John Newton. Charles Simeon. William Wilberforce. They suffered life-long opposition and endured it for the causes of gospel truth, missionary zeal and political justice. They found in solid doctrine and humble joy the tough roots for habitual tenderness in response to their adversaries–without doctrinal or moral flinching. They are trophies of remarkable grace.

In Volume 3 of The Swans Are Not Silent series, best-selling author John Piper looks at the lives of these three great men and focuses on how they not only endured great opposition, but did so with joy and without bitterness. The lessons he draws show how to set a pace and finish the eternal race before us, encouraging every heart that it is possible to jump the hurdles in the way. These men were sinners just like us, but their example of refusing to yield to temptation or bitterness, and their downward growth in humility and upward growth in adoration of Christ, should serve as our inspiration.

Part of the The Swans Are Not Silent series.