Creation, by Justo Gonzalez

Chapter 4

Enter Evil

1. Reread the section of this chapter titled, “The Problem of Evil: Theodicy.” 

- What might it mean that evil is real in our world? 

2. You may know people who have given up on God or who are angry at God because something bad happened to them. 

- How can you respond?

- How can you help? 

- Is it OK to be angry with God? 

3. For many people, evil is a mystery because we cannot understand how a loving God can allow it. 

- Why do you think bad things happen to good people? 

4. How are we to live with the reality of evil? 

There are different kinds of evil—for example, personal, corporate, systemic. 

Give examples of each and how you can address them. 

5. How can we help people find hope? 

- Where do you see signs of hope in yourself, family, church, community, nation?

Creation, by Justo Gonzalez

Chapter 3 

The Human Creature

1. We often talk about people worrying about the kind of image they portray. How important is image and status in your church? 

2. What is the community’s image of your church? 

3. What kind of reputation does your church have? 

4. How important is a person’s reputation? 

5. What kinds of things damage or bolster a person’s image or reputation? 

6. How can we be God’s representatives in our world? 

7. Share a time when someone represented you or when you represented someone (for example, your family, your business, your friend). 

8. When someone represents you, what do you expect? 

9. Discuss the power of words. What kinds of words are helpful and hurtful? 

10. Share a time when someone told you they loved you. 

11. Think and talk about ways that God shows us God’s love.