Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. — Matt. 5:44
Pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:28
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. — Luke 23:34
From the workbook (see link at right):
What are the “imprecatory” Psalms? Describe how Piper understands the imprecatory Psalms.
What factors are important in his understanding for our understanding of Scripture and as it relates to Jesus’ demand to love our enemies? Should we imitate this type of imprecation? Why or why not?
What are some sins in your life which you think are your own personal or private sins that do not really affect other people? Why is there no such thing as a private sin that does not harm anyone else but our own self?
What is the first loving behavior toward our enemies that Jesus mentions in the Sermon on the
Mount? What do we learn about the nature of love from this?
How does Jesus’ prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” illustrate both forgiveness and mercy?
Is there anyone in your life against whom you are harboring bitterness or anger or hatred? If yes, who? This week pray the blessings talked about this chapter for these people, and ask God to soften your heart and to create in you true affection and love for them?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Demand #28: Love Your Enemies - Lead Them To The Truth
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. — Matt. 5:44
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:27-28
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. — Luke 6:32-34
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:17
From the workbook:
Why might having enemies be a sign that one is being a faithful disciple?
What does Piper show to be the root of love? Is this surprising to you? Why or why not? Why is it so essential to recognize this to be the root of love?
How might one use truth unlovingly? Have you ever seen someone doing this? Have you done this? Describe the situation.
Describe the modern conception of love. Who tends to have absolute say in what is and is not loving in today’s world?
What does Piper warn us of in the last section of this chapter? What has been his main point that makes this warning necessary? Which side do you tend to err on: speaking and/or pursuing truth unlovingly, or abdicating truth in hopes that you will be more loving if you do? How can you work toward cultivating more balance between the call to love and the need for truth?
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. — Luke 6:27-28
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. — Luke 6:32-34
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. — John 17:17
From the workbook:
Why might having enemies be a sign that one is being a faithful disciple?
What does Piper show to be the root of love? Is this surprising to you? Why or why not? Why is it so essential to recognize this to be the root of love?
How might one use truth unlovingly? Have you ever seen someone doing this? Have you done this? Describe the situation.
Describe the modern conception of love. Who tends to have absolute say in what is and is not loving in today’s world?
What does Piper warn us of in the last section of this chapter? What has been his main point that makes this warning necessary? Which side do you tend to err on: speaking and/or pursuing truth unlovingly, or abdicating truth in hopes that you will be more loving if you do? How can you work toward cultivating more balance between the call to love and the need for truth?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Demand #27: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, For Every Healthy Tree Bears Good Fruit
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matt. 5:8
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. — Matt. 5:28-30
Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. — Matt. 7:17
From the workbook:
What is impurity according to Jesus? What is purity? How might these definitions change what you would otherwise think is impure? Would it reduce or enlarge the number of things that you could consider impure?
Describe how vigorously we must pursue purity.
What question has Piper been trying to answer throughout this book? What do you think his answer is thus far?
What does it mean to think of our assurance in terms of location and demonstration?
Examine the fruit of your life that you regularly and habitually bear. Is it good fruit? How would you know? On what basis should you judge good and bad fruit?
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body
be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. — Matt. 5:28-30
Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. — Matt. 7:17
From the workbook:
What is impurity according to Jesus? What is purity? How might these definitions change what you would otherwise think is impure? Would it reduce or enlarge the number of things that you could consider impure?
Describe how vigorously we must pursue purity.
What question has Piper been trying to answer throughout this book? What do you think his answer is thus far?
What does it mean to think of our assurance in terms of location and demonstration?
Examine the fruit of your life that you regularly and habitually bear. Is it good fruit? How would you know? On what basis should you judge good and bad fruit?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Demand #26: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of The Pharisees - Clean the Inside of the Cup
Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. — Matt. 16:6
You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! — Matt. 23:24
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. — Matt. 23:25-26
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. — Matt. 23:4
From the workbook:
You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! — Matt. 23:24
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. — Matt. 23:25-26
They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. — Matt. 23:4
From the workbook:
- What reasons for listening to Jesus does Piper list? Can you think of any others that Jesus said?
- How do Jesus’ words lead to eternal life?
- What hinders so many people from being willing to listen to Jesus and truly hearing him and believing the truth of his words?
- Explain what Piper means by a “non-listener” by describing what it means to have “no place” for Jesus’ word, to not be “of the truth,” and to not be “of God.”
- How do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus compared to how much you listen to other competing “voices”?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Demand #25: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That Of The Pharisees, For It was Hypocritical And Ugly
For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. — Matt. 5:20
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. — Matt. 23:27-28
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. — Mark 7:21-23
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matt. 5:8
(Reminder: if you do not have the book, you can download it and the workbook free of charge at the link provided on right)
From the workbook:
- What does “out-Pharisee the Pharisees” (pp. 190–195) mean?
- Why do you think the elder son in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32) wanted to remain in the position of a “deserving servant” rather than a “freely loved son”? What light does this shed on the tendency of the human heart?
- Why do you think money, the praise of man, and illicit sex are some of the most common pitfalls people fall into and the dangers that Jesus warns of most often?
- Why is it that people who are greedy, arrogant, and sexually promiscuous can still look religious?
- How have you participated in hypocrisy? Consider some areas in your life where you have acted or are acting hypocritically. What goes on in your heart at these moments? What are you trusting in and what are you pursuing in being hypocritical? How can you battle this sin in these specific areas?
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. — Matt. 23:27-28
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. — Mark 7:21-23
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matt. 5:8
(Reminder: if you do not have the book, you can download it and the workbook free of charge at the link provided on right)
From the workbook:
- What does “out-Pharisee the Pharisees” (pp. 190–195) mean?
- Why do you think the elder son in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32) wanted to remain in the position of a “deserving servant” rather than a “freely loved son”? What light does this shed on the tendency of the human heart?
- Why do you think money, the praise of man, and illicit sex are some of the most common pitfalls people fall into and the dangers that Jesus warns of most often?
- Why is it that people who are greedy, arrogant, and sexually promiscuous can still look religious?
- How have you participated in hypocrisy? Consider some areas in your life where you have acted or are acting hypocritically. What goes on in your heart at these moments? What are you trusting in and what are you pursuing in being hypocritical? How can you battle this sin in these specific areas?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Demand #24: Strive To Enter Through The Narrow Door, For You Are Already In the Kingdom's Power
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. — Mark 10:15
What is the “secret of the kingdom” (p. 182)? Does this surprise you? Why or why not? What implications does this have for our striving “to enter through the narrow door”?
What would a presumptuous response to the presence of the kingdom look like? Why shouldn’t we be presumptuous in our joy?
Why might we not take Jesus’ demand to strive seriously? Why might we not sense the urgency of it?
Look over the nine things to remember which help us in our striving on pp. 184–189. Where are these truths taken from? What does this tell you about the importance and function of Scripture in the fight of faith?
Which of the nine truths listed on pp. 184–189 is most meaningful to you? Why? Meditate upon this truth this week and pray that God would use it to help you strive to enter through the narrow door.
What is the “secret of the kingdom” (p. 182)? Does this surprise you? Why or why not? What implications does this have for our striving “to enter through the narrow door”?
What would a presumptuous response to the presence of the kingdom look like? Why shouldn’t we be presumptuous in our joy?
Why might we not take Jesus’ demand to strive seriously? Why might we not sense the urgency of it?
Look over the nine things to remember which help us in our striving on pp. 184–189. Where are these truths taken from? What does this tell you about the importance and function of Scripture in the fight of faith?
Which of the nine truths listed on pp. 184–189 is most meaningful to you? Why? Meditate upon this truth this week and pray that God would use it to help you strive to enter through the narrow door.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Demand #23: Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door, For Jesus Fulfills the New Covenant
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. — Matt. 7:13-14
This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. — Luke 22:20
From the workbook:
What would characterize a false prophet or a false Christ?
How should we obey Jesus’ command to “watch” and “stay awake” (Matt. 24:42; 25:13)?
How does this help us in understanding the way in which we “strive to enter by the narrow door”?
What makes the demands to strive from Jesus seem burdensome?
What is new about the new covenant? How does the new covenant ensure the obedience of God’s people?
This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. — Luke 22:20
From the workbook:
What would characterize a false prophet or a false Christ?
How should we obey Jesus’ command to “watch” and “stay awake” (Matt. 24:42; 25:13)?
How does this help us in understanding the way in which we “strive to enter by the narrow door”?
What makes the demands to strive from Jesus seem burdensome?
What is new about the new covenant? How does the new covenant ensure the obedience of God’s people?
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