Podcast appearances and mentions of Christian hedonism

God is love precisely because he relentlessly pursues the praises of his name in the hearts of his people.

If God loves us enough to make our joy full, he must not only give us himself; he must also win from us the praise of our hearts.

How can Christians avoid placing a relationship or hobby over a desire for God? Pastor John calls us to let earthly delights turn us Godward.

Is disobedience worth it? “Well. I don’t have to answer to God, so.” Yeah, now. And if He isn’t sending a fish after you that isn’t lucky-you. You’re missing out on so much more if He’s not reeling you in anyways. It’s telling God no to adventure. It’s telling God no to something both hard, and so totally worth it when you’re in the center of God’s will, plan and purposes. It’s telling God no to the fullness of joy. Listen: you can be in the most comfortable, lively, vibrant, distracting place ever with a million things at your fingertips, and inside you’ll still hear the screaming about the void in your life. Because you’ve maybe gone down, down, down to Joppa so as to go to Tarshish, instead of choosing Nineveh. And no matter how inviting Tarshish seems or how ominous Nineveh is, God has ways of making Nineveh your joy anyways, right?

Is disobedience worth it? “Well. I don’t have to answer to God, so.” Yeah, now. And if He isn’t sending a fish after you that isn’t lucky-you. You’re missing out on so much more if He’s not reeling you in anyways. It’s telling God no to adventure. It’s telling God no to something both hard, and so totally worth it when you’re in the center of God’s will, plan and purposes. It’s telling God no to the fullness of joy. Listen: you can be in the most comfortable, lively, vibrant, distracting place ever with a million things at your fingertips, and inside you’ll still hear the screaming about the void in your life. Because you’ve maybe gone down, down, down to Joppa so as to go to Tarshish, instead of choosing Nineveh. And no matter how inviting Tarshish seems or how ominous Nineveh is, God has ways of making Nineveh your joy anyways, right?

All the other gifts of the gospel — forgiveness, justification, propitiation, eternal life — exist to make fellowship with God possible.

When we see the face of Christ, we see the face of God. And we see the glory of his face when we hear the story of the gospel of his death and resurrection.

The gospel is the good news that God bought for us the everlasting enjoyment of God.

Ian Weber, Student PastorGrand Parkway Baptist ChurchThe Blessed LifePsalm 11. How someone becomes blessed v.1-2- Matthew 5:2-3Traditional Hedonism says "pursue pleasure as your highest good"Christian Hedonism says "pursue pleasure in God as your highest good" - John Piper2. The natural bi-product of a blessed person v.3-4- Matthew 7:17- Matthew 10:393. The end result of a blessed person v.5-6- Matthew 7:13-14Mental worship...1. What areas of your life require guarding against the slippery slope of sin (walking, standing,sitting)?2. What would change in your life if you "pursued pleasure in God as your highest good"?3. What would you say you most delight in and how does that affect your relationship with God?4. Is your life producing fruit or chaff? How would you know?5. What's your next step in becoming the super blessed person?Be sure to follow us:InstagramFacebookYoutube

Imagine being able to enjoy what is most enjoyable with unbounded energy and passion forever. That is not our experience now, but it will be one day.

Is God's pursuit of his glory and man's pursuit of our joy a selfish transaction? Pastor John insists on keeping our joy in God connected to God himself.

The worship of daily obedience is not at bottom a burdensome giving to God, but a joyful getting from God. That is the true service that God demands.

This is the essence of what it means to love God: to be satisfied in him — not just his gifts, but God himself, as the glorious person that he is.

The only joy that reflects the worth of God and overflows in God-glorifying love is rooted in true knowledge of God.

Not being afraid shows that you treasure God as your generous Shepherd, Father, and King.

Why are you tempted toward self-pity when obedience proves costly? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Matthew 19:29 to show Christ himself repays every sacrifice.

What are you really chasing in life? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper turns to Isaiah 6:1–3 to show that only God himself can satisfy your restless heart.

Luke and Seth discuss the happiness of God, the goodness of hedonism, and what it means that "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Free PDF: Desiring GodBooks referenced: Confessions, Desiring God, and The Weight of Glory. Sermon Luke mentioned: Undoing The Destruction of Pleasure.

How can commands sound like good news? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper explains Psalm 147:11 and shows why God's call to hope is grace.

Do you picture God helping you reluctantly? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper unpacks Jeremiah 32:40–41 to show God's eager, wholehearted gladness to help his people.

How can you be sure God won't quit doing you good? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper applies Jeremiah 32:39–41 to all who belong to Christ.

Does God's self-exaltation sound unloving to you? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows how God's pursuit of our praise is actually the fullest expression of love.

Take all the things that drive this world, and ponder how much better and more abiding God is.

The main task of all the ministries of the church is helping people see the greatness of what Christ has purchased for everyone who will value it above the world.

How can we root our joy in Jesus rather than in his gifts? Pastor John gives four strategies for loving God in and above every gift.

Does creation make God happy? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Psalm 104:31 to show that God rejoices in his works with the delight of a wise and loving Creator.

Is your body just temporary packaging? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Luke 24:36–43 to show how Jesus's eating fish reveals God's eternal “yes” to embodied life.

What keeps wonder alive in a weary world? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Job 37 to help us see creation as the daily joy of a God who says, “Do it again.”

Can a sovereign God take risks? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens 1 Timothy 6:15–16 to show how God's power and certainty anchor our courage.

Why did God create you? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Psalm 123:1–2 to show that we exist not to meet God's need but to showcase his mercy.

What if even your simplest obedience revealed God's power at work? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens 1 Peter 4:11 to show who empowers the good we do.

What makes God's joy unshakable? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens 2 Corinthians 8:1–2 to show that God's delight rests in his own infinite sufficiency.

Why does suffering drive us closer to God? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Hebrews 10:32–34 to show how pain deepens our joy in God.

What makes Christian joy stronger than fleeting pleasure? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Hebrews 10:32–34 to show how Christ holds us when the world lets go.

Why does God delight in cheerful givers? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens 2 Corinthians 9:7 to show that real love flows from joy, not guilt or gritted teeth.

What kind of love gives freely when life is hard and resources are few? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens 2 Corinthians 8:1–8 to reveal the joy-driven heart of true generosity.

In the Christian life, is joy in God just icing, or is it the cake? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Psalm 100:2 to show that gladness in God is not extra. It's essential.

Can death really be gain? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows from Philippians 1:20–21 that Christ is honored in death when we see being with him as far better than all we lose.

Why do we seek beauty and greatness? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows from 2 Thessalonians 1:9–10 that we were made to marvel at Christ's infinite glory.

What if God's love for you begins with his love for himself? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Psalm 19:1 to reveal why God's glory stands at the center of the cross.

One day, we will see God's glory, and marvel at it in such a way that he will be glorified in us for all the world to see.

It is possible to pursue God without glorifying God. If we want our quest to honor God, we must pursue him for the joy of fellowship with him.

What if your greatest hope rests not in God's love for you but in his love for his Son? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens Romans 8:32 to show how the Father's delight secures ours.

Loving acts are genuine to the degree that they are not done begrudgingly.

What makes Jesus worthy of infinite affection? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper shows how the Father delights in the perfect union of Christ's majesty and meekness.

Being a Christian is a very serious business, though not a sour business. We are simply blood-earnest about being happy in our great salvation.

What love could satisfy forever? In this episode of Light + Truth, John Piper opens John 17:26 to show how God shares with us the very love he has always had for his Son.

It is truer in suffering than anywhere else that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

Whether we focus on the riches of the reward or the refining effects of suffering, God's purpose is that our joy in suffering be sustained.

When Christ redeems marriage, he does not dismantle loving headship and willing submission. He restores it.