Don't Waste Your Life (Group Study Edition) [Paperback]

John Piper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2010

Based on John Piper's best-selling book, this special DVD supplement guides small groups and classes to make their lives count for eternity.

Most people spend their lives on trivial diversions, seeking to gain comfort and pleasure for themselves. But Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." If the path to God-exalting joy and purpose is to "lose" your life rather than to waste it, then this Group Study Edition and the other components in the newly designed Don't Waste Your Life Group Study Kit are essential.

Based on John Piper's best-selling book Don't Waste Your Life, this special volume is divided into ten chapters to accompany his ten DVD presentations. Combined with the other kit materials, the Group Study Edition will help churches, small groups, and teachers warn people away from a life that counts for nothing-and into a life that means everything.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOHN PIPER is pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. His many books include When I Don't Desire God, God Is the Gospel, and Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and their DVDs and study guides.

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Crossway; Group Study Edition edition (January 31, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433506327
• ISBN-13: 978-1433506321
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Education

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Waste not want not......but faith is not a waste! February 28, 2011

By William S. Downer

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Because the last thing I ever want to discover is the stark realization that my life had been wasted I felt intrigued to read "Don't waste your life." But as I read through the book I began wondering where the presumed theology of justification by faith alone is going to be eluded to. For isn't it in such biblical truth that one's life draws its fullness and not wastefulness from? Hasn't the blood of Christ procured for us this life "saving" us from waste? Isn't it true biblical doctrine that not to have believed in Christ is wasting one's life? Can we really say to faith believing good works producing Christians that there may be the possibility that they may waste their lives? For if we are truly seeking God and depending upon Him aren't we doing all that God requires of us? I believe Piper by not discussing faith's role in ones Christian life faults us in his presentation of how one truly pleases and honors Christ.

Although a finely written book, I was left feeling I was not good enough or spiritual enough in living my Christian life. There was more I had to do. It was faith plus more. Or maybe faith plus less. That is I certainly couldn't be a Christian pleasing to the Lord if I retired early and enjoyed the life God had given me. Piper said it would be a waste (46). But I had to ask if I sought to honor Christ in my life and was living by faith in God's promises which resulted in doing good unto others why was this not enough? How could I be wasting my life if I so lived? I do want my life to count but I believe how that happens is God's work and His work alone as Philippians 1.6 says. And although Piper may have alluded to this verse he failed to inform me exactly that it is God's work which "completes" this "good work in you." Before we can "honor Christ" (Piper quoting Phil 1.20 on page 64) we must know in Paul's previous verse 6 that God is working within us doing the producing of his will. Thus living by faith in God's promises (His glory if you will) can never result in a wasted life! Therefore if you are living your life in such a way which honor's Christ daily then this book is not for you. However if you see yourself on the borderline and not 100% given over to Christ this book will help you see the necessity and glorious benefits of banking all of your hopes upon Christ!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Find Your Purpose and Live It June 9, 2010

By Mike Robinson

Every half-awake human being desires to know his purpose and live without regret. Yet most, believers and unbelievers, fail to rightly apprehend their true purpose and miss the meaning of life as they are in danger of wasting their time on the earth. In "Don't Waste Your Life," Pastor John Piper helps you discover how:

- Not to squander the time you have on trifling diversions
- Not to merely aim for security, ease, and gratification
- Find true hope, joy, and lasting fulfillment in Christ and His purpose.

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it" (Jesus).

Lewis posed this dialogue: "And what does it amount to?" said Satan, with his evil chuckle. "Nothing at all. You gain nothing: you always come out where you went in. For a million years the race has gone on monotonously propagating itself and monotonously re-performing this dull nonsense to what end?"

This is an outstanding resource for personal devotion and with the DVD makes for a fine group study.

And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

There Are Moral Absolutes: How to Be Absolutely Sure That Christianity Alone Supplies

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Piper tends to repeat himself, but his content is solid and challenging May 27, 2010

By Kurt Conner VINE™ VOICE

This book suffers from Piper's tendency to fill 200 pages when 30 would have illustrated his points sufficiently, but the points in Don't Waste Your Life are terrific, and it's well worth the read. Mostly, the book challenges the reader again and again to live deliberately for God's glory instead of wasting life pursuing anything else. I love Piper's exhaustive Biblical citations and his presentation of rarely referenced milestones in the history of international missions. I also love that Piper clarifies that living deliberately in a "normal" job is no more or less valuable than physically traveling to unreached people groups. Still, there were many times that I read a passage, paused to reflect, and realized that I could not pinpoint anything that had been added to the discussion, so I can't rate the book higher than 3 stars. If you're up for a challenging read, though, one that will confront you repeatedly with the question of whether or not you're wasting your life, I recommend this book.