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Seeing and Savoring Jesus ChristSeeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 14/21/08 10:15:32 AM
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SEEING AND SAVORINGJESUS CHRISTStudy Guide Developed by Desiring GodC R O S S W AY B O O K SW H E ATON, I L L I NOI SSeeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 34/21/08 10:15:32 AM
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ Study GuideCopyright 2008 by Desiring God FoundationPublished by Crossway Booksa publishing ministry of Good News Publishers1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187This study guide is based on and is a companion to Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christby John Piper (Crossway Books, 2004).All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in aretrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopy, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher,except as provided by USA copyright law.Cover design: Amy BristowCover photo: Josh DennisFirst printing, 2008Printed in the United States of AmericaScripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version .Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good NewsPublishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.ISBN SG.02552.i03.indd 41398127116510409308214/21/08 10:15:32 AM
ContentsIntroduction to This Study Guide 7Lesson 1: Introduction to Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ 11Lesson 2: What Does It Mean to See and Savor Jesus Christ? 13Lesson 3: Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ in the Gospel 29Lesson 4: The Importance of Seeing and Savoring 46Lesson 5: The Diverse Excellencies of Jesus Christ 59Lesson 6: Jesus Christ: Sovereign and Submissive 74Lesson 7: Is Following Jesus Safe or Dangerous? 92Lesson 8: Review and Conclusion 106Leader’s Guide 108Appendix: Leading Productive Discussions 115Desiring God: A Note on Resources 118Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 54/21/08 10:15:33 AM
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Introduction to This Study GuideIf someone were to ask you to describe the greatestproblems in the world today, what would you say? War? Poverty?Global warming? In the second letter to the Corinthians, theapostle Paul describes one of the central problems facing humanityin every age. “The god of this world has blinded the minds of theunbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of theglory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Oneof the greatest problems in the universe is a sight problem. Humanbeings do not see Christ for who he is. Even those who have caughta glimpse of him do not see perfectly. As Paul says elsewhere, “Wesee in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12).So we must see him. But what does this mean? How do you seea person who is not physically present to behold? Where do youlook for him? The question becomes more complicated by the factthat in Jesus’ own day, there were many who saw him who did nottruly see him. Concerning them, he said, “Seeing they do not see”(Matthew 13:13). What does this cryptic statement mean?Jesus is not the only one to offer puzzling statements about7Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 74/21/08 10:15:34 AM
Introduction to This Study Guideseeing him. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul celebrates the fact that “weall, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are beingtransformed into the same image. . . .” But two chapters later hesays, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Sowhich is it: do we behold the glory of the Lord, or do we walk byfaith, not by sight? Finally, the Bible exhorts us to “Taste and seethat the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8). But what does it mean totaste and see that the Lord is good? Or, to say it another way, whatdoes it mean to see and savor Jesus Christ?The aim of this study guide is to unpack the meaning andsignificance of seeing and savoring Jesus Christ. But our goal goesbeyond mere explanation. Our hope is not only that people willunderstand what we mean when we call everyone to see and savorJesus Christ, but that they will actually answer the call and beholdand delight in him above all things. Indeed, our prayer is that thisstudy guide and DVD would be used by God to open the eyes andawaken the hearts of thousands to the truth and beauty of JesusChrist in the gospel.This study guide is designed to be used in an eight-session,1guided group study that focuses on the Seeing and Savoring JesusChrist DVD Set.2 After an introductory lesson, each subsequentlesson examines one thirty-minute session3 from the Seeing andSavoring Jesus Christ DVD Set. You, the learner, are encouragedto prepare for the viewing of each DVD session by reading andreflecting upon Scripture, by considering key quotations, and byasking yourself penetrating questions. Your preparatory work foreach lesson is marked with the heading “Before You Watch theDVD, Study and Prepare” in Lessons 2-7.The workload is conveniently divided into five daily (andmanageable) assignments. There is also a section suggesting further8Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 84/21/08 10:15:34 AM
Introduction to This Study Guidestudy. This work is to be completed individually before the groupconvenes to view the DVD and discuss the material.Throughout this study guide, paragraphs printed in a shaded box (like this one) are excerpts from a book written byJohn Piper or excerpts taken from the Desiring God website. They are included to supplement the study questionsand to summarize key or provocative points.The second section in Lessons 2-7, entitled “Further Up andFurther In,” is designed for the learner who wants to explore theconcepts and ideas introduced in the lesson in greater detail. Thissection is not required but will deepen your understanding of thematerial. This section will provide the opportunity to apply whatyou are learning through meditation on passages of Scripture inorder to see and savor Jesus. To aid you in your meditation, youwill also read through Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by JohnPiper (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004). This book is available for free online at www.desiringGod.org in the Online Bookssection of the Resource Library. You are also welcome to purchasea copy of the book from Desiring God.The third section in Lessons 2-7, entitled “While You Watchthe DVD, Take Notes,” is to be completed as the DVD is playing.This section includes fill-in-the-blanks and leaves space for notetaking. You are encouraged to engage with the DVD by filling inthe appropriate blanks and writing down other notes that will aidyou in the group discussion.The fourth section in each normal lesson is “After You Watchthe DVD, Discuss What You’ve Learned.” Three discussion questions are provided to guide and focus the conversation. You mayrecord, in the spaces provided, notes that will help you contribute9Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 94/21/08 10:15:34 AM
Introduction to This Study Guideto the conversation. Or you may use this space to record thingsfrom the discussion that you want to remember.The fifth and final section is an application section: “After YouDiscuss, Make Application.” You will be challenged to record a“take-away point” and to engage in a certain activity that is a fitting response to the content presented in the lesson.Group leaders will want to find the Leader’s Guide, includedat the end of this study guide, immediately.Life transformation will only occur by the grace of God.Therefore, we highly encourage you to seek the Lord in prayerthroughout the learning process. Pray that God would open youreyes to see wonderful things in his Word. Pray that he would grantyou the insight and concentration you need in order to get themost from this resource. Pray that God would cause you to notmerely understand the truth but also to rejoice in it. And pray thatthe discussion in your group would be mutually encouraging andedifying. We’ve included objectives at the beginning of each lesson.These objectives won’t be realized without the gracious work ofGod through prayer.Notes1. While this study guide is ideally suited for an eight-session study, it ispossible to complete it in six sessions. The Leader’s Guide at the endof this study guide contains a note on one way to complete this studyin six weeks. The six-session option may be well-suited for groupsthat are already familiar with each other or that only have six weeksto complete the study.2. Although this resource is designed to be used in a group setting, it can alsobe used by the independent learner. Such learners would have to decidefor themselves how to use this resource in the most beneficial way. Wewould suggest doing everything but the group discussion, if possible.3. Thirty minutes is only an approximation. Some sessions are longer;others are shorter.10Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 104/21/08 10:15:34 AM
Lesson 1Introduction to Seeing and SavoringJesus ChristLesson ObjectivesIt is our prayer that after you have finished this lesson . . .› You will begin to reflect on the worth and value of JesusChrist.› Your curiosity would be roused, and questions wouldbegin to come to mind.› You will be eager to see and savor more of Jesus Christin the Word of God.About Yourself1) What is your name?2) Tell the group something about yourself that they probably don’t already know.3) What are you hoping to learn from this study?11Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 114/21/08 10:15:35 AM
Seeing and Savoring Jesus ChristA Preview of Seeing and SavoringJesus Christ1) How important is it that Christians learn to see andsavor Jesus Christ? What is at stake in seeing and savoring him? Is it possible to see him without savoring him?Explain your answer.2) What do you love about Jesus Christ? Make a list ofattributes or qualities that cause you to treasure Christ.Include biblical stories that display these qualities.Discuss one or two with the group.12Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 124/21/08 10:15:35 AM
Lesson 2What Does It Mean to See and SavorJesus Christ?A Companion Study to the Seeing and Savoring JesusChrist DVD, Session 1Lesson ObjectivesIt is our prayer that after you have finished this lesson . . .› You will understand the difference between physicalsight and spiritual sight.› You will grasp the relationship between faith and spiritual sight.› You will grow in your conviction that the gospel is trueand beautiful.Before You Watch the DVD, Study and PrepareDay 1: “We Wish to See Jesus”The central aim of this study guide is to enable people to see JesusChrist clearly. The fact that you are participating in this bookstudy indicates that you desire to see him. You are not the first. The13Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 134/21/08 10:15:35 AM
Seeing and Savoring Jesus ChristGospel of John records one example of some people who desiredto see Jesus.Read the following passage.John 12:20-2620Now among those who went up to worship at the feastwere some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was fromBethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went andtold Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has comefor the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remainsalone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves hislife loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep itfor eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; andwhere I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me,the Father will honor him.”Question 1: How does Jesus respond to the request fromthe Greeks? In your mind, does this response adequately answertheir desire? Why or why not?But there is one more most crucial thing to say about whatsustains us in the path of sacrifice and self-denial. Namelythis, and I end with it: Jesus took this path of suffering anddeath to this destination of glory so that he might becomenot only our example in dying, but, more importantly, oursubstitute in dying. Jesus suffered and died to give us both14Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 144/21/08 10:15:36 AM
Lesson 2pattern and, more importantly, pardon. And the pardonprecedes and enables the pattern. We cannot follow thepattern of Jesus’ suffering without being freed from God’swrath and our guilt and fear and selfishness. And we arefreed from these not by his pattern, but by his pardon. Notby his being our example, but by his being our substitute.When Jesus died, he didn’t just die before us—to copy—but for us—to trust in. The Good Shepherd laid down hislife for the sheep—in their place (John 10:11, 15). Theremust be salvation by Jesus before there can be imitation of Jesus. There must be justification on the basis ofJesus’ death, before there can be sanctification bymeans of Jesus’ power. 1Question 2: What is the connection between Jesus beingglorified (verse 23), a grain of wheat dying (verse 24), and the obligation of Jesus’ servants (verse 26)? How do these three provide asufficient answer to the request of the Greeks to see Jesus?Day 2: Two Types of SeeingWhen we say that we desire to “see” Jesus Christ, it is not alwaysclear what we mean. The Bible teaches that there is more than onekind of “seeing.”Study the following passage.15Seeing&SavoringSG.02552.i03.indd 154/21/08 10:15:36 AM
Seeing and Savoring Jesus ChristMatthew 13:13-1613 “Thisis why I speak to them in parables, because seeing theydo not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilledthat says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and youwill indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people’s heart hasgrown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and theireyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes andhear with their ears and understand with their heart an
DVD Set. you, the learner, are encouraged to prepare for the viewing of each DVD session by reading and reflecting upon Scripture, by considering key quotations, and by asking yourself penetrating questions. your preparatory work for each lesson is marked with the heading “Before you Watch the DVD, Study and Prepare” in Lessons 2-7.
