Sanctification in the Everyday: Three Sermons by John Piper

by John Piper

"How does the cross and victory of Jesus affect your everyday sanctification?

Over the past 30 years John Piper has preached several messages that equip listeners to apply the Bible in their daily lives. Stretching three decades, this e-book includes three of those sermons that intend to mobilize the church in the fight against sin and the walk of faith. In addition to these sermons, there is a practical appendix of acronyms Pastor John uses in his own life and commends to others.

Whether fighting a specific sin or walking by faith amid stressful circumstances, the aim of this e-book is to add to your arsenal for the everyday work of sanctification, for the glory of God." - Desiring God

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Living, Christianity, Faith, Audiobook

50 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, Fuller Theological Seminary (B.D.), and the University of Munich (D.theol.). For six years, he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem.

John is the author of more than 50 books and more than 30 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and twelve grandchildren.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor John's primer on sanctification. Just. So. Good. If you need a reset in your fight against sin, this might be the theological energy boost you need. It's also very short which makes it approachable.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply edifying. Piper may have his quirks but I’ve never for once thought that he was being insincere. He bared out his soul in this work, revealing his personal struggles and bringing the scripture to bear on the synergistic nature of sanctification. Glorious stuff.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most teaching on practical obedience falls into either the "let go and let God" ditch or the "just do it" ditch. Piper avoids the first pitfall by showing from Scripture how striving against sin is very much required of the believer and the second by a) slow-moing the process of resisting temptation and b) making calling on the Lord for help an integral part of that process. Bear with me here...I'm going to try to use a sports analogy, and that is not my native language. A batting coach who just told every player, "Hit the ball" would be a flop as a batting coach. He has to help each player with every minute detail of the batting action—the posture of the body, the position of each limb, the angle of the bat, the force of the swing, the action of the follow-through, etc. Piper does that here with the process of fighting sin more helpfully than any writer I've read on the subject. Even Brooks's Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices, though a more thorough list of strategies, doesn't describe the process as clearly. Now obviously, having just listened to the book this afternoon, I can't yet report on the efficacy of Piper's teaching here, but it gives me something to try. A free PDF of the book is available online, so I'm going to download that onto some screen that's bigger than a postage stamp and make some notes and see where it leads me.

Michael Beck is the best Piper narrator I've ever heard. He doesn't have Piper's affect (who does?), and he doesn't try to imitate it, but he brings enough affect of his own to his reading to convey that Piperian flavor

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this entire book the middle section on prayer was exceptional and I kept stopping to take notes. I will probably return to read that section again

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanctification is at times, to me, like the bar of soap on the book cover. I know it cleans, and cleans well, but it is also a very slippery thing to try to grasp. Many times when I feel like I am progressing in my sanctification, I have found that I seem to be regressing. Other times when I am feeling like there has been no traction in my sanctification at all, is when there actually has been great progress. Piper is really good here in this collection of sermons to show that God can use bent sticks to draw straight lines. Helpful reminders for me over the last few months that God delights in sanctifying his children and that however far we may feel from His reach, He does not smolder the wick and He does not break a bruised reed.

[Christopher Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent three sermons from Piper containing some practical Biblical processes for fighting sin, daily prayer, and decision making.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute fire. Very helpful teachings on hour-by-hour fighting sin while simultaneously trusting in the Lord for assurance of salvation.

[Day Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This is not fake; it’s faith. It’s faith that God is doing the spiritual work and that we’re living up to the work He is doing." Overall this collection of sermons was good and held food reminders of how we are called to live every single day recognizing the gospel transformation available to us. 3.5 ⭐

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been planning to write something longer about my reread, but I just haven't had time, so go find my review of the audio version if you want more! 🙂

[Elijah Abanto · Rating 5 out of 5]

PIPER: “What steps have you taken to waken affection for Jesus? Have you fought for joy? Don't be fatalistic. You were created to treasure Christ with all your heart — more than you treasure sex or sugar. If you have little taste for Jesus, competing pleasures will triumph.”

Lord, thank you for this short book that can help me move forward with my sanctification. Help me apply the truths and practical steps to my daily living.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three classic Piper sermons on Sanctification. Does a soul good.

Now to put it into practice

[Andrew Klob · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why should there be “fear and trembling” as I attack my sin and bring about salvation from self-pity? The reason given in the text is not a threat. It’s a gift. Work and will to kill your sin, and do it with fear and trembling, because God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, Redeemer, Justifier, Sustainer, Father, Lover is so close to you that your working and willing are his working and willing. Tremble at this breathtaking thought. God Almighty is in you. God is the one in you willing. God is the one in you working. Your “continuous, sustained, strenuous” effort is not only being carried out in the very presence of an all-holy God, but is the very continuous, sustained, strenuous effort of God himself. You are not waiting for a miracle. You are acting a miracle. Your action is God’s action in fighting your sin. Your willing is God’s willing.” - John Piper

This is a short but excellent book on sanctification. It almost serves as a sort of introduction to the doctrine of sanctification and gives many practical ways (specifically with some very helpful acronyms from Piper) that a Christian can walk in victory over sin and delight in Christ. While I wish Piper would've focused more on our position in Christ and appropriating these truths, nevertheless, Piper balances so well the reality of our working and God's working (through the Holy Spirit of course) in the life of the believer (Galatians 2:20 and Philippians 2:12-13 are great examples of these truths). Overall, this is an excellent book on sanctification that believers of all spiritual maturity will benefit from.

[Lorf Morf · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 short chapters. 3 important truths about sanctification in a practical lens. 🕊️

Chapter 1 - Piper explains his process for realizing that he should treat his more “common” sins like anger, blaming etc. with just as much vigour as lust, employing the A. N. T. H. E. M. method.

Chapter 2 - Piper illustrates practical ways Christian’s should rely on prayer to walk by faith, via the A. P. T. A. T. approach. https://www.desiringgod.org/a-p-t-a-t

Chapter 3 - Piper delves into Romans 6:5-10 to explain that the indestructible confidence and satisfaction that believers have in their future with Christ gives them power to defeat sin in the present.

“He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free.” —— Charles Wesley

[Megg Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this while editing photos today. My biggest practical takeaway was John Piper's response when we are confronted with a circumstance or sin we feel powerless against (which is often). He says,
"1. Admit that without Christ I can do nothing.
2. Pray specifically for what I need help with.
3. Trust in a promise of God suited for my need.
4. Act with humble confidence in God's help.
5. Thank God for the good that comes.
Prayer is the pathway of faith & obedience, there is no other."

[Andrew Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is classic Piper. Explaining sanctification plainly and biblically.

Are you a Christian? Believe the promises of God. Are you struggling with sin? Act the miracle that you have been buried, raised, and justified by Christ.


Sanctification is a lifelong journey, but thanks be to God that we have these precious promises to take along with us.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This set of sermons seems practical and theologically sound. I hope to re-listen a few times and absorb more of the step-by-step advice.

If I'd read it much earlier in my life I think I would have taken some of the points in a very rigid and anxiety inducing way, so caution is recommended if you have a similar tendency. Maybe start with Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers and come back to this one.

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful for every day killing of sins. Plenty of acronyms that help you remember what to do when troubled with a violation of the Lord's law.

Reminds me a bit of IBLP's Anger Resolution Workbook and the acronym G.R.E.A.T.

I read the PDF on the DesiringGod.org website.

[Michael Schmid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three of John Piper's sermons on the topic of sanctification in a Christian's life. The sermons are bathed in rich theology with very helpful and practical application.

[Amanda McGarvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great reminder about what our live in Christ is really about!

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few sermons on the basics of the sanctification. A topic every christian should think about.

[Christopher-James Neethling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short book developed from sermons. Good thoughts on how Sanctification is applied.

[Booqmonk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Kristen nid dis sanctification every hour, every minit, to fit qwench d fiery darts of d enemy

[Faith Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging.

[Eve Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very pleased that I gave this book a try. It's the best read to start off this year and perfect company for our prayer and fasting week as a church.

Sanctification in the Everyday is very helpful in pursuing a radical, Christ-centered life. It comes with 5 easy-to-memorize acronyms for the everyday fight of faith. It may be a short read, but the wisdom you can get from it is not compromised. Also, it is full of Bible verses (which I fell in live with, I wrote some of it down) to equip your mind as you battle against unfitting desires of the flesh or other spiritual attacks.

P.S. you can have a free ebook copy of this, just download it from desiringgod.com :)

[Andrew Mcneill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a tremendously practical book, Piper explains how the promises of God, bought for us through the death of Christ, are the means by which we can fight sin and enjoy God. It's a short book that's well worth reading.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is a collection of three sermons by John Piper with very practical guidance on how to live every day and deal effectively with the sins of anger, lust, selfishness, arrogance, and many others that beset us on a daily basis. It is an easy and quick read but it is extremely powerful.

[Marguerite Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do wish that I do have this book in book form for me to write in them and highlight them and underline as well. Great book to read and need to read over again. E-book is okay but you will want this in book form in the first place.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastor John's short acronyms were very helpful. Short, easy-to-remember, nuggets of precious truths. This is helping renew my mind.

[Iain Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging stuff.