The Legacy of Sovereign Joy: God's Triumphant Grace in the Lives of Augustine, Luther, and Calvin

John Piper’s biographies are written with a pastor’s eye and so are more than just the story of a famous individual. Rather, they focus on how the person ticked, and how they lived for Jesus. This book looks at 3 great men in the history of the Church, and even though each man had serious flaws, Piper points out the evidences of God’s grace and how these men were used so mightily for God.

It would be hard to pick three more trans-formative individuals in church history than the three Piper surveys in this book. He focuses on the pastoral heart and preaching of John Calvin. He looks at Augustine’s dramatic conversion from the bondage of sin. And with Luther, he focuses on his study and work as a scholar. The thread that binds the show more lives of these men is the power of joy in their lives. Or you could say the presence of sovereign joy in their personal lives and ministries.

This short book offers an excellent introduction to the life and legacy of each of these towering figures from church history. But it offers much more. Piper knows just how to peel back the curtain, as it were, and show us how these men tick. He finds their heart for Christ and aims to encourage us all to follow in their footsteps.

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What I loved most about this book was getting to see how God used three very normal, weak human beings to accomplish incredibly historic acts for his glory. It gave me fresh faith to pray for God to do big things in and through my life.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book. Of course Piper would have to write a whole book over these 3 guys. The thing to remember about Piper is that he is not a historian, he's a pastor. He rips way too much stuff off of these guys and his whole theology comes from them. I found most of the information not useful at all and he basically just used it to backup what he always preaches "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him"...this is what Piper lives by. Just quote a verse Piper, I would rather live by Scripture than a propositional statement.

All of Piper's biographical sketches are pearl. The conference version is available for streaming or download as MP3 for free at the Desiring God website.