Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper

I was introduced to the writings of John Piper when I was in a men's group several years ago. Since then, I have read many of his books and would recommend all of them. So when the leader of the missions team at my church asked all of us to read Let the Nations be Glad, I didn't have to have my arm twisted. I was not disappointed. In typical Piperian (yes, I made that up!) fashion, deep theological thoughts are put forth, this time to the topic of missions.
Piper pours the foundation for a biblical worldview of missions, one with the supremacy of God as the overarching truth in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The opening paragraph of Chapter 1 is the spring from which the remainder of the book flows.

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

Can the call to missions make any more sense? If people were worshipping God in spirit and truth, we wouldn't have to proclaim the Gospel because everyone would already be living the Gospel.

This book is a great reminder to me of the necessity of missions and where prayer and suffering fit into the picture. I was challenged as I read of compassion for the soul's of men and I asked myself if I have that kind of compassion. Packed with scripture references, this book will help anyone in having a worldview that models a heart for missions, a heart sold out in satisfaction for God alone.