Radical With David Platt

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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 ChrisExplore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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. Explore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

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.Explore more content from Radical.

There are many ways churches can serve their own members and their communities, but we cannot forget the global scope of Christ’s mission. As David Platt explains from Romans 15–16, the church should be about spreading God’s praise among all the peoples. Whether by praying, giving, or going, every member should play a role in getting the gospel to those who have never heard. It is the church’s privilege and responsibility to proclaim the good news to our neighbors and to the hardest-to-reach people groups on the planet. Explore more content from Radical.

If God has all power and knowledge, even over the future, then do our prayers really matter? And if they do, then what difference should that make in our lives and in our churches? In this message from Exodus 32–33 at Together for the Gospel 2014, David Platt urges believers to depend fully on the God who is sovereign over all things. God uses the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes in the world.Explore more content from Radical.

Many Christians recognize that the church’s weekly gathering is important, but they seem to give little thought as to why. Why should we gather regularly for corporate worship, and what should our priorities be when we gather? In this sermon from John 4:1–26, David Platt identifies the kind of worship that pleases God. We gather as God’s people, not to be entertained or to listen to the thoughts of men, but rather to worship God in spirit and in truth.Explore more content from Radical.

Without realizing it, many followers of Christ have had their views of government shaped by political debates, the media, and popular culture. They give little thought to Scripture’s teaching on this important topic. In this sermon from 1 Peter 2:13–17, David Platt helps us think through a biblical view of government as well as the Christian’s responsibility to governing authorities. While we should pray for and submit to earthly rulers, our ultimate allegiance is to a heavenly King.Explore more content from Radical.

In order for a business, an organization, or a government to be effective, good leadership is essential. It’s no surprise, then, that bookstores are filled with advice on how to identify an effective leader. But what about the church––how do we know who is qualified to lead God’s people? In this message from 1 Timothy 3, David Platt points out the biblical qualifications for elders and deacons. In order to faithfully carry out its mission, the church should look to Scripture to find out what faithful leadership looks like.Explore more content from Radical.

If we only listen to the competing voices in our culture, then we’re likely to ignore the most important realities in life––eternal realities. Where else will we hear about God, salvation, heaven, hell, and judgment, unless we are confronted with God’s Word on a weekly basis? In this sermon from Acts 20:25–38, David Platt urges pastors and all Christians to consider why God’s Word must be supreme in the church. Instead of focusing on the ideas of man, we desperately need to hear from the God who speaks to us in Scripture.Explore more content from Radical.

Thankfully, when it comes to God’s design for the church and its mission, we’re not left to our own wisdom and creativity. God has graciously given us His Word, a perfect revelation of who He is and what He desires for His people. In this sermon from Acts 20:1–24, David Platt urges us to submit our lives and our churches to the authority of Scripture. God intends for His people to teach it, discuss it, obey it, visualize it, and then spread it to the ends of the earth. Explore more content from Radical.

We don’t normally think of words like accountability and discipline in a positive light, but in Scripture God gives us these things for our good. God’s people are called to care for one another in the context of the church, both in terms of teaching and encouraging one another and, if necessary, calling one another to repent of sin. In this sermon David Platt points us to accountability and discipline as marks of a biblical church. Beginning with Galatians 6:1 and then moving to other parts of the New Testament, we’ll see why churches that seek to glorify God and be faithful to the Great Commission should be marked by a concern for the spiritual welfare of every member.Explore more content from Radical.

What counts as Christian fellowship? A group Bible study? What about praying with someone? Is it considered fellowship if we’re simply eating with or spending time with other believers? These are important questions. As David Platt explains in this sermon, Scripture makes fellowship among God’s people a top priority. Based on Romans 12, we’ll see how God’s mercy in the gospel grounds the fellowship that should exist in the church. As a family of faith, the church should partner together for the glory of God and for the good of one another. Explore more content from Radical.

Some truths are so important that they’re worth giving our lives for. The gospel certainly fits in this category, which is why the Reformers were willing to die to make sure that the good news of Christ was proclaimed faithfully according to God’s Word. In this message from Together for the Gospel 2016, David Platt urges us to learn from the example of the Reformers. Their deaths several centuries ago should give us an eternal perspective on how we live our lives today.Explore more content from Radical.

What is God’s design for women? Our culture offers a very distorted answer to that question, bombarding us with messages and images that miss God’s good design. Women are promised liberation, all the while being physically abused, sexually objectified, and even encouraged to ignore or change their God-given gender. And the problem isn’t just out there in the world—the church often misses God’s good design as well. The roles of wives and mothers are often devalued, as is the important role of single women in the church’s life and mission. In this message, David Platt addresses these distortions by providing an overview of biblical womanhood that begins with Genesis 1 and then draws from various passages of Scripture. Only as we listen to God’s Word and find our identity in His gospel will we see the goodness and the fruit of God’s design for women. Explore more content from Radical.