Radical With David Platt

It’s not enough to know that Jesus came; we also need to know why He came. It’s when we ask that question “why” that we hear the greatest news in all the world––Christ came to serve sinners. That’s the amazing truth in Mark 10:45, the text David Platt looks at in this Advent sermon. The One through whom all things were created took on flesh to serve and to save sinners like us. 

We will never understand why Christ’s coming is such good news until we see the seriousness of sin. On this first Sunday of Advent, David Platt looks at Genesis 3 to help us understand sin and its effects. Despite the hurt caused by sin, Christ’s victory over sin and death provide us with eternal hope.

Apart from God’s grace, the Bible’s description of our spiritual condition is sobering. We live under the curse of God’s law, separated from Him and without hope. However, according to Galatians 3:13, Christ has taken on our curse at the cross and provided full redemption for those who trust in Him. In this message David Platt points to the heart of the gospel––Christ’s death for sinners. 

It’s one thing to know that you’re saved, but have you stopped to consider how and why God saved you? In this message from the Rethink Church + Rethink Mission conference, David Platt urges us to consider these questions based on Ezekiel 36:22–32. When we realize that our salvation is solely by God’s grace and aimed at God’s glory, it should cause us to rethink our role in the the mission of God.

In a world of approximately 153 million orphans and vulnerable children, the church is uniquely called and equipped to care for these. Having received the love of God and having been adopted by grace into His family, we are now to reflect that love to others––particularly to those who are weak and vulnerable. Based on 1 John 3:1, David Platt encourages us to consider how God might be leading us to care for orphans, whether through adoption or through a variety of other ways.

While the world has many ideas about what it means to truly live, Jesus offers us a path to life that seems counterintuitive––in order to live, you have to die. This truth from John 12:24–26 applies not only to the eternal life that comes to us through Christ’s death, but also to our own death—death to self, death to the world, and even death for the sake of the gospel. Drawing on a recent trip to South Korea, David Platt shares about how this truth was demonstrated in the twentieth century among Korean Christians, and he challenges us to consider how this truth should shape our lives as well. 

Scripture teaches us that supernatural love exists eternally in God. Therefore, if we claim to know God, then it only makes sense that our lives would be characterized by love. In this sermon from 1 John 4:7–5:5, David Platt points out the centrality of God’s love for the Christian life, particularly as that love has been demonstrated in the death of Christ. Now, for those who possess God’s Spirit, God’s love for us should cause us to respond in love for Him and for others.

Whether we realize it or not, we are all involved in a spiritual war. Thankfully, God has not left us to our own strategies or abilities. In this sermon from 1 John 4:1–6, David Platt exhorts us to trust in the truths of who Christ is and what He has accomplished for our salvation as we engage in spiritual battle. By the power of God, our victory is assured.

If we claim to love God, then our lives should reflect a love for His children, that is, our brothers and sisters in Christ. The good news is that God enables this love for others by His Spirit, and Christ has given us the ultimate demonstration of love by laying down His life for us. In this sermon from 1 John 3:11–24, David Platt urges us to reflect on God’s love and then demonstrate this love in the way we serve others. This kind of selfless love is a mark of every true child of God.  

The incredible promise of Scripture is that by God’s grace, those who have trusted in Christ are declared to be His children and will one day be united fully with Him. In this sermon from 1 John 2:28–3:10, David Platt exhorts us to see the beauty of God’s love for us and how He has equipped us to live not for this world but for the world to come, when we will see Him as He is.

What will happen to me after I die? That’s a question that confronts everyone, regardless of their background or religious affiliation. Thankfully, the Bible is not silent on this eternally important question. In this sermon based on Revelation 21, David Platt explains the Bible’s teaching on what happens to us after we die. For the unbeliever, the sobering prospect of God’s righteous judgment awaits. But for the believer, there is an eternal hope that fuels our perseverance in the faith. Those who are in Christ will dwell with God forever.

Many people claim to love God even though their lives demonstrate a love for the world. However, as 1 John 2:3–17 reminds us, these two loves cannot coexist. In this sermon, David Platt encourages us to examine our lives to see whether we genuinely belong to God. None of us will reach sinless perfection in this life, but a love for God will be evident in our desires and in our obedience.

It can be difficult for anyone to admit that they’ve sinned. Even as Christians, we have a tendency to want to deny or make excuses for things we do wrong. Our sin may even lead to doubt whether we have eternal life. In this sermon from 1 John 1:5–2:6, David Platt reminds us that, instead of hiding or denying our sin before a holy God, Scripture invites us to confess it and to find the forgiveness that comes through the death of Christ. Walking in the light involves regularly receiving God’s grace and walking humbly in obedience to His commands.

There are a lot of areas in life where it’s ok to lack certainty. However, when it comes to our relationship with God and our eternal destiny, we should want to know for certain where we stand. Thankfully, God wants His people to have this same assurance––the assurance that we have eternal life in Jesus Christ. In this sermon from 1 John 1:1–4, David Platt encourages us to believe and experience the love of God as it is revealed in Jesus Chris

We often don’t understand the full significance of a story until we get to the end. That’s certainly true in the book of Ruth, as Ruth’s redemption is put in the larger framework of God’s redemptive purposes. In this message from Ruth 4, David Platt shows us how Ruth’s redemption looks forward to King David and the Redeemer who would come from David’s line. We’re reminded that, even in the most difficult times, God will accomplish His saving purposes.

Our culture has a distorted picture of what it means to love someone. The focus is on my desires, needs, and happiness. Gratefully, this kind of love is nothing like the love of the Lord for His people. In this message from Ruth 3, David Platt highlights the indescribable love of God. This is a self-giving love that protects and provides for those in need, much like Boaz showed toward Ruth. Ultimately, though, God’s love was manifested fully and perfectly in the death of Christ, who gave His life in order to shelter us from the judgment we deserve.

While the world often ignores or mistreats those who are weak and vulnerable, the Lord takes a different posture toward those in need. In this message from Ruth 2, David Platt points us to the God of Israel’s abundant mercy toward a needy Moabite woman named Ruth. Like Ruth, we too need God’s mercy. And, for those who have received that mercy in Jesus Christ, we should be extending mercy to the most vulnerable in our own communities and around the world.

One of the most difficult aspects of suffering is the feeling that God is far from us. We assume that loneliness, cancer, the death of a loved one, and other forms of suffering are evidence of God’s indifference or anger. However, the book of Ruth reminds us of God’s faithful love in the midst of suffering. In this message from Ruth 1, David Platt encourages us to trust in the God who sovereignly works all things for the good of His people.

There is no better news than the message of God’s grace in the gospel. Followers of Christ rightly celebrate this as our greatest joy and our life. However, it’s all too easy to ignore one of the ways we should respond to this good news––by making it known to all the peoples of the world. In this message from 2 Corinthians 4:13–18 at The Gospel Coalition 2013 Missions Conference, David Platt urges churches and followers of Christ to make the gospel known, even in the midst of difficulties and suffering. While earthly trials are temporary, God promises His people eternal joy.

Whether due to cultural opposition, sins and weaknesses within the body of Christ, or the routine, daily struggles that come with following Christ, it’s easy to forget the amazing privilege God has given to the church. No other institution or organization can claim to have Christ as its head. In this message from Ephesians 1:22–23, David Platt highlights the significance of the church’s relationship to Christ and its role in proclaiming His salvation. As we commit to Christ and to one another in the context of the local church, we put the glory of Christ on display.