Hi All!
Now that I'm all caught up with stuff I've already read, I'll hopefully be able to start posting Book 3 questions next Monday. I'm still behind when it comes to the reading schedule, but I'm betting others are also so we'll just go with it.
Here's an updated reading schedule:
Week of 8-10: Book 3 - Chapters 1 and 2
Week of 8-17: Book 3 - Chapters 3 and 4
Week of 8-24: Book 3 - Chapters 5 and 6
Week of 8-31: Book 3 - Chapters 7 and 8
Week of 9-7: Book 3 - Chapters 9 and 10
Week of 9-14: Book 3 - Chapters 11 and 12
Week of 9-21: Book 4 - Chapters 1 and 2
Week of 9-28: Book 4 - Chapters 3 and 4
Week of 10-5: Book 4 - Chapters 5 and 6
Week of 10-12: Book 4 - Chapters 7 and 8
Week of 10-19: Book 4 - Chapters 9, 10 and 11
Chapter 5 - The Practical Conclusion
This chapter discusses how the "Christ-life" is within the Christian and how they can spread it to others. It also addresses how we often believe things on authority even when we can not exactly say why it should be so.
1.) Name some things you believe just on God's authority.
2.) What do Christians mean when they say they are "in Christ" and why is that important?
3.) After reading this chapter, what would you say to those who object to being Christian because there are people in the world who have never heard of Jesus Christ?
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
Mere Christianity - Catching Up! ~ Book 2: What Christians Believe, Chapter 4 - The Perfect Penitent
Chapter 4 - The Perfect Penitent
In this chapter, Lewis talks about various theories that people believe about why Christ died for us.
1.) In your own words, explain the meaning behind Christ's death. What distinction does Lewis make between the central Christian belief and the various theories of how atonement works?
2.) What is the basic problem with repentance? According to Lewis, how does God help us repent?
3.) How does Lewis respond to the argument that suffering and dying was easy for Jesus because he was God? Do you think it was easy for Jesus? Consider Isaiah 53; Matthew 27_26-54; Luke 22:40-44 and Hebrews 2:10, 14-18, 4:15.
In this chapter, Lewis talks about various theories that people believe about why Christ died for us.
1.) In your own words, explain the meaning behind Christ's death. What distinction does Lewis make between the central Christian belief and the various theories of how atonement works?
2.) What is the basic problem with repentance? According to Lewis, how does God help us repent?
3.) How does Lewis respond to the argument that suffering and dying was easy for Jesus because he was God? Do you think it was easy for Jesus? Consider Isaiah 53; Matthew 27_26-54; Luke 22:40-44 and Hebrews 2:10, 14-18, 4:15.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Mere Christianity - Catching Up! ~ Book 2: What Christians Believe, Chapter 3 - The Shocking Alternative
Chapter 3 - The Shocking Alternative
This chapter discusses God's decision to give humans free will even though He knew that it would allow us to choose to do evil things. God provided for that though, by ensuring that if we repent our sins would be forgiven. He wanted to make true joy possible when we choose good and follow Him, if we had another choice that is often the easier choice to make.
1.) How can a good God make creatures that are capable of doing wrong?
2.) How is Christ the "shocking" solution?
3.) After reading this paragraph containing Lewis’s famous “Lunatic, Liar or Lord” trilemma, how would you answer the person who says that Christ was merely a good teacher?
This chapter discusses God's decision to give humans free will even though He knew that it would allow us to choose to do evil things. God provided for that though, by ensuring that if we repent our sins would be forgiven. He wanted to make true joy possible when we choose good and follow Him, if we had another choice that is often the easier choice to make.
1.) How can a good God make creatures that are capable of doing wrong?
2.) How is Christ the "shocking" solution?
3.) After reading this paragraph containing Lewis’s famous “Lunatic, Liar or Lord” trilemma, how would you answer the person who says that Christ was merely a good teacher?
Friday, August 7, 2015
Mere Christianity - Catching Up! ~ Book 2: What Christians Believe, Chapter 2 - The Invasion
Chapter 2 ~ The Invasion
This chapter says religion is not simple, especially when there is both good and evil in the world. It talks about a couple of ways of reconciling these good and bad "powers", mostly focusing on Dualism.
1.) In your own words, explain the meaning of Dualism. What is the "catch" to it, according to Lewis?
2.) What is Christianity's solution to the problem of evil and a good God?C
3.) In what ways have you experienced the world as a place of spiritual warfare?
This chapter says religion is not simple, especially when there is both good and evil in the world. It talks about a couple of ways of reconciling these good and bad "powers", mostly focusing on Dualism.
1.) In your own words, explain the meaning of Dualism. What is the "catch" to it, according to Lewis?
2.) What is Christianity's solution to the problem of evil and a good God?C
3.) In what ways have you experienced the world as a place of spiritual warfare?
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Mere Christianity - Catching Up! ~ Book 2: What Christians Believe, Chapter 1 - The Rival Conceptions of God
Long Time, No Blog Book Clubbers!
I'm obviously a bit behind in updating the blog with book club discussion questions as I've been a bit preoccupied the last 3.5 weeks having and taking care of our new little one, Lucas Mark Decker! I'm slowly but surely coming out of the woodwork, but it really is a day by day adventure.
I've finished reading Chapter 2, so I'll post questions related to that this week and next week. That will give me time to catch up on reading Chapter 3.
Chapter 1 ~ The Rival Conceptions of God
This chapter talked about the divisions of people who believe and don't believe in God. Lewis also discusses how he used to argue against God as an atheist and how that argument fell apart.
1.) The first major question everyone must confront whether they believe in God or not. How do you respond to the thinking that Christians have a more "liberal view" than atheists about the existence of God?
2.) What problem must be confronted if you reject the God of right and wrong because there is cruelty and injustice in the world?
3.) Where did your conception of God come from? How has it changed over the years?
I'm obviously a bit behind in updating the blog with book club discussion questions as I've been a bit preoccupied the last 3.5 weeks having and taking care of our new little one, Lucas Mark Decker! I'm slowly but surely coming out of the woodwork, but it really is a day by day adventure.
I've finished reading Chapter 2, so I'll post questions related to that this week and next week. That will give me time to catch up on reading Chapter 3.
Book 2: What Christians Believe
Chapter 1 ~ The Rival Conceptions of God
This chapter talked about the divisions of people who believe and don't believe in God. Lewis also discusses how he used to argue against God as an atheist and how that argument fell apart.
1.) The first major question everyone must confront whether they believe in God or not. How do you respond to the thinking that Christians have a more "liberal view" than atheists about the existence of God?
2.) What problem must be confronted if you reject the God of right and wrong because there is cruelty and injustice in the world?
3.) Where did your conception of God come from? How has it changed over the years?
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Mere Christianity - Study & Discussion Questions - Book 1: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, Chapter 5 - We Have Cause to be Uneasy
Howdy Book Clubbers,
In Chapter 5, we are getting closer to calling the "Somebody" behind the Moral Law, God. He gives us three reasons why Christianity makes sense in the light of Moral Law (aka The Law of Human Nature).
For those of you who want a quick summary or a little more information on what we read in Book 1, check out these notes: http://www.opendiscipleship.org/mere-christianity-leaders-notes/
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.) Reason #1 is that humanity is on the wrong road. Do you agree/disagree? What evidence to do yo offer as support?
2.) What are the two bits of evidence we have about the "Somebody"? What conclusions can we draw from each piece of evidence? What does it mean that this "Somebody" behind the moral law is good, but also terrifying?
3.) Christianity makes no sense apart from a sense of the Moral Law and one’s personal inability to keep it. How much sense does Christianity make to you?
In Chapter 5, we are getting closer to calling the "Somebody" behind the Moral Law, God. He gives us three reasons why Christianity makes sense in the light of Moral Law (aka The Law of Human Nature).
For those of you who want a quick summary or a little more information on what we read in Book 1, check out these notes: http://www.opendiscipleship.org/mere-christianity-leaders-notes/
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.) Reason #1 is that humanity is on the wrong road. Do you agree/disagree? What evidence to do yo offer as support?
2.) What are the two bits of evidence we have about the "Somebody"? What conclusions can we draw from each piece of evidence? What does it mean that this "Somebody" behind the moral law is good, but also terrifying?
3.) Christianity makes no sense apart from a sense of the Moral Law and one’s personal inability to keep it. How much sense does Christianity make to you?
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Mere Christianity - Study & Discussion Questions - Book 1: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe, Chapter 4 - What Lies Behind the Law
Hi All!
This chapter talks about the two main views of the universe, the Materialistic View and the Religious View (although a third view, the Life-Force Philosophy, is also described). Lewis relates that science can not determine which of these views is right. He also begins to conjecture that there might be something behind the Law of Nature, a "Power" (not necessarily God...he hasn't gotten to proving that...yet...
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.) Why can't science help us decide which view, materialist or religious, is true? Do you agree?
2.) If we can't find out about the Law of Nature from science, how can we investigate whether it exists or not?
3.) When you look inside yourself, what hunger and desires do you have, that point to something beyond?
4.) According to Lewis, what makes the Life-Force view attractive?
This chapter talks about the two main views of the universe, the Materialistic View and the Religious View (although a third view, the Life-Force Philosophy, is also described). Lewis relates that science can not determine which of these views is right. He also begins to conjecture that there might be something behind the Law of Nature, a "Power" (not necessarily God...he hasn't gotten to proving that...yet...
STUDY QUESTIONS
1.) Why can't science help us decide which view, materialist or religious, is true? Do you agree?
2.) If we can't find out about the Law of Nature from science, how can we investigate whether it exists or not?
3.) When you look inside yourself, what hunger and desires do you have, that point to something beyond?
4.) According to Lewis, what makes the Life-Force view attractive?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)