This turns on its head what is often the common reaction to The Da Vinci Code, and to the recent media coverage of The Gospel of Judas. Give examples of Christians denouncing something, rather than engaging in careful reasoning. Since there are so many other issues raised concerning the historicity and trustworthiness of the Bible, what plans should you make? His book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, is must-reading, whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian. 15. Might this list surprise some evangelical Christians? Summarize each objectively and clearly in language that would be readily understood and appreciated by a non-Christian who does not have a churched background. We could simply tell you to give it a try, but you might learn better if we ask a question: fellow leader, how might your ministry benefit if you improve at asking useful Bible study discussion questions? What do think of Barth’s statement that it was the church, not the world that crucified Christ? Why or why not? 1. 9. 70-71]. [p. 97-98]. Have you noticed the same divide into two camps? The desire for instant gratification is the enemy of common sense. How does Keller’s discussion of Sommerville’s example of the mugging highlight what our motivation for helping people should be? Do you agree? Robert Bellah “concludes that the most fundamental belief in American culture is that moral truth is relative to individual consciousness” [p. 70]. After drawing out your group’s observations, it’s time to dig in. Your group may float on the momentum of observation and interpretation like a shiny soap bubble on a breezy, spring day, yet that bubble can pop as soon as you transition to application. If it is true, why don’t we hear hell explained this way? 2. What elitist arguments do Christians sometimes put forward? What difference does it make? How is this significant for the reliability of the biblical texts? Why or why not? This may be a strong argument when the issue is discussed over coffee, but may not be useful when someone is going through intense suffering. 17. How many Christians engage in such long and hard struggle? ... Study One. Have Christians always fared well in taking their faith into different cultures? Why or why not? Does this statement by Keller surprise you? What troubles you most about its beliefs or how it is practiced?” [p. 3] Do you make a habit of asking non-Christians questions similar to that? A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death—the huge solace of thinking that our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders are not going to be judged… [but] all religions recognize that our deeds are imperishable” [p. 75]. 3. Keller quotes Macquarrie who argues that since science is based on the idea that all natural events are caused by other natural events, any sort of miracle “is irreconcilable with our modern understanding of both science and history.” Alvin Plantinga says, “Macquarrie perhaps means to suggest that the very practice of science requires that one reject the idea (e.g.) The very first question of your Bible study should be open, engaging, and linked to the main point of the passage. All refusal to admit the existence of sin can neither be controverted nor challenged. 4. But, like bad morning breath, boredom often shows up early—and it may sink your ship before you leave the dock. What does this say about you? Ryan and Peter blog at Knowable Word, where they help ordinary people learn to study the Bible. It would mean that most of the classic Christian teachings—Jesus’ deity, atonement, and resurrection—are mistaken and based on legends” [p. 98]. Do you find his agreement surprising? 2. Why is that? Would you be comfortable suggesting them to a non-Christian friend? What are the implications for your skepticism/faith? My wife and I developed a deck of custom playing cards to help with this exact problem. And, second, God reveals His will through His Word: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105; see also Psalm 19:7-9; 2 Peter 1:19). Do you find this argument convincing? Do you find the three reasons amounting to a compelling argument? Have you met people who question whether intelligent people can “take the Bible literally”? 7. To what extent do you agree with him? How does Keller’s understanding of the biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man compare with how you’ve normally thought of it or heard it explained? ho are the main characters, and what are they doing? Combine general and specific questions to foster interaction—and answer them yourself first to give an example of vulnerability, For example, “How will this passage affect your willingness to take risks?” Or, “How can you live as though [the passage’s main point] is true?” Or, “How can we remind one another of these things?”. Some kind of truth-claim, then, seems unavoidable” [p. 38]. I also utilize Correlation which is also very helpful. Making Sense of the Bible Leader Guide: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (9781426785580) by Adam Hamilton Have you ever heard someone say that miracles were easily believed by the “more primitive” people of biblical times? This Leader Guide, designed for group use with Making Sense of the Bible Book and DVD, features Adam Hamilton discussing his ideas in six sessions. What is your response? Do you agree? 2. One such gifted leader for today is Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City. 6. When the apostle wrote to the Church in Ephesus, he pointed out that God provides leaders “to equip” Christians for faithful service in a fallen world (Ephesians 4:11-16). Secularists will find it challenging to their worldview, while Christians will find it intensely rewarding. Do you find this compelling? Discuss your questions surrounding suffering and dig into God's Word to find the truth. Since so many highly knowledgeable scholars are convinced this is the only possible conclusion, given the historical evidence, does this make you nervous? Are there miracles in the Bible that you have difficulty believing as true events? To what extent is your life as a believer characterized by these three qualities? This is blind faith of a high order” [p. 23]… “Why couldn’t it be possible that, from God’s vantage point, there are good reasons for all [occasions of suffering]?” [p. Have friends raised ideas they garnered from The Da Vinci Code, arguing that though the story is fictional, the ideas behind it are true? Could this explain why so many younger Christians feel alienated from disillusioned about a church seeking to conserve itself? What are two ways in which it might improve? 7. How are notions of freedom (individual and otherwise) foundational to our society’s values? 13. “Mark,” Keller says, “says that the men who helped Jesus carry his cross to Calvary ‘was the father of Alexander and Rufus’ (Mark 15:21). “Think of people you consider fanatical,” Keller says. 8. When God states that something will happen, it does. You have no chance at faithful interpretation without first noticing what the Bible says. Have the culture wars produced positive results? Is there then no way to judge whether a community is open and caring rather than narrow and oppressive? Is that how you would have responded if someone you knew raised that accusation? How often have you heard this objection? 8. How responsible have you been in this regard? Is this the view of the future that Christians tend to believe in and hear about in church? 17. “In Jesus’ and the prophets’ critique, self-righteous religion is always marked by insensitivity to issues of social justice, while true faith is marked by profound concern for the poor and marginalized. Why? When Keller says that complete inclusiveness is an illusion, does that make you uncomfortable? If you are a non-Christian, how would you respond to this definition of hell? If you haven’t noticed this dichotomy, why haven’t you? How does the cross transform the question of evil and suffering in the world? How could a good God allow suffering? “Czeslaw Milosz, the Nobel Prize-winning Polish poet, wrote the remarkable essay ‘The Discreet Charms of Nihilism.’ In it he remembers how Marx had called religion ‘the opiate of the people’ because the promise of an afterlife (Marx said) led the poor and the working class to put up with unjust social conditions. We know how selfishness and self-absorption leads to piercing bitterness, nauseating envy, paralyzing anxiety, paranoid thoughts, and the mental denials and distortions that accompany them. Where have you noticed or encountered such approaches? How does our setting require a change in the reasons we give for belief? If you are a visual person, and you imagine science and religion as two circles, how will they interact/intersect? If you are a Christian, is this how you have understood the biblical concept of hell? It is good for three reasons. When people bring up their disappointment, what is usually your first response? What plans do your small group need to make to create a safe place? Pain and suffering actually bring these deep “God questions” to the fore front for many. “The church has a history of supporting injustice, of destroying culture… If Christianity is the true religion, how could this be?” [p. 51]. “The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one,” Keller says. Fire disintegrates. CHAPTER SUMMARY The common perception is something like this: the secular worldview = facts, religious worldview = faith. Should Christians take the lead in demonstrating civility in the public square? 16. [p. 57]. What’s the solution? In the past, when you read such details in the gospel records did you see that the author meant this? To what extent is it true of you? Keller claims, “Christianity has been more adaptive (and maybe less destructive) of diverse cultures than secularism and many other worldviews” [p. 40]. Ransom Fellowship was founded by Denis and Margie Haack in 1981. How often do Christians seek the very best arguments of their opponents? 9. How often have you heard it stated as a source of doubt by Christians? St Paul writes, ‘the love of Christ constrains us’ (2 Corinthians 5:14)” [p. 49]. An invitation to the sceptical Making Sense of God begins from Tim’s observation that, although many in the secular west think religious belief is not just wrong, but irrelevant and even harmful, there are many people who want to consider and discuss belief in God. Does this resonate with your experience of talking to people who raise this objection? 10. On the other hand, Christian missions is full of examples where missionaries have brought not just the gospel but American culture to the world—did Keller apologize sufficiently for this sad heritage? 13. A skilled discussion leader must strike a delicate balance: she must guide the group through textual observation—without making the discussion feel inane or elementary. It would mean that no one could really know what Jesus said and did, and that the Bible could not be the authoritative norm over our life and beliefs. 7. Making Sense of God's Will is a four-session book-and-video study that helps us make sense of these issues by exploring some of the "why?" After that dance the stars weren’t little anymore. Keller says, “The reality is that we all make truth-claims of some sort and it is very hard to weigh them responsibly, but we have no alternative but to try to do so” [p. 11]; “We are all exclusive in our beliefs about religion, but in different ways” [p. 13]. 9. The perennial issues of life never change. How is this significant for making the case that the gospel narratives are not merely legend—what is Lewis referring to? 3. What changes must our church make to be a safe place? 2. How does Keller disprove that assertion? 10. How do we lovingly move skeptics to see this truth? Why? Timothy Keller, author of Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. Why or why not? Chapter 7. How do this provide a better answer than every other worldview? Why might this be? Instead they were oral histories taken down from the mouths of living eyewitnesses who preserved the words and deeds of Jesus in great detail” [p. 102]. What is the difference between being lovingly exclusive and narrow-mindedly oppressive? Copyright © 2021 Faithlife / Logos Bible Software. The perennial issues may not change, but different generations in different cultures may raise strikingly different questions in their quest to make sense of things. Making Sense of God - a review Andrew Larkin, Bethinking The book is written for those for whom the issue of God seems fanciful and not even worth considering, so a more accurate reflection of the book is that it is “An Invitation to the Sceptical” to reconsider their views on God. How do you weigh your truth-claims? “The tendency of religious people,” Keller says, “is to use spiritual and ethical observance as a lever to gain power over others and over God, appeasing him through ritual and good works” [p. 59]. Some leaders in Keller’s denomination would perhaps believe that Keller should not be ordained as a minister because of holding this view. What does this suggest? A friend, a priest, or a counselor can help you through your time of need. Now he’s produced a follow up which in a sense prepares the way for The Reason for God. Any decent Bible study, whether individual or group-based, should be rooted in careful observation of the text. 11. 3. “The gospel narratives,” Keller says, “all show that Jesus did not face his approaching death with anything like the aplomb and fearlessness that was widely expected in a spiritual hero” [p. 28] How does this change your view of Christ? How would you respond to each? This interest is one dear to the hearts and spiritual yearnings of many postmodern Christians. Study Questions 1. Since Keller “was always looking for that third camp,” he says he “became interested in shaping and initiating new Christian communities” [p. xiii]. Where did they learn this? My feeling is that 'Making Sense of God' goes a step backwards and addresses questions and dilemas for readers whom the idea of God is distant and perhaps have not though much about it and dismissed the idea of God. “Alister McGrath points out that when the idea of God is gone, a society will ‘transcendentalize’ something else, some other concept, in order to appear morally and spiritually superior” [p. 55]. 2. Bible studies have a feature that few sermons or personal quiet times can match: interaction. Can you think of a time when you used this argument inappropriately and hurt or angered someone? Is it surprising that Keller raises it in this context? To what extent would their definitions apply to you—or to your Christian friends? [p. 38]. When you come to this question, you only have three options. 15. ... Download Their Eyes Were Watching God Study Guide. Welcome to this course which is for you if you want to find out why believing in God makes sense to someone like me Perhaps, you are an agnostic. To do so, you must master four types of Bible study discussion questions. A common image of hell in the Bible is that of fire. In some sections of the church, however, the opposite conclusion would be drawn. Do you agree they are flaws? Speaking to believers, Keller argues, “Only if you struggle long and hard with objections to your faith will you be able to provide grounds for your beliefs to skeptics, including yourself, that are plausible rather than ridiculous or offensive” [p. xvii]. How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell? How do you think the platitude will sound to the thousands of victims in, say, Darfur? Are you convinced this is true? But we should not criticize churches when they maintain standards for membership in accord with their beliefs. Why or why not? For Christians: what saves us—our faith or Christ? “We don’t reason with the other side; we only denounce” [p. xv]. If yes, what questions do you ask? Keller says, “hell is simply one’s freely chosen identity apart from God on a trajectory into infinity” [p. 78]. “To stay away from Christianity,” Keller says, “because part of the Bible’s teaching is offensive to you assumes that if there is a God he wouldn’t have any views that upset you. My feeling is that 'Making Sense of God' goes a step backwards and addresses questions and dilemas for readers whom the idea of God is distant and perhaps have not though much about it and dismissed the idea of God. Have you ever heard the charge that believing in hell makes you “narrow” [p. 80-81]? “The death of Jesus,” Keller argues, “was qualitatively different from any other death” [p. 30]. In response to the objection that a God of love cannot be a God of anger, Keller says “all loving persons are sometimes filled with wrath, not just despite of but because of their love.” “Anger isn’t the opposite of love,” Keller quotes Becky Pippert saying, “Hate is, and the final form of hate is indifference” [p. 73]. Why? Have their excuses been compelling? Do you understand why non-Christians might react the way they do? What words or ideas are repeated in the passage? Regardless of how energetic the discussion has been, getting personal will be tough. Many Christians have read and thought about defending their faith, but have done so in terms of questions that were relevant in the decades between the end of World War II and the Sixties. 16. Define each. 12. Does this resonate with your sense of your fellow Christians? When is confrontation appropriate? Harnessing the power of interaction should be one of your highest priorities when leading a Bible study. “Perhaps the biggest deterrent to Christianity for the average person today is not so much violence and warfare but the shadow of fanaticism. 5. How can we love one another while holding differing positions on this issue? Keller claims that the notion—“If Christianity is all it claims to be, shouldn’t Christians on the whole be much better people than everyone else?”—is actually based on a “mistaken belief” [p. 53]. Right after warning us not to be squeezed into the mold of the world (Romans 12:1-2), he assures us that different members of Christ’s Church have different gifts and callings (Romans 12:3-8). [p. 93-94] Why? There is no reason for the author to include such names unless the readers know or could have access to them. The culture wars are taking their toll. Making Sense of God is not an easy read. 5. 5 Things You Can Do When God’s Plan Doesn’t Make Sense 1. What is the difference and why does this matter? Why or why not? But at the same time, robust, orthodox belief in the traditional faiths is growing as well” [p. ix]. Noting his credentials as a literary scholar, Keller quotes C. S. Lewis, “I have been reading poems, romances, vision literature, legends, and myths all my life. Your personal study of the text is essential. How can a loving God send people to hell? 1. Hamilton offers many springboards for discussion, htting upon perplexing questions for families as well as individuals. Keller quotes Bonhoeffer: “It is not a religious act that makes the Christian, but participation in the sufferings of God in the secular life. Why? Bible studies don’t have to be scary. This plan is according to His Will for your life. What might this suggest for your next reading of the four gospels? 3: A Meaning That Suffering Can’t Take From You March 23, 2017 October 29, 2018 / livinghomeward In this week’s chapter, Tim Keller examines how various perspectives equip a person to deal with questions about “the meaning of life” and suffering. Where are we headed? Is this how you define hell to your non-Christian friends? We hope you find our discussion guide to The Reason for God helpful. 5. If not, can you see why some people might? “Human beings are most free and alive in relationships of love. 3. 2. by Denis Haack. We must be grateful, then, when God raises up someone who is gifted at listening to the culture, at identifying the questions being raised, and at thinking through the issues with a passion for truth, love, and the gospel. Is this usually how people tend to think of science and modernity? 12. How does this challenge make you feel about the Christian faith? 8. What are the usual views of doubt? You had your chance! “Instead of trying to shape our desires to fit reality,” Keller says, “we now seek to control and shape reality to fit our desires” [p. 71]. How was it expressed? Why? To what extent do you know this experientially? Making Sense of the Bible is the book I wish I had read 20 years ago. Why or why not? Please note: This posting includes questions for the first half of the book, chapters 1-7, which covers Part 1: The Leap of Doubt. I know none of them are like this. What characteristics or virtues need to be displayed by the Christian making this argument? List the specific “counterproductive content” Keller mentions to counter the argument that the early church fabricated the gospel accounts to make Jesus fit their agenda [p. 104-105]. 19. 2. You can’t beat Inductive Bible Study methods(observation, interpretation, application) very effective! Have you ever heard excuses given for it by Christians wanting to defend the honor of their faith? Which are you most drawn to? 18. How do you reconcile the two? [p. 85] What makes them especially difficult? Does this surprise you? 6. How do we know which of the two we are actually trusting? This article was adapted from their series on how to lead effective Bible studies. The Bible declares sin’s existence and the human heart displays it. Keller says that the Gnostic gospels, not the canonical gospels, “‘suck up’ to the ‘powers that be’” [p. 105]. Is this your assumption of how Christian missions works? Dawkins points to a survey that shows only 7% of scientists believe in God. What objections might Christians raise to Keller’s proposal? Welcome to the most uncomfortable part of your Bible study! Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. What difference does it make? Is this a compelling argument? 8. Keller goes through a step-wise series of suggestions for reading the Bible after finding biblical texts that are culturally offensive [p. 109-113]. As objectively as you can, restate in your own words those steps. Which questions directed you to the main point and which were tangential? The process of decision-making includes making a judgment about an attitude or action. We must not make settled, final decisions about anyone’s spiritual state or fate” [p. 80]. Chapter 6. 17. You can’t take the Bible literally. Discussion leaders will be wise to pick which questions to raise, and which topics, once raised, should be pursued in more detail. Define freedom (saying “being in Christ” is not allowed—though true, in this setting it is a platitude). How does this cause you to see other people? What plans should you make? Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf says, “If God were not angry at injustice and deception and did not make a final end to violence—that God would not be worthy of worship… The only means of prohibiting all recourse to violence by ourselves is to insist that violence is legitimate only when it comes from God… My thesis that the practice of non-violence requires a belief in divine vengeance will be unpopular with many… in the West… [But] it takes the quiet of a suburban home for the birth of the thesis that human non-violence [results from the belief in] God’s refusal to judge. If you reject these scholars’ conclusion, on what basis do you reject them if you accept the scholarly conclusion of Lewis in question #11? 10. “Skepticism, fear, and anger toward traditional religion are growing in power and influence. Every generation in every culture and people group wrestle with the four crucial issues that undergird human existence: Who & where are we? 13. But, Milosz continued: ‘And now we are witnessing a transformation. [p. 60-61]. Together, they have created a ministry that includes lecturing, writing, teaching, feeding, and encouraging those who want to know more about what it means to be a Christian in the everyday life of the 21st century. Job’s story gives us a way to engage these questions with a more meaningful response than some find initially. Do you agree? “On what basis,” Keller asks, “does the atheist judge the natural world to be horribly wrong, unfair, and unjust?” [p. 26] How is it possible to raise this issue to align oneself, or agree with, the skeptic rather than merely confront them? How would you respond? How can Christians talk about this with non-Christians without sounding self-righteous? What’s wrong? What are the implications of this for the church in a rapidly changing, pluralistic culture like the United States? “I must conclude that the source of the idea,” he says, “is the Bible itself.” How is this significant? [p. 103]. 15. Which restrictions have you found dehumanizing and unhelpful? 2. In an earlier book, The Reason for God, the author made a case for Christianity; Making Sense of God starts further back, addressing people who strongly doubt that any version of religion or faith makes sense or has anything of value to offer the contemporary world. If you haven’t heard this before, what does this suggest about the church’s ability to speak biblical truth into our post-Christian world? Why or why not? If you believe it is not shared, why does so much church shopping occur when evangelicals find themselves (or their children) unhappy with their church? And third, it approaches the topic with a quiet, confident winsomeness that is all too often missing in the ungodly rhetoric of culture warriors. Sure, you’ll lose some control if you temporarily set aside your lectern to foster interaction. [p. 77-78]. (Hint: using not just reason but imagination is essential in working out an answer. Do you agree? Wisdom allows us to see life the way God does. 11. 6. 12. That was God’s will, and it was going to come to pass no matter what. 7. If we were to lose his presence totally, that would be hell—the loss of our capability for giving or receiving love or joy. You have come to the conclusion that in our scientific age there is no further need of a Creator God. Use honest and curious questions that both take people toward the main point one step at a time and foster interaction. Given the dates of the writing of the New Testament documents, Keller says, “This means that the biblical accounts of Jesus’ life were circulating within the lifetimes of hundreds who had been present at the events of his ministry” [p. 101]. [p. 42-44]. Subscribe Now 2. How satisfying is your resolution? Leading a group Bible study is deeply rewarding, but let’s be honest: it’s also a little terrifying. 3. Where are most of your friends and co-workers? Do you find the doctrine of divine judgment or God’s “wrath” offensive or troubling? 20. Science has Disproved Christianity. First, it identifies and answers the questions being raised today. What role has each played in your spiritual pilgrimage? Tip: Only ask questions you’re willing to answer first. 3. Have you found unbelievers agreeing? How comfortable are you in discussing this topic with a skeptic? Tip: Avoid fill-in-the-blank or read-my-mind questions that have only one correct answer. Tip: Avoid easing into the discussion by merely reviewing the previous passage or meandering toward a point. The Church is responsible for so much injustice. “Because doubt and belief are each on the rise, our political and public discourse on matters of faith and morality has become deadlocked and deeply divided. Do you agree it is a decisive refutation? Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives. The goal of the launching question is not merely to capture attention; you could do that by swallowing a sword or wearing a hat made of spaghetti. Last night seven of us gathered on our back patio to discuss the first half of the book. If Christianity is “not the product of any one culture but is actually the transcultural truth of God,” Keller says, “we would expect that it would contradict and offend every human culture at some point” [p. 72]. Where do you fit? 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