This new edition of a bestselling textbook (over 185,000 copies sold) draws on key biblical texts to demonstrate that worship is the ultimate goal of the church and that proper worship fuels missionary outreach. John Piper offers a biblical defense of God's supremacy in all things, providing readers with a sound theological foundation for missions. He examines whether Jesus is the only way to salvation and issues a passionate plea for God-centeredness in the missionary enterprise, seeking to define the scope of the task and the means for reaching "all nations." The third edition has been revised and expanded throughout and includes new material on the prosperity gospel. The book is essential reading for those involved in or preparing for missions work. It also offers enlightenment for college and seminary students, pastors, youth workers, campus ministers, and all who want to connect their labors to God's global purposes.
Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions
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From the Back Cover
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate."--John Piper
Let the Nations Be Glad! has become a modern missions classic. A trusted resource for thousands of missionaries, pastors, church leaders, and laypeople, it provides a biblical basis for missions and worship. This third edition has been expanded to include timely new material on the prosperity gospel.
Praise for the Previous Edition
"If I had to choose only one book on missions, Let the Nations Be Glad! would be it--precisely because it's about so much more than missions. The book's relentless God-centered focus, with its stress on worship as the 'fuel and goal of missions,' provides the crucial biblical counterpoint to the anthropocentric drumbeat of our day."--Duane Litfin, president, Wheaton College
"An invaluable resource that keeps worship at the center of the church's purpose and shows both theologically and practically what that means for mission in the modern world. Missionaries, pastors, teachers, and laypeople with a thirst for God's passion for himself and the peoples of the world will be challenged and encouraged. I offer it my highest recommendation."--A. Scott Moreau, editor, Evangelical Missions Quarterly
"Let the Nations Be Glad! is the most important book on missions for this generation, and I hope it will be the most influential as well. John Piper places missions where it belongs: at the heart of God's desire to be glorified among the nations."--R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"The best biblical study there is on the nature of missions. The best, however, has become better! After building a solid biblical base, Piper confronts some burning issues in missions today in a way that is both spiritually nourishing and inspiringly readable."--Ajith Fernando, national director, Youth for Christ/Sri Lanka
Let the Nations Be Glad! has become a modern missions classic. A trusted resource for thousands of missionaries, pastors, church leaders, and laypeople, it provides a biblical basis for missions and worship. This third edition has been expanded to include timely new material on the prosperity gospel.
Praise for the Previous Edition
"If I had to choose only one book on missions, Let the Nations Be Glad! would be it--precisely because it's about so much more than missions. The book's relentless God-centered focus, with its stress on worship as the 'fuel and goal of missions,' provides the crucial biblical counterpoint to the anthropocentric drumbeat of our day."--Duane Litfin, president, Wheaton College
"An invaluable resource that keeps worship at the center of the church's purpose and shows both theologically and practically what that means for mission in the modern world. Missionaries, pastors, teachers, and laypeople with a thirst for God's passion for himself and the peoples of the world will be challenged and encouraged. I offer it my highest recommendation."--A. Scott Moreau, editor, Evangelical Missions Quarterly
"Let the Nations Be Glad! is the most important book on missions for this generation, and I hope it will be the most influential as well. John Piper places missions where it belongs: at the heart of God's desire to be glorified among the nations."--R. Albert Mohler Jr., president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"The best biblical study there is on the nature of missions. The best, however, has become better! After building a solid biblical base, Piper confronts some burning issues in missions today in a way that is both spiritually nourishing and inspiringly readable."--Ajith Fernando, national director, Youth for Christ/Sri Lanka
About the Author
John Piper (DrTheol, University of Munich) is the pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and founder of Desiring God Ministries. He is the author of numerous books, including Desiring God, The Pleasures of God, and The Supremacy of God in Preaching.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Solid Biblical-Theological View of Missions
Nov 14 2010
By danny
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This review originally appeared on [...]on 7/26/10.
Special thanks to Caitlin of Baker Books for a review copy of this book.
John Piper's book, Let the Nations Be Glad (hereafter LTNBG) has been a hit since it's first edition came out back in 1993. Our discipleship and missions training school has been using the 2nd edition since it came out in 2003, and for good reason. But not only is there a new edition, which I'm reviewing here, but there's also a DVD with 6 Piper sermons on the topic of missions and a Study Guide. The DVD and Study Guide will be reviewed separately, but for now I'll say that I applaud Piper and Baker for trying out a multi-media approach to this excellent and needed guide to the biblical theology of missions.
To organize my thoughts, I'm breaking this review down into 3 sections: the Good, the Bad and the Piper
The Good
1. Piper openly admits that this book focuses on "biblical reflection rather than methodological application" of missions (p9), a decision I appreciate. It's not the only book you should use in training missionaries, but it gives an excellent theological basis for why we should do missions in the first place.
2. The main difference between the 3rd edition and the previous one is found in the introduction. Piper not only surveys the changing face of global Christianity (with insights from Philip Jenkins and Mark Noll), but extends a plea to preachers of the so-called `prosperity gospel.' At first my thought was `this seems out of place in a missions book,' but Piper argues (and he is largely correct) that the prosperity gospel teaching of some American preachers has infiltrated parts of the "Global South" and is doing damage to the church there, particularly in Africa.
3. Chapter 1 is worth the price of the book alone. In fact, I rarely read past the first page of the first chapter without stopping and thinking more deeply. The central thesis: "worship is the fuel and goal of missions." I won't go into detail (get the book!), but I appreciate that Piper makes God the center of missions rather than anything else.
4. From the perspective of a teacher, I really appreciate Chapter 4, where Piper tackles three heavy issues: the eternality of hell, the necessity of Christ's work, and the necessity of conscious faith in Christ. These are difficult waters to navigate, and I have found it helpful to have everyone read this chapter and come ready to discuss in class. Piper makes a strong, biblical case for his answers, and I've told students over the years that if they plan on disagreeing with him, they better come prepared to argue their case biblically just as he does.
5. Piper offers a number of great thoughts on suffering and prayer, as well as laying out the Bible's teaching on people groups.
6. Piper draws from a fairly wide range of writers, preachers, etc., in this book. You get theologians like Jonathan Edwards, missiologists like Ralph Winter and pastors like John Dawson. In other words, he reaches outside of his camp (Reformed Baptist) and pulls from a broad spectrum.
There is more I could say about what is good in this book, but suffice to say the good far outweights the bad.
The Bad
1. My biggest complaint about this book, and the primary complaint I get every year from students, is that it is longer than it needs to be. Piper has a habit of taking twice as long as he needs to in making a point. Sometimes this is because of his rampant use of proof-texting. Other times Piper seems so intent on making his point that he marshalls every bit of evidence he can, rather than simply selecting the best to support his case. Either way, this book could probably be 33% shorter and not miss a thing.
2. I'll put this here, but I'm not sure I'd call it `bad,' but John Piper can come across very strong for some. I don't mind this, but some are put off by it. So even if someone may agree with Piper's reasoning, he communicates- even in writing- in a way that some (again, not me) find a bit short and condescending. I only mention this because there are some churchgoers who are not accustomed to reading books where someone seeks to make a strong case for something. If that sounds like people in your church, you may need to address this issue up front if you use this book.
The Piper
John Piper has some idiosyncracies that show up in most of his writings, and LTNBG is no exception. They don't bother me, though some may not like it (but mostly if you're already prone to dislike some of his writings). Anyway, I get a kick out of them, so here are a few:
1. Over-hyphenization:
"My passion is to see people, churches, mission agencies, and social ministries become God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered, soul-satisfied, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilizing, soul-winning, and justice-pursuing"
"Where do such God-centered, Christ-exalting, missions-driven people come from?"
"There is a God-enthralled, Christ-treasuring, all-enduring love..."
"There is a distinct God-magnifying, Christ-exalting mindset"
"It cannot make peace with God-ignoring, God-neglecting..."
And those are just from the 4-page preface.
2. Jonathan Edwards. Piper is known for his love of Jonathan Edwards, and apparently couldn't resist having an entire chapter dedicated to him. I appreciate it because Piper breaks down walls that are dangerously erected, in this case theology and missiology. But a chapter on Jonathan Edwards in a missions book is definitely something that only John Piper would do.
3. For those who are in no way convinced of John Piper's belief that God's glory is the central concern of His own heart, and should be ours, you may struggle a bit with this book. In my opinion, he doesn't hit it as hard here as he does elsewhere (and I think he may overstate his case anyway). I don't think anyone from my training school has ever said anything about it, but I throw it out there.
Conclusion
This is one of the best biblical-theological books on missions I've read (which is why we use it in our school). Piper deals with heavy issues in a pastorally sensitive way, making it appropriate for audiences ranging from laypeople to seminary classes. He does not cover the entire Bible's teachings on missions, but summarizes and clarifies the main themes and issues at hand. I have used the 2nd edition with great success over the years, and look forward to the 3rd edition being just as big a blessing.
Special thanks to Caitlin of Baker Books for a review copy of this book.
John Piper's book, Let the Nations Be Glad (hereafter LTNBG) has been a hit since it's first edition came out back in 1993. Our discipleship and missions training school has been using the 2nd edition since it came out in 2003, and for good reason. But not only is there a new edition, which I'm reviewing here, but there's also a DVD with 6 Piper sermons on the topic of missions and a Study Guide. The DVD and Study Guide will be reviewed separately, but for now I'll say that I applaud Piper and Baker for trying out a multi-media approach to this excellent and needed guide to the biblical theology of missions.
To organize my thoughts, I'm breaking this review down into 3 sections: the Good, the Bad and the Piper
The Good
1. Piper openly admits that this book focuses on "biblical reflection rather than methodological application" of missions (p9), a decision I appreciate. It's not the only book you should use in training missionaries, but it gives an excellent theological basis for why we should do missions in the first place.
2. The main difference between the 3rd edition and the previous one is found in the introduction. Piper not only surveys the changing face of global Christianity (with insights from Philip Jenkins and Mark Noll), but extends a plea to preachers of the so-called `prosperity gospel.' At first my thought was `this seems out of place in a missions book,' but Piper argues (and he is largely correct) that the prosperity gospel teaching of some American preachers has infiltrated parts of the "Global South" and is doing damage to the church there, particularly in Africa.
3. Chapter 1 is worth the price of the book alone. In fact, I rarely read past the first page of the first chapter without stopping and thinking more deeply. The central thesis: "worship is the fuel and goal of missions." I won't go into detail (get the book!), but I appreciate that Piper makes God the center of missions rather than anything else.
4. From the perspective of a teacher, I really appreciate Chapter 4, where Piper tackles three heavy issues: the eternality of hell, the necessity of Christ's work, and the necessity of conscious faith in Christ. These are difficult waters to navigate, and I have found it helpful to have everyone read this chapter and come ready to discuss in class. Piper makes a strong, biblical case for his answers, and I've told students over the years that if they plan on disagreeing with him, they better come prepared to argue their case biblically just as he does.
5. Piper offers a number of great thoughts on suffering and prayer, as well as laying out the Bible's teaching on people groups.
6. Piper draws from a fairly wide range of writers, preachers, etc., in this book. You get theologians like Jonathan Edwards, missiologists like Ralph Winter and pastors like John Dawson. In other words, he reaches outside of his camp (Reformed Baptist) and pulls from a broad spectrum.
There is more I could say about what is good in this book, but suffice to say the good far outweights the bad.
The Bad
1. My biggest complaint about this book, and the primary complaint I get every year from students, is that it is longer than it needs to be. Piper has a habit of taking twice as long as he needs to in making a point. Sometimes this is because of his rampant use of proof-texting. Other times Piper seems so intent on making his point that he marshalls every bit of evidence he can, rather than simply selecting the best to support his case. Either way, this book could probably be 33% shorter and not miss a thing.
2. I'll put this here, but I'm not sure I'd call it `bad,' but John Piper can come across very strong for some. I don't mind this, but some are put off by it. So even if someone may agree with Piper's reasoning, he communicates- even in writing- in a way that some (again, not me) find a bit short and condescending. I only mention this because there are some churchgoers who are not accustomed to reading books where someone seeks to make a strong case for something. If that sounds like people in your church, you may need to address this issue up front if you use this book.
The Piper
John Piper has some idiosyncracies that show up in most of his writings, and LTNBG is no exception. They don't bother me, though some may not like it (but mostly if you're already prone to dislike some of his writings). Anyway, I get a kick out of them, so here are a few:
1. Over-hyphenization:
"My passion is to see people, churches, mission agencies, and social ministries become God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-powered, soul-satisfied, Bible-saturated, missions-mobilizing, soul-winning, and justice-pursuing"
"Where do such God-centered, Christ-exalting, missions-driven people come from?"
"There is a God-enthralled, Christ-treasuring, all-enduring love..."
"There is a distinct God-magnifying, Christ-exalting mindset"
"It cannot make peace with God-ignoring, God-neglecting..."
And those are just from the 4-page preface.
2. Jonathan Edwards. Piper is known for his love of Jonathan Edwards, and apparently couldn't resist having an entire chapter dedicated to him. I appreciate it because Piper breaks down walls that are dangerously erected, in this case theology and missiology. But a chapter on Jonathan Edwards in a missions book is definitely something that only John Piper would do.
3. For those who are in no way convinced of John Piper's belief that God's glory is the central concern of His own heart, and should be ours, you may struggle a bit with this book. In my opinion, he doesn't hit it as hard here as he does elsewhere (and I think he may overstate his case anyway). I don't think anyone from my training school has ever said anything about it, but I throw it out there.
Conclusion
This is one of the best biblical-theological books on missions I've read (which is why we use it in our school). Piper deals with heavy issues in a pastorally sensitive way, making it appropriate for audiences ranging from laypeople to seminary classes. He does not cover the entire Bible's teachings on missions, but summarizes and clarifies the main themes and issues at hand. I have used the 2nd edition with great success over the years, and look forward to the 3rd edition being just as big a blessing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic book on understanding the heart of God in missions
Mar 13 2013
By Geoffrey L. Dennis
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
Pipers book is an absolutely seminal book when it comes to understanding the heart of God in missions. Missions exists because worship does not. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Abolutely essential for anyone in missions
Feb 27 2013
By Estevão Muller
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I would recommend this book to every Christian, but say that it should be the first book read by someone who is planning on working in cross-cultural missions. It will become the foundation and fuel of everything you do.
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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