David Platt Messages

The astounding part of Christ’s first coming is not simply that he was—and is!—fully divine, but also that he was—and is!—fully human. The baby in Bethlehem was fully God and fully human. The One through whom the world was created became a servant in order to save us from our sins. In this message from David Platt, we reflect on Philippians 2:7 and the mystery of Christ’s humanity and deity dwelling in one person. The idea that God would come in the form of a servant should fill us with awe, gratitude, and praise.Explore more content from Radical.

Who was the baby born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago? The answer to that question divides people into the various religions of the world, and it also determines where everyone will spend eternity. In this message from Philippians 2:5–6, David Platt points us to the astounding reality that Jesus Christ is fully divine—God the Son—and yet he took on flesh to save us. Though we cannot fully comprehend the mystery of the Trinity, we can know God truly as he has revealed himself in his Word.Explore more content from Radical.

 The poor and vulnerable are often easy to overlook, but Scripture teaches that true religion consists in caring for them. Though we may not receive earthly notoriety or gain, the Lord has commanded his people to care for those most in need, including widows and orphans. In this message from James 1:27, David Platt urges us to obey Scripture’s commands concerning a faith that is “true and undefiled,” and we do this not merely because we feel obligated but more importantly because we want to reflect the mercy of the God who calls himself the father of the fatherless and the protector of widows. This message was given at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, during their Stand for Life emphasis. Explore more content from Radical.

Many people in our culture cringe when they hear words like leadership, authority, and submission. The same is true for some Christians, particularly those who have experienced harsh, self-serving, or abusive leadership in the church. However, our response to bad leadership as followers of Christ should not be to reject all forms of leadership. Our response should be to embrace good, biblical leadership. In this message from Hebrews 13:17, David Platt points us to the Bible’s teaching on biblical leadership in the church. God has given leaders as a gift to the church, not to serve for their own interests but to serve for the glory of God and the good of others. Submission to this kind of leadership is good for our souls.Explore more content from Radical.

There is no better news than to hear that God’s pleasure in you is not based on your performance for him. And yet, it’s all too easy for us to slip back into thinking that we can somehow secure our standing before God by our efforts and our works. In this message from Galatians 2, David Platt points us to Scripture’s teaching about how we are justified, or declared righteous, before God. God’s free and undeserved grace comes to us by faith alone based on what Christ has done on our behalf.Explore more content from Radical.

We usually attach a lot of weight to someone’s first and last words. In Matthew’s Gospel, the first and last words of Jesus have to do with fishing for men and making disciples of all nations. The question for followers of Jesus is, Do we see these words as weighty? How does it affect our lives to know that Jesus has given his people a mission, a mission that starts right where we live but doesn’t stop there—it extends to the ends of the earth. In this message from Matthew 28:18–20, David Platt reminds us why we need biblical mission. We were made to glorify God and to make him known among all nations. This message is in a series covering biblical traits that should be a part of every church.Explore more content from Radical.

Most people feel uneasy when they think about discipline and accountability. They want to be independent and call their own shots. But for those who belong to Christ, discipline and accountability should be seen as spiritual safeguards. And God has provided these things through the local church. In this message from Hebrews 12:3–11, David Platt helps us see why accountability and church discipline are evidence of God’s love and concern for his people. The various steps for church discipline laid out by Jesus in Matthew 18 are intended to preserve the church’s holiness and restore those who are walking in sin. This message is the next in a series identifying twelve traits of a biblical church.Explore more content from Radical.

In one way or another, all of us are tempted to try and earn God’s favor. The idea that God would save us freely out of his own grace, prior to any good works on our part, just doesn’t seem right. As a result, we fall into the trap of legalism. Even as Christians, we can make the mistake of relating to God as if we can please him by working in our own power and according to our own rules. In this message from Galatians 1, David Platt reminds us that our efforts inevitably fall short of God’s righteousness. This is precisely why the gospel is such good news: those who are in Christ have been forgiven and made righteous solely by the grace of God. Christ’s death on the cross is a sufficient sacrifice for sinners.Explore more content from Radical.

It may shock many people in our culture to find out that the love of money is dangerous. Even among Christians, it’s easy to fall for the lie that our finances can provide true satisfaction and security. However, Jesus invites us to something more satisfying than money—Himself. In this message from 1 Timothy 6:6–19, David Platt points us to the apostle Paul’s instructions to those who have wealth. Though we may not always feel it, compared to most of the world, and to most people in history, many in the US and in the West are wealthy. Therefore we need to hear the Scripture’s warnings to the wealthy. We also need to hear of the eternal riches that belong to those who treasure Jesus Christ. This sermon on giving is in a series that identifies 12 traits of a biblical church.Explore more content from Radical.

In this message from Matthew 4:18–22, David Platt unpacks the significance of what Jesus means when he says to people, “Follow me.”Explore more content from Radical.