Proclaiming the Excellencies of Christ - Not Prosperity Among the Nations - A Sermon

Sep 16, 2026

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Sermon on true biblical missions: God calls missionaries to proclaim the excellencies of Christ rather than pursue the prosperity gospel. The message explains that the divine calling cannot be controlled or explained by human effort, but is revealed by God. It highlights the biblical vision of being called out of darkness into marvelous light, living honorably, and enduring suffering as a means of faithful proclamation. The sermon ends with an urgent plea for faithfulness to “hold the ropes” for those sacrificing their lives for the Gospel.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Proclaiming the Excellencies of Christ, Not Prosperity Among the Nations

Divine calling to missions

The content of true missions vs. prosperity teaching

Scripture basis (Matthew 6:33; 1 Peter 2:9-12)

Suffering as a means of proclamation

Prayer for faithful mission workers

Proclaiming the Excellencies of Christ, Not Prosperity, Among the Nations by John Piper True biblical missions involves a willingness to die to one's own desires and cravings, living simply and giving lavishly, and suffering as a means to faithful proclamation. Duration: 41:28 Scripture: Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 2:9-12 Topics: "Missions Work", "Divine Calling" Description In this sermon, the speaker discusses the calling to missions and how God reveals this calling to His missionaries. He emphasizes that this calling cannot be explained or controlled by humans, but only by God. The speaker shares examples of individuals who have been called to serve as missionaries in various places, highlighting the supernatural nature of this calling. He also emphasizes the importance of proclaiming the excellencies of God and the marvel of being called out of darkness into His marvelous light. The sermon concludes with a plea for faithfulness in holding the ropes for those who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Transcript The following message is by Pastor John Piper. More information from Desiring God is available at [www.desiringgod.org. The](www.desiringgod.org. The) scripture text for the sermon is 1 Peter 2, 9-12 . 1 Peter 2, verse 9. But you area chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Father, the men from the men's retreat are with us to hear that little part of the message. The folks tonight at the North Campus are here with us. The folks at the South Side are here and the downtown Sunday morning site are here. We're all here at this moment. All of us have just watched half of our missionary families and singles be paraded across the [SermonIndex.net | Page 1](SermonIndex.net | Page 1) screen and we have felt, at least I have felt, rising up inside of me a trembling, tearful, Oh God, keep me faithful. Don't let my hands ever grow weary in holding the ropes for hundreds and hundreds of children and families laying their life down for King Jesus. Don't let Bethlehem ever become so satisfied, so content, so comfortable, we just forget about the nations and all those emissaries we have sent among them. Oh Father, keep us faithful. And then there rises up in me the sense that you mean on this weekend to call hundreds to missions or confirm the calling of the wavering to missions, cross-cultural, long-term. So I'm asking that you do it. Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he would send out laborers into his harvest. That's what I'm doing right now with thousands of people, Lord. Praying to the Lord of the Harvest that you would send. That is a mystery. Nobody knows how you do that. We just want to be used in the miracle of sending. How shall they call upon Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent? God do it, Ipray in Jesus' name. Amen. This message was originally conceived in missions focus as a response to the prosperity gospel. Or as it's sometimes called the health, wealth and prosperity gospel. This distortion of the gospel is blatant among prominent TV preachers, some of them. But what makes it relevant for missions is that this distorted gospel is one of the largest and most tragic exports that America takes to the two-thirds world, especially Africa. This so-called gospel says, to quote Ke

FAQs

What makes a mission “true” in this sermon?

True biblical missions involve dying to cravings exploited by prosperity preaching, living simply, giving lavishly, and embracing suffering as a means of faithful proclamation.

How does the sermon describe God’s calling to missions?

The calling is revealed by God and cannot be explained or controlled by humans; it confirms and summons people to cross-cultural, long-term service.

What does the sermon say the prosperity gospel wrongly promotes?

It presents material prosperity as the outcome of faith, rather than spiritual prosperity learned through hardship and faithful proclamation of Christ.

Sep 16, 2026

Upload by Rhys