Week 11: The Servant Lord and True Godliness — Chapters 18–19

1.Packer argues that the great goal of knowing God is not merely correct doctrine but a transformed character — what he calls "true godliness." How do you define godliness? How does your definition compare with Packer's emphasis on a person whose life is shaped by a deep, active awareness of God's presence?

2.Packer draws on Micah 6:8 — "to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God" — as a summary of what godly life looks like. Walking humbly *with* God implies ongoing relationship, not mere moral performance. What is the difference between following God's rules and walking with God as a Person?

3.In these chapters Packer discusses God's wisdom — His ability to weave every circumstance, including painful ones, toward good ends. He cautions against the mistake of thinking we can always read God's purposes in our circumstances. Have you ever been tempted to "explain" a suffering or a blessing as obviously God's plan, only to later realise you were wrong? What did that experience teach you?