After decades of dedicated ministry as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, John MacArthur passed away in July. Countless people—church leaders and lay people alike—have paid tribute to the late pastor.
The church and the surrounding community gathered for his memorial service, and fellow Pastor John Piper generated moments of laughter as he addressed the crowd.
John Piper Shares Story About John MacArthur
A month after John MacArthur passed away, Grace Community Church (GCC) hosted a memorial service for “Pastor John” on Aug. 23. In anticipation of numerous guests being on the church’s campus, GCC livestreamed the service throughout its campus as well as on its website.
“The service will be livestreamed from the Worship Center to every room on campus, ensuring all in attendance can participate,” said the church’s website. “The Chapel will be dedicated to Spanish-speaking guests. Additionally, translation into Spanish, Mandarin, Russian, Korean, Arabic, and Armenian will be available via our livestream on the church website.”
John Piper, an author, a theologian, and the former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, was asked to speak at MacArthur’s service.
“Our friendship was thrown into very strong and stark beautiful relief by the fact that we were so differently wired by way of personality,” Piper shared of his friendship with MacArthur.
Piper had already paid tribute to MacArthur in an online statement shortly after MacArthur’s passing. “The longer I knew John MacArthur, the more I loved him,” said Piper. “Admiration intensified into affection…I simply stood in awe of what he could do in the pulpit with a passage of Scripture.”
During the service, Piper recalled a panel discussion that both he and MacArthur participated in years ago. The moderator asked those on the panel to share how they “deal with discouragement.”
With a somber tone, Piper shared a specific instance where he was “sitting on the steps of a guest house, crying.” Piper’s wife was concerned and asked him what was wrong.
“I don’t have any idea,” Piper answered in his distress.
The audience laughed as Piper said, “And, MacArthur looked at me like I was from another planet!”
John Piper tells a funny story about John MacArthur at his memorial, repeatedly making the audience laugh. pic.twitter.com/CEMTIa8EV4
— Protestia (@Protestia) August 23, 2025
