Monday, January 14, 2008

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 16

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 16 – Our Destiny and Destination

*  As you consider the Christian destiny of transformation into the image of Christ, how does it make you feel? Why?

*  Is the ultimate destination of a renewed earth (as opposed to a more celestial state) a new one for you? What are some ways in which Christian spirituality should/would change if this teaching were taken seriously by the church? Do we take it seriously enough?

*  As we close the journey of this book, take a moment to consider the path of living Christian spirituality laid out here. Which things discussed were familiar to you? What parts seemed like foreign landscapes?

 

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore. Amen.

--Jude 1:24-25

 

Suggested Map Reading:

Genesis 9

1 Corinthians 15

Romans 8

Revelation 21-22

For Further Study:

Heaven is a Place on Earth, M. Wittmer

Heaven, R. Alcorn

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Monday, January 7, 2008

Living Spirituality Study Guide - Chapter 15

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 15 – Love and Community

*  In contrast to becoming a “zero”, we observe that self-love is good and appropriate in the context of being loved by God. What do you think this self-love looks like? How do you imagine that a healthy self-love would bring about transformation in your life? Transformation in your community? What are some of the criteria for distinguishing between healthy vs. unhealthy self-love?

*  Can you think of some instances in your experience that the church, or you, expressed living Christian love? Times when it was not expressed? What were some of the factors that influenced the ways those situations played out?

*  Can you think of ways in which Christian love can/should function beyond the individual level and move into the corporate/structural level of society and culture? How, as an individual, can you strive for those things?

*  In learning to greater appreciate the differences between people and cultures, how could one adopt a posture of learning?

*  Are you a part of a community like the one described here, engaged with scripture, culture, etc.? What can you do to find/develop such a community?

 

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-- Romans 15:5-6

 

Suggested Map Reading:

John 13

1 Corinthians 12-13

For Further Study:

Life Together, D. Bonhoeffer

The Disciplined Heart, C. Simon

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Thursday, January 3, 2008

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 do you think are some of the most important things that Christians can be doing in 2008?

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