This book helps readers discover the key to overcoming sin and living a life that honors God. John Piper encourages believers to look ahead to t... read full description
reviews
Aug 13, 2010
Ramón
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My memory of this book is a little fuzzy, but I remember liking it much more than Desiring God . The main premise I took away was the rejection of altruistic Christianity - namely, that we are not called to sacrifice and do good without any self-serving motives.
The Bible is full of promises that are for those who are faithful to sacrifice and follow Jesus, and those promises are given so we can strive for them. The goodness of our acts are not nullified by wanting rewards for what w More...
The Bible is full of promises that are for those who are faithful to sacrifice and follow Jesus, and those promises are given so we can strive for them. The goodness of our acts are not nullified by wanting rewards for what w More...
Feb 09, 2012
hmmm, interesting.... never thought about the common answer of gratitude like that, but I can see how it can lead to the problems he outlines. I'm still thinking about it.
I guess with respect to his analysis of gratitude being an inadequate motivator, I agree with what he says, but think that often when people use gratitude as a motivation they mean more than just duty driven acts, which Piper warns are not enough for a healthy Christian life. This whole discussion reminds me of a C More...
I guess with respect to his analysis of gratitude being an inadequate motivator, I agree with what he says, but think that often when people use gratitude as a motivation they mean more than just duty driven acts, which Piper warns are not enough for a healthy Christian life. This whole discussion reminds me of a C More...
May 27, 2009
Gerald
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Probably the most readable (not to mention spiritually satisfying!) of Piper's books that I've read so far. The book is divided into 31 chapters, most of them focusing on Piper's thesis--that the way of sanctification is by having faith in God's future grace--but also many chapters on how to apply that faith to battle various sins.
Lessons I learned:
1) Why do we follow and obey Christ? Our primary motive is not gratitude for what Christ did on the cross (although we are thankfu More...
Lessons I learned:
1) Why do we follow and obey Christ? Our primary motive is not gratitude for what Christ did on the cross (although we are thankfu More...
Aug 15, 2008
John
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This is a book that demands the reader's full attention. It didn't always get that from me. So sometime, I'm going to read it in the way John Piper suggests, one chapter a day for 31 days.
To the best of my understanding, the theme is that we don't do good works out of gratitude. That comes dangerously close, Piper argues, to trying to pay God for what He has done for us, which would: 1) be impossible; 2) nullify grace. But our good works are evidence of the faith that has transformed us. More...
To the best of my understanding, the theme is that we don't do good works out of gratitude. That comes dangerously close, Piper argues, to trying to pay God for what He has done for us, which would: 1) be impossible; 2) nullify grace. But our good works are evidence of the faith that has transformed us. More...
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Apr 14, 2009
Stevie
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The most heady theological book I have read thus far by Piper. He is good at making the concepts practical. The fundamental thesis is that we walk in obedience by faith in God's future grace.
Poignant Quotes:
Gratitude is a spontaneous response of joy to receiving something over and above what we paid for.
Past grace is glorified by intense and joyful gratitude. Future grace is glorified by intense and joyful confidence. This faith is what empowers us for ven More...
Poignant Quotes:
Gratitude is a spontaneous response of joy to receiving something over and above what we paid for.
Past grace is glorified by intense and joyful gratitude. Future grace is glorified by intense and joyful confidence. This faith is what empowers us for ven More...
Jan 08, 2009
Stephanie
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"In Future Grace, author John Piper helps readers discover the key to overcoming sin and living a life that honors God. Many men and women attempt to walk upright out of gratitude for what Christ did in the past, but Piper encourages believers to look ahead to the grace God provides for us on a day-by-day, moment-by-moment basis—putting faith into action by laying hold of God’s promises for the challenges we face."
- Book Jacket Description
- Book Jacket Description
Apr 28, 2010
Cliff
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This book was a little hard to get through because at first it seems terribly repetitive. I was like "I get it, we need to have faith that God will fulfill his promises while other things won't." He seems to beat it to death.
But then...it starts to get interesting when he really gets into what it means. Matter of fact, it goes way beyond what you initially think of.
It's a book I'm going to have to think about.
But then...it starts to get interesting when he really gets into what it means. Matter of fact, it goes way beyond what you initially think of.
It's a book I'm going to have to think about.
Apr 01, 2009
Debbie
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Not an easy read by any means but if you are wanting to surrender all to the Lord and grasp a deeper understanding of His amazing grace, highly recommend you read this book. You may have to read each chapter more than once but will be transformed by the experience.
Feb 27, 2009
Michael
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Interesting argument, if I understand John Piper correctly: God wants to motivate Christian living primarily by Christians having faith in future grace (i.e., faith in God's promises for the future) rather than by looking back on God's works in the past.
May 02, 2009
Butch
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Very challenging and thought-provoking book discussing the motivation for our obedience. Commonly we are told to obey God out of gratitude for God's grace to us in the past. While affirming the importance of gratitude, Piper argues that it is a poor motivation for obedience, which is why God offers us so many promises for grace in the future as motivations. He then demonstrates how faith in God's future grace offers the best motivation for victory over various plaguing sins and how it enflames o
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Jan 18, 2012
David
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Piper is an excellent thinker and good author. This book challenges the reader to believe God's promises and expect God's "future grace" to enable the believer to believe and respond to them. IMHO, Piper is at times a bit wordy, but well worth the effort.
Feb 09, 2010
Gary
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Crazily I'm sure in some Piper fans minds, this is prolly my fav Piper book. I haven't read him recently, as in the past couple of years, but looking back on when I first picked his material up, I can say that this book sticks out in my mind the most: "The only actions Satan really cares about are future actions. The sins of the past are gone. He cannot change them. He can only deepen them, by influencing our future responses to them, or add to them, with more future sins." Maybe
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Apr 17, 2011
Keith
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A theologically deep book about... well, Grace. John Piper helps the reader to see that our obedience to God comes from the promise of future grace.
Often you may find yourself needing to back up and read through a section more than once.
Often you may find yourself needing to back up and read through a section more than once.
May 09, 2011
Jmajors
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Chaged the way I viewed my entire Christian thinking. And for the first time realy asked my self am I a believer and how did I get that way.
Nov 26, 2011
Not short. Not light. But an excellent exposition of how we grow spiritually by faith in God's grace. I've never read anything like it.
Apr 23, 2007
jun
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"What emerges here is that faith is the God-appointed means of justification and sanctification because, better than any other act, it highlights the freedom of grace and magnifies the glory of God. it does that because, at its heart, faith in future grace means being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. This kind of faith magnifies God because God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him" (19).
** i ought to reread this.. i fe More...
** i ought to reread this.. i fe More...
Jun 13, 2009
I read this years ago and thought well of it. I intend to read it again.
Dec 04, 2008
Jo
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I didn't agree with everything in this book. But it also had a whole lot of amazing insights and thought prevoking concepts. This is a very radical book--read it, take what you like, and leave the rest. Whatever you get from it will probably be worth it.
Sep 21, 2008
Matt
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This book is huge for Christians that feel they "owe God one" after he blesses them with his grace. Piper deals with the "debtor's ethic" and how it can destroy gratitude and become a motivation for holiness instead of faith in the future grace of God.
The book has 31 chapters so that you can read one a day in order to let it sink in. I was really encouraged by the book and found that limiting myself to a chapter a day did allow me more time to percolate with the conce More...
The book has 31 chapters so that you can read one a day in order to let it sink in. I was really encouraged by the book and found that limiting myself to a chapter a day did allow me more time to percolate with the conce More...
Mar 11, 2008
Nina
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This book makes you stop and think about life and the choices that we make through out. It's something that you can sink your teeth into. I loved it! It opened my eyes to the fullness of God's grace that he so readily bestows upon His children. John Piper is an amazing author. I would put him right up there next to C.S. Lewis in his use of the complexity of our English language.
Aug 20, 2008
Vincent
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This book is definitely timely for myself who has been so blind to the purifying power of the promises of God. Containing 31 chapters, the author encourages the reader to read it on a daily basis for a whole month in order to soak in the truths embedded in the book. I would definitely recommend that discipline to anyone who is looking for a breakthrough in his/her walk.
May 19, 2011
Cory
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Have you ever read one of Paul's letters, like 1 or 2 Corinthians, and you get to the end of the chapter and he just kinda pens one of those verses that blows your mind and you're just sitting there like, "Woah!"
This book is kind of like 400 pages of that (just in a non-directly inspired and penned by God sort of way).
In short, you should read it.
This book is kind of like 400 pages of that (just in a non-directly inspired and penned by God sort of way).
In short, you should read it.
Jan 15, 2008
Donna
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I love to read books by John Piper, but they are slow going for me. Written in a manner that requires much concentration for me, a good thing I'm sure, and well worth the time and effort. What really helps me when reading his books is to discuss them with friends along the way.
Mar 16, 2007
John
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this book is quite long (i think his longest), but it's packed with very-practical applications of his incredibly simple but life-altering theology. i also love the way piper's most salient theses comes right out of a close, academic study of scripture.
