Desiring GodHighly recommended. John Piper is one of my favorite writers and preachers, and this may be his most important book. It lays out a central theme of his ministry – we glorify God by enjoying Him. Since we enjoy God, Piper calls this Christian Hedonism. ( )

Piper beckons us to approach God with the hedonist’s abandon. Finally, we are freed to enjoy Jesus—not only as our Lord and Savior, but also as our all-surpassing, soul-satisfying Treasure.
Desiring God may turn your Christian world upside down. And that will be a good thing, for the glory of God, and for your deepest joy.

From Daniel Christensen

book good ( )

If you are searching to understand what God really desires of your heart, this is a good place to start. You may be surprised by what He desires compared to what is espoused by most pastors and teachers today. When put in the context of Christianity, "hedonism" has an entirely different meaning than we are used to, one that will challenge you to look deep inside to find your true motives and discover God's call.

Piper is an intellect who speaks and writes in a way that is easily understood. His pastor's heart is evident throughout, even more so his passion to know and understand God at a deep level. This is an easy read but it will not be a replay of the usual Sunday sermon. You will find old truths reinterpreted to expose the Father's heart for His creation, and learn why Paul says "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church," (Col 1:24 ESV) ( )