John Piper has an interesting aside that several people have pointed out to me in connection with the quotes I have shared from Warren and Lloyd-Jones on the vital place of application.

In it Piper argues that, rather than application, it is the inducing of "wonder" in the hearer that leads to transformation. I ask: Why does it have to be one or the other? I know that a state of wonder that is not then driven home by the preacher can definitely leave me wondering how to apply the truth and how to live in response to it. Actually, Piper himself cannot mean that application has no place as in the context he is speaking of the following weeks' sermon which will be given over entirely to application! The clip is short, and well worth a quick viewing.