John Piper tells his readers and listeners to read Christian biography.  Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle says the same thing.  Why?  Because there is nothing like reading and really getting into someone else's life to help encourage you, grow you, comfort you, and challenge you.

This year, in 2009, I am challenging HBC to read Christian biography with Pastor Brett.  We will be reading some short books on some of the most outstanding lives of great Christians.  These include Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, George Muller, Martin Luther, George Whitefield, John Newton, and others.  I may even throw in a biography of Stonewall Jackson for spice! 

I would like to discuss these as we read them, and then post comments or short chapter summaries or reviews on this site. 

George Mueller: Delighted in God

What can be accomplished in an ordinary man who trusts in an extraordinary God? George Muller's life is a powerful answer to modern skepticism. His name has become a byword for faith throughout the world. In the early 1830s he embarked upon an extraordinary adventure. Disturbed by the faithlessness of the Church in general, he longed to have something to point to as "visible proof that our God and Father is the same faithful creator as he ever was." Praying in every penny of the costs, he supervised the building of five large orphanages housing thousands of children. Under no circumstances would any individual ever be asked for money or materials. He was more successful than anyone could have believed possible and is as much an example to our generation, as he was to his.

Buy the book George Mueller: Delighted in God, by Roger Steer, on the extraordinary life of an ordinary man.  We will begin reading this book after our first meeting on March 22.  While reading this book, please think about how we can grow HBC using the same faith in our Almighty God as George Mueller. 

Things to Think About for chapters 1-6:

1.  What can be accomplished in an ordinary man who trusts in an extraordinary God?

2.  Look at the transformation that occurred in Mueller’s life.  How have you seen that type of transformation in your own life?  If you haven’t seen it, why do you think not?

3.  What drove Mueller to begin his orphan project?  What was the primary reason?  Does this surprise you?

Think about Mueller’s view of the glory of God.  Do you think about this the same way?

4.  How much did Mueller trust God?  How much do you trust God? 

5.  Look at Mueller’s preaching and ministry.  How did God work through him?

6.  Look at Mueller’s prayer life during his early years of his life.  Keep this in mind to see how it grows during his lifetime. 

Things to Think About for chapters 7-10:

1.  Muller stated at the beginning of chapter 7: “The home will only be established  if God provides the means and suitable staff to run it. But I have been led more and more to think that the matter may be of Him.”  Nonetheless, after much prayer, Muller stepped out.  How is this a lesson for us?

2.  Muller knew that if ever the children went hungry or badly clothed, his God would be discredited.  But he wasn’t alarmed, instead he would repeat to everyone Matthew 6:31 and 33.  How can this attitude of God’s work and glory be integrated in HBC?

3.  In chapter 8, note all of the Psalms Muller prayed.  How can we pray the Psalms in more of our prayers?

4.  In chapter 9, Muller believed that the period between 1838-1846 was one of the greatest trials of faith in his work.  Many times enough was sent, but no more than enough.  How does God use trials to strengthen our faith?  How does this differ from the beliefs of the word of faith churches that believe trials and suffering are a failure of faith?

5.  After five years of the home’s existence, Muller noted that the chief end for which the Institution was established is that the Church of Christ might be benefited by seeing the hand of God stretched out on our behalf in our hour of need, in answer to prayer.  His desire was that he would not be without trials, but that God would support him through trials.  We should all pray this!

6.  In Chapter 10, Muller makes a change in his prayer life (pg. 91-92).  What was this change and how did it affect his prayer life for the rest of his life?  How can you implement this same change in your life? 

1.  In Chapter 11, what brought about the idea to move from the Wilson Street homes to another location?  How does God often work through issues like this to further His Kingdom? 

2.  How was Muller’s attitude towards the complaint letters?  What does this tell us about his spirit and heart?  What do complaints and trials tell us about our own hearts? 

3.  Read Mark 11:24, and Muller’s prayer regarding it on page 105.  How can we pray this prayer for HBC?

4.  Chapter 12 describes a new teaching that was circulating through the churches.  How did Darby’s beliefs come about?  What were the reasons?  How was his attitude and heart towards other believers?  What ca we learn from this?

5.  How does turmoil often strengthen our resolve and beliefs? 

6.  On page 131, at the bottom, what was Muller’s chief reason for starting the orphan houses?  What was his primary focus?  How did God honor this chief reason in real, practical terms?  How can HBC also apply the same reasoning as Muller did? 

On the bottom of page 145, Muller described one of the secrets to his marital happiness.  What was it?  How can you and your spouse (if you are married) do this?   

On page 149, describe how Muller released his pupils so that they would be able to work and support themselves?  How did this method of graduation help instill in the children a sense of responsibility, love, and gratitude?  What does this teach us about the way we should treat our own children?

Chapter 16 is full of stories of how the Christian upbringing impacted the children.  What does this teach us about how we should raise our children? 

The bottom of page 161 and the top of page 162 contain a paragraph of how Muller reacted when his wife became deathly ill.  How does Muller react to tragedy?  How is this different than most people react today?  What can this teach us about how to deal with death and tragedy?  See also the second full paragraph on page 163. 

Page 171 and 172 tell us a lot about Muller’s style of preaching and Bible study.  How can we model this in our own lives?