Barnabas Piper's Blog, page 6
September 22, 2025
A Man For All Seasons
Jesus knows today what you need. He knows what you are struggling with or discouraged about. He knows how you have failed or others have failed you. And not only does he know, he offers you the help and healing you need: himself. Jesus is everything you need in whatever you are facing, and we can see this in how the Bible describes him for us.
He is the Lamb of God the perfect sacrifice that atones for and washes away all our sins, no matter how shameful.
He is a friend of sinners who came to seek and save the lost, the ones who know that we could not save ourselves.
He is the Great High Priest, the one who has entered into the presence of a Holy God and made a way for us to do the same with confidence and joy.
He is the Lion of Judah against whom no evil or darkness or injustice will stand.
He is the Good Shepherd who we follow in all we do because he leads us in paths of righteousness and beside still waters.
Jesus is the God-man for all seasons and all needs. He is not only enough for you today, he is everything you need today.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville , in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.
September 19, 2025
3 Things I Like This Week – September 19
Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.
1) James by Percival Everett
This is truly a genius novel. Somehow Everett is able to weave a gripping, readable, entertaining story together with incisive perspective and poignant insights without being preachy or clunky. His economy of words is incredible. And the character development, even for bit characters, is as good as any novel I have read. Everett takes the traditional tale of Huck Finn and tells it through the perspective of Jim. And that perspective is rich and deep and brilliant. As all great novels do, this one tells the truth wrapped in story. It doesn’t preach, but it does declare. It doesn’t explain, but it does reveal. And in all of this it grips and entertains and thrills.
2) ’47 Brand Hats
If given the choice I would wear a baseball hat every day. If given an unlimited budget, I would have a closet full of hats. As it stands, neither of these things is the case, but I do wear hats most days and they do take up a disproportionate amount of space in my closet. Of those many hats I own, ’47 brand hats are the most represented. They are the most comfortable combined with the cleanest, classic designs. ’47 doesn’t do official team gear (like New Era or Majestic), but specializes in simple, clean, well-crafted hats that aren’t fashion statements. Their designs lean retro and traditional. They’ve collaborated with brands like Carhartt to do workman quality team hats (which are awesome). They do the low profile dad hat that so many guys like (myself excluded). And they do more structured, mid profile hats that feel a little less “old man.” If you are a hat person, check these out.
3) The Cuban Sandwich
I have been to Cuba and eaten a week’s worth of meals there, and I never encountered a Cuban sandwich. However, when you find one of these state side, they are magnificent. What makes up this delicacy? Crusty, baguette-like bread, roasted pork (typically marinated in a citrus and garlic mixture called mojo), thin sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles (one of the few appropriate uses of pickles), mustard, and butter to give the bread a proper toasty crunch when it’s pressed. These are simple ingredients, but when care has been given to the quality of the bread and the pork, and when the sandwich has been pressed/toasted just right, a basic deli sandwich becomes a memorable culinary experience. (The best I have had in Nashville is at Bare Bones Butcher in the Nations.) If you’re reading this prior to lunch time I suggest rearranging your plans, finding a local deli, and availing yourself of their services in pursuit of this delightful dish.
Kindle Deals for September 19
Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It by Aaron Armstrong – $7.37 (and $6.98 in paperback)
Heresy: A History of Defending the Truth by Alister McGrath – $2.99
Know the Heretics by Justin Holcomb – $5.99
Church History for Modern Ministry: Why Our Past Matters for Everything We Do by Dayton Hartman – $5.99
Christian’s Pocket Guide to How God Preserved the Bible by Richard Brash – $5.99
A Christian’s Pocket Guide to How We Got the Bible by Greg Lanier – $5.99
Christ Fulfills All: Introducing the Biblical Covenants by Richard Belcher Jr. – $2.99
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: An Introduction to Covenant Theology by J.V. Fesko – $6.99
Heaven On Earth: What the Bible Teaches about Life to Come by Derek Thomas – $2.99
Strength for the Weary by Derek Thomas – $6.99
Facing Snarls and Scowls: Preaching through Hostility, Apathy and Adversity by Brian Croft & James Carroll – $2.99
Company Commander: the classic infantry memoir of WWII by Charles MacDonald – $.99
Enemy at the Gates: The Battle for Stalingrad by William Craig – $2.99
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible Became Possible . . . on Schindler’s List by Leon Leyson – $1.99
Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust by Allan Zullo – $3.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
September 18, 2025
Kindle Deals for September 18
Welcome: Loving Your Church by Making Space for Everyone by Jen Oshman – $2.99
Risk Is Right: Better to Lose Your Life Than to Waste It by John Piper – $4.70
What Did Jesus Really Mean When He Said Follow Me? by David Platt – $1.89
Who Am I? : Identity In Christ by Jerry Bridges – $5.99
I Have My Doubts: How God Can Use Your Uncertainty to Reawaken Your Faith by Philip Ryken – $2.99
Extraordinary Hospitality (for Ordinary People): Seven Ways to Welcome Like Jesus by Carolyn Lacey – $2.99
Folly, Grace, and Power: The Mysterious Act of Preaching by John Koessler – $.99
Exodus For You: Thrilling you with the liberating love of God by Tim Chester – $2.99
The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir – $2.99
The Fellowship Of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – $1.99
1984 by George Orwell – $1.99
The Godfather: 50th Anniversary Edition by Mario Puzo – $1.99
Lord of the Flies by William Golding – $5.99
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston – $.99
The Color Purple by Alice Walker – $2.99
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin – $2.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
September 17, 2025
Kindle Deals for September 17
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies – $1.99
The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits by R. Albert Mohler Jr. – $1.99
The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges – $4.99
Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling by Jonathan Holmes – $1.99
The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds by Brian Croft – $1.99
The Pastor’s Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd by Brian Croft & Jim Savastio – $6.99
How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife: Practical Tools to Embrace Your Influence and Navigate Your Unique Role by Christine Hoover – $3.99
The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James – $1.99
A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. – $3.99
The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion by Stephen B. Oates – $2.99
Barrow’s Boys: A Stirring Story of Daring, Fortitude, and Outright Lunacy by Fergus Fleming – $3.99
Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by David J. Garrow – $2.99
The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd by Richard Zacks – $3.99
Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History’s First Global Manhunt by Steven Johnson – $5.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
Kindle Deals for Spetember 17
Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies – $1.99
The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits by R. Albert Mohler Jr. – $1.99
The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges – $4.99
Counsel for Couples: A Biblical and Practical Guide for Marriage Counseling by Jonathan Holmes – $1.99
The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds by Brian Croft – $1.99
The Pastor’s Soul: The Call and Care of an Undershepherd by Brian Croft & Jim Savastio – $6.99
How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife: Practical Tools to Embrace Your Influence and Navigate Your Unique Role by Christine Hoover – $3.99
The Man from the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James – $1.99
A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White House by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. – $3.99
The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion by Stephen B. Oates – $2.99
Barrow’s Boys: A Stirring Story of Daring, Fortitude, and Outright Lunacy by Fergus Fleming – $3.99
Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by David J. Garrow – $2.99
The Pirate Hunter: The True Story of Captain Kidd by Richard Zacks – $3.99
Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History’s First Global Manhunt by Steven Johnson – $5.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
September 16, 2025
Kindle Deals for September 16
Plain Theology for Plain People by Charles Octavius Boothe – $5.99
Human Nature from Calvin to Edwards by Paul Helm – $2.99
Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem by Robert Jones – $4.99
Courage: Fighting Fear with Fear by Wayne Mack & Joshua Mack – $4.99
Resolving Conflict: How to Make, Disturb, and Keep Peace by Lou Priolo – $4.99
Bitterness: The Root That Pollutes by Lou Priolo – $3.99
Athens and Jerusalem: Philosophy, Theology, and the Mind of Christ by Gerald Bray – $4.61
Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives by Siddharth Kara – $2.99
American Sniper (Enhanced Edition): The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle – $2.99
You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction—from Memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything in Between by Lee Gutkind- $1.99
East of Eden by John Steinbeck – $1.99
Grapes of wrath byJohn Steinbeck – $2.99
Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel by Kurt Vonnegut – $6.99
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – $.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
September 15, 2025
Kindle Deals for September 15
The Heart of Jesus: How He Really Feels about You by Dane Ortlund – $2.99
The Lord of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host by David Gibson – $4.99
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23: Discovering God’s Love for You by W. Phillip Keller – $3.99
From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God by Benjamin Gladd – $2.99
The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament by Edmund Clowney – $6.74
Is Jesus in the Old Testament? By Ian Duguid – $2.99
The Man Christ Jesus: Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Christ by Bruce Ware – $4.99
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper – $3.99
Pierced by the Word: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper – $5.99
Don’t Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus Is Not Enough by Michael Wittmer – $4.99
To Be Near Unto God by Abraham Kuyper – $2.99
Saved By Grace by John Bunyan – $1.99
The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds Through Others’ Eyes by C.S. Lewis – $2.99
Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays by C.S. Lewis – $1.99
The Allegory of Love by C.S. Lewis – $1.99
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank – $2.99
Adrift: A True Story of Tragedy on the Icy Atlantic and the One Who Lived to Tell about It by Brian Murphy – $1.99
The Lost Men: The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton’s Ross Sea Party by Kelly Tyler-Lewis – $4.99
The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe by Stephen Harding – $1.99
Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One Another – $8.99
Hoping for Happiness: Turning Life’s most elusive Feeling into Lasting Reality – $8.99
The Pastor’s Kid: What it’s Like and How to Help – $8.99
Help My Unbelief: Why doubt is not the enemy of faith – $8.99
The Curious Christian: How Discovering Wonder Enriches Every Part of Life – $4.99
These links are Amazon affiliate links.
No Publicity Stunt
Some of us, of a certain age, will remember the guy in 80s and early 90s who used to show up at every major sporting event dressed in ridiculous bright colors holding up a sign that simply said the reference, JOHN 3:16. He made that verse famous (or infamous, as the case may be). He also made it easy to ignore. One of the most beautiful truths of scripture became a publicity stunt and a brand.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
We tend to believe we are either beyond the reach of God’s love because of our sins or sins committed against us, or we believe we are beyond needing God’s love because of our goodness. But God so loved the world that he went to the greatest length to show it to us.
We tend to believe that, even if God does love us, it is conditional so we need to earn the right to receive it. We need to get right enough or clean enough to be worthy of God’s love. But whoever believes in him will not perish. Christ invites us to simply believe–to give our hearts fully to him to be cleansed and restored and healed.
And he will grant us eternal life. This isn’t an impersonal, grandiose promise. It is a statement of perfect adoption; we will live forever as beloved children of God. And it isn’t a far-off future promise; life with Christ as God’s children begins the moment we first believe and grows in richness the more we believe. John 3:16 isn’t a brand or a slogan. It’s what we hang all our hopes on.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville , in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.
September 12, 2025
3 Things I Like This Week – September 12
Each week (give or take one or two here and there) I share three things I like – It could be a book, a movie, a podcast, an album, a photo, an article, a restaurant, a food item, a beverage, or anything else I simply enjoy and think you might too. You can find a whole pile of things, especially books, I like and recommend HERE.
1) Summerland by Michael Chabon
To my moderate shame and significant chagrin, I had never read a Michael Chabon novel before picking this one up on the recommendation of a friend. What a delightful book. I read this on the heels of a couple other novels that would have easily been featured in a “Three Things I Despise This Week” post (if I suffered from enough self-loathing to write such a thing), and that dark backdrop made the good points of Summerland pop even more. It is fantastical, whimsical, child-like without be childish. It is replete with villains and heroes and gadgets and magic and strange new worlds. And it is centered around baseball (the way battle is done in these worlds) and the relationships between fathers and children. So really I may not be the best judge of how objectively good Summerland is, but I can tell you it was fictitious catnip for my mind and heart. I loved it.
2) The Original Chipwich
I have a firm conviction that some foods are meant to be basic and unaltered and that any additions are definitive subtractions. This list includes hot dogs (no such thing as a gourmet hot dog), burgers (keep your reductions and pineapple slices), pizza (if it has goat cheese or hot honey it’s not pizza, it’s a flat bread), and of course the classic ice cream sandwich–the one that is all artificial and inexpensive and spongy and sticks to the roof of your mouth. The only exceptions to my rule are when culinary geniuses re-invent these classics in such a manner that they essentially create an entirely new delicacy (eg. The Chicago Dog). The Original Chipwich is just such a delicacy, and it is better and cheaper than the Toll House offerings. It combines delightfully artificial vanilla ice cream with soft, classic chocolate chip cookies. They freeze neither too hard nor too soft. And they are of moderate size, leaving the consumer feeling moderately undisgusting. As a long time consumer and appreciator of all things ice cream treat, these have climbed into my pantheon of delectability.
3) Nitro Coffee
[image error]I drink my coffee black, pretty much always. My go-to beverage at a coffee shop is the Americano. I don’t especially enjoy the flavor of cream in my coffee, nor does it benefit my middle-aged waist line (especially not with the quantities of coffee I consume daily). However, iced coffee is borderline abominable both because it is adding water to coffee (if I wanted that I would go to Dunkin or buy a Keurig) and because ice displaces coffee, meaning I am forced to consume less. So, when it is 95 degrees outside in Nashville in mid-September, and all my midwestern friends are crowing about the delights of autumn, I want something that is cold, black, and un-iced. Enter, nitro coffee. The nitro carbonation adds an element of creaminess without the flavor or the calories. It is served cold without being watered down. It is cold-brewed, offering strong and mellow flavor. And it comes with added cool factor of resembling a Guinness (but also with the potential risk of being served by an unskilled barista who leaves you with half coffee/half foam). All in all, it is a wonderful warm weather coffee beverage, which sadly is still in-season here in the South.
