John Piper: A Challenge to Young People
In a sermon delivered last Sunday, entitled Holy Ambition: To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named, John Piper briefly turns his attention to the children in the audience. In a culture of extended adolescence and spiritual immaturity, his words bear particular relevance to us all.
At 7 minutes, 45 seconds, this video is already longer than the attention span of your average, TV-addicted American teenager. But we want you all to watch it. In fact, we would like you to share it with your family (for example, our six-year-old brother James watched the whole thing). Whether you’re young or old, you will be blessed and challenged by its message.
Note: For those who cannot view the video or would like to see the message in its entirety—and we encourage you to do so—the full video, text and audio are available by clicking here.












September 3rd, 2006 at 10:44 am
You can’t go wrong with John Piper. Thanks for putting this up. I am going to go watch the entire thing.
September 3rd, 2006 at 11:31 am
Just finished watching the entire sermon of John Piper! Again thankyou for putting it up. Missions and Evangelism are so very important.
September 3rd, 2006 at 3:51 pm
EXCELLENT sermon…I’m not too familiar with Piper’s work but if any of it is like this, WOW!
September 3rd, 2006 at 8:11 pm
John Piper is a hero of mine, and it is messages like this that make him one.
~Grace
September 3rd, 2006 at 9:34 pm
David: Besides our father, John Piper has probably had the biggest influence on Brett\’s and my understanding of the Christian faith. He is one of our modern-day heroes. I encourage you to explore his ministry\’s website (www.desiringgod.org). I trust you\’ll find even more (much more) to appreciate.
September 5th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Wow, you two really bless my heart. I’m now a grandmother at age 50, and pray that my children and grandchildren will find their “Holy Ambition.” God bless you. Keep speaking the truth in love to this generation. We all need to hear it. I would like to bookmark your site and add it to my list of favorites.
September 5th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
John Piper does it again!
Very good sermon, and such a good word.
September 5th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Desiring God . . . Again
Desiring God, which is the website for John Piper’s ministry and resources, just re-launched their new website yesterday. Basically they re-organized all his resources (sermon notes, articles, etc.) as well as added more content. A recent article on …
September 5th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
A Holy Ambition (7 min. excerpt)
Check out this excerpt from one of my new favorite sermons. Though this part of the sermon is directed towards children in the congregation, it is important, I believe, for all teens and 20’s to hear. After Amy and I heard this, we found the words to…
September 5th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
John Piper: Challenging Young People To Have A Ho
Over at the Rebulution Blog they have a post regarding a recent sermon John Piper preached entitled “Holy Ambition: To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named.” They have a 7 minute video clip of Piper’s sermon where he turns his attention to the you…
September 5th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
John Piper: A Challenge to Young People
This comes from a sermon by John Piper entitled Holy Ambition: To Preach Where Christ Has Not Been Named. The talk is from Romans 15:18-24. Piper turns his attention to the children during the talk. H/T to the boys from www.therebelution.com
You c…
September 7th, 2006 at 7:40 am
Brett and Alex,
I am a parent of teens. This part of the message may have been geared toward children, however I have encountered both men and women who in their 40’s have yet to give up their toys and get a holy ambition. This message is for ALL ages.
Thanks,
Mrs. Mullaney
September 16th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
What a great sermon clip (and the whole thing is great too). I’m just sorta checkin your website for almost the first time and am lovin it. Thanks!
September 19th, 2006 at 6:01 am
[…] John Piper: A Challenge to Young People […]
December 27th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
WoW! That was Awsome! I’m going to go read my Bible and see what God has instore for me!
February 16th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Taking care of babies? Thats all a christian life has in store for me? Taking care of biological or non children?
I did enjoy how ambiguous he was about the MANS future. All matephors and rhetoric.
February 26th, 2007 at 6:30 am
As a Mom I appreciate what John Piper has to say about little girls. Yes one day we will be nurturers of someone, somewhere. It may not be to our own children. I was once a feminist thinking- that’s all. I desired motherhood but motherhood plus_______. Make no mistake you will grow up to nurture something. It is in our very nature. You can nurture good things: good marriage, good relationships with children, godly friendships, others younger than you. Or you can nurture bad things: bad habits, bad men, or yourself in ways that are vain and fruitless. Everyone serves something and all women nurture something.
So I hear John Piper making a call to women to nurture good things. Your own children, children elsewhere, a God pleasing ministry. Nuture good things, things pleasing to God.
June 29th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Good shout, Anna: precicely what I was thinking when I watched this vid!
October 12th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
To Pete and Anna: yes, that’s what you were thinking because you’ve never had your mind renewed in the regeneration of God’s Holy Spirit. For “the natural man discerneth not the things of the Spirit.”
October 16th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
If you like John Piper (and Joshua Harris, and Mark Driscoll, and Ravi Zacharias, and Paul Washer, etc.) and want to hear more of their sermons set to *music*, aka sermon jams, check out:
www.1031sermonjams.com
(Holy Ambition is there too). It’s a cool evangelism resource too! Free downloads!
April 5th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
To
Dear John Piper Dt. 6 April, 2008
Greetings to you from Rev.George and family ( Manila, Philippines) in the name of our Lord and Jesus Christ. Thank you for you sermon.
Oh.. John Piper, you really bless my heart. I’m now studying at ISOT-Asia, manila, and I am the father of two kids, so please pray for me my children will find their “Holy Ambition.”
God bless you richly. Keep speaking the truth in love to this generation. We all need to hear it. Thank you very much indeed.
If possible please send me your sermon DVD and writing books . I want to see and read them all. Please send me throuhg the following Mailing Address as soon as possible. I will wating for your reply very soon.
Thank you for your effective sermon on Internet.
May God bless you and your ministry richly,
Mailing address :
Rev. George Lal Nun Tluanga
International School of Theology-Asia
( ISOT-Asia )
12 Daisy Road, Sauyo
Quezon City
Manila,Philippines
QCCPO Box 1495-1154
Email : george.ctei@gmail.com
Cell Ph: +639165139026
April 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
To
Dear John Piper Dt. 6 April, 2008
Greetings to you from Rev.George and family ( Manila, Philippines) in the name of our Lord and Jesus Christ. Thank you for you sermon.
And really I am from Myanmar ( Burma ). Now I am studying at ISOT-Asia in Manila, Philippines. Please pray for me and my family.
Oh.. John Piper, you really bless my heart. I’m now studying at ISOT-Asia, manila, and I am the father of two kids, so please pray for me my children will find their “Holy Ambition.”
God bless you richly. Keep speaking the truth in love to this generation. We all need to hear it.
Thank you very much indeed.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. George Lal Nun Tluanga
International School of Theology-Asia
( ISOT-Asia )
Email : george.ctei@gmail.com
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I just found out about The Rebelution and I am so encouraged. I am a homeschool mother of three children. My oldest daughter is twelve and my son is eleven and my youngest daughter is six. I plan to purchase the book, “Do Hard Things” and give to my daughter. Also, I’ve read several books by John Piper, including “Don’t Waster Your Life.” That was a life changer. God bless your ministry. I have a refreshed hope for my children and the next generation.
June 17th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Anna,
You should at least learn to spell before you spout off a sarcastic criticism, dear.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I have been following the Rebelution for awhile in various publications etc. Being a homeschool mom for ten years now I am very familiar with the Harris name. However, I got a chance to sit down and read Do Hard Things yesterday before giving it to my girls (15, 14). Guys - you are really making a difference! I work with kids (I have two boys also - 10 and 6) and youth at our church, AWANA, choir etc. and my thought is always, “if this is how the church kids act…? WHO is going to be in charge?” There is no push to help them into adulthood - even in the church. “They are just kids”…but they can do so much. I praise you for pushing them to be all that God is calling them to. I have given the book to my girls to read and then ordered two more. I told them after they read it to ask God to lay on their hearts the names of two friends. We’ll go from there. What you are doing is awesome!