Radical With David Platt

In countless ways, our culture tells us that wealth is the key to happiness. Even among Christians, the pursuit of money and comfort and ease can be a major blindspot. We live as if this world is all there is. However, as David Platt reminds us in this message from James 5:1–6, there’s a deceptive danger attached to worldly wealth. While money isn’t inherently evil, we can begin to live for things that are temporary while ignoring the things that will matter for all of eternity. Even if we don’t consider ourselves to be wealthy, we must be on guard against the desire for more. We should be eager to use our resources for the glory of God and the good of others.

Over 3 billion people in the world today have little or no access to the gospel—we refer to them as the unreached. It’s easy to look at this staggering number of unreached people and label it as a missions problem, but this is a problem that actually runs deeper. This is a discipleship problem. In this message from David Platt based on Matthew 28:18–20 and Revelation 7:9–10, David Platt helps us see the massive number of unreached people as a discipleship problem. Every follower of Christ should desire to obey Jesus, and this obedience involves living our lives and using our resources for the sake of making disciples among every people group on the planet. This message was given at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For more resources from Radical, go to radical.net. 

God delights in revealing himself to those who are bold enough to bother him. God invites us to bother him anytime about anything. In this message on Luke 11:5–10, David Platt teaches us to view this parable through the perspective of the man in need.

In this message from David Platt from James 2:14–26, we see the difference between dead faith and living faith.

When we pray, we should make our desires whatever God desires. In this message on Luke 11:2–4, David Platt teaches us that our desire for God is the heart and secret of prayer. Christians can remember that God gives us protection amidst temptations and perseverance amidst trials. 

According to James 1:26–27, it’s entirely possible to practice a kind of religion that is acceptable to man but not to God. The danger of deception is real, and God graciously warns us against deception by telling us what true religion—the kind that pleases God—looks like in our speech, our care for the vulnerable, and our conduct. In this message, David Platt challenges us to put our faith into action, particularly as it involves caring for the vulnerable. This is not an option but an obligation. However, we don’t care for orphans and widows because we’re rescuers; we care for orphans and widows because we’re the rescued.

Why do we pray? Are we desperate before God? Do we recognize our great need for the Lord? In this message on Luke 11:1, David Platt reminds us that the power of people who connect with Almighty God is unstoppable. Pastor David Platt helps refocus our minds on the importance of a personal relationship with the Lord.

How can we receive, remember, and obey God’s Word? In this message on James 1:19–25, David Platt encourages Christians to view God’s Word with the right perspective. He challenges us to receive God’s Word humbly and wholeheartedly, remember the Word intentionally and continually, and obey God’s Word gladly and immediately.

Revelation 7:9–17 gives us a picture of a great multitude from every tribe, people, and language gathered around God’s throne to sing his praise for his salvation. Sadly, though, over 3 billion people in the world today have never even heard the only message—the gospel—by which they can be saved and join in such a song.  In response, David Platt forces us to ask the question, “Does this reality even bother us?” We put a lot of time and resources into our worship music, even dividing over it at times, but we don’t seem to be that committed to getting the gospel to the billions who are unreached. Each of us should ask the Lord how he would have us and our church be a part of this great mission. This message was given at the Sing! Conference 2023. (This and other resources from Radical can be found at radical.net)

 Superficial faith is always possible, but saving faith always perseveres. As Christians, the Bible teaches us that we can have the assurance of eternal salvation. When we are saved, we are always saved. In this message on 1 John, Pastor David Platt teaches us how the present truth of Christ affects our life. 

 It’s easy to say we trust the Lord and talk about his goodness when life seems to be going well, but when trials come our way, our faith is put to the test. What we trust in is exposed. In this message from James 1:1–12 from David Platt, we see how, by God’s grace, trials can actually serve to strengthen our faith. We can even have joy in trials—but only when God is our ultimate goal. (This message can also be found at radical.net.) 

The Bible teaches us about the three foundational components of salvation. First, justification is an event. We speak of this by saying that we have been saved. Second, sanctification is a present process. We speak of this by saying that we are being saved. Third, glorification is a future prize. We speak of this by saying that we will be saved. The grace of God undergirds every facet of our salvation. In this message on Philippians 2:12–13, Pastor David Platt teaches us that faith involves radical dependence on God’s work in our lives.

Many gospel presentations emphasize the fact that God has a wonderful plan for your life while spending little time on the problem of sin and how it is that holy God can have fellowship with people who have rebelled against him. But Scripture paints a different and much fuller picture of God’s saving work in Christ. In this message from Romans 3:21–26, Pastor David Platt unpacks the following definition of the gospel: the just and gracious God of the universe looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent his Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to bear his wrath against sin on the cross and to show his power over sin in the resurrection so that all who have faith in him will be reconciled to God forever. Though the problem of sin may be greater than we imagined, God’s grace in the gospel is greater still.

 Sometimes God’s timing leaves us with questions or even doubts. Does he care? Has he forgotten me? Is he really working all things for my good? In this message from Romans 8:18–30, David Platt points us to the character and promises of God. Regardless of our circumstances, we can trust what God says in his Word. His love is sure, even when we don’t understand his timing. Waiting on God should cause us to grow in prayer and dependence on him. Ultimately, our waiting is for God’s glory and our eternal good. 

Jesus said that unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God. So what does it mean to be born again? In this message from John 3:1–21, David Platt points us to the words of Jesus to understand God’s sovereign work in our salvation. We are responsible for putting our faith in Christ, but it’s the gracious and powerful work of the Holy Spirit that makes our response possible. As those who are born dead in sin, we need more than moral improvement—we need a new heart. And that’s precisely what God gives us in the new birth. 

 Many professing Christians assume that because they’ve prayed a prayer or made a public profession, they are on their way to heaven, despite the fact that their lives give very little evidence of heart change. In this message from David Platt from Matthew 7:13–27, we hear the sobering warnings of Jesus. Many will call Jesus “Lord” on the last day, only to find out that they never belonged to him. Every professing Christian should examine his or her life to see if they are truly following the narrow way. 

 Sometimes our culture talks about faith as if it’s a way to achieve our own dreams. But faith is more than self-centered positive thinking. Faith is humble and dependent on God, and it leads us to prayer and patience in suffering. Faith lives in light of Christ’s coming. In this message from David Platt from James 4:13–5:20, we see that genuine faith perseveres through the trials and difficulties of life. It may face obstacles and setbacks, but by God’s grace and power, true faith lasts. 

Some Christians say that the way to be a light to the world is to look more like the world. However, the book of James has a very different message. We’re told to live by a wisdom that is very different from the world’s wisdom, and we’re told that friendship with the world and its sinful ways is rebellion against God. It’s by humbling ourselves before God and receiving his grace that we are enabled to live lives that please God. In this message from James 3:13–4:12, David Platt points us to the kind of faith and wisdom that submits to God’s good ways rather than the sinful ways of the world.

How can a God who is infinitely holy, just, and good show mercy and grace to sinful and rebellious people? How can a Just Judge let the guilty go free? In this message from Mark 15:1–20, David Platt points to the cross as the answer to these questions. By sending his Son in the flesh to bear his wrath against sin, God provided a substitute for guilty people like us. God’s justice and his mercy met at the cross, and as a result, all who trust in Christ can be freed from the penalty and power of sin. 

Most Christians can understand looking to Abraham as an example of what it means to live by faith. But it’s surprising to hear of a notoriously sinful lady named Rahab get mentioned alongside one of the heroes of the faith. What makes Rahab like Abraham, and how does Rahab’s story give us hope? In this message from James 2:25–26, David Platt helps us see the faith of Rahab—a faith that risks everything out of trust in God’s sovereign lordship. Regardless of our background or the sin in our lives, we can be declared righteous by trusting in Christ, and this trust changes the way we live.