Become a Fool, Become Wise

What keeps us from building our lives on illusions? John Piper opens 2 Timothy 4:7–8 to show how wisdom sees Christ as real and trusts him to the end.

What has God’s wisdom planned for his people? John Piper opens 1 Corinthians 2:6–13 to show that God ordained their glory before the ages.

What blinds us to God’s wisdom in Christ? John Piper opens 1 Corinthians 2:6–13 to show how craving power and acclaim keeps us from seeing Jesus as the Lord of glory.

What keeps servants of Christ from self-reliance? John Piper opens 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 to show how God makes us feel our insufficiency so that we rely on his power.

How does wisdom nourish the soul? John Piper shows from Proverbs 20:15 how the knowledge of God’s will strengthens us.

What kind of fool becomes truly wise? John Piper opens 1 Corinthians 3:18–23 to show that wisdom belongs to believers, whom the world labels fools.

Why is wisdom more satisfying than wealth? John Piper opens Proverbs 24:13 to show how wisdom leads to everlasting happiness that riches cannot buy.

What keeps us from seeking happiness in substitutes? John Piper opens Proverbs 4:1–13 to show that wisdom leads us to lasting joy in God.

Can the failures of great saints defeat God’s cause? John Piper opens Galatians 2:9–13 to show sovereign grace advancing God’s purposes through their weakness.

How do we avoid getting cynical in the face of people’s flaws? John Piper shows from Acts 9:18–31 how Barnabas watched for glimpses of God’s grace in others.