Desiring God by John Piper
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Scripture: The Kindling of Christian Hedonism
Read Chapter 4 of Desiring God. Key Scripture: Psalm 19:7–10; Psalm 119:14, 72, 111, 162; Jeremiah 15:16
Previewing Week 5 of Desiring God
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
If God himself is the fuel of Christian Hedonism, the Bible is the match — the divinely given means by which God ignites and sustains joy in the human heart.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Piper describes Scripture as "the kindling" for Christian Hedonism — the primary instrument God uses to awaken and sustain delight in himself. How does this understanding of the Bible differ from seeing it primarily as a rulebook, a history, or a theological textbook?
2.Psalm 119 is saturated with statements of delight in God's word — "I delight in your statutes," "Your law is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces," "I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil." Does your actual experience of reading the Bible match the Psalmist's experience? If not, what do you think is missing?
3.Piper draws on Jeremiah 15:16 — "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart" — as a picture of how Scripture should function. What does it mean to "eat" the word of God rather than just read it? What practices have helped you move from reading to feasting?