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"Where Are the Faithful Young Men?"
John Piper

John Stephen Piper (1946 - ). American pastor, author, and theologian born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Converted at six, he grew up in South Carolina and earned a B.A. from Wheaton College, a B.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a D.Theol. from the University of Munich. Ordained in 1975, he taught biblical studies at Bethel University before pastoring Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis from 1980 to 2013, growing it to over 4,500 members. Founder of Desiring God ministries in 1994, he championed “Christian Hedonism,” teaching that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Piper authored over 50 books, including Desiring God (1986) and Don’t Waste Your Life, with millions sold worldwide. A leading voice in Reformed theology, he spoke at Passion Conferences and influenced evangelicals globally. Married to Noël Henry since 1968, they have five children. His sermons and writings, widely shared online, emphasize God’s sovereignty and missions.
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Sermon Summary
This sermon calls for a generation willing to sacrifice their lives for Christ, to live dangerously and be reckless in His service, to prioritize prayer and God's Word above all else, and to be faithful unto death in fulfilling the work God has given them. It challenges men and women to be courageous, selfless, and willing to risk everything for the sake of God's kingdom, echoing the examples of biblical figures like Moses, Paul, Joab, and Esther.
Sermon Transcription
Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful unto death? Who will lose their lives for Christ's, flinging them away for love of Him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in His service? Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who count God's Word as more important to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses of old, commune with God face-to-face, as a man speaks with his friend? Where are God's men in this day of God's power? Where are the pastors who say with the Apostle Paul, I don't count my life of any value, or as precious to myself. If only I might finish my course and complete the work that He gave me to do, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. I'm nothing, I just have a job. God, keep me faithful on the job. And then let me drop and go to the reward. Where are the pastors who say with Joab to his brother Abishai, surrounded by Syrians and Ammonites, Brother, be courageous and let us play the man for our God and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what seems good to Him. Where is the Joab today? Where are the women? The single women and the married women, and the pastor's wives who say with Esther when Mordecai came to her and said, you've got to do this because your people are perishing. And she says, tell him to fast, and I will go into the king, though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. Where are those women?
"Where Are the Faithful Young Men?"
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John Stephen Piper (1946 - ). American pastor, author, and theologian born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Converted at six, he grew up in South Carolina and earned a B.A. from Wheaton College, a B.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a D.Theol. from the University of Munich. Ordained in 1975, he taught biblical studies at Bethel University before pastoring Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis from 1980 to 2013, growing it to over 4,500 members. Founder of Desiring God ministries in 1994, he championed “Christian Hedonism,” teaching that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Piper authored over 50 books, including Desiring God (1986) and Don’t Waste Your Life, with millions sold worldwide. A leading voice in Reformed theology, he spoke at Passion Conferences and influenced evangelicals globally. Married to Noël Henry since 1968, they have five children. His sermons and writings, widely shared online, emphasize God’s sovereignty and missions.