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John Piper’s Answers to Hundreds of Questions about Ethics, Theology, the Bible, and More.
Navigating the Christian life in a secular world will inevitably stir questions in the lives of thoughtful believers. Motivated by the need for sound biblical advice, Ask Pastor John was created, a podcast featuring pastor-theologian and bestselling author John Piper’s answers to audience-proposed questions about life’s toughest topics. Podcast episodes have been played over 230 million times and have become a staple in the lives of Christians around the world.
In this unique book, Ask Pastor John host Tony Reinke summarizes and organizes ten years of their most insightful and popular episodes into accessible, thematic sections. Readers will be able to quickly and systematically access Piper’s insights on hundreds of topics including Bible reading, dating, social media, mental health, and more. We discover afresh how asking good questions strengthens faith and grows our understanding of God’s word.
Foreword by John Piper
Introduction: A Little History of APJ (and Why I Wrote This Book)
A Word before We Begin
Chapter 1: On Bible Reading, Bible Neglect, and Bible Memory
Chapter 2: On Politics, Patriotism, and Culture Wars
Chapter 3: On Careers, Calling, and Overworking
Chapter 4: On Purpose, Productivity, and Laziness
Chapter 5: On Money, Shopping, and the Prosperity Gospel
Chapter 6: On Gambling, Lotteries, and the Stock Market
Chapter 7: On Pouting, Sulking, and Self-Pity
Chapter 8: On Cussing, Lying, and Gossip
Chapter 9: On Dating, Romance Idols, and Fornication
Chapter 10: On Married Sex, Bedroom Taboos, and Fading Attraction
Chapter 11: On Barrenness, Conception, and Birth Control
Chapter 12: On Hard Marriages, Divorce, and Abuse
Chapter 13: On Male Headship, Guns, and the Midlife Crisis
Chapter 14: On Fearless Women, Feminine Beauty, and Modesty
Chapter 15: On Gyms, Exercise, and Body Image
Chapter 16: On Food, Fasting, and Feasting
Chapter 17: On Alcohol, Tobacco, and Pot
Chapter 18: On Smartphones, Social Media, and Selfie Sticks
Chapter 19: On Television, Movies, and Fun
Chapter 20: On Lust, Porn, and TV Nudity
Chapter 21: On Satan, Demons, and the Unforgivable Sin
Chapter 22: On the Reprobate, Capriciousness, and Divine Unfairness
Chapter 23: On Trials, Sorrow, and Chronic Pain
Chapter 24: On Deadness, Depression, and Desertion
Chapter 25: On Writing, Grammar, and Poetry
Chapter 26: On Joining, Leaving, and Finding a Church
Chapter 27: On Retirement, Snowbirding, and Finishing Well
Chapter 28: On Suicide, Euthanasia, and the Will to Live
Appendix: Favorite Episodes
Episode Index: Full Index of Episodes Featuring John Piper (2013–2022)
| Contributors | Tony Reinke |
|---|---|
| ISBN | 9781433581267 |
| Format | Hardback |
| First published | May 2024 |
| Dimensions | 163mm x 236mm x 35mm |
| Weight | 0.91 kg |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 536 |
| Publisher | Crossway |
My first thought on seeing these pages was that perhaps not since Richard Baxter penned his massive Christian Directory has a book like Ask Pastor John been offered to Christians. From the vast number of questions to which John Piper has responded over a decade of podcasting, these pages contain 750 of the most listened-to answers. And while Piper’s ministry is separated from Baxter’s by more than three centuries, a common thread binds them together—the deep-seated conviction that the God-breathed Scriptures make us ‘wise for salvation’ in the fullest sense because, in providing teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, they are sufficient to equip us ‘for every good work’ (2 Tim. 3:15–17). The value of these pages is as evident as it is manifold. At one level, theological, pastoral, and ethical questions are assessed, analyzed, and consistently answered by bringing them to the touchstone of Scripture. But in addition, this is done with a rigorous and determined attention to both the wording and the interior logic of God’s word with a desire to help us to think God’s thoughts after him. And this in turn serves all of us as a pattern to learn and apply in our own Bible reading, and as a model that encourages us to live according to Scripture. In addition, the step-by-step care with which John Piper seeks to handle Scripture helps us—as he would wish—to discern how what he says applies in our own lives, and, indeed, where it might not. And so as a theologian he guides our understanding, and as a pastor he encourages us to grow in discernment so that we are not simply becoming automatons but are learning to think through and apply God’s word by ourselves, for ourselves, and to ourselves. We owe a debt of grateful thanks to John Piper for the labor of love and devotion of time and pastoral care this book reflects, and to his long-time colleague Tony Reinke, who—from an archive of over two million words!—has expertly selected and edited these pages. Here is one of those rare contemporary books that can be described as ‘should be in every Christian home,’ and to which we can turn again and again for guidance from God’s word, encouragement in Christ, and challenge to walk according to the Spirit.
I don’t know what is more remarkable, that the Ask Pastor John podcast has nearly two thousand episodes and over 230 million listens or that Tony Reinke has distilled all that content in order to give us a guided tour of 220 hours of audio recordings. Have you ever wished you could sit down with John Piper (or any wise, seasoned pastor) and ask him all your practical, nitty-gritty questions about life, ministry, parenting, sex, Bible reading, divorce, abuse, dating, gambling, eating, drinking, movies, demons, depression, poetry, and selfie sticks? Then this is the book for you. Even if you don’t agree with Piper on every jot and tittle of application, you will find that he is always thoughtful, always careful, always pastoral, and always tied to the Bible. Read the book straight through, a little each day, or use these five hundred pages as an encyclopedia on situational ethics and practical theology. Either way, I can’t imagine any Christian who wouldn’t be helped (and fascinated) by the hundreds of topics covered in this amazing resource.
Throw a hard question at John Piper and he will isolate the main challenge and address it with a sage answer, drawn from the Bible, delivered in a kind tone that lacks even a hint of hubris. He willingly answers all sorts of dilemmas, from hard Bible verses to the daily struggles of the Christian life to culturally charged questions that border on the embarrassing to the bizarre. For years I have been an avid listener because each episode draws me deeper into God’s word. Pastor John has spoken so wisely on such a wide array of topics that I am always ferreting through past episodes to learn more. But that vast archive can be daunting. With many years of experience as the host, Tony Reinke has pulled together the 750 most popular episodes from their first decade together into a single guide touching on dozens of themes. This book is an index to the podcast archive, drawing together multiple episodes on single topics, making it easy for me to find the audio I need, when I need it. As a podcast listener, I couldn’t be more pleased. I’m thankful to Reinke for compiling this encyclopedia and—now for over a decade—drawing out, documenting, and helping us all more richly benefit from America’s most beloved theologian!
