Episodes

From Ask Pastor John

Daily Q&A episodes.

Episodes

How Evil Works 2026-11-05
How does Satan influence the world, and where do we see his work most clearly? Pastor John describes Satan’s power and limits under Christ’s…
Peace for Second-Guessers 2026-11-02
How do we know when we’ve worked hard enough? Pastor John offers six ways to fight anxiety and rest in the grace of Christ.
Was Piper Unprepared? 2026-10-29
In 1980, Bethlehem Baptist Church hired 34-year-old John Piper as lead pastor. Pastor John reflects on the life experience and biblical worldview…
Happiness Myths to Avoid 2026-10-26
Modern psychology defines happiness as “self-fulfillment.” But without God, our souls will always long for greater satisfaction and joy.
When God Is Against Me 2026-10-22
Can God act as a Christian’s enemy through suffering? Pastor John explains how God’s painful providences do not conflict with his enduring love for…
Can My Pain Kill My Sins? 2026-10-19
Does suffering kill the sin within us? Pastor John argues from 1 Peter 4:1 that believers die to sin with Christ so we can live to his righteousness.
Trapped in a Meaningless Life 2026-10-15
Loss can lead to despair over God’s plan for our lives. When we can’t perceive meaning in life, Pastor John counsels us to find comfort in God’s…
Do Good People Get Hurt? 2026-10-12
Does the Bible promise that believers will not be harmed for doing good? Pastor John explains the context of 1 Peter 3:13 and God’s sovereign wisdom…
The Marriage Miracle That Takes Time 2026-10-08
Loving our spouses for better or worse includes loving them through their spiritual apathy. Pastor John gives ten encouragements for the weary.
When You’re Not Sorry 2026-10-05
When someone confronts you wrongly, should you apologize? Pastor John encourages humility and reconciliation without giving in to emotional…
The Gospel Before Jesus Died 2026-10-01
Did Jesus preach the gospel before his death and resurrection? Pastor John calls us to a deeper understanding of God as Creator and King, and Jesus…
The Perils of a Quick Fix 2026-09-28
How can we witness to those who just want a quick fix? Pastor John presses home the shocking reality of eternity and the astounding love of Jesus.
When I’m Too Weak to Be Productive 2026-09-24
Can a disabled mother model the Proverbs 31 woman? Pastor John describes the gift of a heart that hopes in God’s steadfast love.
Six Traits of a Forgettable Sermon 2026-09-21
Rigorous exposition isn’t at odds with engaging preaching. Pastor John encourages pastors to work for creativity when technical, abstract sermons…
Do We Need to Go to Church Every Week? 2026-09-17
Gathering with other Christians is a crucial way to encourage and be encouraged in Christ. But do we really need to gather every week?
The Joy That Sustained Jesus 2026-09-14
Jesus endured unspeakable agony at the cross. Pastor John marvels at the force of his love sustained by expectant joy.
The Barrier to Doctrinal Maturity 2026-09-10
Is the Bible accessible only to readers with a high IQ? Pastor John reframes biblical maturity as a moral issue centered on our obedience, not our…
Daily Vigilance for Lifelong Productivity 2026-09-07
Daily productivity requires often elusive focus and grit. Pastor John offers ten charges to live each day to the glory of God.
Why Did Jesus Call Her a Dog? 2026-09-03
Did Jesus demean the Canaanite woman he called a dog? Pastor John explains how Jesus’s test revealed her great faith — and her adoption as one of…
When Walking Away Feels Good 2026-08-31
Why should we follow Jesus when life seems easier without him? Pastor John responds to a man questioning the cost of daily obedience.
How a Crushed Faith Comes Home 2026-08-27
Deep suffering can drive us away from true hope and comfort. But our Father waits to gather us back to himself.
When Nice People Face God 2026-08-24
Does eternal punishment in hell bring God glory? Pastor John challenges the rejection of God’s judgment by pointing to his unmerited mercies and…
Can My Silence Cost Souls? 2026-08-20
Why does evangelism matter when God has chosen whom he will save? Pastor John unpacks and rejoices in our role as God’s instruments.
The Pleasure Trap 2026-08-17
How can Christians avoid placing a relationship or hobby over a desire for God? Pastor John calls us to let earthly delights turn us Godward.
Selfies in the End Times 2026-08-13
Are selfies a sign of the end times? Pastor John looks beyond smartphones and social media to our society’s desire for deep satisfaction.
Your Regrets Cannot Ruin You 2026-08-10
Can past sins separate us from the love of God? Pastor John offers hope in God’s promised forgiveness for believers wrestling with crippling shame.
Why a Crowd Got Resurrected 2026-08-06
At Jesus’s last breath, a crowd of saints rose from their tombs in Jerusalem. Pastor John offers six reasons Matthew’s Gospel includes this event.
Does God Owe You? 2026-08-03
What’s the relationship between our good deeds and God’s reward? When he empowers us to obey him, he loves to celebrate the beauty of his grace.
Doomscrolling Done Right 2026-07-30
How does God intend for us to deal with tragedy in the news? Pastor John offers six reasons why suffering should drive us to repentance and action.
When Your Boss Expects You to Lie 2026-07-27
How do we respond when an employer expects us to compromise the truth? Pastor John offers counsel for keeping an uncompromised faith in the workplace.
Surviving Financial Panics 2026-07-23
How can we fight anxiety through financial panic and stress? Pastor John offers five truths about God’s character to calm our hearts and minds.
If Jesus Returns Tonight 2026-07-20
How would we use our time if Christ were coming back tonight? Pastor John gives ten transforming ways to live while waiting for the second coming.
Why Good Men Fail God 2026-07-16
King Asa worshiped God almost all his days, but he drifted in his old age. So, how should we respond when sin corrupts good men?
Should You Marry Her Anyway? 2026-07-13
Does past sexual sin ruin a future marriage? Pastor John counsels a confused young man to trust God’s redeeming love for repentant sexual sinners.
God’s Plan for Your Prayers 2026-07-09
If God is sovereign, why should we pray? Pastor John encourages us to seek God with confidence in his power and plan for our lives.
When Your Pastor Feels Distant 2026-07-06
How can the pastor of a growing church care for each member? Pastor John encourages shepherds to care tenderly for the flock and depend on God’s…
Breaking Prayer Ruts 2026-07-02
How can we shift our prayers from rote repetition to an awareness of God’s larger purposes? Pastor John models praying Scripture back to God.
Obedience Will Never Ruin Your Life 2026-06-29
How can Christians act in obedience when they face a life-changing cost? Grace can sustain us through the painful consequences of following God.
Why God’s Protection Still Hurts 2026-06-25
How can we reconcile the pain we feel in this fallen world with God’s promise to keep us from all evil? Pastor John applies Psalm 121 to this life.
Sovereignty and My Murdered Friend 2026-06-22
Even great evil serves God’s eternal purposes — yet God also gives us precious promises to comfort us in the midst of our pain and grief.
How to Save a Marriage 2026-06-18
To redeem relationships, we need humility — but how do we get that kind of sacrificial heart? Looking to Christ and his cross strips away entitlement.
Zeal For God Gone Wrong 2026-06-15
How can Christians tell the difference between true and false zeal for God’s name? Pastor John examines Jehu’s tragic history in 2 Kings.
Preaching Outrage 2026-06-11
Should pastors expose every fresh cultural outrage from the pulpit? Pastor John encourages pastors to condemn sin without being consumed.
Defeating Daily Anxiety 2026-06-08
When we face day-to-day pressure and stress, Jesus’s teaching steadies our hearts and minds. Pastor John offers eight truths to fight anxiety.
The God Who Gives You Worth 2026-06-04
Is God’s pursuit of his glory and man’s pursuit of our joy a selfish transaction? Pastor John insists on keeping our joy in God connected to God…
Kill Your Ego, Find Your Joy 2026-06-01
Every recognition and reward we receive is a gift of God’s steadfast love, poured out so that we might magnify the glory of his undeserved grace.
The Secret Superpower of Silence 2026-05-28
How does Jesus’s silence before his accusers teach us how to suffer? Pastor John offers encouragement for Christians facing unjust treatment.
The Freedom That Kills Regret 2026-05-25
True freedom means our desires align with God’s; we want what he wants. Pastor John answers three questions from Galatians about Christian liberty.
The God Over Dice 2026-05-21
What do we mean when we say God is sovereign? Pastor John traces God’s sovereignty throughout the Bible and draws out two big, soul-steadying truths.
Don’t Wait for the Pain to Stop 2026-05-18
We don’t need to wait for painful seasons to end before we feel joy again. By God’s grace, we can hold sorrow and joy in the very same heart.
Why Your Mind Cannot Die 2026-05-14
If consciousness is part of the soul, what are the implications when the brain degrades and dies? Pastor John speaks to consciousness in both life…
When Obedience Is Evil 2026-05-11
How should Christians respond when an authority asks them to sin? Pastor John encourages believers to respect earthly institutions without…
Delighting in a Holy God 2026-05-07
God’s children are set apart as saints, given the privilege of sharing in Christ’s moral beauty. Pastor John explains how God’s holiness draws us to…
Suffering for Joy 2026-05-04
Christianity isn’t a fix for all suffering in this life — but it does offer unshakable joy in trials and immediate relief from the deepest of pains.
Ten Seconds After You Die 2026-04-30
Do the souls of believers “sleep” in the grave after death, or do they go to be with the Lord? Pastor John explains the logic of the resurrection.
Don’t Let Her Die Before You Say This 2026-04-27
How can we show Christ’s love to a dying, unbelieving loved one? Pastor John shares ten ways believers can embody God’s love.
Fur Babies and Pet Stewardship 2026-04-23
How should Christians steward pets? Pastor John offers guidance for enjoying animals without treating their companionship like human companionship.
Wasted Talents 2026-04-20
Without Christ-exalting love, spiritual gifts serve as self-promotion — even when they produce powerful results.
Where AI Fails 2026-04-16
How important are emotions in the Christian life? Pastor John looks to AI and suffering to clarify the essence of what makes us unique as human…
Long Sorrows Set the Stage 2026-04-13
In Scripture, long periods of suffering and pain serve as a backdrop for God’s great kindness. Pastor John offers three reasons for long sorrows.
The Bondage of Singleness 2026-04-09
What does true freedom look like in the Christian life? Pastor John describes the apostle Paul’s burden for both single and married believers.
Sex Is Worship 2026-04-06
If sex outside of marriage doesn’t hurt anyone, why does Scripture call it sin? Pastor John unfolds the spiritual significance of sex from 1…
The Wrong Kind of Cross-Centered 2026-04-02
Should every sermon make a beeline to the cross? Pastor John traces the pattern of the New Testament from the death of Christ to the holiness of…
Will You Be Happy in a Million Years? 2026-03-30
Eternity with God can sound too good to be true — even impossible. Will heaven really never end? And if not, will we still be happy after a million…
Made Lonely by Holiness 2026-03-26
How should we respond when friends embrace worldly entertainment? Pastor John offers encouragement for when personal convictions lead to loneliness.
Dying to Live 2026-03-23
How do we present ourselves to God “as a living sacrifice”? Pastor John applies Romans 12:1–2 to believers’ daily lives.
Stop Waiting for a Sign 2026-03-19
Should all believers assume they are called to missions? Pastor John provides seven factors to direct a desire for ministry at home or abroad.
Your Only Roadblock to Heaven 2026-03-16
God’s sovereign grace is strong enough to overcome all human sin and rebellion — changing belief in Jesus from “will not” to “want to.”
Everything Happens for a Reason 2026-03-12
Does the Bible teach that everything happens for a reason? Pastor John offers grounding from Romans 8 for God’s purpose in our suffering.
Your Main Calling in the End Times 2026-03-09
When Christians encounter signs of the end times, how should we respond? Pastor John outlines a biblical approach to waiting well for Jesus’s return.
Five Escapes from Dry Devotions 2026-03-05
How can believers push past surface-level Bible reading to the reality behind the words? Pastor John offers five practices to enliven dry devotions.
Why Smart People Reject God 2026-03-02
Why do people reject God when creation proclaims his presence? Pastor John explains how truth becomes suppressed, both internally and externally.
Hope for Screwups 2026-02-26
How can those who have wandered far from God come back home to him? Pastor John offers hope in the face of deep failure.
Marks of a Godly Boss 2026-02-23
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.
Waiting Is the Hardest Part 2026-02-19
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…
The Gospel of Gorgeous 2026-02-16
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.
Regretting the Day I Was Born 2026-02-12
When does faithful lament become sinful complaint? Pastor John offers five statements on lament to help us cry out to God in great pain.
Aging with Joy 2026-02-09
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.
The Hardest Heart God Can Save 2026-02-05
By nature, we are selfish and God-ignoring and God-belittling. But no matter how hard a heart may be, the sovereign God can still save.
Life Guidance for Sinners 2026-02-02
Indwelling sin still pervades those who are in Christ. But God’s mercy is more than enough to meet, match, and master any guilt we bring to him.