Assignment for Nov. 2

Sorry for the delay in this folks! During your review of chapters 4 thru 6, please take some time to ponder the questions below, and bring your answers to class with you on Sunday.


Assignment for Nov. 2

Chapter 4 - Magnifying Christ Through Pain and Death

Question 1. In your own words, describe what the main point is of Chapter 4, and cite two examples in the text that provide support for your description.

Question 2. Chapter 4 talks about paradoxes. On page 63 Piper writes that making much of Christ is both a consequence and a means of making much of him. On page 64 he says that if we know how to die well, we will know how to live well, and on page 65 he says being shamed for Christ brings honor to Christ. How can being shamed bring honor to Christ?

Question 3. In the light of this, do you agree that being shamed brings honor to Christ? Are you willing to be shamed for Christ, or have you been shamed for Christ?

Chapter 5 - Risk is Right

Question 1. In your own words, describe what the main point is of Chapter 5, and cite two examples in the text that provide support for your description.

Question 2. Please look up and read Isaiah 41:23, 42:8-9, 44:6-8, 45:21, 46:8-11, 48:3 (we read these one day in class, but ran out of time to discuss them). My study Bible notes call these chapters, "the book of comfort," where God is describing the restoration of Israel after Babylonian rule. Piper mentions these passages on page 80, where he says there would be no risk without ignorance. In light of these verses, if God knows the outcome of our risky lives, does this change or influence your thoughts about risk? Can God take a risk? Write down some of your thoughts about this.

Question 3. On page 89 of the book, Piper writes: "Risk is right. And the reason is not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run." Does this mean that God asks us to serve causes and missions that might end in failure?

Question 4. Write down an example of a person from the Bible who risked something for God and experienced failure.

Question 5. Is it possible to be "more than a conqueror" over failure?

Chapter 6 - The Goal of Life

Question 1. In your own words, describe what the main point is of Chapter 6, and cite two examples in the text that provide support for your description.

Question 2. Piper writes on page 101 that the goal of forgiveness is "infinite joy in his fellowship." When you forgive others, or ask for forgiveness yourself, what are you hoping for as a result of forgiveness?

Question 3. Read "Making Others Glad In God is a Massive Thing" on page 104-105. What are the six components to gladness in God? Do you see yourself striving for gladness in God? Are (or were) these six components present in your life?