Why God’s Protection Still Hurts
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.
Jun 25, 2026•14 min
Ask Pastor John
John Piper answering tough theological and pastoral questions.
Last refreshed:
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Sovereignty and My Murdered Friend
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.
Jun 22, 2026•12 min
Spreading Great Joy in a Big God to the Next Generation
Listen Now
Jun 22, 2026•8 min
How to Save a Marriage
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.
Jun 18, 2026•17 min
Zeal For God Gone Wrong
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.
Jun 15, 2026•11 min
Preaching Outrage
Should pastors expose every fresh cultural outrage from the pulpit? Pastor John encourages pastors to condemn sin without being consumed.
Jun 11, 2026•14 min
Defeating Daily Anxiety
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.
Jun 08, 2026•11 min
The God Who Gives You Worth
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 himself.
Jun 04, 2026•10 min
Kill Your Ego, Find Your Joy
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.
Jun 01, 2026•10 min
The Secret Superpower of Silence
How does Jesus’s silence before his accusers teach us how to suffer? Pastor John offers encouragement for Christians facing unjust treatment.
May 28, 2026•13 min
The Freedom That Kills Regret
True freedom means our desires align with God’s; we want what he wants. Pastor John answers three questions from Galatians about Christian liberty.
May 25, 2026•10 min
The God Over Dice
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.
May 21, 2026•13 min
Don’t Wait for the Pain to Stop
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.
May 18, 2026•13 min
Why Your Mind Cannot Die
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 and death.
May 14, 2026•17 min
When Obedience Is Evil
How should Christians respond when an authority asks them to sin? Pastor John encourages believers to respect earthly institutions without compromising God’s word.
May 11, 2026•12 min
Delighting in a Holy God
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 him.
May 07, 2026•14 min
Suffering for Joy
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.
May 04, 2026•14 min
Ten Seconds After You Die
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.
Apr 30, 2026•12 min
Don’t Let Her Die Before You Say This
How can we show Christ’s love to a dying, unbelieving loved one? Pastor John shares ten ways believers can embody God’s love.
Apr 27, 2026•10 min
Fur Babies and Pet Stewardship
How should Christians steward pets? Pastor John offers guidance for enjoying animals without treating their companionship like human companionship.
Apr 23, 2026•14 min
Wasted Talents
Without Christ-exalting love, spiritual gifts serve as self-promotion — even when they produce powerful results.
Apr 20, 2026•11 min
Where AI Fails
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 beings.
Apr 16, 2026•14 min
Long Sorrows Set the Stage
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.
Apr 13, 2026•12 min
The Bondage of Singleness
What does true freedom look like in the Christian life? Pastor John describes the apostle Paul’s burden for both single and married believers.
Apr 09, 2026•14 min
Sex Is Worship
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 Corinthians 6.
Apr 06, 2026•13 min
The Wrong Kind of Cross-Centered
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 Christians.
Apr 02, 2026•13 min
Will You Be Happy in a Million Years?
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 years?
Mar 30, 2026•16 min
Made Lonely by Holiness
How should we respond when friends embrace worldly entertainment? Pastor John offers encouragement for when personal convictions lead to loneliness.
Mar 26, 2026•12 min
Dying to Live
How do we present ourselves to God “as a living sacrifice”? Pastor John applies Romans 12:1–2 to believers’ daily lives.
Mar 23, 2026•14 min
Stop Waiting for a Sign
Should all believers assume they are called to missions? Pastor John provides seven factors to direct a desire for ministry at home or abroad.
Mar 19, 2026•13 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android