Tributes for John MacArthur
July 15, 2025
July 15, 2025
Last night at 6:17 p.m. (PST), July 14, 2025, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church entered into the presence and joy of his Master. Several long-time friends and gospel partners offer tributes below:
A theological controversy erupted in my first church. Stumbling onto a book by John F. MacArthur Jr., I was armed with the truth I needed to stand firm. I then consumed every MacArthur resource I could get my hands on. When I discovered that “Sun Valley” was just thirty minutes away, I started visiting Grace Community Church on Sunday nights. Over the years, his preaching and writing have shaped my biblical convictions and ministry philosophy. Then I met Dr. MacArthur and found him to be an even greater man, characterized by godliness, humility, and wisdom.
My testimony is not unique. A generation of Christian believers, congregations, pastors, institutions, and organizations has been impacted by the faithfulness of this gospel warrior. From his pastoral leadership at Grace Church over five decades to his expositional preaching through the New Testament (and the subsequent radio ministry and commentary series) to the scores of books filled with biblical truth to the stalwart leadership of The Master’s University and Seminary to the many around the country and who have counted on his clear and consistent voice for biblical truth in the face of error and confusion, John MacArthur has been a unspeakable blessing to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. As his work ends, his impact and influence will continue for years to come. Rest well, faithful soldier of the cross.
John MacArthur already seemed old the first time I had a personal conversation with him—and he was younger then than I am now! It wasn’t that he seemed feeble or slow. It was simply when I first talked to John personally, he had already been pastoring Grace Community Church for more than 25 years. His sermons—and their published form as New Testament commentaries—were already a cornerstone of contemporary, Bible-believing Christianity. To me, he was an older brother. Like John Stott, Jim Boice, R.C. Sproul, or J.I. Packer. A faithful man to be trusted.
Over the years, as we had opportunities to be together—in various churches and conferences, in his home and mine—I came to experience what a fine man John was. Not perfect. But always kind, unfailingly polite, and humbly, happily dependent upon Jesus Christ. We didn’t agree on everything, but we always agreed on the most important matters. When online partisans would put us against each other, we would talk on the phone, express our concerns, and especially our esteem for one another, encouraging the good. I am but one of countless undershepherds of God’s flock whom John has powerfully and regularly encouraged. I think of Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12.
We last FaceTimed a couple of weeks ago. His body was tired—his face drawn, his eyes bright. Smiling, he asked me about my wife, Connie. He knew of her recent health trials, and he wanted to see how she was doing. There was John, on the verge of his own passing, asking sincerely about my wife by name. But that’s John. Honest about his own condition, concerned about others. So much more I could say. I am profoundly thankful. I miss him. I look forward to seeing him again. Our prayers are with his church, his fellow elders, his family, and especially his dear widow, Pat.
Maranatha!
I grew up in a church tradition that was far removed from the fundamentalist and dispensationalist circles that revered John MacArthur. I don’t think I read a MacArthur book, or had heard much about him, until I was stirred by The Gospel According to Jesus as a college student.
Since then, I’ve read many of his books and listened to many of his sermons—both online and in person. What I will remember about John most is his unwavering commitment to expositional preaching. Even today, when I meet a “MacArthur” guy or a “MacArthur” church, I know that they will be absolutely committed to the inspiration, inerrancy, and authority of the Bible—and the verse-by-verse teaching of that Bible. That is a tremendous legacy to leave behind.
Over the past 15 years, I preached with John at different conferences and in his own church. In all my interactions with him—at a conference, on the phone, or in a private meeting—he was always a model of gentlemanly warmth and magnanimity. It is to his credit that I’ve encountered the same gracious spirit (in abundance) at Grace Community Church and The Master’s Seminary and The Master’s University.
John was never anything but kind and encouraging to me, which, I’m sure, has been the experience of many other younger men. I give thanks for his Bible-shaped life and his Bible-saturated ministry.
Just a few months ago, knowing that he was nearing the end of his earthly pilgrimage, I wrote to John, just to remind him of my love and appreciation for him, and to thank him for his faithful life and ministry, as well as his gracious kindness to and fellowship with me over the years. I just didn’t want to let the opportunity pass to encourage him and to express my gratitude to and for him. I will always treasure his reply.
It was Eric Alexander who introduced me to John, all those years ago, and my brother John got to know him (when he was working on the books and recordings of hymns with John and Joni Eareckson Tada) before I did. What a treasure it was to know John. Especially during the Together for the Gospel years, our paths crossed frequently, and it was a joy to minister the Word at conferences with him and to enjoy his company.
It is hard to know how to mark the passing of a giant like John. Like my brothers in Together for the Gospel, I can attest to his genuine graciousness in all of our personal interactions. Yes, John was a lion in the pulpit, but he was also one of the most congenial and kind Christian gentlemen I’ve ever known. As I have traveled the world in these last years, everywhere I go, I meet people who have embraced the sovereignty of God, the particularity of grace, and the authority of the Word through John’s ministry. John preached Christ. And the Lord blessed his ministry in bringing many lost sheep home, and feeding and guarding those found sheep with God’s Word.
Now, a faithful shepherd in Israel has been called home by the Chief Shepherd. Our loss. John’s gain. I love you, John. And I miss you.
Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.
John MacArthur was the most significant exponent of expository preaching in his generation. His ministry of exposition radiated out from Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and both taught and encouraged fellow preachers all over the globe.
He loved preachers, loved being with preachers, loved hearing preachers, and as the world knows, he loved preaching.
In God’s providence, John was called to a local church in one of the fastest-growing and most influential parts of the nation. He was steadfast and courageous. He addressed false teaching (and false teachers) head-on. He educated young people and trained preachers. He regularly gathered preachers for the annual Shepherds Conference.
It was my great joy to preach with John MacArthur, and it was a tremendous privilege to invite John to preach at Together for the Gospel, which he did numerous times. He was a gracious man, a dear friend, a great encourager to me and so many others. He never crashed in moral scandal, and he never surrendered on the great cause of biblical truth.
There was only one like him, and Mark and Ligon and I will be forever grateful to him. John is now present with the Lord he so faithfully served. May we follow his example, press forward, and end our race with faithfulness.
I stood in awe of what John MacArthur could do in the pulpit with a passage of Scripture. As with all powerful expositional preaching, no description can capture what makes it powerful.
Yes, there was crystalline clarity. You knew what he meant and what he did not mean.
Yes, there was explicit textual foundation for each point. You could see where it came from in the text. He made sure of it.
Yes, there was application to the pressing pitfalls and possibilities of our time. The text virtually exploded with relevance.
Yes, there was undistracting diction. No um’s and ah’s and you-know’s and sort-of’s and kind-of’s. Just unaffected simplicity and precision.
Yes, he was just plain interesting. He believed it was a sin to make the Bible boring. How could the word of the Creator of the universe be boring? Whether he was explaining historical backgrounds or current controversies, he was engaging.
Yes, there was zeal. He felt the worth and the horror of the realities he preached. God and man. Christ and Satan. Truth and falsehood. Sin and holiness. Life and death. Heaven and hell. Time and eternity.
Yes, there was authenticity. The whole man was in the message. There was no persona masking the person.
Yes, there was love. Love for God. Love for the Gospel. Love for the truth. Love for his flock. Love for the lost.
And yes, there was authority. And that was not a personality feature. It was the “Thus saith the Lord!” that comes from unashamed submission to every paragraph of Scripture.
But when all these marks of powerful expositional preaching are put in print, the power remains unexplained. The anointing. The unction. The sacred flame. The heart-piercing presence of God. The kind of seriousness that makes the heart sing. The kind of joy that brings tears with the opening of heaven. What can we say? It was a gift.
I thank God for John MacArthur.
Here is a longer version of Piper’s tribute.
Whenever anything is substituted for the preaching of the Word, God’s authority is usurped.
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