Look at the Book

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

09 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 Phil...

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

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

02 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

25 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

18 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

11 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 u...

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

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 e...

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

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 restora...

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

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Who Was Titus? Titus 1:1–4, Part 9

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

23 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

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

20 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

13 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

09 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

06 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 toda...

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

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

29 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

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

22 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 safel...

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

18 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

08 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ra...

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

04 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

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

01 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

25 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

18 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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

All Scripture Is God-Breathed: 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Part 2

11 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we know the Bible is the word of God? John Piper explores Jesus’s teaching alongside Paul’s claim that all Scripture is God-breathed.

Continue in What You Learned and Believed: 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Part 1

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is the Bible for, and how do we make the most of it? John Piper offers tools for digging into the inspired word of God.

Realism and Hope for the Persecuted: 2 Timothy 3:10–13

04 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What was Paul’s aim in the midst of deadly persecutions and trials? John Piper unpacks the apostle’s realism and hope in his encouragements to Tim...

Snatching Women and Stumbling to Ruin: 2 Timothy 3:6–9

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What marks false teachers and their followers? John Piper confronts the impulse to hide sin behind a noncommittal appearance of godliness.

The Powerful Alternative to Formalism: 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Part 5

27 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the last days, some will be lovers of self, lovers of money, and full of every kind of sin, yet they will still maintain the appearance of godlines...

Is It Wrong to Be a Lover of Pleasure? 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Part 4

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Should we love pleasure, or is doing so a sinful sign of the last days? John Piper contrasts loving pleasure for its own sake with loving pleasure in ...

Is Self-Love the Root of All Evils? 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Part 3

20 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Paul starts listing sins that define unbelievers in the last days, he leads with an example more heinous than the rest: unrighteous self-love.

Why Does God Ordain So Much Evil in the Last Days? 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Part 2

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paul says the last days will be full of deceivers and difficulties. But why should that be so? John Piper offers six possible reasons.

When Are the ‘Last Days’? 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Part 1

13 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Jesus came as God’s Messiah, he ushered in a new age — but not in the way so many expected. John Piper examines our place in the last days.

God’s Agents of Repentance: 2 Timothy 2:24–26, Part 2

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If God alone grants repentance, why should parents, friends, and pastors still labor for the salvation of unbelievers?

God May Grant Repentance: 2 Timothy 2:24–26, Part 1

06 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we escape Satan’s clutches, especially when we have no hope of loving the truth on our own? We come to our senses only when God grants repent...

How to Pursue Righteousness: 2 Timothy 2:22–23, Part 2

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If the Christian life is about fleeing sin and pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace, how do we do so? John Piper offers some means of grace.

Christian Life as Fleeing and Pursuing: 2 Timothy 2:22–23, Part 1

30 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we get a pure heart? John Piper meditates on righteousness, faith, love, and peace as vital pursuits for the Christian life.

What Are Vessels for Honor and Dishonor? 2 Timothy 2:20–21

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does it mean to be an honorable part of God’s great household? John Piper encourages believers to pursue usefulness in every good work.

The Immovable Seal of Election and Holiness: 2 Timothy 2:16–19, Part 2

23 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Christianity seems fragile, and false teaching leads people toward more and more ungodliness, how do we know that God’s purposes haven’t fail...

Why False Teaching Is Like Gangrene: 2 Timothy 2:16–19, Part 1

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Irreverent babble leads only to more ungodliness. John Piper warns against teaching that is as poisonous as it is empty.

How Do You Rightly Handle the Word of Truth? 2 Timothy 2:14–15, Part 2

16 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do we teach the word of God in a manner approved by God? John Piper emphasizes the importance of faith and grace in the work of ministry.

Contending for the Faith vs. Word Fights: 2 Timothy 2:14–15, Part 1

12 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to defending the words of the Bible, how do we know when we’ve begun ruining our hearers with quarrels? Pastor John offers five guidel...

Saved by Grace, But Not Without War: 2 Timothy 2:8–13

09 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

God promises to keep everyone he saves, yet Scripture also mentions conditions Christians must meet in order to get to glory. How do those two truths ...

If We Are Faithless, He Remains Faithful? 2 Timothy 2:11–13

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does God remain faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to him? John Piper considers the promise that God will never deny himself.

Election Gives Evangelism Power: 2 Timothy 2:8–10, Part 3

02 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does the doctrine of election do for evangelism? It puts the omnipotent, unfailing power of God behind the gospel call.

The Gospel Triumphs Through Suffering: 2 Timothy 2:8–10, Part 2

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The word of God is not bound by anything. Yet God chooses to use human heralds and their faithful suffering to advance the good news.

Remember Jesus in All You Do: 2 Timothy 2:8–10, Part 1

26 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mature Christians are much occupied with Jesus. They do not forget him but remember him hourly and in everything.

Is Thinking or Praying the Path to Understanding? 2 Timothy 2:3–7, Part 3

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Diligent thinking and God’s gift of understanding are not at odds. They are two sides of the same coin.

Soldier, Athlete, Farmer — the Power and the Promise: 2 Timothy 2:3–7, Part 2

19 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2 Timothy 2, Paul uses three different images to depict the Christian life: soldier, athlete, and farmer. What can we learn from each?

Why Does Paul Take Timothy’s Suffering for Granted? 2 Timothy 2:3–7, Part 1

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is suffering an essential part of the Christian life? Among other reasons, because Christians are out of step with the world, which leads to confl...

How the Gospel Is Preserved for All Generations: 2 Timothy 2:1–2, Part 2

12 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each generation needs faithful men to pass on the apostolic teaching that was entrusted to them. By the Spirit’s power, we preserve the truth until ...

How Are We Strengthened by Grace? 2 Timothy 2:1–2, Part 1

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Christian life is lived in the power of grace, which means we look to God to provide everything we need to fulfill his call on our lives.

Is Our Kindness a Condition of God’s Mercy? 2 Timothy 1:15–18, Part 2

05 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is God’s mercy the foundation of our good works, or is his mercy the reward of our good works?

The Soul-Strengthening Courage of Onesiphorus: 2 Timothy 1:15–18, Part 1

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Paul looked for an example for Timothy, he found Onesiphorus — unashamed, full of service, and refreshing to fellow believers.

Guard the Healthy Words by the Holy Spirit: 2 Timothy 1:13–14

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to Paul, healthy words come from Jesus. They accord with his gospel and redound to his glory. They are worth guarding closely.

Unashamed Because We Know Our Keeper: 2 Timothy 1:8–12, Part 4

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When God calls someone to himself, he keeps that person until the end. He guards all those who entrust themselves to him.

Death Abolished, Life Obtained, Gospel Spread: 2 Timothy 1:8–12, Part 3

21 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Lord Jesus Christ abolished death and brought immortality to light through the gospel. Do you know the gospel? Do you share it with others?

Electing Grace from Before Creation: 2 Timothy 1:8–12, Part 2

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Salvation tells the glorious story that God set his love on his people before they even existed and then called them for the praise of his glory.

The Eternal Roots of Timothy’s Unashamed Courage: 2 Timothy 1:8–12, Part 1

14 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

God targeted his chosen ones with grace before the ages began. That is the surest foundation imaginable to build your life upon.

The Main Point of 2 Timothy: 2 Timothy 1:3–8, Part 4

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you fan into flame a gift God has given to you? You do it by faith, laying hold of the promises of provision God has made to you.

The Gift of Unashamed Courage to Speak and Suffer: 2 Timothy 1:3–8, Part 3

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Paul talks about the gift God gave to Timothy, what is he referring to? Unashamed courage to speak and to suffer for the gospel.

A Father’s Prayers, a Son’s Tears: 2 Timothy 1:3–8, Part 2

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Paul says that he prayed for Timothy “constantly . . . night and day.” How might his practice and his specific petitions shape our own life ...

Paul’s Parent-Rooted, Non-Guilty Service: 2 Timothy 1:3–8, Part 1

31 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why is it so important to serve God from a good conscience? Because a guilty conscience will serve in order to gain favor with God, and that will neve...

How Did Timothy Become a Child of Paul? 2 Timothy 1:1–2, Part 5

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The apostle Paul addresses Timothy as “my beloved child.” How did Timothy become not just a ministry partner but a son to Paul?

How Is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus? 2 Timothy 1:1–2, Part 4

24 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why did God make Paul an apostle? So that he could declare the promise of life in Christ Jesus to those who were dead in their trespasses.