Seminar on Christian Hedonism

Opening Prayer

• Invocation: Asking for help in the seminar to speak truthfully and encourage faith, hope, and joy.
• Praise: Acknowledging God's goodness and praying for a listening audience.

Introduction to Christian Hedonism

• Core Idea: You should not only seek joy but must find joy in God above all else.
• Impact: This idea can be liberating or devastating depending on one's heart.

Personal Impact Story

• Testimony: A woman in despair found hope through the concepts in "Desiring God."
  • Lost family and struggled with addiction.
  • Found new purpose and joy in God after reading "Desiring God."

Desiring God

• Origin: Sermons from 1983, book published in 1986.
• Staying Power: Continues to impact lives, indicating its liberating and devastating nature.

Seminar Aim

• Goals: To summarize and explain Christian Hedonism and its implications for life and ministry.
• Key Question: How does being satisfied in God impact our lives and actions?

Church Mission Statement

• Mission: "To spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."
• Vision: This mission aligns with Christian Hedonism, emphasizing joy in God's supremacy.

Personal Journey

• Struggle with Motivation: Explored motivations for actions in college and seminary.
• Challenges: Critiques by scholars and atheists on the role of reward and motivation in Christian life.

Foundational Ideas

• Universal Pursuit of Happiness: Innate and good human desire.
• Misconceptions: Challenge to deny happiness-seeking.
• Solution: Redirect desire towards enduring satisfaction in God.

Happiness and Satisfaction in God

• Psalm 16:11: Fullness and enduring joy found in God.
• Challenges in Life: Earthly joys versus eternal joy in God.

Love as an Expression of Joy

• Vertical and Horizontal Hedonism: Relationship with God and impact on others.
• Expression of Love: Joy in God should overflow into love for others.

Conclusion on Christian Hedonism

• Controversial Claims:
  • Pursuit of joy is necessary in worship and virtue.
  • Misunderstood notions of self-denial.

Church Dynamics

• Unity and Impact: Church's embrace of Christian Hedonism unites pastoral staff.
• Legacy: Influence on church culture and theology.

These notes provide an overview of the seminar's discussion on Christian Hedonism, focusing on its practical implications and theological foundations.