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Surpreendido por Deus: Dez verdades que podem transformar o mundo

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O QUE SERIA PODEROSO O SUFICIENTE PARA IMPACTAR O MUNDO? PARA TRANSFORMAR A SUA VIDA?

O ensino de Cristo virou o mundo de cabeça para baixo desde os primeiros dias do cristianismo e continua a renovar milhões de vidas ainda hoje.

Impactado pela doutrina de Jesus, o pastor John Piper dedicou 33 anos de sua vida para transmitir essa mensagem à Igreja Batista Bethlehem. Dez verdades resumiram os principais enfoques teológicos de seu ministério.

Essas verdades ensinam sobre a glória do Deus soberano e a nossa plena alegria nele e em sua vontade.

Essas verdades marcaram a vida desse veterano pastor, de sua igreja e de seus ouvintes ao redor do mundo.

Seja você também surpreendido por Deus por meio dessas verdades extremamente indomáveis, explosivamente incontroláveis e poderosamente transformadoras!

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2019

171 people are currently reading
423 people want to read

About the author

John Piper

609 books4,619 followers
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.

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5 stars
159 (48%)
4 stars
125 (38%)
3 stars
38 (11%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
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1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny Schroeder.
49 reviews22 followers
November 8, 2025
These 10 truths are what Piper leaned on to shape Bethlehem. Each one of these chapters, he probably has a book or 3 on, but does a really good job of synthesizing these big categories and big truths into short succinct chapters. While each chapter is very independent of each other, I think that is the point, to have each of them stand alone. They are just a starting point that you can do more research and study into each of them. I love these 10 truths because they are clearly based in Scripture. This book really blessed me to go back to the basics.
Profile Image for Salvador Vivas.
68 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2022
Este libro de Piper es una colección de diez prédicas que desarrolló al final de su ministerio en Bethlehem. Por esa razón, probablemente para Piper y la iglesia tienen esas prédicas y el libro un valor emocional grande.

Son 10 temas en general importantes, algunos emocionantes, otros fundamentales, pero en el formato de libro parecen 10 artículos desconectados. Al ser una recopilación de su experiencia en la iglesia, repite y dice lo mismo que en otros libros y prédicas. Si ya eres un lector asiduo y seguidor de Piper, este libro no te brinda nada nuevo. Si no has leído de Piper, puede ser una buena obra para ver los pilares de su pensamiento y ministerio.
4 reviews
Read
March 30, 2025
“Have the mercies of God in saving you sunk to the center and core of your life, so that you are living from a deep spring of humble, brokenhearted happiness in the God of mercy?”

“When you keep rejoicing in God in the midst of suffering, it shows that God, and not other things, is the great source of your joy.”
Profile Image for Sarah.
200 reviews13 followers
December 3, 2019
It was very good. Some of it felt a little like repeat from Desiring God, especially one section. But overall it was very enjoyable to read, and there were some very helpful ideas represented.
Profile Image for Ryan Hawkins.
367 reviews30 followers
April 29, 2019
John Piper is my favorite author, Bible teacher, and preacher. By the grace of God, I have learned much from his rigorous yet clear Bible exposition, his systematizing of truths, and his way of thinking and teaching. I thank God for him in my life.

And I think that when you read Piper’s books, so many stand out as unique, clear, well-written argumentation. Almost all his major works have this outstanding quality about them. His most well-known books like *Desiring God*, *Pleasures…*, *Let the Nations Be Glad*, fit in this category, but so do books like *Brothers, We Are Not Professionals*, *What Jesus Demands…*, *This Momentary Marriage*, *A Hunger for God*, *Don’t Waste…*, *God is the Gospel*, and even the recent *A Peculiar Glory* trilogy and *Why I Love the Apostle Paul*. These (and more!) all are brilliant, well organized, well written.

I say all that as a backdrop because, I have to admit, that then there’s this second tier level of Piper’s works. Now, to be clear, it is second tier *not* because the logic, thoughts, insights are not great. It rather just seems like they weren’t as edited, polished, or well organized. In this category, I’d put his *Living in the Light*, *A Holy Ambition*, and now, this book.

Did I enjoy reading it? Absolutely. But it was jarring how (for lack of better term) sort of thrown together it felt. I have listened to his 10 sermon series the books were based off—I even had the privilege of visiting Bethlehem for his sovereignty sermon in the series—but the actual chapters were jumbled and didn’t seem like a book (nor even a sermon).

Rather, each chapter, as you can see by just skimming the chapters if you’d like, is mainly 4 reasons here, 10 reasons there, etc. In this way, there is good argumentation and exegesis, but it clearly isn’t as organized nor edited to be a cohesive whole.

Still, as I said above, there was some great content. I especially loved the final four chapters, only because they are less talked about in other places in Piper’s works and it was great having them in print. But overall, it felt jumbled and lacking.

Overall, as someone who has read all of Piper’s works, I was disappointed—but even that word can be mistaken, it was still excellent content, it just was missing editing, organization, cohesiveness.

But if the book was given more time, editing, and pasting together—changing it from a book of lists to a book more like his others—I think it could be incredible.

In fact, that would be my recommendation (for whatever it’s worth). The 10 truths are as world-shattering as he says they are; moreover, in his ministry as a whole *Piper* is the one who teaches these 10 truths uniquely, in a compelling and convicting way; and even furthermore, a book about these 10 truths could become a true classic and something that could be memorial for who Piper was. But honestly, this work here, with its poor editing and poor cohesiveness and list-focus, wasn’t it unfortunately.

Nevertheless, I’m still glad I read it. And the content was good and still, being Piper, a world different than most other Christian books—hence, the 4 star rating. I just wish it was more like his others in clarity, creativity, and cohesiveness.
31 reviews
February 16, 2022
Astonished by God is a great 10 chapter sampling of the truth that drove many of John Piper's best books. As always, reading his books feels to me like a refreshing soak in a bath of Scripture. He is enamored by the great and glorious God that Scripture reveals, and it makes my heart take courage in losses, because His power, goodness, wisdom, and love are worthy of my trust. Piper's explanation of the phrase, God is the Gospel (from his book by the same name and referenced in Ch. 5 of this book) has helped me guard my heart from a Christless Christianity. Further, it refocuses my hope on the greatest good of the Gospel that Jesus' blood purchased for me- that is GOD HIMSELF, not merely His gifts. I love (in chapter 9 on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood) the picture he paints of the grandeur of being human and what complementarianism should look like. And his final chapter on suffering to the glory of God called Sorrowful yet Always Rejoicing is wonderful. Very encouraging. This would be a good book to give to someone who doesn't have the time or endurance to read the extended version of all Piper's books, (though the suggestion of such a thing makes me a little sad, because there is such a wealth of treasure of Biblical truth to be mined in all those large volumes and my life has been greatly impacted for good through them!).
Profile Image for Stephanie Wiles.
8 reviews
July 27, 2020
I technically read this book twice, since I read each chapter twice before moving to the next. My husband has asked many people, “What is the one book that you would read if you could only read one book along with the Bible for the rest of your life?” I now have my answer. Piper really does lay out ten “wildly untamable, explosively uncontainable, electrically future-creating realities” in this book.
Profile Image for Kintanah.
123 reviews25 followers
October 29, 2025
They need the greatness and the grandeur of God over their heads like galaxies of hope. 🌸
Profile Image for Ned.
177 reviews20 followers
January 9, 2020
A deep dive

This book is a deep dive into scripture and thankfully absent the glibness and platitudes found in so much Christian literature and sermons these days. I especially liked the reminders of the appropriate roles of men and women (so vital now!) and the chapter on suffering. May God be our stronghold and greatest treasure in these ominous times.
Profile Image for Aaron.
894 reviews44 followers
April 10, 2019
He was the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota for almost 33 years. He is the founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He has authored more than 50 books. What are the tentpole truths that have defined the ministry of John Piper?

Ten Truths

This book focuses on ten Biblical truths that have been trademarks of John Piper’s ministry. For those familiar with Piper, you will not find anything new. But you will feel refreshed and reinvigorated as you soar across the landscape that Piper lays out in Scripture.

He covers Christian Hedonism and The Call to Global Missions. But he also looks at Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and Living the Christian Life (Future Grace). From The Sovereignty of God to Suffering Yet Always Rejoicing, it is fascinating to see Piper distill these pillars with precision.

Turn the World Upside Down

The ten chapters read quickly. Each chapter opens with a signature text to support Piper’s points. He walks you through at a brisk pace and brings in other passages to examine. After finishing one chapter, I could not wait to continue reading the next.

Although this volume serves as a summary of the truths that have defined Piper’s pastorate, I did not feel like it was a reflection or rehash. Rather, it was a fresh outpouring of old truths that have proved faithful. There is still power in Piper’s pen, and I am pushed to join him in proclaiming these truths.

Doctrine Matters

This book was originally published under the title Doctrine Matters. That was an adequate title, but Astonished by God is absolutely fitting. It is true that after reading I was left with the urgency for sound doctrine. But more importantly, I was given the impression of our astonishing God. May God continue to astonish generations for our good and his glory.

DesiringGod has provided me with a complimentary copy of Astonished by God in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Glen.
602 reviews13 followers
December 6, 2023
A solid work that is actually a compilation of the final ten messages Piper preached at the conclusion of his pastoral ministry at Bethlehem Baptist.

Like all of Piper's works, this is a thoroughly evangelical and unabashedly Calvinistic. Much of the work reinforces powerful biblical themes. However, I did find the chapters on Perseverance of the Saints (eternal security) and complementarianism to lack an overall compelling argument. Are those who "fall away" backsliders or, in the words of Piper, never true believers to begin with? I have always found this to be a form of circular reasoning since it proposes that someone could spend the entirety of their life as a good standing member of the true church but then be branded a fake if they tragically abandon their fidelity to Christ in the end. Demas did leave the faith according to Paul. Yet, the position of this chapter implies that he would have never even possessed true faith.

Then, on the treatment of gender roles, Piper is overall affirming for equal value. But his positions on female leadership and specific family roles are not as conclusive in my estimation. Despite these reservations, I continue to hold Piper in high regard and appreciate his clear vision on proclamation, mission and the call to live under Scriptural authority. His voice is a rock of stability on today's fragile theological scene.
Profile Image for Kez.
187 reviews
October 26, 2024
Lost a star because the marketing seemed to imply these were the ten most important or main truths about God that Piper had taught across his ministry. Truths that were so foundational that they would have you "astonished by God". So I was disappointed to suddenly have complementarianism thrown in there at Chapter 9 as if it were a key doctrine up there with Christian Hedonism or the very sovereignty of God. It felt jarring and very out of place given the rest of the book.

The other 9 chapters, however, were very good, and I found them to be very encouraging and helpful. They reminded me why I enjoy Piper's writings. He is succinct and his work is jam packed with joy in God that you can actually *feel* as you read him.
Profile Image for Blake.
457 reviews21 followers
October 10, 2019
If you've read Piper, you have a pretty good idea of what is coming at you in the pages of this book, without ever cracking it open. That's not necessarily what I would encourage one to do, but Astonished by God is pretty Piperesque. It's good in many respects, providing a high view of God and challenging the reader to treasure Christ above all, finding God as the source of satisfaction. I appreciated the final couple of chapters when Piper wrote about Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, then closed with the concept of rejoicing even though sorrowing. I believe this book could be a helpful book for many in encouraging them in their walk with Christ.
Profile Image for Theunis Snyman.
253 reviews6 followers
October 22, 2020
The author is very enthusiastic about his subject. It shines throughout the whole book. He says important things about many of his subjects, for example about marriage and evangelism.

There are however some points of criticism.
First. One can disagree on the ten subjects that he chose to write about. Some people will choose different things.
Second. He discusses some words and subjects without taking the context into account. This is especially true of his first three themes.
Thirdly. Some subjects are only given superficial treatment. One would have liked some more depth.

But on the whole the reader can learn a lot from this book.
369 reviews4 followers
January 16, 2021
This book is a summary of the major themes of Piper's ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Each chapter was originally a sermon preached at the end of his time as pastor at the church. Those who have read Piper's other books and heard his sermons have been exposed to deeper, more thorough treatments of these themes, but they are good refreshers nonetheless. This book is particularly good for those who aren't familiar with Piper's work and want to get an idea of his thinking and style. Each chapter will whet one's appetite to go deeper into the subject. As with all of Piper's writing and teaching, this book points us to The Book and encourages us to apply what we learn there.
46 reviews4 followers
May 9, 2025
This is an amazing book. I’d probably rate it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact I’m familiar with much of the way John Piper handles these subjects going into it. I truly believe though that if we could grasp the concepts of this book our lives would more greatly reflect the glory of Christ. Piper doesn’t waste words here. It took me so long to read because I had to contemplate and reread so much of what he says.

This essentially summarizes his teachings throughout his life. The doctrines that are most essential to him based on Scripture. Each chapter helpfully points out profound truths from Scripture that guide us in how we should think and live as believers
Profile Image for blueygurl2016.
915 reviews
January 12, 2026
This was a pretty good book that explained some basic concepts but I felt like the Biblical manhood/womanhood chapter, the one I was especially looking forward to, left a lot to be desired. He was like “Yeah, nobody needs to be in the house watching soaps” but yet I never quite understood what exactly a woman’s role was? I got that a man’s role is supposed to be the provider etc. but aren’t there ever any exceptions? Like what if the man gets laid off? And also, some men are super shy and some women are a lot more outgoing and what’s wrong with her making the first move as long as it is still obvious that he is still the “head”? Idk. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Profile Image for CalebA.
150 reviews5 followers
March 25, 2021
Great truths, but not very cohesive?

I promised myself I wouldn't purchase another Piper book, because they are all about the same thing: Christian Hedonism. You can bet, this was true of Astonished by God. The book felt more like a collection of blog articles than a focused topic. So I felt the title was a little misleading. Don't get me wrong, I love listening to Piper chat about marriage, sex, worship, suffering, and more, but why are they together in this book? I didn't see the connection, maybe it's just me? For that reason, I wouldn't really recommend this book.
Profile Image for Nate Norberg.
27 reviews3 followers
November 18, 2019
I would recommend this book as a good summary of what John Piper has written about in the past. The final chapter paints an especially good picture of the kind of resillent joy that he means by “joy in Christ”.

If you’re already familiar with Piper’s writing or the ministry of Desiring God, you probably won’t find anything new or unique in this book. However, it’s a good reminder of great truths from Scripture.
Profile Image for Cassia.
122 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2024
A rich invitation to taste and see God's goodness. This book is so wonderfully not about man and his pursuit of God, or how to feel better about God, or how to increase devotion... (though it may accomplish these things better than any self-help Christianeese book)... It is a rich well of God's character in honest, difficult, and worshipful theology.
I was richly blessed by this book, and plan to return to it for refreshment, truth, and discipleship.
3 reviews
September 23, 2019
Piper will turn the non-believers world upside down with the truth that God Absolutely Is!
For Christians, this is a must read. So clear, so affirming. Doubters with see God in these pages. Non-believers will read about God in a such a clear way that is will be hard not to see God in every paragraph. Highly recommend this be put on everyone's reading list immediately.
Profile Image for Paul Pompa.
211 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2019
God has given Piper a gift to relay the beauty of the gospel. This is a powerful book on essential biblical truths. I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a review of many of the transformational truths in His Word.
Profile Image for Bethany B..
98 reviews40 followers
October 16, 2019
Any other than Piper and I would give I probably wouldn't have been able to abide the continuous numbering and structuring and rampant adverbs, but every word was a treasure and many cut to the heart.
Profile Image for Beck.
26 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2020
This is the third book I’ve read by John Piper and again I appreciate how thorough he is in explaining (with scripture) certain statements he makes. I really learned a lot while reading this book and have come away trusting more in God and His goodness.
Profile Image for Cheryl Wimberly.
21 reviews3 followers
August 16, 2020
I’d recommend this to new believers who need a strong foundation in doctrine. And to old who need a refresher course on the importance of knowing what you believe. This is something I want all my kids to read when they reach high school.
Profile Image for J.C. Fitzpatrick.
27 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2019
Authenticity is the word I would use to describe this book. John Piper doesn’t sugar coat, he’s for the true devoted lifestyle to Jesus Christ, at whatever the cost.

Inspiring.
42 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2019
Thankful

Thankful for Piper's love for God and care for his readers. The final chapter was wonderful pointing to a good balance of joy through trials and sorrow over the lost.
Profile Image for Gail Jordan.
12 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2019
Amazing as always. He is astonishing and awesome.👍🀄
1 review
May 2, 2019
It was a very heartfelt book. Piper's writings capture his joy and peace found in our Lord. All in all, I recommend this book for anyone looking to find the source of their joy in the only true God!
Profile Image for Kaley Rhea.
Author 6 books53 followers
August 10, 2019
Most especially appreciated the sermon on the sovereignty of God. Left me breathless.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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