This has been an amazing year for Desiring God. God has been extremely gracious to us as we continue to aim to make the glory of God and the goodness of joy the foundation and flavor of everything we do. This calendar year God blessed us with ninety million page views from over two hundred countries.
Every year we aspire to produce one thousand new resources, including articles, messages, books, a daily podcast called Ask Pastor John, and a video Bible-teaching initiative called Look at the Book. One of our most popular resources are articles. Below are the top 15 articles of 2015.
1. So-Called Same-Sex Marriage by John Piper
In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States of America ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriage. John Piper explains that the Bible is not silent about such decisions.
2. The Dead End of Sexual Sin by Rosaria Butterfield
With the assistance of John Owen, Rosaria Butterfield offers four ways to mortify sexual sin. She challenges believers to starve it, call it what it is, extinguish it by killing it, and daily cultivate your new life in Christ.
3. Six Wrong Reasons to Check Your Phone in the Morning by Tony Reinke
In our survey of 8,000 readers of desiringGod.org, over half of you (54%) admitted to checking your smartphone within minutes of waking up on a typical morning. In an interview with Tony Reinke, John Piper provides six wrong reasons to check your iPhone in the morning.
4. How Should We Respond to Caitlyn Jenner? by Jon Bloom
Jon Bloom challenges us to pray for Jenner, that God will send to him one or two who will speak the truth of the gospel with Christ-like love and that he will have ears to hear.
5. Modesty Lets Our Light Shine by Kim Cash Tate
With only a few characters, Ayesha Curry, a professed believer in Jesus Christ, injected modesty — and salt and light — into the social stream. Kim Cash Tate explains how modesty lets our light shine.
6. Should Christians Be Encouraged to Arm Themselves? by John Piper
John Piper explains why he thinks the identification of Christian security with concealed weapons will cause no one to ask a reason for the hope that is in us.
7. Lecrae Confesses Abortion, Invites Others into the Light by Tony Reinke
Public confession is extremely powerful. Long before Augustine penned and published his honest struggles with lust in the fourth century, public confession has proven to be a powerful force in leading others to humble admission before Christ. Tony Reinke penned a penetrating article where Lecrae publicly confesses abortion.
8. Fifty Shades of Nay: Sin Is a Needle, Not a Toy by Marshall Segal
Before you buy or rent the movie or talk to a friend who wants to read the books, Marshall Segal provides ten of God’s promises you should read. His hope and prayer is that the clarity and power of God’s words will convince many of you to save your money and your heart.
9. 10 Questions on Dating with Matt Chandler by Tony Reinke
Desiring God receives a lot of questions from young Christian singles about dating. Their season of life awakens many questions as they seek to make godly decisions in their pursuit of marriage. In an interview with Tony Reinke, Matt Chandler answered ten questions on singleness and dating.
10. Building His Church in a Refugee Crisis by David Crabb
In the wake of terror attacks in Paris and Beirut, the response from Americans has been as strong as it is divided. Many called for the nation to follow its nobler impulses and respond in compassion by welcoming refugees; others have voiced their strong disapproval for accepting any. David Crabb provided four ways for Christians to think about the refugee crisis.
11. Single You Will Be the Married You by Phillip Holmes
When I was single, I thought marriage might be the magic bullet. I believed that it would miraculously transform me. I assumed I would suddenly possess a new measure of holiness that I had not yet known or experienced as a single man. I could not have been more wrong. In this post, I attempted to help singles see that marriage will not instantly change them.
12. An Escape from Failure Culture by Cameron Triggs
At the culminating moment of an international beauty pageant, celebrity host Steve Harvey made a mistake at a critical moment. Cameron Triggs explains why our response was both unhelpful and telling.
13. The Greatest Thing You Could Do Today by Francis Chan
Could anything be more important than meeting with the One who decides if you live through this day? Could anything be better? How can we not make time to be with the Maker of time? What plans do you have today that you think so important that you would race past the Creator to get to them? Francis Chan writes about the greatest thing we can do everyday.
14. Peaches in Paradise by John Piper
Elisabeth Elliot died this year. She lived an extraordinary and fruitful life for the glory of her God, after losing not one, not two, but three husbands. Here are three things John Piper will remember and cherish about this remarkable woman and her ministry.
15. Parenting Means Wrestling Demons by Jonathan Parnell
Satan hates children — which means, parenting is spiritual warfare. Jonathan Parnell explains that when we view parenting through this lens, it reconfigures our work in five important ways.
Best New Video of 2015: God Wrote a Book
This was our most-watched video of 2015. In it, John Piper paints a beautiful picture of what it means to meet God in the Bible every day. God wrote a book, and it is a stunning window into all he is and does in the world.
The Best of Ask Pastor John
Is Kim Davis Right to Refuse Marriage Licenses? (200,000 plays)
Seven Tips for College Students (184,600)
When Should I Get Rid of My Smartphone? (160,700)
Is Yoga Sinful? (154,200)
The Best of Look at the Book
1. Nine Arguments Against Anxiety (Matthew 6:24–34)
If the Bible is going to effectively speak to our anxious hearts, we need to learn how to read it well. In this lab, John Piper lays out the arguments against anxiety and gives three short lessons for our daily Bible reading.
2. All Things Work Together for Good (Romans 8:28)
Romans 8:28 is one of the most important and most treasured verses and promises in the Bible. In this lab, John Piper pulls apart the critical pieces in these twenty-four words for understanding and embracing our sovereign and good God.
3. Hallowed Be Your Name (Matthew 6:9–13)
There is no more familiar prayer in the Bible than the Lord’s Prayer. In this lab, John Piper highlights two major new insights he’s seen over the years in the structure and relationships within this paradigm-creating prayer of Jesus.
