Tim Keller

Last Friday, May 19, pastor, theologian, and author Tim Keller passed away. The longtime pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and author of books such as The Reason for God was known for his thoughtful sermons, calm demeanor, and a ministry that extended beyond his own denomination and even his fellow Christians to the wider world of elite society. 

It’s rare, especially today, for someone to be called “a giant” by both a top theologian and a New York Times columnist. Rarer still will such a prominent figure be regularly described as unassuming, living out the exhortation of Rudyard Kipling to be someone who can “walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch.” It’s notable that even his critics, which he certainly had, have refrained from doubting his self-effacing grace and kindness for others. 

My call today is for us to renew our commitment to thinking and living biblically, whatever the consequences in our broken, post-Christian culture. To this end, let’s close with a reflection from Billy Graham: “Early in my life, I had some doubts about whether or not the Bible was really God’s word. But one night in 1949, I knelt before a stump in the woods of Forest Home, California, opened my Bible and said, ‘O God, there are many things in this book I do not understand. But by faith, I accept it—from Genesis to Revelation—as your word.’

Like many who mourned pastor Tim Keller's passing, I never met him in person. Also, like many others, he served as a mentor from afar. I could talk for days about the ministry insights I learned from him, but those are not the most important. Through his sermons, books, articles, and interviews, I gleaned an approach to following Jesus and engaging the people around me with the Gospel.

While this list could be much longer, these are the three most important lessons about following Jesus from Dr. Tim Keller.

Author and pastor John Piper says his final email exchange with the late Tim Keller involved a hope-filled message from Luke 10 that also had inspired 20th-century minister Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

"Hi, my name is Tim Keller." Those few words would begin a seven-year friendship between me and Tim.

If we embrace our suffering as an opportunity to trust Christ with our pain and serve others in theirs, “the salvific meaning of suffering” will be revealed to us. We will testify with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). We will experience an intimacy with our Lord and our fellow sufferers unavailable to others.

And when our journey leads us from this world to the next, we can say what Tim Keller told his family before his homegoing: “I’m ready to see Jesus. I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.” The old hymn was right: “The way of the cross leads home.” What cross is yours today?

To many, Tim Keller was proof that you could be a Christian, an intellectual, and a redemptive presence in cities. What made him so iconic?

Renowned pastor and author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Keller was 72.

Born on September 23, 1950, Keller received his education from Westminster Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Bucknell University. He was the chairman and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition and Redeemer City to City. He was also the Senior pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the author of nearly three dozen books. Keller stepped down from his senior pastor role in 2017 to focus his attention on his non-profit organization, Redeemer City to City.

Amid Keller’s passing, faith leaders are lauding him for his work in urban ministry and life as a man of God.

Author and pastor Tim Keller, who planted a church in New York City that grew to 5,000 attendees and who pioneered work in urban ministry, died Friday after a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 72.  

The late pastor and best-selling author Tim Keller passed away on Friday, May 19, three years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Keller had a long and influential ministerial career. During his time in the pastorate, he regularly highlighted the love and goodness of God. Here are 10 inspiring quotes about faith, Christianity and God’s goodness from Pastor Tim Keller.