Explaining why believing in something makes sense will make little or no sense if my explanation is not in categories my companion can understand and appreciate. But it needs to be overcome every time, and thus there is an even holier angel than the one of pain, that is the one of joy in God” [p. 66-67]. Tuesday and Thursday nights during IAP. In a sun-scorched land, soaked in the blood of the innocent, it will invariably die… [with] other pleasant captivities of the liberal mind” [p. 74]. The Biblical picture is that sin separates us from the presence of God, which is the source of all joy and indeed of all love, wisdom, or good things of any sort. Were you happy with your response? How did you respond viscerally to the illustration Keller goes on to describe? How would you respond to each? The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. In an effort to further that, Ransom Fellowship has prepared detailed reflection and discussion questions for each section and chapter of the book. 2. Jesus has come to redeem where it is wrong and heal the world where it is broken. Is this a political idea Christians can endorse? “I think Genesis 1 has the earmarks of poetry,” Keller says, “and is therefore a ‘song’ about the wonder and meaning of God’s creation. If you are a Christian, is this how you view your own faith? To what extent would their definitions apply to you—or to your Christian friends? 1. 2. “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]. [59-60]. You had your chance! “It cannot be overcome with platitudes like ‘Now don’t you see that violence won’t solve anything?’” [p. 74-75]. Do you agree it is a decisive refutation? The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 293 pages and is available in Hardcover format. We're sure that reading will lead you to join in better concept of life. David Richter, associate pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Dr. David Van Norstrand, medical student in the Mayo School of Medicine.). 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. If you are a visual person, and you imagine science and religion as two circles, how will they interact/intersect? Mark is saying, ‘Alexander and Rufus vouch for the truth of what I am telling, if you want to ask them’” [p. 101]. Do you see yourself more as a patient in a hospital than a saint in a museum? Every community must do the same” [p. 40]. If not, can you see why some people might? Have their excuses been compelling? Sociologist Robert Bellah finds that 80% of Americans are convinced that “an individual should arrive at his or her own religious beliefs independent of any church or synagogue… that the most fundamental belief in American culture is that moral truth is relative to individual consciousness” [p. 70]. Have you noticed the same divide into two camps? Product details. 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. We all know of examples of how skeptics give ridiculous or offensive arguments against Christianity—ignoring for a moment the proper offense of the cross, give five examples of arguments against skepticism or for Christian faith where either the argument or the Christian are ridiculous or offensive to unbelievers. Foucault was pressing the truth of his analysis on others even as he denied the very category of truth. Chapter 2: How Could a Good God Allow Suffering? The Church is responsible for so much injustice. The Reason for God curriculum can be used individually, in groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don't share his or her beliefs. Discussion leaders will be wise to pick which questions to raise, and which topics, once raised, should be pursued in more detail. Ransom Fellowship was founded by Denis and Margie Haack in 1981. 3. Are you happy with Keller’s response? To what extent is your life as a believer characterized by these three qualities? 7. What does this say about you? 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? 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. What is your response? The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Bible Study Guides 8. Questions for the first half of the book are posted on our website under The Reason for God: Questions for Discussion (I). Which do you have the most trouble accepting? Why might this be? Questions for the first half of the book are posted on our website under The Reason for God: Questions for Discussion (I). How does Keller describe the ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church? 7. Did you see it at the time? 8. How might Christians take this argument to an incorrect conclusion? Have you ever heard this objection to Christianity? Does this not seem to be an elitist argument? On October 1 a class began to review Tim Keller’s thought-provoking book, “The Reason for God”. Journey to the Manger – Advent 2020 at Church of the Servant, Chapter Two – “How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?”, Chapter Three – “Christianity Is a Straitjacket”, Chapter Four – “The Church is Responsible for So Much Injustice”, Chapter Five – “How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?”, Chapter Six – “Science Has Disproved Christianity”, Chapter Seven – “You Can’t Take the Bible Literally”, Chapter Eleven – “Religion and the Gospel”, Chapter Twelve – “The (True) Story of the Cross”, Chapter Thirteen – “The Reality of the Resurrection”, Antiracism and Reconciliation Newsletters, Antiracism and Reconciliation Reading Lists, House Church Resources – December 25 and 27, 2020. Does this statement by Keller surprise you? While reflecting on how Redeemer Presbyterian engages the culture of New York City, what are two ways in which your church does a good job of engaging the culture of your city? “If our minds can’t plumb the depths of the universe for good answers to suffering, well, then, there can’t be any! Did your friends find your arguments convincing? African theologian Lamin Sanneh says that Africans have always held strong beliefs in a spiritual world of good and evil. Do you agree they are flaws? To what extent would suffering people say you know this? Why or why not? Keller contrasts the notion of a “loving God” with a “judging God” [p. 72]. Chapter 1: There Can’t Be Just One True Religion. 9. Can you understand why exclusivity can be a concern of many in our culture? Which short story/essay did you like best? How does secularism deal with suffering and evil? QUESTIONS GOD. How does this cause you to see other people? Chapter 4. Use this discussion guide to The Reason for God: Belief in the Age of Skepticism, by pastor and author Timothy Keller, to guide your small group through some of the toughest questions people have about faith. 15. Does this 3-fold list surprise you? Is this usually how people tend to think of science and modernity? Robert Bellah “concludes that the most fundamental belief in American culture is that moral truth is relative to individual consciousness” [p. 70]. Know your purpose. What are the usual views of doubt? 5. 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]. Literature Expert. Are people you know more troubled by the ethical aspects of the Bible or the historical? A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 18. What examples does Keller give to prove this? Aug 6, 2017 - "The Reason For God" Discussion Questions Index | Church of the Servant “All this decisively refutes the idea that the gospels were anonymous, collective, evolving oral traditions. Do you find the doctrine of divine judgment or God’s “wrath” offensive or troubling? What plans do your small group need to make to create a safe place? And third, it approaches the topic with a quiet, confident winsomeness that is all too often missing in … But we should not criticize churches when they maintain standards for membership in accord with their beliefs. In the past, when you read such details in the gospel records did you see that the author meant this? Keller recommends that both skeptics and believers “look at doubt in a radically new way” [p. xvi]. These are just a few of the questions and doubts even ardent believers wrestle with today. The questions were formulated in weekly conversations I had on Keller’s book with two young friends: the Rev. A collection of 163 Student Opinion questions from this school year still open to comment on our blog. Have you ever heard this understanding of the miraculous before? Some kind of truth-claim, then, seems unavoidable” [p. 38]. The guide and DVD are not about getting armed with arguments and answers so that they can be used as generic responses whenever anyone asks you … Should they? Does this seem to make a compelling case? “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). Excellent resource for helping the non-believer have a better grasp of common misconceptions of Christian principles. Grand Rapids, MI 49546 Define, as objectively and carefully as possible, the three approaches to try to deal with the divisiveness of religion: to outlaw it [p. 5-6], to condemn it [p. 7-13], and to restrict it the private sphere of life [p. 13-18]. Might this list surprise some evangelical Christians? Do you share it? 11. Specifically it will help you think about six common objections to Christianity. Have the culture wars produced positive results? Printable Book Club Questions . 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]. He then goes on to give two illustrations. Some leaders in Keller’s denomination would perhaps believe that Keller should not be ordained as a minister because of holding this view. [p. 77-78]. Christianity is a straitjacket. When they are missing, what difference does it make? 12. 5. You can’t take the Bible literally. Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors' hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. When God compliments Job for his religious fear and the way he “escheweth evil,” what reason does Satan offer for Job’s behavior? Even in this life we can see the kind of soul disintegration that self-centeredness creates. 8. What are the implications of this for the church in a rapidly changing, pluralistic culture like the United States? Does this resonate with your sense of your neighbors and co-workers? What is his logic? “I must conclude that the source of the idea,” he says, “is the Bible itself.” How is this significant? “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. 8. Whether in a group setting or individual conversation, The Reason for God is a resource for what to say in response to these objections, and a model for how to say it. 25.] If you have any questions about the study, or about God in general, feel free to email me from the link in the right sidebar. Keller distinguishes between evolution as the idea that “complex life-forms evolved from less complex forms through a process of natural selection,” and “Evolution as an All-encompassing Theory,” which he argues is not science but philosophy [p. 87]. COMPLETE RESOURCE DIRECTORY BELOW. If you reject these scholars’ conclusion, on what basis do you reject them if you accept the scholarly conclusion of Lewis in question #11? How can we love one another while holding differing positions on this issue?
What might that look like? What changes must our church make to be a safe place? We hope you find our discussion guide to The Reason for God helpful. The Reason for God: Conversations on Faith and Life is a DVD for small groups hosted by Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. 1. How is this significant for the reliability of the biblical texts? Every question you ask should help you gather either facts or an opinion. Have friends raised ideas they garnered from The Da Vinci Code, arguing that though the story is fictional, the ideas behind it are true? Indeed, you can’t have it both ways” [p. 25]. What reasons does Keller give for this assertion? What’s the difference between denouncing and disagreeing? Book Club Discussion Questions for Short Story and Essay Collections. Since we were originally created for God’s immediate presence, only before his face will we thrive, flourish, and achieve our highest potential. Just because we can’t see a reason in human suffering at times doesn’t mean that there isn’t one! Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors’ hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. “Violence done in the name of Christianity is a terrible reality and must be both addressed and redressed. The Bible teaches us that our treatment of them equals our treatment of God” [p. 60]. This touches on one of the reasons many of the postmodern generation find biblically orthodox Christianity to be irrelevant. The Reason for God Discussion Guide is designed to be used with the DVD sessions. Why? 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. The main characters of this christian, religion story are , . “The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one,” Keller says. “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]. Keller claims, “an authoritative Bible is not the enemy of a personal relationship with God. How does Keller disprove that assertion? How has a biblical passion for social justice come to be seen by Christians as either a liberal or relativist concern? 70 Bible Reading Plans 7. There can't be just one true religion; 2. Use these guidelines when developing questions: Plan your questions. We will continue to meet, covering one chapter per week, through to the end of December (for the first half of the book). “Think of people you consider fanatical,” Keller says. Do you agree with this distinction? His book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, is must-reading, whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian. Keller says that people should reflect more on the source of their idea that God is love [p. 82]. Keller quotes New Atheist Christopher Hitchens’ accusation that religion “has been an enormous multiplier of tribal suspicion and hatred,” and concludes, “Hitchens’s point is fair” [p. 54-55]. The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him in a way that he does not approve of.— Exodus 32:5-7. Does it shock you when Keller says that Christians should expect to find nonbelievers who are “much nicer, kinder, wiser, and better than they are”? Using literature, philosophy, and Scripture, Keller and the group explore the truth of … What plans should you make? reviewed by Lita Cosner. To what extent is it true of you? And it is a fine one, at that. The Reason for God Summary. 2. The first edition of the novel was published in 2007, and was written by Timothy J. Keller. How have you resolved it for yourself? 10. Do you believe that right doctrine and proper moral behavior will assure your relationship with God? What is your response? Chapter 14 – “The Dance of God” Epilogue – “Where do We Go From Here?” For Discussion on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. Keller goes through a step-wise series of suggestions for reading the Bible after finding biblical texts that are culturally offensive [p. 109-113]. Exodus 34:23-24 – God would protect their land while traveling to the tabernacle/temple. Have Christians always fared well in taking their faith into different cultures? 6. Why or why not? It ensured that God was the priority and people gave to God first before keeping for themselves. We all bring to issues intellectual predispositions based on our experiences” [p. 52]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Do you find the three reasons amounting to a compelling argument? The Church is Responsible for so Much Injustice. What do think of Barth’s statement that it was the church, not the world that crucified Christ? If we were to lose his presence totally, that would be hell—the loss of our capability for giving or receiving love or joy. 13. How satisfied are you with your resolution? 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. Why? “The people most passionate about social justice were moral relativists,” Keller says, remembering his pilgrimage of faith as a young man, “while the morally upright didn’t seem to care about the oppression going on all over the world” [p. xii]. 13. Esther Lombardi. Do you agree? Are you the one that don't have such hobby? Is this the view of the future that Christians tend to believe in and hear about in church? I'm a New Christian 3. 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]. 15. AbeBooks.com: The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life (9780310330479) by Keller, Timothy and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. This discussion guide, in conjunction with its companion DVD, will help you and your group learn how to engage others in dialogue on six common objections to Christianity.Whether in a group setting or individual conversation, The Reason for God is a resource for what to say in response to these objections, and a model for how to say it. Why or why not? How would you present each flaw to a skeptic who is making the argument? What reasons did the objector give for their conviction? The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. [p. 93-94] Why? Is it surprising that Keller raises it in this context? Chapter 5. 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. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Old arguments that seemed so certain now seem less so, and challenges are raised which the old answers don’t address adequately. 1. 2. Or honor members who serve in some way over many years? Chapter 7. Welcome to The Reason for God. As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced “doubts” skeptics bring to his church as well as the most important reasons for faith. What impact has the shift from what was, a century ago, generally “a culture of belief” to today’s “culture of skepticism” had on Christian belief? It is the precondition for it” [p. 114]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs.Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors’ hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. Is this argument compelling? This also sheds light on why many Christians feel defensive about their faith. Where do you believe this divide stems from? What if God is just an illusion of the mind? Yes, there is. I know what they are like. More specifically, Keller sees Genesis 1 & 2 as similar to Judges 4 &5 and Exodus 14 &15. St. Paul tells us that God raises up teachers and leaders in his Church. “Perhaps the biggest deterrent to Christianity for the average person today is not so much violence and warfare but the shadow of fanaticism. But at the same time, robust, orthodox belief in the traditional faiths is growing as well” [p. ix]. A review of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Dutton, New York, 2008 . Read each of the three texts and note similarities and differences. Is this a compelling argument? “The existence of God can be neither demonstrably proven or disproven” [p. 86]. Verses 20-33; Discussion Questions Because “all of us have fundamental, unprovable faith-commitments that we think are superior to those of others,” Keller argues that we must ask, “which fundamentals will lead their believers to be the most loving and receptive to those with whom they differ?” [p. 19-20]. His miracles are not just proofs that he has power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. How would you respond? 16. How do evangelicals fare today by this standard? By the way, in case you are wondering about the set of questions—seven in all—that Keller correctly identifies as being important today, they include: There can’t be just one true religion. 2. “Ironically, the insistence that doctrines do not matter is really a doctrine itself” [p. 8]. The questions are designed to get the group discussing the substance of Keller’s book, and may cover more detail than any particular group will be interested in covering. So, it's important for you to start having that hobby. Do you find this compelling? A common image of hell in the Bible is that of fire. 16. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 293 pages and is available in Hardcover format. Why or why not? “The Biblical view of things is resurrection,” Keller writes, “not a future that is just a consolation for the life we never had but a restoration of the life you always wanted. 7. 1. The following 6 week study guide is to help a study group (or privately) work through, and get the most out of Chapters 1-6 of The Reason For God by Tim Keller. 8. objections and questions about God. Keller describes the relationship of the Trinity as a mutual dance of love and joy. Why? I will change for you. 6. When Christianity arrived via missionaries, it did not destroy the traditional African worldview but rather revealed how it was fulfilled in Christ. Publisher: Zondervan. This was the best and the first of the harvest. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don't share his or her beliefs. The Reason for God challenges such ideology at its core and points to the true path and purpose of Christianity. When is confrontation appropriate? In fact, it would go the drunk one better: it would insist that because the keys would be hard to find in the dark, they must be under the light” [p. 85-86]. 16. 133). ), Chapter 3: Christianity is a Straitjacket. Does this resonate with your sense of your fellow Christians? 13. What is the difference between being lovingly exclusive and narrow-mindedly oppressive? Where do you find yourself now? If this is oversimplified, how so? Do you agree? 5. 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? Christianity helped Africans to become renewed Africans, not re-made Europeans” [p. 41]. For Christians: what saves us—our faith or Christ? Does this seem to be the normal way Christians understand and speak about the incarnation and crucifixion? 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. “We should criticize Christians when they are condemning and ungracious to unbelievers. All are invited to attend the stimulating discussions led by our senior and resident pastors, Jack Roeda, Jana Vander Laan, and Brion Brooks (from 7:00-8:15pm in the ESL room, on the first three Wednesdays of each month). 9. Do you understand why non-Christians might react the way they do? 1. This interest is one dear to the hearts and spiritual yearnings of many postmodern Christians. Should Christians take the lead in demonstrating civility in the public square? That is metanoia [repentance]: not in the first place thinking about one’s own needs, problems, sins, and fears, but allowing oneself to be caught up into the way of Jesus Christ… Pain is a holy angel… Through him men have become greater than through all the joys of the world… The pain of longing, which often can be felt physically, must be there, and we shall not and need not talk it away. To what extent should Christians help people because they might be get saved as a result? There is no excusing it” [p. 56]. Do Christians ever fail to understand this distinction? Introduction; Part 1: The Leap of Doubt; 1. How did I create this list of book club discussion questions? It would mean that most of the classic Christian teachings—Jesus’ deity, atonement, and resurrection—are mistaken and based on legends” [p. 98]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Discussion If you could ask God one question right now, what would it be? This six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately) captures live and unscripted conversations between Tim Keller and a group of people to address their doubts and objections to Christianity. “If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be mad at because he hasn’t stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have (at the same moment) a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for allowing it to continue that you can’t know. 14. Well-crafted questions can stimulate, draw out, and guide discussion. That achieves civility in a pluralistic society, which is no small thing” [p. xviii-xix]. 10. In recent years some Western leaders particularly in the UK and US have argued that the basic values that undergird liberal democracy are shared by all people in every culture. Do you find this argument compelling? 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What might that look like? What changes must our church make to be a safe place? We hope you find our discussion guide to The Reason for God helpful. The Reason for God: Conversations on Faith and Life is a DVD for small groups hosted by Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. 1. How is this significant for the reliability of the biblical texts? Every question you ask should help you gather either facts or an opinion. Have friends raised ideas they garnered from The Da Vinci Code, arguing that though the story is fictional, the ideas behind it are true? Indeed, you can’t have it both ways” [p. 25]. What reasons does Keller give for this assertion? What’s the difference between denouncing and disagreeing? Book Club Discussion Questions for Short Story and Essay Collections. Since we were originally created for God’s immediate presence, only before his face will we thrive, flourish, and achieve our highest potential. Just because we can’t see a reason in human suffering at times doesn’t mean that there isn’t one! Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors’ hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. “Violence done in the name of Christianity is a terrible reality and must be both addressed and redressed. The Bible teaches us that our treatment of them equals our treatment of God” [p. 60]. This touches on one of the reasons many of the postmodern generation find biblically orthodox Christianity to be irrelevant. The Reason for God Discussion Guide is designed to be used with the DVD sessions. Why? 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. The main characters of this christian, religion story are , . “The human impulse to make perpetrators of violence pay for their crimes is almost an overwhelming one,” Keller says. “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]. Keller claims, “an authoritative Bible is not the enemy of a personal relationship with God. How does Keller disprove that assertion? How has a biblical passion for social justice come to be seen by Christians as either a liberal or relativist concern? 70 Bible Reading Plans 7. There can't be just one true religion; 2. Use these guidelines when developing questions: Plan your questions. We will continue to meet, covering one chapter per week, through to the end of December (for the first half of the book). “Think of people you consider fanatical,” Keller says. Do you agree with this distinction? His book, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, is must-reading, whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian. Keller says that people should reflect more on the source of their idea that God is love [p. 82]. Keller quotes New Atheist Christopher Hitchens’ accusation that religion “has been an enormous multiplier of tribal suspicion and hatred,” and concludes, “Hitchens’s point is fair” [p. 54-55]. The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him in a way that he does not approve of.— Exodus 32:5-7. Does it shock you when Keller says that Christians should expect to find nonbelievers who are “much nicer, kinder, wiser, and better than they are”? Using literature, philosophy, and Scripture, Keller and the group explore the truth of … What plans should you make? reviewed by Lita Cosner. To what extent is it true of you? And it is a fine one, at that. The Reason for God Summary. 2. The first edition of the novel was published in 2007, and was written by Timothy J. Keller. How have you resolved it for yourself? 10. Do you believe that right doctrine and proper moral behavior will assure your relationship with God? What is your response? Chapter 14 – “The Dance of God” Epilogue – “Where do We Go From Here?” For Discussion on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. Keller goes through a step-wise series of suggestions for reading the Bible after finding biblical texts that are culturally offensive [p. 109-113]. Exodus 34:23-24 – God would protect their land while traveling to the tabernacle/temple. Have Christians always fared well in taking their faith into different cultures? 6. Why or why not? It ensured that God was the priority and people gave to God first before keeping for themselves. We all bring to issues intellectual predispositions based on our experiences” [p. 52]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Do you find the three reasons amounting to a compelling argument? The Church is Responsible for so Much Injustice. What do think of Barth’s statement that it was the church, not the world that crucified Christ? If we were to lose his presence totally, that would be hell—the loss of our capability for giving or receiving love or joy. 13. How satisfied are you with your resolution? 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. Why? “The people most passionate about social justice were moral relativists,” Keller says, remembering his pilgrimage of faith as a young man, “while the morally upright didn’t seem to care about the oppression going on all over the world” [p. xii]. 13. Esther Lombardi. Do you agree? Are you the one that don't have such hobby? Is this the view of the future that Christians tend to believe in and hear about in church? I'm a New Christian 3. 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]. 15. AbeBooks.com: The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life (9780310330479) by Keller, Timothy and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. This discussion guide, in conjunction with its companion DVD, will help you and your group learn how to engage others in dialogue on six common objections to Christianity.Whether in a group setting or individual conversation, The Reason for God is a resource for what to say in response to these objections, and a model for how to say it. Why or why not? How would you present each flaw to a skeptic who is making the argument? What reasons did the objector give for their conviction? The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. [p. 93-94] Why? Is it surprising that Keller raises it in this context? Chapter 5. 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. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Old arguments that seemed so certain now seem less so, and challenges are raised which the old answers don’t address adequately. 1. 2. Or honor members who serve in some way over many years? Chapter 7. Welcome to The Reason for God. As the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced “doubts” skeptics bring to his church as well as the most important reasons for faith. What impact has the shift from what was, a century ago, generally “a culture of belief” to today’s “culture of skepticism” had on Christian belief? It is the precondition for it” [p. 114]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs.Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors’ hardest questions, and to engage those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. Is this argument compelling? This also sheds light on why many Christians feel defensive about their faith. Where do you believe this divide stems from? What if God is just an illusion of the mind? Yes, there is. I know what they are like. More specifically, Keller sees Genesis 1 & 2 as similar to Judges 4 &5 and Exodus 14 &15. St. Paul tells us that God raises up teachers and leaders in his Church. “Perhaps the biggest deterrent to Christianity for the average person today is not so much violence and warfare but the shadow of fanaticism. But at the same time, robust, orthodox belief in the traditional faiths is growing as well” [p. ix]. A review of The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Dutton, New York, 2008 . Read each of the three texts and note similarities and differences. Is this a compelling argument? “The existence of God can be neither demonstrably proven or disproven” [p. 86]. Verses 20-33; Discussion Questions Because “all of us have fundamental, unprovable faith-commitments that we think are superior to those of others,” Keller argues that we must ask, “which fundamentals will lead their believers to be the most loving and receptive to those with whom they differ?” [p. 19-20]. His miracles are not just proofs that he has power but also wonderful foretastes of what he is going to do with that power. How would you respond? 16. How do evangelicals fare today by this standard? By the way, in case you are wondering about the set of questions—seven in all—that Keller correctly identifies as being important today, they include: There can’t be just one true religion. 2. “Ironically, the insistence that doctrines do not matter is really a doctrine itself” [p. 8]. The questions are designed to get the group discussing the substance of Keller’s book, and may cover more detail than any particular group will be interested in covering. So, it's important for you to start having that hobby. Do you find this compelling? A common image of hell in the Bible is that of fire. 16. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 293 pages and is available in Hardcover format. Why or why not? “The Biblical view of things is resurrection,” Keller writes, “not a future that is just a consolation for the life we never had but a restoration of the life you always wanted. 7. 1. The following 6 week study guide is to help a study group (or privately) work through, and get the most out of Chapters 1-6 of The Reason For God by Tim Keller. 8. objections and questions about God. Keller describes the relationship of the Trinity as a mutual dance of love and joy. Why? I will change for you. 6. When Christianity arrived via missionaries, it did not destroy the traditional African worldview but rather revealed how it was fulfilled in Christ. Publisher: Zondervan. This was the best and the first of the harvest. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don't share his or her beliefs. The Reason for God challenges such ideology at its core and points to the true path and purpose of Christianity. When is confrontation appropriate? In fact, it would go the drunk one better: it would insist that because the keys would be hard to find in the dark, they must be under the light” [p. 85-86]. 16. 133). ), Chapter 3: Christianity is a Straitjacket. Does this resonate with your sense of your fellow Christians? 13. What is the difference between being lovingly exclusive and narrow-mindedly oppressive? Where do you find yourself now? If this is oversimplified, how so? Do you agree? 5. 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? Christianity helped Africans to become renewed Africans, not re-made Europeans” [p. 41]. For Christians: what saves us—our faith or Christ? Does this seem to be the normal way Christians understand and speak about the incarnation and crucifixion? 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. “We should criticize Christians when they are condemning and ungracious to unbelievers. All are invited to attend the stimulating discussions led by our senior and resident pastors, Jack Roeda, Jana Vander Laan, and Brion Brooks (from 7:00-8:15pm in the ESL room, on the first three Wednesdays of each month). 9. Do you understand why non-Christians might react the way they do? 1. This interest is one dear to the hearts and spiritual yearnings of many postmodern Christians. Should Christians take the lead in demonstrating civility in the public square? That is metanoia [repentance]: not in the first place thinking about one’s own needs, problems, sins, and fears, but allowing oneself to be caught up into the way of Jesus Christ… Pain is a holy angel… Through him men have become greater than through all the joys of the world… The pain of longing, which often can be felt physically, must be there, and we shall not and need not talk it away. To what extent should Christians help people because they might be get saved as a result? There is no excusing it” [p. 56]. Do Christians ever fail to understand this distinction? Introduction; Part 1: The Leap of Doubt; 1. How did I create this list of book club discussion questions? It would mean that most of the classic Christian teachings—Jesus’ deity, atonement, and resurrection—are mistaken and based on legends” [p. 98]. The Reason for God small group Bible study can be used individually, with groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who don’t share his or her beliefs. Discussion If you could ask God one question right now, what would it be? This six-session small group Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately) captures live and unscripted conversations between Tim Keller and a group of people to address their doubts and objections to Christianity. “If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be mad at because he hasn’t stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have (at the same moment) a God great and transcendent enough to have good reasons for allowing it to continue that you can’t know. 14. Well-crafted questions can stimulate, draw out, and guide discussion. That achieves civility in a pluralistic society, which is no small thing” [p. xviii-xix]. 10. In recent years some Western leaders particularly in the UK and US have argued that the basic values that undergird liberal democracy are shared by all people in every culture. Do you find this argument compelling? 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