John Piper on the Importance of the Bible

5 good questions to ask on the importance of anything. Thinking in terms of the Bible, below is a video of John Piper answering those questions. Great to listen to and apply.



John Piper @ GELF Breakfast - Lausanne 2010 from Crossway on Vimeo.

What would happen if it did not exist?

• No saving knowledge of God 

• Where the Word goes, the Holy Spirit reveals

What would you give to have it or keep it?

If you came across someone who approached you and said, 'I'll give you 500 million dollars to do with as you wish, but you'd be required to get rid of all your Bibles for a year...would you take it? Piper, 'Not on my life'.

 You know the worth of something by what you are willing to take instead of it.

 "I am groping to find a way to express the preciousness of THIS book."

 This book is Infinitely precious

What does it make possible?

It makes possible fellowship with the Living God 

 God talks to me through His Word, the Scriptures 

 He talks to me very personally, through His Words, through His Spirit.

How does it weather critics and detractors?

All hammers go against the Bible wear out and break. It outlasts them all.

How much effort should be given to spread it and preserve it?

MORE...MORE...MORE 

Memorizing Scripture, Football Statistics and Recipes

Hebrews 11 and 12 have been two of my favorite chapters in all of Scripture for a long time. Recently I was challenged, stirred by, thrilled by the reality of the promise of Hebrews 11:6 -'And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him.'

Get it...God rewarding me!! Rewarding me not with the trinkets of this world, but WITH HIMSELF. As I meditated up this verse,  God made it clear that it would be of great benefit/reward for my soul to meditate and memorize Hebrews 11 and 12.

So, I am about 10 verses in and hopefully by the end of January I'll worked through chapter 11.

Important to note: Mere memorization is not the end goal or purpose. The Pharisees knew/memorized a lot of Scripture and they were hell-bound and hated people. Purpose of this is to Know Him, Love Him, Draw Near to Him, Treasure Him more than gold, fame, or knowledge. 

We memorize what we love, cherish, appreciate, care about. 

Men: Think about the sports you like/love. You know detailed statistics, you know records, you know players, history, etc. You might not think about it in terms of memorization, but it is. It isn't hard because you love it.

Ladies: Do you have to reference your favorite recipes? Probably not, not if you use them often enough. It gets en-grained in your heart and mind.

I am trying to learn how to better use a camera this year. I have no idea what the majority of functions are, what White Balance is, what M, Av, M mean in camera talk. But, I will learn them. WHY???

Because there is Desire!

May it be that my desire, my passion, my craving would be set ablaze this year for King Jesus and that He would use (I know He will) the memorization of Hebrews 11 and 12 for His glory and my eternal good. 

I know there are countless tips and tricks out there on how to memorize Scripture...and I know they are helpful...but I think the bigger issue is a craving in your bones, a relentless stir in your soul to have more of Him and you will pursue it at all cost with great zeal. Make it so in my life King Jesus!

Hebrews 11:6 is a wonderful promise to start with!!!!!!

Another way to say, 'Change your world'

I was reading in John 15 this morning and was challenged by verse 12 & 13. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends."

Catch the 'AS I HAVE LOVED YOU'. Wow, what I high calling it is! Impossible without Christ Jesus living in me and through me. It is no wonder that the majority of the verses before describe the necessity of 'abiding in the Vine/Abiding in Christ'.

"Jesus, help me lay down my life for others today and help me walk in the strength You provide, that nothing is done in my own strength, but all done in dependence and trust in you."