful worship look like across differences? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper helps us see how clothing, music, and conversation reflect cultures God is pleased to welcome.

Every step Jesus took on the Calvary road meant, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Jesus is the end for which the universe was made, and the means that makes that end possible to enjoy.

Because God's purposeful sovereignty reaches absolutely everywhere, his gospel can satisfy, his mission will succeed, and his people can never be lost.

The training regimen of grace goes deeper than moral imperatives — “Do this” and “Do that.” God's grace trains us to start and end at the cross of Christ.

When you desire the city of God above everything else on the earth, he is not ashamed to be called your God. Your life pleases him.

What guards our worship styles from drifting with the culture? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper argues that rich, complex doctrine is preserved through thoughtful, disciplined reflection.

When does faithful lament become sinful complaint? Pastor John offers five statements on lament to help us cry out to God in great pain.

It is a most striking thing how personal and national suffering drew Abraham Lincoln into the reality of God, rather than pushing him away.

Is there room for both head and heart in worship? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper helps us long for what heaven promises: razor-sharp minds and free, joyful affection.

Amazingly, Paul connects our liberation with Jesus as our Master, and he connects our new slavery with Jesus as our Messiah.

Why does God command emotion? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows how Scripture urges us to love truth deeply and respond with joy, awe, and heartfelt praise.

Living and dying by faith means having new desires and seeking new satisfactions.

What stirs true worship — sound or substance? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows how truth governs emotion and keeps praise from drifting into empty performance.

How do we cling to Christ when faced with the unknowns of aging? Pastor John encourages older Christians in the battle against bitterness and fear.

Take all the things that drive this world, and ponder how much better and more abiding God is.