Last week John Piper preached in a chapel service at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His text was 2 Timothy 4:9-22 and he spoke on the difficulties of Christian ministry and the sufficiency of Christ. It is one of the most moving sermons I have heard in a long time. I would guess that anyone who has been in gospel ministry for a decade or more will find Piper’s insights to resonate. But, the message is valuable for all Christians, not just pastors or missionaries or church workers.

Piper makes 7 observations from the text about Christian ministry.

1. Christian ministry is relationally hard.
2. Friends in ministry can let you down and never care for you again.
3. Good friends in ministry can let you down and still be good friends.
4. Jesus never intends for the enjoyment of his presence to replace the joy we get from other Christians.
5. Jesus is the only totally reliable friend for sinners.
6. Closeness to God at the end of your life does not remove the need or desire to read for spiritual nourishment.
7. People with great influence and great authority don’t need great possessions.

Watch and listen to the whole message below. It is rich with gospel wisdom and grace flowing from a heart that meditated on the text and bears the scars and joyful memories of its truthfulness.