The men will be reading through Miracles by C.S. Lewis. Mike Anderson will be leading our discussions, beginning Tuesday April 13 @ 6AM @ Java John’s in Nevada City. You are welcome to read along with us even if:
1. You can’t make it on Tuesday mornings
2. You aren’t a guy
3. You don’t care for C.S. Lewis (as I remarked to one brother a month ago, the authors we read aren’t perfect and their books aren’t Scripture)
It will provide us many opportunities for discussion and mutual edification around the table, at McDonalds or on Facebook.
Buy a copy of Miracles here, at your favorite Christian bookstore, or… you can often find a copy at a thrift or used bookstore.
The Desiring God Pastor’s Conference this year was a celebration of joy, inspired by the writings of C.S. Lewis and you may find John Piper’s treatment of Lewis enlightening and inspiring (audio, video and manuscript). Just follow the link to access a number of messages by Piper, Sam Storms, Eric Mason and others.
Have you ever wondered why God would allow Israel to have a king and even bless the nation through David and Solomon, when the monarchy came as a result of their rejection of God as king? That’s the question John Piper tackles this week. He writes:
The point of this chapter is the kingship of Israel… It was a spectacular sin for the people of God to say to their Maker and Redeemer, “We want to be like the nations. We don’t want you to be our king. We want a human king…” Nevertheless, if Israel had had no kingship, Jesus Christ would not have come as the king of Israel and the Son of David and King of kings. But Christ’s kingship over Israel and over the world in not an afterthought in the mind of God. It was not an unplanned response to the sin of Israel. It was part of his plan.
Let’s ask ourselves a few questions:
- When you consider that God foreshadowed a king in Melchizedek and prophesied of one through Hannah, then factor in Deuteronomy 28:36, how involved in the lives of men do you think God is?
- John Piper lists six things we can learn from the introduction of human kingship in Israel, in order to glorify Christ as King of Kings. Did any one of these speak specifically and powerfully to you?
- Can you remember drifting into an “ungrateful and idolatrous season?” How did you escape?
- Can you describe in your own words how God’s allegiance to His own name, His own honor, results in grace and kindness to us?
- When you read the author’s rationale for a human king, did you think he was reaching or does he make a good case for describing how God brought a God-man onto the scene as a king, to die for his people?
- Have you ever wondered what Paul meant in Romans 3 about “sins, previously passed over” and do you have a better understanding of that now?
- Jesus is King of all. Do you see further significance to the meeting of Abram and Melchizedek?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: The Sinful Origin of the Son of David
Okay, so we all knew it would come to this: The account of Joseph’s “fall and rise through the sins of his brothers and the sovereignty of God… with lessons about the ways of God and the (seeming!) detours of our lives… You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.”
The story of Joseph is the story of a righteous one who is sinned against and suffers so that the tribe of Judah would be preserved and a Lion would come forth and would prove to be a Lamb-like Lion and by his suffering and death purchase and empower glad obedience from all the nations — even from those who put him to death. Does he have yours?
- Why did Abram’s offspring have to wait 400 years, under a yoke of slavery, before returning to the Promised Land? Take a moment to reflect on this account of God’s dealings with His people and ask whether you are living according to God’s approach toward time or your own, finite perspective.
- We know about the sin against Joseph and how Israel ended up in Egypt, but how does the Bible describe that turn of events on pages 80 and 81? Have you ever seen your own sin against someone , something you meant for evil, turned to good by God?
- Discuss some of the similarities between Jesus and Joseph.
- How does the Lion of the tribe of Judah fulfill Jacob’s prophecy about the scepter and what is the irony in how the Lion comes to conquer and rule over all peoples?
- Would you characterize your obedience to Christ as glad or joyous or happy? Why or why not?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: The Sale of Joseph and the Son of God
John Piper addresses human pride in the account of the tower of Babel. Rather than being fruitful and multiplying, people “clustered” in direct disobedience to God, to pursue their own agenda:
Building a city is the way one avoids being dispersed over the whole earth. And building a tower into the heavens is the way one makes a name for oneself. So the city and tower are the outward expressions of inward sins… God’s will for human beings is not that we find our joy in being praised, but that we find our joy in knowing and praising him. His will is not that we find our security in cities but in God whom we gladly obey.
Are you seeking to make a name for yourself, at the expense of finding joy in making much about God? Are you experiencing the joy the Bible speaks of over and over? If not, could it be that you are looking for happiness in someone or something other than Jesus?
- On page 66, John Piper gives an overview of peoples, nations and languages. He says that people were clustering. Why do you think people come together in groups? That’s a pretty open-ended question. Do you think clustering is in our nature or the result of the fall?
- In this chapter, Piper highlights some literary devices… a few times the Biblical authors employ language to emphasize a point or bring out an important feature in the story. Did you catch that and can you identify at least 2?
- On page 69, the author talks about how and why God scattered the people of the earth. Was this simply a judgment or do God’s actions serve a larger purpose?
- Do you agree with the author’s statement on page 70 that the gospel spreads better “because of 6,500 languages, not in spite of them?” Why or why not?
- Babel and Babylon point to a future uprising, opposing God, which will be universal. Can you think of other Biblical accounts or times in history that serve to illustrate that universal uprising we see in Revelation? In other words, are there other similar markers along the road of history, pointing to a final battle between God and evil?
- The author states that Christianity is “not provincial” or merely a “tribal religion.” How does he come to that conclusion? Do you agree or disagree? How can we, as Christians, make Christianity appear “tribal” or “provincial?”
- How does a diversity of people and languages praising God, “image” Him to others and result in His glory? When people of all kinds come together in Jesus, in what sense does that foreshadow the new heavens and new earth?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: The Pride of Babel and the Praise of Christ
When speaking on the subject of God and the existence of evil, it’s important to speak as carefully as possible and that’s where I think John Piper shines in this book. Some things he says, I wouldn’t say. But, I have to admit that he goes right up to the limit without stepping over the line and I think that’s because he leans more heavily to Biblical exegesis than philosophy. Here is what he has to say about secondary causes, an important component to his point of view:
This book is also meant to show that everything that exists — including evil — is ordained by an infinitely holy and all-wise God to make the glory of Christ shine more brightly. The word ordained is peculiar, I know. But I want to be clear what I mean by it. There is no attempt to obscure what I am saying about God’s relation to evil. But there is an attempt to say carefully what the Bible says. By ordain I mean that God either caused something directly or permitted it for wise purposes. This permitting is a kind of indirect causing, since God knows all the factors involved and what effects they will have and he could prevent any outcome. So his permission is a kind of secondary causing, but not a direct causing. This distinction is an effort to be faithful to the different ways the Bible speaks about God’s relation to events.
We spent two weeks discussing this chapter. These are the questions we considered:
- The author says another aim of this book is to present Jesus as supreme — above all angels, kings, commanders, scientists, artists or philosophers – All Things For Jesus – Even Evil (pg. 54). John Piper states that he doesn’t see God’s involvement in the sinful acts of men through secondary causes as a philosophical conclusion. Where does he find those intermediate or secondary causes? Do you think he makes the case?
- Why does the author conclude that God’s ordaining and permitting sin, glorifies the Son? (pg. 56)
- Christianity is not primarily therapeutic (although it has that effect on those who believe). Faith, hope and love do not float in the air, but are grounded in ___________________. (pp. 56 & 57). How does this rock-solid truth affect you, emotionally?
- How does God’s plan to defeat sin and Satan demonstrate that He is not merely responding to a world of moral free agents? In light of God’s purpose, do we make authentic choices? (pp. 58-59)
- Jesus is not a copy of Adam, but Adam was a type of Christ. What does that tell us about their relationship in God’s plan? How are Christ and Adam alike – how are they different? (pp. 60 & 61)
- What are the three ways Paul celebrates the superiority of Jesus over Adam? How do these three truths equal good news for you and me?(pp. 61-64)
- There are a number of wonderful statements in this chapter. For example, “what he knows to be wise, he has always known to be wise – eternally.” “Christianity begins with the conviction that God is an objective reality outside ourselves. We do not make him what he is by thing a certain way about him. As Francis Schaeffer said, he is the God who is there. We don’t make him, He makes us.” “Rootless emotionalism that treats Christianity like a therapeutic option will be swept away in the last days.” Did you find a gem in this chapter?
How did Satan fall? This is a common question in the discussion of sin and evil in the world. John Piper observes:
The Bible does not take us deep into the heart of such a mysterious sin to explain the soul-dynamics that make rebellion rise out of righteousness. We are not given the final answer of how the origin of sin in the soul of a holy being takes place. But neither are we left to wonder if God was surprised or if he had to revamp all his plans.
The author cautions against speculation and urges his readers instead, to focus on the victory Jesus won at the cross, bruising the serpent’s head and destroying the works of the devil. When we do that, our hearts turn to worship and our minds gain courage in the face of evil.
Piper concludes with Eight Things to Do with Evil and Four Things Never to Do with Evil. I have found this one to be helpful in wrestling with questions about the existence of evil, sin and suffer in a world created by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God:
3. Never yield to the thought that God sins or is ever unjust or unrighteous in the way he governs the universe. “The Lord is righteous in all his ways. (Psalm 145:17).
We discussed these questions:
- John Piper tells us on page 40 that the absence of detail about the origin of evil is not meant to promote speculation, but rather to awaken worship and give us courage in the face of sin and misery. How can we avoid speculating and experience the awe and comfort the author points to?
- What is the greatest weapon that Jesus stripped from Satan at the cross (pg. 42)? Is Christ’s victory over evil an ever-present reality to you or do you need to remind yourself occasionally? What one discipline do you think would be the most effective in keeping you from lapsing into depression or despair over your own moral lapses?
- I like how the author’s conclusion that libertarian free will “is simply another way of naming the mystery” (pg. 43). What is the mystery he’s talking about and, since that doesn’t solve the mystery, how does he think we should proceed to get some understanding?
- Questions from the seven points: In what sense is “Satan the ruler of this world?: (pg. 44) Describe the difference in authority that God wields in the 10 commandments and the authority He exercises over the demons. (pg. 45) If Satan is the murderer, does he possess the power over our life and death? (pg. 46) In point number 6 on pg. 46, we read God’s words of comfort to Peter… do you think God cares for you in the same way?
- Why not wipe out Satan? (pp. 48 & 49)
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: The Fall of Satan and the Victory of Christ
I think it’s very wise of the author, when discussing questions about the sin and misery that are in the world, to remind his readers of two things. First, God has not been silent, but there is plenty of room for speculation and we do not want to go there:
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever… Deuteronomy 29:29
Second, when evil seems to triumph and God’s people appear weak or defeated, the truth is that the ultimate victory has been won and Christ stands victorious:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20
Our faith rests in Jesus, Who alone is able to give us this assurance in the face of trouble:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
These are the questions we discussed:
- On page 32, John Piper lists 15 attributes or “glories” of Jesus Christ from Colossians 1: 15-20; then, he suggests we memorize them. Why would we want to commit them to memory and what practical value would they have in day-to-day living?
- If nothing in the universe exists for its own sake, for what purpose do all things exist? How can we find personal meaning and significance, if that’s the case? (pg. 33)
- Were you surprised to learn that principalities and powers were created for Christ, but they were not created evil? (pg. 35) What possible comfort can we draw from this snippet of truth from the Letter to the Colossians – why would God reveal that through Paul’s pen?
- What does the author tell us is the main point for writing the book on page 35 and what is his antidote for wimpy Christians (pg. 36)?
- John Piper closes with five summary statements that lead to the conclusion that everything and everyone serves to magnify the glory of our Savior and increase the gladness of his people in him. (pg. 38) Have you ever found yourself in a situation or condition where one of these truths served to console or encourage you?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: Christ Sovereign Over All Hostile Powers
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing… 2 Corinthians 6:3-10
John Piper closes the first chapter with the last phrase of this passage, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing….” How appropriate was this foray into one of the most difficult challenges to the Christian faith on a Tuesday following the destruction in Haiti, in the middle of an economic recession, amid a wide array of personal crises and trials. We were challenged by the realization of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God’s superintendence over a fallen world and a sinful race. We came away more convinced than ever that the grace of God in Jesus Christ and the Gospel message is the only antidote to what ails us… the only tonic that will see us through to the other side of some very dark valleys. It all came to crescendo in our Tuesday night Bible study and worship time — Jesus was exalted, we were abased and there was a potent and comforting realization that, through it all that we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37).
These are the questions we discussed on Tuesday morning:
- What does John Piper mean when he speaks of God’s sovereignty over sin? What does he base this assertion on? (pg. 22ff – 2 Chronicles 10:15, 18:22 and 25:20)
- Have you ever wondered why God wanted His superintendence over evil to be revealed to us in His Word? What conclusions might we have drawn from the 2 Chronicles passages if God’s role in these matters had been left a mystery?
- Think of some natural disaster… or, some heinous act of barbarism. Could Jesus have prevented those evil events? (pg. 26)
- Why does the author conclude that sin, suffering, persecution and pestilence “somehow fit into [God’s] purposes?” (pg. 27)
- How is Jesus magnified and glorified in light of the pain, death and suffering that surrounds us?
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins: God Sovereign Over Human Sin
We began our discussion of Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ by John Piper. We began where most good books begin: in the Introduction. We looked at Joni Eareckson Tada’s observation, ”When it comes to holocausts or other horrors, most of us assume God has his hands tied and his back to the wall. We figure the devil wreaks havoc when God’s not looking; we rationalize the Lord’s ‘mistakes,’ figuring he absentmindedly took his hands off the wheel when tragedies happen.” Have you ever found yourself thinking along those lines? How does the author say we can avoid self-pity or rage and endure such catastrophes with faith and hope? The author leads us to the window of the Scriptures to let us know that God has not been caught by surprise when bad things happen, He doesn’t stand aloof and He isn’t powerless. No, He sent Jesus, Who willingly identified with a sinful and suffering humanity, took our guilt and, despite all appearances, won the victory over and through some of the most spectacular sins. Here are some of the questions we discussed:
- John Piper begins with the creation of the universe. For what purpose does the author tell us the universe was created? What does that imply about our purpose in life?
- What is the apex of Christ’s glory and what part did evil play in fully displaying that glory?
- What is the author’s purpose in writing this book? Do you think his assessment of Christians in the West is accurate or has merit?
- Why do many Christians have a wimpy worldview – what’s missing and where can we go to get what we need to pump up our sometimes wimpy view of God?
- Are you facing or have you faced suffering or a trial or persecution that put your Christian worldview to the test? What kept you from breaking?
On Tuesday, our men’s group will be getting together at Java John’s to begin reading and discussing John Piper’s Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ.
From the Desiring God site:
In this series John Piper seeks to provide a biblical perspective on God’s sovereign and righteous governance over even the sinful acts of men.
History’s greatest sins do not thwart God’s purposes to save his people and glorify his Son; they fulfill them. And knowing this is the key to having “Christ-exalting strength in calamity and Christ-exalting courage in conflict.”
We will begin with the Introduction this week. You can read along for free online or purchase a copy here.
Next up will be Miracles by C.S. Lewis, so keep your eyes open for bargains out there.
Continue reading about Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ
