Something Greater

Meditations of a Christian Hedonist, Part 4 By John Piper - Copyright 2003 by Desiring God Foundation, www.desiringGod.org , published by Multnomah Books A Study Guide prepared by Milt Reynolds Part 1: Introduction...How I became a Christian Hedonist (page 7) Part 2: The Happiness of God Part 3: The Goal of God in Redemptive History (page 308) Part 4: God Delights in His Glory (page 41) What do you think? Cite an event from the Bible that obviously shows God acting for the sake of His own glory, or His Name's sake. A brief survey of the high points of redemptive history supports the conclusion that God's own glory is uppermost in His own affections . He puts a greater value on His own glory than on anything else. He delights in His glory above all things. God's glory is His infinite greatness and worth . It could be a bright and awesome radiance sometimes seen, or the infinite moral excellence of His character. God loves His glory infinitely. He lov

Paul Tripp: Learn to Accept Reality From an article posted by Paul Trip: http://www.paultrippministries.org/survivalskill2 Have you ever been reading the Bible and suddenly you are shocked, embarrassed, or confused by something that you're reading? What shocks you as you read God's Word? I want to look with you at the most shocking place in the entire Bible. Paul Tripp writes about the most shocking place in the entire Bible. I needed this... I think YOU need to read this , so here are some extracts and teasers: God's Grace God's grace is bigger and more powerful than anything that we could ever face, than any of our brokenness and our failures. Modern Christianity tends to deal with brokeness and failure by blurring the memory or comparing ourselves with others. Affirmation without honest self-criticism is like aspirin for cancer. Building self-esteem without recognizing, and exulting in, the depths from which God has rescued us is like reuphols

Continuing in Prayer, Part 3: Speaking Clearly In asking for prayer, Paul describes his desire for clear communication, based upon wisdom and gracious speech . [Pray] that I may make it [the mystery of Christ] clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:4-6 (ESV) Clear: phaneroo ( rendered apparent ), from phaneros (shining, public, external), from phaino (lightened, shining, showing), from phao (to shine, especially by rays). We use words such as phosphor and photo, all relating to light and brightness. The goal of preaching (or Sunday School!) is to make hidden truth public and external, or easily seen. The preacher or teacher must experience God's supernatural enabling to understand the mystery, the hidden truth of God's Word. The preacher or teacher must then use human language

Continuing in Prayer, Part 2: The Mystery of Christ At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison — that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Colossians 4:3-4 (ESV) It seems odd at first glance to see Paul describing the gospel as a mystery. For modern readers, a mystery is what hides a crime. Why would Paul use this word? What do you think? Describe your experience before coming to Christ. In what way was the gospel a mystery to you? Mystery: mysterion ( a secret ), from muo (shut the mouth), through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites. We use the words, mum or mute, as well as mystery - all related to this same Greek word. Jesus referred to His parables as the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, truth that is not available unless explained by the Spirit of God . (Matthew 13) Understanding hidden truth from God is a spiritu

Continuing in Prayer, Part 1: Watchful Thankfulness Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 (ESV) What do you think? Does the Bible teach that Christians should pray a certain amount of time each day, or a specific time of the day? Does "continue steadfastly" mean lots of prayer, or does it mean heartfelt prayer? Paul urges the Christians in Colossae to pray, but not simply pray. He says they should continue steadfastly in prayer . What did he mean? Continue steadfastly: proskartereo ( to persevere, be constantly diligent, adhere closely to ), from "forward to" and "be strong". Being watchful: gregoreo ( to keep awake, to watch ), related to ageiro (to gather), as in collecting one's faculties. With thanksgiving: eucharistia ( gratitude, grateful language ), from "good" and "favor". Paul defines steadfast prayer as being watchful and thankful in prayer . He connects t

A System of Prayer: Problem? Is prayer a duty, or is it a privilege? Is joy essential to salvation, or an optional by-product? I had been thinking about the tension a Christian sometimes feels between duty and joy. The next day an unexpected encouragement came from a post by a friend, Paul LeBoutillier (www.ccontario.com). Paul graciously allowed me to repost it. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalms 42:1-2, NIV) The slave to the "system of prayer" soon finds that his prayers lose their freedom and become less spontaneous, less effective. He finds himself concerned over matters that should give him no concern whatever—how much time he spent in prayer yesterday, whether he did or did not cover his prayer list for the day, whether he gets up as early as he used to do or stays up in prayer as late at night. Inevitably the calendar crowds out the Sp

The Genealogy of Good News How would you present the gospel in a brief sentence? Perhaps something like, "We are all born sinners, doomed to death, but God Himself took human form, took the punishment for our sin, so that we could live forever with Him in heaven." Or perhaps an essential verse of Scripture: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life; for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17) A comprehensive, yet concise, presentation of the gospel can be derived from just the names of the first man, Adam, and his nine descendents. The original meanings of each of these ten names can become part of a single sentence that communicates the Good News of redemption and regeneration in Christ . Note: This study was inspired and based upon a much more comprehensive article by Chuck Missle