Living to Please God

'Do you think you can bring God pleasure? Living to Please God is a clear, careful answer to that question. Remaining constantly centred in God's grace, Gatiss explores the different ways through which we can please God. The result is a lovely invitation to bring ""a smile to God's face"".'--Tim Chester, Crosslands Training 'Hopefully every Christian wants to please God, but often we need help to know what this looks like in practice. Biblically faithful, helpfully fresh and contemporary (while engaging with the past), Living to Please God paints a beautiful picture of the God-pleasing life and encourages us to seek the grace to live more truly for God's pleasure.'--Donald John MacLean, President, Westminster Seminary UK 'Lee explores the novel question of how we can possibly please an already infinitely happy God. His digging takes us beyond the obvious self-centred understanding of happiness prevalent today (even in churches) and is summed up in his personal rendering of the Westminster Catechism's opening statement: ""The chief end of man is to know God and be enjoyed by him forever."" Be it in family, sexual relationships, or money matters, he argues that only those ""in Christ"", the Son who pleased the Father in every way, can we also please God. Again, the story of the violinist changed my life! Taste and see!'--Alfredo Cooper, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Chile 'Many have eagerly considered the idea of pursuing happiness, but this pursuit tends to be self-centred. In Living to Please God Lee offers a timely biblical-theological corrective, reminding us about living to bring pleasure to God; a higher purpose we can live for. This book combines solid biblical-theological analysis, tracing the theme of pleasing God throughout the Bible, with Jesus at its centre. It explores the biblical perspective on pleasing God in both public and private life and offers practical advice on how we can live lives that please God. This book is a great read for anyone seeking happiness, helping you discover that true and ultimate happiness comes from seeking to please God rather than pursuing personal happiness.'--Vuyani Sindo, Vice-Principal Development & Head of Biblical Studies, George Whitefield College, Cap 'The fact that God would be ""mindful of us"" (Psalm 8) is made even more wonderful by the realisation that God takes delight in us! Here is comfort and hope for all those burned out on mere religion, and cause to marvel again at a gospel that invites us into a genuine relationship with an almighty Father.'--Paul Harcourt, All Saints' Woodford Wells and former National Leader of New Wine 'What makes God smile? Lee Gatiss tackles this simplest of questions drawing on the deep riches of the Bible and wisdom from heroes of faith through the ages. Accessible, engaging, with a lightness of touch that will make you smile.'--Jill Duff, Anglican Bishop of Lancaster