Tag: John Piper

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ADVENT: THE DAWNING OF INDESTRUCTIBLE JOY // #ADVENTJOY READINGS WITH @JOHNPIPER

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Last year, THIS was excellent. John Piper has put out another excellent book of daily devotions in the lead up to Christmas:

Advent: The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

It’s available as a Free PDF or you can pick up a Kindle version for super-cheap.

I’m planning to share a highlight each day on social media using the hashtag: #AdventJoy

It’s called The Dawning of Indestructible Joy, “because the joy Jesus was bringing into the world was like no other kind in history. Once we have it, it cannot be destroyed. Jesus said, “No one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).”

It starts on December 1 and goes through to Christmas Day.

Let’s go!

Read my post from last year for a little more context on what Advent is.

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GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY // DAILY READINGS FOR ADVENT WITH @JOHNPIPER #ADVENTPIPER

It’s a little crazy in the lead up to Christmas. We spend lots of time preparing physically for this season. Whether it’s the purchasing of gifts, the tidying of homes, the completion of renovations, the cooking of food or trying to compete with the Griswolds for number of lights on your house!

Yet we don’t prepare spiritually for the season ahead. I think that’s what Advent is seeking to do. What is Advent? It’s a season of preparation that some Christians observe to prepare their hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’.

Desiring God Ministries and John Piper have just released a free set of daily readings for Advent. I’ve had a read of the first couple and they look fantastic!

Download ‘Good News of Great Joy’ by John Piper here.

I’m planning on reading through Bible verse and the short reflection each day in the lead up to Christmas. I won’t read the reflection with my kids, but I’m hoping to read the Bible verses and spend time preparing as a family for the coming of Jesus.

Are you interested in joining in? Go on. It’ll be good for you.

Here’s the idea…

Continue reading “GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY // DAILY READINGS FOR ADVENT WITH @JOHNPIPER #ADVENTPIPER”

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John Piper on The Lottery + Gambling

There was some massive lottery draw that happened this week in the USA. John Piper has written 7 reasons that Christians shouldn’t gamble their money in this way. I think his reasons are applicable more generally for any gambling. Read the article.

Here are the 7 reasons:

1. It is spiritually suicidal.
2. It is a kind of embezzlement.
3. It’s a fool’s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.
5. It preys on the poor.
6. There is a better alternative.
7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.

Read it in more detail here.

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There is no wrong twin

Many Australian readers would be familiar with the tragic news of two twin babies being killed recently in a Melbourne hospital mix-up. Devastating. Below is an extract from an article that John Piper linked to in this tweet.

It’s from the volunteer disability ministry blog for Bethlehem Baptist Church.

It has also happened in Italy and the United States.  Here are the headlines for each:

Australia: Hospital kills wrong baby, aborts twin.

Italy: Italian police to investigate abortion of wrong twin

United States: Doctor loses license after aborting wrong twin

Every headline is mistaken.  There is no ‘wrong’ twin in any of these circumstances.  Only helpless unborn babies, every one of them.

The only reason any of these babies was chosen to be aborted was because of potential disabling conditions.

The answer isn’t better medical tests or more specific hospital guidelines, but changed hearts that rush to help mothers and babies rather than destroy them.

Read the full article here.

See more of my posts on ‘abortion’