John Piper

John Stephen Piper was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bill and Ruth Piper January 11, 1946. When John and his older sister were still small the Pipers moved to Greenville, South Carolina where John spent the rest of his growing-up years. His father was an itinerant evangelist who is still actively ministering through international radio and Bible courses. John has written a tribute to his mother, who died in 1974, in the booklet, "What's the Difference" (Crossway Books, 1990) which is also chapter one of the book, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (Crossway Books, 1991).

At Wheaton College (1964-68), John majored in Literature and minored in Philosophy. Studying Romantic Literature with Clyde Kilby stimulated the poetic side of his nature and today he regularly writes poems to celebrate special family occasions as well as composing story-poems (based on the life of a Biblical character) for his congregation during the four weeks of Advent each year. At Wheaton John also met Noel Henry whom he married 1968.

Following college he completed a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California (1968-71). While at Fuller, John took as many courses as he could from Dr. Daniel Fuller, the most influential "living" teacher in his life. Through Dr. Fuller he discovered the writings of Jonathan Edwards, his most influential "dead" teacher.

John did his doctoral work in New Testament Studies at the University of Munich, Munich, West Germany (1971-74). His dissertation, Love Your Enemies, was published by Cambridge University Press and Baker Book House. Upon completion of his doctorate he went on to teach Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota for six years (1974-80).

In 1980, sensing an irresistible call of the Lord to preach, John became the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he has been ministering ever since. Together with his people, John is dedicated to spreading a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.

John and Noël have four sons, a daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren.
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.) and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching.

Don't Waste Your Life
Millions of people are wasting their lives pursuing dreams of happiness that don't rise above a good marriage, nice kids, a successful career, a nice car, fun vacations, nice friends, a fun retirement, a painless death, and (hopefully) no hell. John Piper calls this a tragedy in the making. He argues that we were created for joy. We were designed to have one passion.

In this book he describes his own journey toward this great, single passion. And he pleads that at all costs we pursue our joy in the crucified Christ, who is the glory of God. The cost is great. But the joy is worth any cost.


Table of Contents
Preface: For Christians and Non-Christians
1 My Search for a Single Passion to Live By
2 Breakthrough—the Beauty of Christ, My Joy
3 Boasting Only in the Cross, The Blazing Center of the Glory of God
4 Magnifying Christ Through Pain and Death
5 Risk Is Right—Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It
6 The Goal of Life—Gladly Making Others Glad in God
7 Living to Prove He Is More Precious Than Life
8 Making Much of Christ from 8 to 5
9 The Majesty of Christ in Missions and Mercy—A Plea to This Generation
10 My Prayer—Let None Say in the End, “I’ve Wasted It”


Desiring God
Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (Third Edition)
The message of Desiring God is that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. In this book, Piper calls this worldview “Christian Hedonism” and explains why pursuing maximum joy is essential to glorifying God. He discusses the implications of this for conversion, worship, love, Scripture, prayer, money, marriage, missions, and suffering.

What’s New in the 2003 Edition?
New Appendix: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained That Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine Decrees
New Appendix: How Then Shall We Fight for Joy
Updated References to Statistics and Literature
New Illustrations and Quotations
Corrections and Clarifications
Table of Contents
What's New in the 2003 Edition?PrefaceIntroduction: How I Became a Christian Hedonist
The Happiness of God: Foundation for Christian Hedonism
Conversion: The Creation of a Christian Hedonist
Worship: The Feast of Christian Hedonism
Love: The Labor of Christian Hedonism
Scripture: Kindling for Christian Hedonism
Prayer: The Power of Christian Hedonism
Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism
Marriage: A Matrix for Christian Hedonism
Missions: The Battle Cry of Christian Hedonism
Suffering: The Sacrifice of Christian Hedonism
Epilogue: Why I have Written this Book: Seven ReasonsAppendix 1: The Goal of God in Redemptive HistoryAppendix 2: Is the Bible a Reliable Guide to Lasting Joy?Appendix 3: Is God Less Glorious Because He Ordained that Evil Be? Jonathan Edwards on the Divine DecreesAppendix 4: How then Shall We Fight for Joy? An OutlineAppendix 5: Why Call It Christian Hedonism?Indexes

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May God Richly Bless Your Life!