Ask Pastor John How I Decide What to Preach
Oct 27, 2025
The discussion dives into how pastors make wise preaching decisions, considering the mind of Christ. Various aspects of God's will are clarified, including sovereign, moral, and discerned applications. John emphasizes spiritual discernment over mere scriptural commands, tackling decision anxiety. Personal influences like prayer also play a role in sermon selection. He shares how Romans 8 inspired a special prison sermon and highlights key themes like assurance and Christ's provision. The power of prayer throughout the preparation process is also underscored.
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Threefold View Of God's Will
- John Piper distinguishes three senses of God's will: sovereign, moral/revealed, and a spiritually discerned application of Christ's mind.
- He emphasizes that discernment requires spiritual wisdom beyond mere rational application of commands.
Pursue Wisdom And Prayerful Discernment
- Seek wisdom to apply biblical truth, not just rule-following, when deciding what to preach in unique contexts.
- Pray and pursue spiritual discernment to shape how Scripture is applied to particular situations.
Decision-Making Is Heart And Mind Mixed
- Piper admits subjective influences of the heart permeate decisions and cautions against claiming pure rational wisdom in choosing topics.
- He highlights limits of control in decision-making and the interplay of feeling and reason.
