Radical With David Platt

According to our culture, a woman’s identity is tied to such things as her outward appearance and her own inner strength. Scripture, on the other hand, casts a completely different vision of womanhood. Women have intrinsic value based on God’s good design, and they can be a blessing to others based on God’s grace in them. In this Mother’s Day sermon from Proverbs 31:10–31, David Platt identifies characteristics of a Christlike woman. How we view these characteristics has implications not only for married women but also for husbands, singles, and the entire church.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His power in a variety of ways, including healing the sick, curing the demon-possessed, and raising the dead. However, we will miss the greater significance of the authority of Jesus if we only focus on the physical needs that He met. In this message from Mark 2:1–12, David Platt looks at Christ’s forgiveness and healing of a paralytic. Like Jesus, we should reach out compassionately reach out to meet urgent physical needs in the world. But this cannot be our primary or ultimate goal. As followers of Christ, we must be faithful to proclaim the gospel of the One who can meet the greatest need of every sinner––the forgiveness of sins.

Although most Christians are familiar with the story of David and Goliath, many simply view it as a call to have more courage. They do not view this story in light of the bigger picture of God’s unfolding plan of redemption. In this sermon on 1 Samuel 17, David Platt helps us see this well-known story at the level of individual, national, and redemptive history. The God who brought victory for Israel through a young shepherd-turned-king from Bethlehem has accomplished the work of redemption through the death and resurrection of another shepherd from Bethlehem––King Jesus.

Much to the surprise of Jesus’ disciples, He told them that He was going to be killed and then rise again. And as if that weren’t enough, Jesus also told them that they too would have to take up their cross if they wanted to follow Him. In this Easter sermon from Mark 8:31–38, David Platt holds out the invitation of Jesus to come and follow Him. While being a Christian is costly, the reward is far greater than any earthly possessions or praise that we might desire in this life. Eternal life and joy is found in the One who gave His life for us.Your gift to Radical today will allow us to continue calling Christians to leverage every part of their life for the sake of making Christ known around the world. Together, we can be a part of reaching people in places where Christ is not yet known. Would you consider making a year-end gift today? 

It’s easy for us to assume that our sin is not that big of a deal if others don’t know about it or seem to be affected by it. We can go on with life as usual without considering the that God Himself knows everything about us––our motives, our thoughts, our words, and our actions. In this sermon from Joshua 7, David Platt urges us to consider the seriousness of our sin, even the sin that we think is hidden. If we want a deeper and fuller sense of God’s presence and blessing in our lives, then we should acknowledge our sins––even our hidden ones––and look to the One who can graciously forgive and restore us.

Our entire lives are, in a sense, spent either working or resting. Sadly, though, we don’t often think of our working or our resting in light of God and His Word. We either overvalue our work or undervalue it; the same is true with our rest. In this sermon from Exodus 31, David Platt urges us to consider our work and our rest in light of God’s own character and actions. The God who finished His work of creation and then rested has made it possible for His people to work unto Him and to find rest in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sometimes the pull of sin can feel so strong that we feel completely overwhelmed. We are weak, and Satan’s lies are deceptive and enticing. Gratefully, God has not left us to face sin and temptation on our own. In this sermon from Matthew 4:1–11, David Platt points us to the One who has overcome temptation on our behalf. Christ, our King, has defeated Satan and given us the victory over sin, death, and hell.

Some Christians struggle with the motivation to pray because they don’t understand how their prayers fit with the purposes of a sovereign God. In this sermon from Exodus 32–34, David Platt helps us think through the mystery of prayer, as he points us to the character and purposes of God. We’ll see how God uses our prayers for the good of others, for the good of His people, and, ultimately, for His glory in the world.

As Christians, we can get so accustomed to talking about God’s salvation that we don’t stop to consider some foundational questions, questions such as How does God save us in light of our sin? And why does God save us? In this message, David Platt helps us see how the book of Exodus answers these all-important questions. As God’s salvation of Israel demonstrates, He saves us by His grace––for His glory and for our good.

In the midst of sin and suffering, God hears the cries of His people and He rescues them. This same God also sends His people out for purposes that are, humanly speaking, impossible. In this message from Exodus 2:23–3:22, David Platt shows us that, despite our weaknesses, God empowers us by His Spirit to accomplish His purposes in the world. 

Although we often feel as if we’re without hope in our suffering, Scripture reminds us of God’s character and His promises. We can trust His sovereign care, His goodness, and His wisdom, even in the darkest seasons of life. In this sermon from Genesis 37–50, David Platt uses the life of Joseph to show us that God is not only with us in our sin and suffering but also that He uses it for our good and His glory. 

All of us have blind spots in our lives, that is, areas of sin that we don’t notice or that we tend to downplay. But these small and seemingly harmless blind spots can have disastrous results in terms of our relationship with God and with others. In this sermon from Genesis 28–35, David Platt shows us how these truths play out in the life of Jacob. Gratefully, God in His grace is able to open our eyes to our blind spots, forgive us of our sins, and enable us to walk in new obedience, and all this is based on what Christ has done for us.

We rightly associate the Great Commission in Matthew 28 with making disciples, but what does making disciples have to do with caring for the unborn as well as others who are vulnerable or oppressed? In this message given at Evangelicals for Life, David Platt helps us see how the church’s makeup and mission make it specially designed to care for all who are made in God’s image. The God who gives us new life in Christ compels us to love our neighbors in every stage of life.

Many people try to ignore suffering or pretend that they won’t ever have to face it. But as sinners living in a world ravaged by sin, it’s inevitable that, sooner or later, we will all face suffering. The question is, “Where will we turn when it comes?” Based on the book of Job, David Platt urges us to respond to suffering by meditating on God’s sovereignty. When we realize Who is in control of our suffering, what He is like, and what His purposes are, we can endure faithfully, giving God glory even in our pain. 

Who is God? What’s wrong with the world? What hope do we have? These are the kinds of questions that every human being must face, and, thankfully, God has not left us wondering about the answers. In this sermon from Genesis 1–11, David Platt shows us how God’s Word answers life’s foundational questions in the Bible’s opening chapters. We’ll also be urged to think through how these truths should affect our lives as we memorize and meditate on, apply, pray, and share them.

As important as it is to read the Bible, it’s also crucial that we read it the right way. We don’t want to come asking the wrong questions and, in turn, walk away with a distorted message that we assume is from God. In this sermon on Psalm 19, David Platt identifies dangerous and dependable approaches to Scripture. Given the power, truthfulness, and value of God’s Word, we should long to hear and respond to it rightly. 

As those who belong to a sovereign God who is perfectly just and merciful, we too should seek to extend justice and mercy to others. In this sermon from Psalm 82, David Platt urges us to pray in light of the injustice around us and to make certain that we address the world’s greatest need––its spiritual need––by sharing the gospel. The realities of abortion, racism, and the persecution of Christians around the world should drive us to plead for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In order understand what following Jesus is all about, we must understand who He is and what He has accomplished for our salvation. The One through all things were made took on flesh in order to reconcile us to God. He is fully man and fully God. In this sermon from Hebrews 1:1–4, David Platt expounds on the glorious person and work of Christ. 

If we’re honest, many of us find it difficult to pray and fast. Whether it’s our sense of self-sufficiency, the distractions of social media, busyness, or simply not knowing what the Bible teaches about prayer and fasting, we often struggle with these spiritual disciplines. In this sermon from Matthew 6:5–18, David Platt addresses the why and the how of prayer and fasting. This passage from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount reminds us to acknowledge our needs and to look forward to our ultimate reward––God Himself.

It’s all too common for Christians and for churches to seek to know God and to make Him known apart from relying on His Spirit. However, relying external regulations and human abilities is empty and, ultimately, damning. In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 3:7–18, David Platt reminds us that God’s people should be desperate for the Spirit’s presence and power. Gratefully, in His grace, God freely gives His Spirit to those who put their trust in Jesus.