Piper, Hedonism

Lecture Listening Guides

by David  Capes

Speaker: John Piper

Title: Was Jonathan Edwards a Christian Hedonist?

Date: November 11, 2017

 

  1. By revealing himself as YHWH (Lord), God gave himself a name with a meaning. What is the meaning?
  2. Piper says Ezekiel names the Lord 72 times for what reason?
  3. In what does Piper say there is no such thing as excess, nor virtue in temperance?
  4. What is a Christian Hedonist?
  5. What are the two arguments that are cited against Edward’s being a Christian Hedonist?
  6. How does Piper describe the kind of “self-love” that Edward’s approves?
  7. What does Piper say Edwards means by “disinterested love of God”?
  8. How does Edwards answer the objection that Christian Hedonism makes “me” central in salvation and the focus of the universe?
  9. According to Piper, the hypocrite reverses the right order of joy. Rather than first making much of God, what phrase does Piper put in the mouth of the hypocrite?
  10. How does Edwards answer the objection that the emphasis on Christian Hedonism softens our resistance to sin?
  11. Why isn’t the need for brokenhearted sorrow over sin undermined by the seeking of our own pleasure?
  12. How does elevating the pursuit of joy not overturn the teaching of Jesus about self-denial?
  13. How is it not misleading to say that the essence of being a Christian is joy, when the Bible teaches that it brings trouble, suffering, persecution, and death?
  14. Doesn’t the elevation of joy lead away from humility and brokenness, and toward triumphalism and excesses?
  15. Where is the cross of Christ, the blood of Jesus, justification by faith alone in Christian Hedonism?
  16. What does Piper say Christ died for as it relates to the goal of Christian Hedonism?
  17. What does the American church need to change to reach a skeptical world?
  18. Why does Piper say we must take time to linger over God’s word every day, prayerfully and meditatively?
  19. What advice does Piper give to someone who has no joy in Bible reading or prayer?
  20. How does Piper suggest we learn to experience joy in God?