The Pleasures of God by John Piper
Week 9: Chapter 8 — The Pleasure of God in His Word
Read Chapter 8 of The Pleasures of God. Key Scripture: Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 46:10; Matthew 5:18.
Previewing Week 9 of The Pleasures of God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
God speaks—and his word does not return to him empty. This week, Piper argues that God's commitment to his word is itself a form of self-delight, with enormous implications for how we read Scripture.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Piper argues that God takes pleasure in his word not merely as a communication tool but as an expression of his own character—his wisdom, his faithfulness, his power. How does seeing Scripture this way change how you approach Bible reading? Does it make it feel more like encountering a person than consulting a manual?
2.Isaiah 46:10 shows God declaring the end from the beginning, confident that his purposes will stand. Piper connects God's pleasure in his word to God's sovereignty: the word never fails because the God who speaks it never fails. How does the reliability of Scripture become a form of comfort rather than just a doctrinal claim when you see it this way?
3.Jesus says in Matthew 5:18 that not the smallest letter will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. What does that level of commitment to his word tell you about what God values? How should it shape the care and seriousness with which Christians read and handle Scripture?
a.Where in your own life do you treat Scripture with less weight than God himself treats it?
b.What would it look like to approach even familiar passages with fresh expectation that God is committed to speaking through them?