A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance
by Kirsten Birkett
About the Author
John Stephen Piper (born January 11, 1946) is a Reformed theologian, pastor, and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Piper taught biblical studies at Bethel University for six years (1974-1980), before serving as pastor for preaching and vision of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis for 33 years (1980-2013). He is the founder and senior teacher of desiringGod.org, named for his book Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist (1986).
Contents
Suggestions for How to Read This Book
Introduction: The Aim of the Book
A Word to Biblical Scholars (and Those Who Wonder What They Are Doing)
Demand #1 You Must Be Born Again
Demand #2 Repent
Demand #3 Come to Me
Demand #4 Believe in Me
Demand #5 Love Me
Demand #6 Listen to Me
Demand #7 Abide in Me
Demand #8 Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
Demand #9 Love God with All Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength
Demand #10 Rejoice and Leap for Joy
Demand #11 Fear Him Who Can Destroy Both Soul and Body in Hell
Demand #12 Worship God in Spirit and Truth
Demand #13 Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart
Demand #14 Do Not Be Anxious About the Necessities of Daily Life
Demand #15 Do Not Be Anxious About the Threats of Man
Demand #16 Humble Yourself by Making War on Pride
Demand #17 Humble Yourself in Childlikeness, Servanthood, and Brokenhearted Boldness
Demand #18 Do Not Be Angry—Trust God’s Providence
Demand #19 Do Not Be Angry—Embrace Mercy and Forgiveness
Demand #20 Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven—Be Justified by Trusting Jesus
Demand #21 Do the Will of My Father Who Is in Heaven—Be Transformed by Trusting Jesus
Demand #22 Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door, for All of Life Is War
Demand #23 Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door, for Jesus Fulfills the New Covenant
Demand #24 Strive to Enter through the Narrow Door, for You Are Already in the Kingdom’s Power
Demand #25 Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, for It Was Hypocritical and Ugly
Demand #26 Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees—Clean the Inside of the Cup
Demand #27 Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Pharisees, for Every Healthy Tree Bears Good Fruit
Demand #28 Love Your Enemies—Lead Them to the Truth
Demand #29 Love Your Enemies—Pray for Those Who Abuse You
Demand #30 Love Your Enemies—Do Good to Those Who Hate You, Give to the One Who Asks
Demand #31 Love Your Enemies to Show That You Are Children of God
Demand #32 Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, for This Is the Law and the Prophets
Demand #33 Love Your Neighbor with the Same Commitment You Have to Your Own Well-being
Demand #34 Love Your Neighbor as Yourself and as Jesus Loved Us
Demand #35 Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven by Giving Sacrificially and Generously
Demand #36 Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven and Increase Your Joy in Jesus
Demand #37 Lay Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven—“It Is Your Father’s Good Pleasure to Give You the Kingdom”
Demand #38 Do Not Take an Oath—Cherish the Truth and Speak It Simply
Demand #39 Do Not Take an Oath—Let What You Say Be Simply “Yes” or “No”
Demand #40 What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Marriage Mirrors God’s Covenant with Us
Demand #41 What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate, for Whoever Divorces and Marries Another Commits Adultery
Demand #42 What God Has Joined Together Let No Man Separate—One Man, One Woman, by Grace, Till Death
Demand #43 Render to Caesar the Things That Are Caesar’s and to God the Things That Are God’s
Demand #44 Render to Caesar the Things That Are Caesar’s as an Act of Rendering to God What Is God’s
Demand #45 Do This in Remembrance of Me, for I Will Build My Church
Demand #46 Do This in Remembrance of Me—Baptize Disciples and Eat the Lord’s Supper
Demand #47 Let Your Light Shine Before Others That They May Glorify Your Father Who Is in Heaven
Demand #48 Let Your Light Shine before Others—the Joyful Sacrifice of Love in Suffering
Demand #49 Make Disciples of All Nations, for All Authority Belongs to Jesus
Demand #50 Make Disciples of All Nations, for the Mission Cannot Fail
Desiring God—A Note on Resources
Scripture Index
Person Index
Subject Index
General Summary
Brief chapters on Jesus’ commands, direct and implied, in the gospels.
Suggestions for How to Read This Book
Most of the chapters do not depend on others, so the book need not be read from start to finish. Most important is to pray as you read.
Introduction: The Aim of the Book
The aim is God-glorifying obedience to Jesus; fulfilling Jesus’ final command to teach all to observe his commandments, connecting their meaning and motivation with the person and work of Jesus. Jesus was the Messiah, Son of Man as predicted by Daniel, who brought the kingdom of God. He came to serve, die for sins, and rise again. His commands are not arbitrary but the fruit of his work and display of his glory. They are both demanding and joyful.
A Word to Biblical Scholars (and Those Who Wonder What They Are Doing)
The Quests for the Historical Jesus have not been fruitful; this book is based on the texts of the Gospels, which present the most radical Jesus.
Demand #1 You Must Be Born Again
John 3:3,5,7
Being born again was promised in the OT (Ezek 36:25-27); we need to be reborn, of spirit, because the mere flesh is spiritually dead. We need new life, not moral improvement. . . .
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