I don’t get a chance to listen to many sermons outside of those preached by other brothers at Imago Dei. Thus, my sample size for a “Favorite Sermon of the Year” is quite small.

Even if I had listened to dozens – maybe hundreds – more sermons I’m convinced none would have moved me like John Piper’s “Persuading, Pleading and Predestination: Human Means in the Miracle of Conversion.”

This was my favorite sermon of the year.

HE WAS ON FIRE

When he stepped up to the pulpit to deliver the final message this year’s Together for the Gospel the crowd was noticeably diminished. Those who had to leave early could not have known how much they would miss. When Piper stepped down nary a dry eye was found in the building. Al Mohler eventually came up to close the conference and he wept from the stage. I myself struggled to stop the floodgates that stemmed from profound conviction and joy.

God used Piper in a powerful way.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER

• I will never forget how the Mt. Everest of Romans 9 became rocket fuel for evangelism.
• I will never forget how the “somehow” of Romans 11:14 took on a whole new depth of meaning.
• I will never forget his exhortation to lovingly say “I want you” to sinners.
• I will never forget him singing “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling.”
• I will never forget his statement, “I love precision.”
• I will never forget his channeling of Bill Piper asking, “Would you come? Would you come?”
• I will never forget the rhetorical questions, “Will you be those arms?”
• I will never forget singing “Softly and Tenderly” with thousands of brothers and sisters in response.

I will remember his sermon as being, up to this point in my life, the greatest embodiment of unction I’ve ever seen.

Do your life and ministry some good by listening or watching this God-besotted, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-powered “logic on fire.”