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.

© 2006 Desiring God. Used with permission.

30 Responses to “John Piper: A Challenge to Young People”

  1. Erin Says:

    You can’t go wrong with John Piper. Thanks for putting this up. I am going to go watch the entire thing.

  2. Erin Says:

    Just finished watching the entire sermon of John Piper! Again thankyou for putting it up. Missions and Evangelism are so very important.

  3. David Ketter Says:

    EXCELLENT sermon…I’m not too familiar with Piper’s work but if any of it is like this, WOW!

  4. Grace Says:

    John Piper is a hero of mine, and it is messages like this that make him one.
    ~Grace

  5. Alex Jordan Harris Says:

    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.

  6. Vicki Says:

    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.

  7. Marshall Sherman Says:

    John Piper does it again!

    Very good sermon, and such a good word.

  8. In His Presence . . . Says:

    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 …

  9. Film & Faith Says:

    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…

  10. Phil Auxier's Blog Says:

    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…

  11. eternal weight of glory Says:

    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…

  12. Mrs. Mullaney Says:

    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

  13. Mark Smith Says:

    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!

  14. The Rebelution: Rebelution Video: Embed Codes Says:

    […] John Piper: A Challenge to Young People […]

  15. Charlene V. Says:

    WoW! That was Awsome! I’m going to go read my Bible and see what God has instore for me! :D

  16. Anna Says:

    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.

  17. Mars Hill Says:

    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.

  18. Pete Beaudro Says:

    Good shout, Anna: precicely what I was thinking when I watched this vid!

  19. Justin Esposito Says:

    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.”

  20. Jessi Lindberg Says:

    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!

  21. Rev.George Lal Nun Tluanga Says:

    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

  22. Rev.George Lal Nun Tluanga Says:

    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

  23. Marie Says:

    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.

  24. Rebecca Says:

    Anna,

    You should at least learn to spell before you spout off a sarcastic criticism, dear.

  25. Debi Crouch Says:

    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!

  26. Sarah Pena Says:

    This was very, very good. I was begining to get distracted when he said, “Heads up girls!”. He got my attention :) .
    Am I just a dunce? Who is John Piper? Is he Alex and Brett’s pastor? I love the way he preaches.

    Anna,

    I know your post is from over a year ago and you may never read this, but I just want to clear somthing up for you. When he was talking of girls taking care of babies he did not mean that this was all we as girls can do with our life. We can be whatever we want just as long as we give glory to our Lord and savior as we do it. I hope you understand.

    God bless!

    Sarah :)

  27. Grace Says:

    Great message! John Piper is such a fantastic preacher. Oh, and Sarah Pena, John Piper is a pastor and author, I highly recommend all of his books. You can check all that out at desiringgod.org.

  28. Sarah Pena Says:

    Grace,

    What church does he pastor? Do you know?

    Sarah. :)

  29. Sarah Pena Says:

    Never mind Grace! I typed in “John Piper” on the internet, which I should have done in the begining (duh! Maybe I am a dunce as I said before! :) ), and I found out everything I needed. Thanks again!

    God bless!

    Sarah. :)

  30. See The Morning « Authentic Narrative Says:

    […] Look through the current tunnel and perceive your Holy Ambition. Re-establish God’s purpose in your life. […]

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