John Piper's Sermon Regarding Prostate Cancer

January 8th is the conclusion of a brief study on Prayer at Bethlehem Baptist Church. John Piper uses his recent news regarding prostate cancer as an illustration for teaching his congregation about the work of God in producing peace in the midst of prostate cancer. I found the sermon to be beneficial and I hope that you do as well. As an aside, I especially liked when he discussed the dangers of discussing his own sickness. Here are three key reasons why it may be dangerous to discuss it:

1) Melodramatic representation of the illness.
2) Not currently in pain and test is relatively small compared to what others are going through.
3) Self-pity which he describes as one manifestation of pride.

You can listen to the sermon here.
You can read the sermon here.

Desiring God is here.
Bethlehem Baptist Church is here.

The text from the sermon:
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.



In Christ alone,
mike