Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Making Sense of the Christian Faith

Discussion Questions for Session 5 - God con Carne

1.  It is easy to think that the Bible is a little boring, because it is an ancient book and can be challenging to read.  But what happens to our understanding of the Bible when we think of it as an adventure or "wild ride," the story of a passionate God committed to saving God's beloved children?

2.  Does it matter who makes a promise?  For example, does it matter if a sales clerk or the store manager promises you a discount on an item?  Does it matter if a colleague or your boss promises you a raise?  How are promises affected by the person and the authority of the person making them?  Does this help to explain the importance the early Church put on Jesus being really and fully God?

3.  In Greek philosophy during the time of early Christians, God was sometimes described as an unfeeling, unchanging, powerful deity.  How do you think the idea of God becoming human and experiencing human feelings, pain, and hope would have played in a culture heavily influenced by Greek philosophy?  Why do you think it was important for the early Christians to argue that Jesus was truly God and fully human?

4.  What difference does it make to your faith to say that God not only knows that you exist, but understands what it's like to be you and cares very much for you?

Read John 1:1-18

5.  What are the most important details that stand out to you while reading this passage? 

6.  What claims is the author making about the Word?

7.  This passage is often read at Christmas, the Feast of the Incarnation.  Why do you think this is?

8.  How does John 1:17-18 help us understand John's story of Jesus in relation to the Old Testament story?

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