Popular podcasts

Look at the Book

Desiring God

▶ Webplayer

• Christianity
• Religion
• Spirituality

About this podcast

Look at the Book is John Piper's ongoing series of 8-12 minute videos to help you learn to read the Bible for yourself.

Episodes

• 1 Corinthians 2:6–10, Part 4: Unimaginable Joy Prepared for Those Who Love God

  Sep 29, 2026

  The mystery of God’s goodness in Christ exceeds everything we can imagine. We need God himself to reveal it to us.

• 1 Corinthians 2:6–10, Part 3: Crucifying the Lord of Glory, They Fulfilled the Wisdom of God

  Sep 26, 2026

  The rulers of this age mistook Jesus, so they crucified him — and ushered him into new glories he shares with his saints.

• 1 Corinthians 2:6–10, Part 2: Before Time, God Was Planning Our Glory

  Sep 22, 2026

  When this world fell into sin, God didn’t scramble for a backup plan. He had planned from all eternity to rescue a people through the work of his Son.

• 1 Corinthians 2:6–10, Part 1: Don’t Be Impressed with the Wisdom and Power of This Age

  Sep 19, 2026

  Why should we refuse to get sucked in by the empty promises of this world? Because this age is passing away; nothing it offers will eternally satisfy.

• 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Part 3: What Is the Demonstration of the Spirit and Power?

  Sep 15, 2026

  How did Paul demonstrate the power of the Spirit in his ministry? By preaching in weakness, Paul showed a faith that boasts only in Christ crucified.

• 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Part 2: The Crucified Christ and the Trembling Apostle

  Sep 12, 2026

  Paul relates everything to Christ crucified, including his own ability to preach. How else could he promote faith that boasts in God’s power?

• 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Part 1: How Do You Speak So That People Trust God and Not You?

  Sep 8, 2026

  Paul could have come to the Corinthian church with oratorical skill and philosophical wisdom, but he chose not to. Why?

• 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, Part 2: Boasting in Man Ends — Boasting in Christ Is Forever

  Sep 5, 2026

  Our union with Christ grants us every blessing of the Christian life and voids any pride we could take in our own strength. How could we boast in anything but God?

• 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, Part 1: Why Do Christians Come into Being from Nothing?

  Sep 1, 2026

  Did God choose us for our connections, influence, or intelligence? No, God saves in a way that abolishes all human boasting.

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 5: Links in the Chain from Cross to Corinth

  Aug 29, 2026

  Paul builds his case for unity in the Corinthian church by piling seven arguments on top of one another. How do those arguments fit together?

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 4: Philosophy and Oratory Are Powerless to Pay for Sin

  Aug 25, 2026

  Eloquence and cleverness cannot deliver us from God’s wrath. Only the death of Christ on behalf of sinners can turn condemnation into justification.

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 3: The Glorious Call of God to Dead Hearts

  Aug 22, 2026

  Why does the same gospel message offend some and delight others? Because the message of Christ crucified lands only on those whom God has called.

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 2: God’s Wisdom Prevents the Knowledge of God by Wisdom

  Aug 18, 2026

  In wisdom, God hides his plan of salvation from the self-proclaimed wise of this age. In grace, he reveals the power of the cross to those he calls.

• 1 Corinthians 1:18–25, Part 1: Don’t Change the Gospel to Please the Proud

  Aug 15, 2026

  What makes Paul so unwilling to add eloquence to the word of the cross? The apparent folly of the cross proves its actual power to those who are saved.

• 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 4: Does Divine Inspiration of Scripture Mean Divine Dictation?

  Aug 11, 2026

  Paul was taught by the Holy Spirit — but does that mean God told him exactly what to write? God preserved his truth through Paul’s personality.

• 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 3: Shameful Cross vs. Proud Eloquence

  Aug 8, 2026

  As Paul discipled the Corinthian church, he never intended to be their celebrity pastor. He aimed at something far greater: preaching a powerful cross.

• 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 2: Why God Kept Paul from Baptizing

  Aug 4, 2026

  When Paul looked back on his work of establishing the Corinthian church, he thanked God for keeping him from baptizing too many believers. Why?

• 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 1: Antidote to Disharmony: Christ’s Unity, Christ’s Death, Christ’s Name

  Aug 1, 2026

  In the face of church factions, Paul exhorts members of Christ’s body to focus on the unique work Jesus has done through his death and resurrection.

• The Miracle Alternative to Factions in the Church: 1 Corinthians 1:10–12

  Jul 28, 2026

  The Corinthian believers tried to split into fan clubs, but they never belonged to their favorite teachers. In Christ, their teachers belonged to them.

• God Will See to It That We Arrive Guiltless at Christ’s Coming: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 6

  Jul 25, 2026

  How can we know that God will keep us until the end? Because his faithfulness links his call to our final glorification with unbreakable power.

• How Can Our Waiting for the Coming of Jesus Be Sure? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 5

  Jul 21, 2026

  In this age, the Christian life is a waiting life. But we wait full of confidence that Christ will return and bring us into our eternal home.

• How Rich Are Christians? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 4

  Jul 18, 2026

  How do the Corinthian church’s riches in word and knowledge serve to confirm the testimony of Christ? Their beautiful speech shows a beautiful Savior.

• What Is God’s Grace? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 3

  Jul 14, 2026

  Grace is God’s favor toward us, his power for us, and his gifts to us. What kind of response does this stunning display of God’s goodness call for?

• Why Was Paul Such a Thankful Man? 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 2

  Jul 11, 2026

  Paul’s supernatural gratitude came from his wholehearted love for God and his work among the Corinthian church. How can we become thankful like him?

• Why We Can Wait Confidently for the Appearing of Christ: 1 Corinthians 1:4–9, Part 1

  Jul 7, 2026

  Why should Christians wait confidently to the end? Because not only has God equipped us with many gifts, but he will preserve us in his faithfulness.

• Christian, You Belong to Believers in Every Place: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 6

  Jul 4, 2026

  Because God calls all Christians, all Christians call on God. Our one Lord and one confession unite us with all believers across time and space.

• Consider Your Calling, Christians! 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 5

  Jun 30, 2026

  When we became Christians, what happened to us? By calling us from darkness to light, God gave us an everlasting reason to boast in Jesus Christ.

• What Does It Mean to Be Sanctified in Christ Jesus? 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 4

  Jun 27, 2026

  Before launching into his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes this local church as sanctified. What does that mean, for them and for us?

• In What Sense Is the Church God’s Church? 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 3

  Jun 23, 2026

  How did a church come to exist in the carnal, immoral, idolatrous city of Corinth, and why did Paul love it enough to write it a letter?

• What Does the Name ‘Christ Jesus’ Mean? 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 2

  Jun 20, 2026

  Sometimes we can hear a name so often that we forget what it was originally meant to communicate. What does Paul mean by “Christ”?

• Understanding Paul Is Understanding the Word of God: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3, Part 1

  Jun 16, 2026

  When Paul writes to the Corinthians, he writes as a man who once persecuted the church, who then encountered Christ, and who now writes the words of God.

• The Heart of the Matter: Fearless Love from True Faith: Philemon 1–25

  Jun 13, 2026

  When Philemon walks away from Paul’s letter, what kind of response does Paul want to see — mere compliance or a heart full of faith in God’s promises?

• Fellow Workers Full of Grace for Philemon: Philemon 23–25, Part 2

  Jun 9, 2026

  What do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke have to do with Philemon and his runaway slave? Paul shows Philemon what gospel-shaped friendships look like.

• Epaphras: Founder, Pastor, Prisoner, Greeter: Philemon 23–25, Part 1

  Jun 6, 2026

  Alongside all the other ways Paul encourages Philemon to love, he also adds greetings from Epaphras, a man Philemon would have deeply respected.

• Paul’s Paradoxical Way of Being Refreshed: Philemon 18–22

  Jun 2, 2026

  In seeking a welcome for the runaway slave, Onesimus, Paul banks on his history with Philemon, and risks his own resources, modeling radical Christian love.

• Can We Always Know the Purposes of Providence? Philemon 15–17, Part 3

  May 30, 2026

  Reading God’s providence rightly takes great faith in the power and wisdom of God, and communicating it kindly takes great humility. Paul displays both.

• How the New Testament Transformed Slavery: Philemon 15–17, Part 2

  May 26, 2026

  While the New Testament never explicitly abolishes slavery, it is full of teachings and commands that revolutionized the master-slave relationship.

• Receive Onesimus No Longer as a Slave but as a Brother: Philemon 15–17, Part 1

  May 23, 2026

  Paul wanted Philemon to welcome Onesimus back — but did it matter how? Paul’s radical reasoning has big implications for Onesimus’s status as a slave.

• How to Motivate Without Commanding: Philemon 8–14, Part 4

  May 19, 2026

  Although Paul refuses to command Philemon, he strengthens his appeal with seven personal reasons why his dear friend should receive Onesimus like a brother.

• Does Commanding Ever Serve Love? Philemon 8–14, Part 3

  May 16, 2026

  Jesus commanded us to love one another, but Paul seems to imply that commanding diminishes love. So, which does love prefer — commands or appeals?

• Why Does Not Commanding Serve Love? Philemon 8–14, Part 2

  May 12, 2026

  Paul knows what he wants Philemon to do, but he chooses not to command it. Why? He wants something deeper than rote obedience: genuine love.

• Faith Is the Freedom to Love: Philemon 8–14, Part 1

  May 9, 2026

  Paul could have commanded Philemon, with all the force of an apostle, to treat his runaway slave with love. So, why does Paul prefer to appeal to Philemon’s faith?

• The Ripple Effect of Christian Refreshment: Philemon 4–7, Part 2

  May 5, 2026

  How does Christian love touch and refresh all our relationships? Springing up from personal delight in Jesus, love overflows to do good to others for his sake.

• The Saints Are Refreshed and Christ Is Glorified: Philemon 4–7, Part 1

  May 2, 2026

  Why does Paul think of Philemon as the sort of man who would welcome back a runaway slave? Because he has heard of Philemon’s refreshing faith.

• Why Is It Right to Read a Personal Letter to Philemon? Philemon 1–3, Part 2

  Apr 28, 2026

  When Paul wrote to Philemon on a personal matter, he intended the entire church — including us — to receive grace and peace through his words.

• Who Was the Apostle Paul? Philemon 1–3, Part 1

  Apr 25, 2026

  Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ, with all the authority that commission entails. But as he writes to Philemon, he approaches as a friend.

• What Is the Letter to Philemon About? Philemon 1–25

  Apr 21, 2026

  Why did Paul write his letter to Philemon? A delicate matter between a master and his slave becomes teaching that nourishes the worldwide church.

• The Final Words and Main Theme of Paul’s Letter to Titus: Titus 3:12–15

  Apr 18, 2026

  A strong message rings through Paul’s letter to Titus like the toll of a great bell: Let Christians devote themselves to good works in the grace of God.

• Unprofitable Controversies and Those Who Cause Them: Titus 3:8–11, Part 2

  Apr 14, 2026

  When good doctrine produces good works, the church flourishes — but dissent and controversies cause division. That worthlessness needs to be stopped.

• How the Gospel Serves Excellent Deeds: Titus 3:8–11, Part 1

  Apr 11, 2026

  God’s message of salvation is utterly trustworthy. But what should his promises produce in those who have received them by faith?

• How Spectacular and Satisfying Is Eternal Life? Titus 3:4–7, Part 8

  Apr 7, 2026

  By justifying us through Christ’s blood, God has made us heirs of eternal life. But what is that life, and why does it matter?

• Justified by Grace in Hope of Eternal Life: Titus 3:4–7, Part 7

  Apr 4, 2026

  When we think of God’s grace in salvation, how does justification by faith lead to our adoption as children of God and the gift of eternal life?

• How We Experience the Rich Outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:4–7, Part 6

  Mar 31, 2026

  When the Bible tells us to be renewed, how is that supposed to happen? The Holy Spirit works in us to make us taste and enjoy God’s great love for us.

• Does ‘Washing of Regeneration’ Refer to Baptismal Regeneration? Titus 3:4–7, Part 5

  Mar 28, 2026

  Does regeneration come from washing, or does washing come from regeneration? When God gives us new life, he also makes us clean by his power.

• Why Can’t Our Good Works Save Us? Titus 3:4–7, Part 4

  Mar 24, 2026

  Why do our good works in Christ please God when even our best works outside Christ added to our guilt? John Piper explores the insufficiency of works to save.

• Don’t Miss the Diamonds in the Chest of Salvation: Titus 3:4–7, Part 3

  Mar 21, 2026

  Mercy, regeneration, justification, grace, inheritance, hope, eternal life — salvation is full of wonders for us to study and enjoy.

• Saved from What? Titus 3:4–7, Part 2

  Mar 17, 2026

  For Christians, the word “saved” is so common that we might easily overlook its sobering implications. From what danger did God rescue us?

• What Kind of God Was There Before Creation? Titus 3:4–7, Part 1

  Mar 14, 2026

  The God who devised the plan of salvation through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection must be a certain kind of God. Come and see his kindness.

• Paul’s Despicable History: Titus 3:3

  Mar 10, 2026

  God’s mercy shines all the brighter against the darkness of our sinful past, when our rebellious desires drove us into every kind of malice and envy.

• Can a Gentle, Meek, Non-Combative Person Rebuke? Titus 3:1–2, Part 2

  Mar 7, 2026

  A Christian’s meekness comes not from a certain disposition but from the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit who sometimes moves us to rebuke.

• Christians Go Beyond Compliance: Titus 3:1–2, Part 1

  Mar 3, 2026

  Because of the redemption Christ has accomplished, we are free to submit without fear to human rulers as we pursue the good works God has given us.

• Pastor, Let No One Disregard You: Titus 2:11–15, Part 6

  Feb 28, 2026

  The church needs pastors through whom the word of God overflows in everyday speech, including in words of exhortation and authoritative rebuke.

• Pardoned to Be Passionate for Good Deeds: Titus 2:11–15, Part 5

  Feb 24, 2026

  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.

• Eagerly Awaiting Our Gladsome Hope: Titus 2:11–15, Part 4

  Feb 21, 2026

  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?

• What Are Worldly Desires? Titus 2:11–15, Part 3

  Feb 17, 2026

  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.

• What Makes the Training of Grace Christian? Titus 2:11–15, Part 2

  Feb 14, 2026

  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.

• What Is the Grace of God? Titus 2:11–15, Part 1

  Feb 10, 2026

  Where does grace start, and where does it go? Before all ages, God planned to save us by his grace and to make us holy through that same power.

• How Slaves Beautify Their Salvation: Titus 2:9–10

  Feb 7, 2026

  In the most vulnerable places in society, God has called believers who will make his salvation beautiful through their submission, diligence, and joy.

• Set an Example of Incorruptible Teaching: Titus 2:6–8

  Feb 3, 2026

  What could be more important for young men than self-control? Paul finishes his instructions to various generations with a word to young men and Titus.

• How Older Women Help Younger Women Live for the Word of God: Titus 2:3–5

  Jan 31, 2026

  What does love for the word of God look like for women in various stages of life? By God’s design, older women can guide younger women in Christ’s ways.

• Healthy Teaching Makes Healthy Old Men: Titus 2:1–2

  Jan 27, 2026

  Sound doctrine — God’s revelation in Christ — has the power to guard us from silliness and immaturity and frivolity, and to make us healthy in every way.

• To the Pure All Things Are Pure: Titus 1:15–16

  Jan 24, 2026

  Any good deed could be an act of hypocrisy if it denies the promises of God. So, what kind of heart makes good deeds actually good?

• ‘Cretans Are Always Liars’ — Really? Titus 1:10–14, Part 2

  Jan 20, 2026

  Why would Paul quote — and agree with — someone who seems to insult everyone in his mission field? Paul is aiming for rebuke that leads to restoration.

• Ruining Households for Money: Titus 1:10–14, Part 1

  Jan 17, 2026

  In a world full of evil, an elder’s job is not to fight an impossible battle against outside influences but to silence error within the church.

• What Does It Mean to Exhort and Rebuke? Titus 1:5–9, Part 5

  Jan 13, 2026

  What enables elders to rebuke and exhort with all authority? Only their tight grip on the healthy doctrine given to them in the word of God.

• Eleven Marks of Mature Elders: Titus 1:5–9, Part 4

  Jan 10, 2026

  What do the various elder qualifications mean, and where can we go to learn more about them? Each is rooted to Scripture and crucial for pastors.

• One Wife, Faithful Children: Titus 1:5–9, Part 3

  Jan 6, 2026

  In Paul’s list of elder qualifications, does “husband of one wife” mean “never remarried” — and does “his children are faithful” mean they must be Christians?

• A Pastor’s Family Life Should Not Sully the Church: Titus 1:5–9, Part 2

  Jan 3, 2026

  An elder’s ability to lead his family reflects more than his ability to lead the church — it reflects how outsiders will view the church itself.

• Healthy Churches Exist for Life and Godliness: Titus 1:5–9, Part 1

  Dec 30, 2025

  What task could be so important that an apostle would leave behind a trusted friend to see it accomplished? For Paul, it was establishing leaders in the churches.

• Who Was Titus? Titus 1:1–4, Part 9

  Dec 27, 2025

  Paul had a trusted messenger all over the Roman Empire, grounded in the same faith and so dear to him that he called him his child. Who was this Titus?

• Eternal Life Was Manifested as the Word: Titus 1:1–4, Part 8

  Dec 23, 2025

  When Paul talks about the hope of eternal life, he considers the word a crucial ingredient — but does he mean the word he preached or the Word who became flesh?

• Why Was Eternal Life Promised Before Time? Titus 1:1–4, Part 7

  Dec 20, 2025

  Before the beginning of time, God promised eternal life — and not only that, but he planned everything it would take to bring about his purposes.

• Hope for Eternal Life Is the Basis of Godliness: Titus 1:1–4, Part 6

  Dec 16, 2025

  What can hold up our faith, deepen our knowledge, and set free our godliness so that it overflows to others? Only the hope of eternal life.

• Paul’s Aim: Faith Leading to Truth and Godliness: Titus 1:1–4, Part 5

  Dec 13, 2025

  How does internal godliness reveal itself? For the elect, the knowledge of the truth can’t help but produce good works.

• Do You Use ‘The Elect’ as a Normal Name for Christians? Titus 1:1–4, Part 4

  Dec 9, 2025

  With boldness and delight, the New Testament talks about God’s people as elect from before the foundation of the world. Why don’t we talk that way more?

• Why Should We Submit to Paul’s Letters? Titus 1:1–4, Part 3

  Dec 6, 2025

  When Jesus changed Paul from a persecutor to a preacher, he gave Paul authority as an apostle. But what does that apostleship mean for the church today?

• Are Christians Slaves or Sons of God? Titus 1:1–4, Part 2

  Dec 2, 2025

  If Christians are sons of God, why does Paul call himself a slave of God? John Piper describes what it means to be a slave (and yet a friend) of God.

• Incarnation, Hope, Godliness — an Overview of Titus: Titus 1:1–4, Part 1

  Nov 29, 2025

  What is the message of Paul’s letter to Titus? John Piper points out three mountain peaks to guide those who study this powerful text.

• The Spirit of 2 Timothy: 2 Timothy 4:19–22

  Nov 25, 2025

  After all that Paul says in his final letter, what parting desire did he have for Timothy? He wanted him to experience the Lord Jesus’s presence with his spirit.

• Rescued from the Lion for Heaven: 2 Timothy 4:14–18, Part 3

  Nov 22, 2025

  At the end of his letter and his life, Paul bursts into a doxology at the thought that God will rescue him from the lion’s mouth and bring him safely home.

• All Deserted Paul, Except the Lord: 2 Timothy 4:14–18, Part 2

  Nov 18, 2025

  What hope do we have in suffering and persecution? John Piper meditates on the power of God to strengthen us even when everyone else has turned away.

• Paul Gives Up Alexander to Judgment: 2 Timothy 4:14–18, Part 1

  Nov 15, 2025

  What can unbelievers expect in return for rejecting God’s grace? Alexander the coppersmith, a strong opponent of the gospel, serves as a sobering example.

• A Crown for Those Who Love the Lord’s Appearing: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, Part 4

  Nov 8, 2025

  What gives us the strength to keep believing until the end? John Piper points to the hope of Jesus’s second coming as essential for finishing our race.

• What Is the Crown of Righteousness? 2 Timothy 4:6–8, Part 3

  Nov 4, 2025

  When Paul writes about receiving “the crown of righteousness,” does he mean Jesus’s righteousness given to us, or our lived-out righteousness in him?

• Fight Fought, Race Finished, Faith Kept: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, Part 2

  Nov 1, 2025

  As Paul approaches the end of his life, he knows he has lived like an athlete who wrestles and runs to win the prize. But what is the good fight?

• A Life Poured Out on the Sacrifice of Faith: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, Part 1

  Oct 28, 2025

  From conversion through suffering to death, Paul considered his life a resource to be spent for the faith of God’s elect.

• Paul’s Climactic Plea to Timothy: 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5, Part 4

  Oct 25, 2025

  As Paul approaches the end of his life, what is his climactic plea to Timothy? John Piper examines four marks of a fulfilled ministry.

• Why Do We Need Preaching? 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5, Part 3

  Oct 21, 2025

  Why does preaching matter? By tracing the path away from sound teaching, John Piper shows the importance of preaching in the life of every believer.

• Preachers Must Say Hard Things: 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5, Part 2

  Oct 18, 2025

  How can preachers rebuke and exhort without wandering into hypocrisy and pride? John Piper offers six hallmarks of godly, humble preaching.

• How to Pray for Your Pastor’s Sermon: 2 Timothy 3:16–4:5, Part 1

  Oct 14, 2025

  When Paul tells Timothy to preach, he uses some of the weightiest language found in any biblical command. John Piper draws out four initial implications.

Your podcast? Get the Podli badge for your site

PodliGet the free Podli app

↓ App