Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 6

Christian spirituality is both overwhelmingly communal and intensely personal. As you read slowly and carefully through this book, we encourage you to think deeply about the questions and ideas presented. Following are some questions for discussion in a group, personal reflection, or both.

Chapter 6 – Problems of Disregarding Creator and Creation

*  Do you identify with Kevin’s story? Do you find it easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of evil in the world and doubt God’s goodness? Why do you suppose people have the tendency to banalize good in the face of evil?

*  What do you think of the idea that evil is non-original and parasitic on an original good? In what ways are the cultural narratives about the nature of good and evil related to/distinct from this configuration?

*  So far, the idea of both/and has been stressed, but with the problem of good and evil we must switch to an either/or. The either/or implies certain absolutes. How do you feel about that? What do you think that the counter-cultural action of “endorsing and enacting” the truth of the primacy of goodness might look like in your life?

*  After reading Linda’s story, can you think of other ways ‘salvation alone’ might impact your spirituality and ways in which a creational grounding could transform it?

*  In your experience, has the church encouraged or discouraged a dualism between the material world and the spiritual? Something of a sacred/secular divide? Can you think of circumstances in which you would want to either challenge or affirm the divide?

*  What are some of the other ways to talk about the referents of spirituality? In your context, what are some of the primary referents proposed by the dominant worldview? How does a good creation with a good creator critique/affirm these?

 

Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer

 

Suggested Map Reading:

Genesis 1

Romans 1

Colossians 1

For Further Study:

Evil and the Justice of God, N.T. Wright

Evil and the Cross, H. Blocher

Affliction, E. Schaeffer

Read More...

Read Less...

The ZigZag Café

We will be convening here at the ZigZag café, Suisse, on Thursdays for conversation and dialogue.

I invite you to stop by every Thursday for the question of the day. Your thoughts and participation are most welcome. Pull up a stool, avec un café, un thé, ou un chocolat chaud, et un croissant, and join in here on Thursday at the ZZ café.

For today:

What role, if any, does the church play in God’s plan to renew and redeem humanity and the world?

Read More...

Read Less...

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 5

Christian spirituality is both overwhelmingly communal and intensely personal. As you read slowly and carefully through this book, we encourage you to think deeply about the questions and ideas presented. Following are some questions for discussion in a group, personal reflection, or both.

Chapter 5 – God, Creation and Living Spirituality

*  How does the relation/distinction configuration resonate with what you’ve been taught about creation and God?

*  Can you think of some ways that God reveals something of the spiritual in the material world?

*  What are your thoughts about how we’ve done with our mandate for respecting creation? Do you see the Christian response changing at all? In what ways? Does it need to change?

*  In what ways can you see that we’ve put God and/or creation into a box because of an insufficient creational grounding of our spirituality?

*  Can you think of some other ways that a creational understanding opens the world up?

*  What does it mean to be created in the image of God? What are some competing cultural narratives that assign value to humanity?

 

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

--The Book of Common Prayer

 

Suggested Map Reading:

Genesis 1-3

For Further Study:

How to Read Genesis, T. Longman

In the Beginning, H. Blocher

For the Beauty of the Earth, S. Bouma-Prediger

Read More...

Read Less...

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 4

Christian spirituality is both overwhelmingly communal and intensely personal. As you read slowly and carefully through this book, we encourage you to think deeply about the questions and ideas presented. Following are some questions for discussion in a group, personal reflection, or both.

Chapter 4 – The Spirit is the Guide

*  How do you understand the Holy Spirit and his functions? On page 31 a couple of passages are listed (John 13-16, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12-14). What are some of the things you noticed? Can you think of other passages that reveal something of the Holy Spirit?

*  “In theory, Christians acknowledge the importance of having the Bible as the map for the journey, but in practice they tend to ignore it in favor of the direct intervention and revelation of the Spirit.” (p. 29) Does this gel with what you have been taught? Experienced? Why do you think this “direct intervention” is often perceived as being more spiritual?

*  What do you think of the idea of “interpretative self-deception”? What are some factors that can play into this? Can you think of times when you or those around you have fallen prey?

 

Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

--Book of Common Prayer

 

Suggested Map Reading:

John 13-16

Romans 8

1 Corinthians 12-14

For Further Study:

Keep In Step With The Spirit, J.I. Packer

Why Do You Believe What You Believe About the Holy Spirit?, G. McFarlane

Read More...

Read Less...

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 3

Christian spirituality is both overwhelmingly communal and intensely personal. As you read slowly and carefully through this book, we encourage you to think deeply about the questions and ideas presented. Following are some questions for discussion in a group, personal reflection, or both.

Chapter 3 – The Map, Map Reading, and Living Spirituality

* When planning a path, a destination is assumed. What do you think is the destination of Christian spirituality? How does that affect the way you act towards others and in the world?

* How does the idea of following a “prescribed, mapped-out route” – not trailblazing – fit into your notion of spirituality? How does it relate to our cultural context?

* What do you think about the definition of theology as “chiefly about the study of God and the Scripture”? Do you see theology as related to your spirituality, or something better left to professional theologians? Why?

* Notice that theology is an added dimension to the three already mentioned in chapter two. Five reasons are given as to why spirituality would require a theological mapping:

      1.  To come to sufficient understanding of God.

      2.  To find our spiritual bearings.

      3.  To holistically enlighten our hearts and minds.

      4.  To have a greater degree of objectivity in what we affirm and critique as truly or falsely spiritual.

      5.  To discern how to live the whole of life in community with God and each other in God’s world.

Can you think of other reasons?

* Reflect on the notion of relation and distinction regarding the map of Scripture. Can you think of problems other than those mentioned when you make it up as you go along?

 

Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

--Psalm 119:33-34

 

Suggested Map Reading:

Psalm 119

Colossians 3:1-17

James 1:1-25

For Further Study:

How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth – G. Fee & D. Stuart

Eat This Book, E. Peterson

Read More...

Read Less...

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 2

Christian spirituality is both overwhelmingly communal and intensely personal. As you read slowly and carefully through this book, we encourage you to think deeply about the questions and ideas presented. Following are some questions for discussion in a group, personal reflection, or both.

Chapter 2 – Living Spirituality and the Way Ahead

* How do the three dimensions of living spirituality listed – holistic, interpretative, and interactive - affect the way Christians live in the world? In what ways can you imagine them reversing spiritual impoverishment?

* What do you think of the idea that any spirituality not centered in community with the God of the Bible leads to death?

* What does living spirituality look like to you?

* If you have attended church, take a moment to reflect on your experience. Have you been sufficiently educated and equipped? In what areas? Can you identify areas in which you need to pursue greater knowledge? How did the church help in your spiritual development? What aspects would you affirm and/or critique?

* Authenticity is essential for living spirituality. What does it mean to be ‘real’? Imagine for a moment a few situations that you have found yourself in over the last week. Did you act authentically? How do you decide?

 

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

--Psalm 86:11-12

 

Suggested Map Reading:

Isaiah 40-55

Hebrews 1-6

For Further Study:

The Universe Next Door, J. Sire

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, E. Peterson

Read More...

Read Less...