Notes from Week Three - Arrogance

Notes from Week Three: When Speaking of Other Religions

What follows are a few items from the video, the Leader's Guide, or the Participant Guide that moved me:

Opening Prayer:
Lord Jesus, at times we have refused to listen to the thoughts and beliefs of those who do not share our beliefs.  We have been arrogant and dismissive toward them, and we have caused them to feel excluded or judged - whether intentionally or unintentionally.  As a result of our unloving words, attitudes, and actions, we have actually turned people away from you.  Forgive us, Lord.  Help us to be more like you, drawing others to you through our humility, respect, love, compassion, mercy, and kindness.  As we explore our beliefs about salvation and the wideness of your mercy, may our hearts and minds be open to your Holy Spirit and our attitudes and words be full of grace.  Amen.


What is the eternal fate of those who earnestly seek God - who love God and seek to do what is right as they best understand it - but who either have not heard about Jesus or have not understood the gospel?
Christians through the ages have answered the question of the wideness of God's mercy in three ways:
1.  Christian Universalism - all humanity ultimately will be reconciled to God (none will suffer in hell)
2.  Christian Exclusivism -  anyone who has not personally trusted in Christ cannot enter heaven
* 3. Christian Inclusivism - Jesus died for the sins of the world, but God can give the gift of salvation to anyone God chooses based upon the criteria God chooses (God looking at the heart and judging according to the light of the knowledge those people had access to)


The apostle Peter called Christians to witness to their faith by living holy lives, showing humility, respect, and love.  The most powerful form of Christian witness is expressing authentic love, compassion, mercy, and kindness toward others.

St. Francis once said, "Preach the gospel always, and when necessary, use words."

"My prayer is that we Christians will be a people who preach the gospel always, and when necessary use words" (Hamilton, Participant book 55).

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, we gather regularly to wrestle with questions about ourselves, about life's purpose, and about your call to service.  We're thankful we can learn some of your truth.  Please keep us from the hurtful arrogance that says we've got it all figured out and have the right to condemn and condescend to others, either within our group or outside of it.  Teach our hearts the ultimate truth - that you are love.  Amen.

Notes from Week Four - Heartlessness

Notes from Week Four: When Bad Things Happen

What follows are a few items from the video, the Leader's Guide, or the Participant Guide that moved me:

MAIN IDEA: If we want to get it right when it comes to how we speak and act in times of suffering, we need to carefully consider what we believe about how God works in the world and seek to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus to those who are suffering.

Opening Prayer:
Lord, life can be so hard at times.  Suffering is part of the human experience because we live in a fallen, imperfect world.  Like everyone who has come before us, we struggle to make sense of it all; and sometimes in our effort to make sense of it, we wind up saying and doing things that hurt others.  Help us to sort through our questions, to question our assumptions, and to examine our beliefs carefully.  Remind us that we do not have all the answers and never will, and that the most important question is not "Why?" but "What now?"  We are comforted by the fact that you are familiar with our pain, that you are present with us through it , and that you promise to bring good from it.  Teach us to share the comfort we have received from you with others, reaching out with compassion to be your hands, feet, and voice in a hurting world.  Amen.


Key Insights

• Some of the long and commonly held assumptions about God's involvement in the affairs of our world - the things Christians sometimes say in the face of suffering and even blessing - not only may be wrong, but also may serve to push people away from God.
• God's involvement in the world and in our lives is called providence.  What we believe about providence determines how we respond when bad things happen.
• Nearly all Christians agree that God is sovereign - the highest authority or supreme ruler - yet some also claim that God is actually controlling every dimension of the creation.  This view is sometimes referred to as the marionette view of divine providence.  The Bible seems to teach the opposite of this view.
• Whatever we say about God or attribute to God must line up with God's character as revealed in the Scriptures.  The character of God revealed through the Scriptures is that of a kind, loving, and merciful Father - not a monster.
• Much of what we blame God for is the result of humanity's sin and the realities of an imperfect world - such as sickness, disease, natural disasters, accidents, violence, and death.  God accepts the realities, but God does not initiate them.
• Typically God does not answer our prayers by intervening supernaturally, yet God can and sometimes does intervene in miraculous ways.
• God does not cause bad things to happen, but when they do happen, God uses them to work for our good.  God uses the difficult and tragic experiences of our lives to grow us and make us more like Christ.
• When it comes to the problem of suffering, we must allow room for mystery, knowing that there is much we do not know and cannot understand.
• The church, the body of Christ, should be made up of people filled with compassion who carry one another through the difficult times.  We are to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ to those who are hurting.

A statement that gave us chill bumps once we put it together: "God doesn't interfere; he intervenes."

When Bad Things Happen (Week 4)

We will be exploring the topic "When Bad Things Happen" in Adam Hamilton's DVD study When Christians Get it Wrong on Sunday, September 29.  Brian will be leading us in this conversation.

Join us in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (from 9:45-10:45am)!  Everyone is welcome!

When Speaking of Other Religions (Week 3)

We will be exploring the topic "When Speaking of Other Religions" in Adam Hamilton's DVD study When Christians Get it Wrong on Sunday, September 22.  Tabitha will be leading us in this conversation.

Join us in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (from 9:45-10:45am)!  Everyone is welcome!

Christians, Science, and Politics (Week 2)

We will be exploring the topic "Christians, Science, and Politics" in Adam Hamilton's DVD study When Christians Get it Wrong on Sunday, September 15th.  Kelly will be leading us in this conversation.

Join us in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (from 9:45-10:45am)!  Everyone is welcome!

Notes from Week One - Hypocrisy

WOW!  What a great start to "When Christians Get it Wrong" today!  What follows are a few items from the video, the Leader's Guide, or the Participant Guide that moved me:

Jesus warned us about four different expressions of hypocrisy: 
- Wrong motives
- Pointing out the sin of others with out seeing our own
- Majoring in minors - Hamilton said, "When you focus on the minutia, you forget the really important stuff."
- Being two-faced




We are ALL recovering Pharisees
One young adult said, "I don't mind that you Christians don't live up to all of your ideals.  I don't live up to all of my ideals, either.  In the end, I guess we're all hypocrites, it's just that my friends and I recognize that we're hypocrites.  It seems that many Christians haven't figured this out yet."

"When Christians get it right, we love and give, work for justice, and demonstrate kindness.  When we Christians get it right, we, like Jesus, befriend those who are outside the church rather than condemning them.  And when we Christians get it right, people are drawn to, rather than repelled by our faith."

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, we want to be filled with your heart and goodness all the time.  But we're not there yet, so sometimes we're tempted to fake it - and that can get ugly.  Help us to live authentically in your love and grace, letting go of our need to look good even when we aren't.  Teach us to own our struggles and claim your power to transform us.  Amen.

Important Reminders - "When Christians Get it Wrong"

Important reminders as we begin "When Christians Get it Wrong" (from the Leader's Guide pp.8-9)

- The purpose of this study is not to debate beliefs or opinions but to help you hear and understand the perceptions  and feelings of young adults outside the Christian faith.

- Some issues and beliefs are complex and multifaceted and, therefore, will result in multifaceted perspectives; yet as followers of Christ we are called to demonstrate respect, acceptance, and love toward those with whom we disagree.

- This session is not intended to be a debate or a gripe session but an opportunity to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ as we learn more about the perceptions of young adults and how we can be more like Christ in communicating and interacting with those who are outside the Christian faith.

- Be willing to let go of your biases and to question your assumptions.  You will agree with some points and disagree with others.  But as you are willing to see things from the perspective of young adults outside the Christian faith, you will come to discover how you may be a more influential representative of Christ in a skeptical world. 

"Always be humble, gentle, and patient, accepting each other in love.  You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way."   Ephesians 4:2-3, NCV

"Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they grow into quarrels.  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient.  The Lord's servant must gently teach those who disagree.  Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth."   2 Timothy 2:23-25, NCV

When Christians are Unchristian (Week 1)

We will be exploring the topic "When Christians are Unchristian" in Adam Hamilton's DVD study When Christians Get it Wrong on Sunday, September 8th.  Traci will be leading us in this conversation.

Join us in the Fellowship Hall during Sunday School (from 9:45-10:45am)!  Everyone is welcome!