Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

Week 6: Chapter 6 — The Goal of Life: Showing the Supremacy of God in All Spheres

Read Chapter 6 of Don't Waste Your Life. Key passages: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17; Romans 11:36.

Piper now expands his vision to argue that the call to glorify God is not limited to 'ministry' activities — it encompasses every corner of human life. These questions will help you think through what it means to make all of life sacred.

Discussion Questions

7 questions

1.Piper's central text for this chapter is 1 Corinthians 10:31 — 'Whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.' He insists this is not a cliché but a world-transforming principle. What does it actually mean to eat or drink to the glory of God? Give a concrete example.

2.He challenges the common Christian division between 'sacred' callings (pastor, missionary) and 'secular' ones (engineer, teacher, plumber), arguing that this divide is unbiblical. How does his argument from 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:17 break down that divide?

3.Piper argues that excellence in your vocation — doing your work with skill, care, and integrity — is itself a form of glorifying God and bearing witness to His character. How does this change the way you think about your daily work, whether paid employment, parenting, studying, or serving others?

a.In what area of your work or daily routine do you most easily see yourself glorifying God through excellence?

b.In what area are you most prone to laziness or half-heartedness that dishonors God?

4.The chapter emphasizes that God's supremacy must be shown, not just declared — that the world needs to see Christians living differently, not just hear them asserting different beliefs. What is one area of your life where your behavior currently tells a story that is inconsistent with what you believe about God?

5.Piper connects the 'all of life' vision to the Great Commission — that every believer in every sphere of life is called to make God's glory visible to those around them. How does this expand your sense of what 'mission' means beyond foreign missions or evangelism programs?

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Closing Prayer

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Lord, forgive us for the ways we have shrunk Your lordship down to Sundays and quiet times, keeping the rest of our lives for ourselves. Thank You that You are the God from whom and through whom and to whom all things exist — which means nothing in our lives is outside Your domain or beneath Your glory. Teach us to eat and drink and work and rest and relate to others in ways that show the world that You are supremely valuable. May all of life become an act of worship. Amen.

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