For thirty three years John Piper pastored Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. He has written over forty books and spoken to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Easter Sunday of 2013 was Dr. Piper’s last Sunday as a pastor, and in the two years since then he has transitioned to a new role as chancellor of The Bethlehem College and Seminary as well as writing and speaking as part of his ministry at Desiring God. In this episode Barnabas Piper (John’s son) and Todd Adkins ask him 5 questions about his current role and the transition he’s experienced.

Best Quotes

“I like to be around people who are totally committed to what they do and do it with all their might.”

“99.999% of the world does not know who John Piper is and is not the least impressed.”

“John Piper is my biggest obstacle in ministry and in everything. John Piper creates most of the problems for John Piper.”

“My sin causes my biggest problems – my fear, my vanity, my distraction.”

“We don’t keep ourselves humble. God keeps us humble. Humility is a reflex not a pursuit.”

“Sacred book, sovereign God, serious joy – for me that’s a continuum.”

“If you step into leadership that you didn’t shape there are obstacles everywhere.”

“We’ll always be parenting and I hope we can learn how to do it well eventually.”

“What does leadership look like in a family? It’s whoever says ‘let’s’ most often. Let’s go to church. Let’s eat out. Let’s pay our bills on time.”

“Leadership at home is mainly tending your own soul and keeping yourself in love with God.”

“Every time you see an evidence of grace in someone it’s good to call it out. Praise them for God’s sake.”

“God is going to say ‘well done’ to half-baked people like us if we live by faith.”

“Keep the room clean where you are. God will open the next door.”

Recommended Resources

Desiring God.org

Ask Pastor John

Look at the BookBethlehem College and Seminary

The Recent World History of Christianity – Mark Noll lectures

The Missionary Movement in Christian History by Andrew Walls

Practicing Affirmation by Sam Crabtree