The Pleasures of God by John Piper
Week 4: Chapter 3 — The Pleasure of God in His Fame
Read Chapter 3 of The Pleasures of God. Key Scripture: Isaiah 48:9–11; Ezekiel 36:22–23; Romans 9:17.
Previewing Week 4 of The Pleasures of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
One of the most challenging aspects of God's character for modern readers is that he acts, explicitly, for his own name's sake—and Piper argues this is not arrogance but the most loving thing God could do. This week, we wrestle with that claim.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Piper opens this chapter by confronting a discomfort many Christians feel: the biblical God frequently declares that he acts 'for his own name's sake' (Isaiah 48:9–11; Ezekiel 36:22–23). What is your initial, gut-level reaction to that? Does it feel self-centered? Why or why not?
2.Piper's key argument is that it would be *wrong* for God not to be committed to his own glory—because God is the greatest good, and to prize anything above himself would be idolatry. Walk through that logic slowly. Does it convince you? Where might someone push back?
3.Romans 9:17 shows God raising up Pharaoh specifically so that God's name would be proclaimed in all the earth. Piper leans into this rather than softening it. How do you process the idea that even judgment and hardship serve God's pleasure in his own fame? What questions does this raise about suffering?
a.How does Piper distinguish between God's commitment to his own glory and the self-promotion of a human egotist?
b.Does that distinction fully satisfy you, or does something still feel unresolved?