I got no illusions that a church can be healthy, whole New Testament church on preaching alone.

Preaching is essential for a healthy church, but not preaching alone.

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper turns to Hebrews 10, 23 to 25 to underscore

the vital role of mutual encouragement in strengthening the body of Christ.

His sermon was originally preached at Bevilleham Baptist Church on April 6th, 1997.

This is a test of whether you're mature or mentally ill.

Because the mark of immaturity and mental illness, it's just a matter of degree whether

we're sick or not.

Everybody's sick a little bit.

That's what Jesus said.

He only came to fix sick people.

The difference between sick or immature people and healthy, mature people, is other-orientedness.

Other-directedness.

Sick people are always talking about themselves, always thinking about themselves.

You know, psychosis is the worst example of that kind of sickness, and they're totally wrapped up,

even in a dream world that makes no sense to anybody but themselves.

But the lesser cases are also that way.

A little bit of immaturity means, did I wear the right tie today?

Or they've all left.

I was going to apologize to them publicly.

All my hornblowers are gone.

I totally skipped their special number in the first service.

...