Week 1 - There Can't Be Just One True Religion
Tim Keller poses the objection in the following way. Watch the video.
What one word defines the objection? (pg 3)
I. T or F One of the main barriers to world peace is religion with its claims to superiority and exclusive truth.
"Each religion informs its followers they have the truth and this naturally leads them to feel __________ to those with different beliefs." (pg. 4)
Read the following verses and explain why true Christianity should take away our feeling of superiority
Rom. 3:23
James 3:9
Gen. 9:6
Acts 14:8-15
Also religions, by teaching that followers are connected to God by devotedly following the truth, which "moves them to _________ from those who are less __________ and _________ in life". "It can easily spiral down into _________ of others or even to active _________, _________, or __________ against them." (pg.4)
Read the following verses and explain how true Christianity removes this disdain of the less devoted or zealous.
Titus 3:3-7
Eph. 2:8,9
Lev. 7:7
In other words as followers of Christ, unlike other religions, we should not feel superior or separate from those not behaving as "holy" as us because why?
II. How to eliminate the strife in the world caused by religion
1. Outlaw religion. There are 2 problems with that. Watch the following video and come up with the two.
A. Allister McGrath states, "The 20th century gave rise to one of the greatest and most distressing paradoxes of human history: the greatest __________ and _________ of that century were practiced by those who believed that religion caused _________ and __________."(pg.5)
B. What happened to Christianity in communist China when they tried to stamp out Christianity by expelling Christian missionaries in the late '40s?
The following is an excerpt from Operation World - Mongolia
Answer to Prayer
In 1989 there may have been only four Mongolian Christians. By 2000, there was an estimated community of 8,000 to 10,000. Today, there are over 40,000 believers in hundreds of churches and groups, meeting in most parts of the country. For an additional Answer to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
The church in Mongolia inreased in size in approximately 20 years from _____ to ________.
The church in Mongolia inreased in size in approximately 20 years from _____ to ________.
2. Condemn religion - If you can't stomp it out, make people who speak about it publically look unenlightened, foolish, dangerous, and divisive. They do this by using certain axioms that achieve dogma status. They are
A. "All major religions are equally _______ and basically teach the _______ ________" (pg.7)
Are there inferior religions? Explain.
What is the problem with the statement, "Doctrines don't matter."?
B. "Each religion sees _________ of the spiritual truth, but none can see the ________ truth."(pg.8)
Watch the following video that gives a Chinese proverb commonly used to illustrate this axiom
How does this illustration backfire on its users according to page 9?
C. "Religious truth is too __________ and ___________ conditioned to be 'truth'" (pg.9)
What is the flaw in the following two statements
1. "No belief can be held as universally true for everyone."
2. "No one can determine which beliefs are right and wrong."
D. "It is _________ to insist your religion is _________ and to __________ others to it."(pg.11)
What is wrong with this axiom?
Watch the following video. How would you address Sarah?
3. Keep religion completely private.
You have heard this quote before, "The 2 things you never discuss in public are _________ and __________."
Watch the following video. Tim Keller is discussing Stephen Carter's claim about religion. Summarize what he is saying.
Explain the quote "everyone is exclusive."
Here is the definition of religion on page 15. "Religion is a set of _________ that explain what _______ is all about, who we are, and the most __________ things that human beings should spend their _________ __________."
Watch the following Switchfoot song. What do they say "religion" is? Is it good or bad for the world?
Any statements that include "You ought to do this" or "You shouldn't do that" are what kind of statements?
"Although many continue to call for the ________ of religious views from the public square, increasing numbers of thinkers, both religious and secular, are admitting that such a call is itself __________." (pg 18)
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Additional resources Week 1
Message by Andy Stanley on what religions have in common
Message by Tim Keller http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/exclusivity-how-can-there-be-just-one-true-religion
Quote by Brit Hume on Tiger Woods
Reaction to the quote by Brit Hume
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guUDP2bKEEI&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL3FA164E39E6D68A1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugXF52PoYpw&feature=related
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Week 2 - How Could A Good God Allow Suffering?
One of the objectors (pg.22) to Christianity stated, "God allows terrible suffering in the world. So he might be either all _________ but not ________ enough to end all evil and suffering, or else he might be all ________ but not powerful enough to end evil and suffering. Either way the all -________, all - __________ God of the Bible couldn't exist." Epicuras put it this way, "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both willing and able? Whence then is evil?"
I. Thought 1- Isaiah 55:9
Mackie makes his case against God (pg. 23) "If a _______ and __________ God exists, he would not allow ___________ evil, but because there is much ___________, ____________ evil in the world, the traditional _________ and ___________ God could not exist."
What is his hidden premise in that statement?
Explain how Plantinga deals with that objection with his no-see-um argument (This illustration would not work with Johnny Bravo)
Who in the Bible does Keller allude to as an example of suffering that wouldn't have made sense in the midst of it but did make sense at the end?
Give some personal examples or testimonials heard of people affirming the truth that God used suffering to accomplish a greater purpose.
Keller states on page 25 "If you have a God great and transcendent enough to be ____ at because he hasn't stopped evil and suffering in the world, then you have a God great and transcendent enough to have ______ ___________ for allowing it to continue that you can't ________. Indeed, you can't have it _______ _______."
Watch the following video. What is the point Keller is making? Does this help?
II. Thought 2 - Genesis 1:31
Explain on page 26 how C.S. Lewis' thinking on this subject gradually changed him from an atheist to a believer.
If evolution and natural selection is true, what should we expect to see in regard to suffering in the human race? (26)
"If you are sure that this natural world is _________ and filled with _____, you are ____________ the reality of some supernatural ___________ by which to make your judgement."(26)
Alan Plantinga states, "If there is no God, people really don't have a reason to be outraged by the existence of suffering. After all, nature is "red in tooth and claw". Death and destruction are perfectly natural. It is perfectly natural for the strong to eat the weak and "survival of the fittest" is a genetic principle. Someone can only object to injustice if they already believe in some kind of "supernatural" moral standard - some kind of standard coming from outside of nature that judges some kinds of "natural" behavior as wrong. And where does such a supernatural standard come from if there is no God? So eliminating God does not eliminate the problem of evil and suffering."
III. Thought 3 - 1John 4:9, John 3:16
One of the original objections is that if God is all powerful but doesn't stop suffering then He isn't loving. Watch the following video. How does the story of Horatio Spafford address this argument?
On page 30,31 Keller says that Christianity alone among the world religions claims that God became a man and suffered along with us and for us. He says, "If we again ask the question: 'Why does God allow evil and suffering to continue?' and we look at the cross of Jesus, we still do not know what the answer is. However we know what the answer ______. It can't be that He doesn't _______ us. It can't be that He is __________ or ___________ from our condition. God takes our misery and suffering so seriously that He was willing to take it on __________."
Sarah, at the end of the clip, agrees that Christianity works as a coping mechanism for suffering whether it is true or not. Karl Marx basically said the same thing in a derogatory fashion when he claimed religion is the opiate of the masses.
Paul says in 1Corinthians 15 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
If Christianity "works", it is "functional", we have good families, marriages, work ethic, good standing with our neighbors, no fear of death, ways to deal with suffering, etc. because of it ... why does it matter whether it is true or not?
IV. Thought 4 - trying to explain suffering.
1. Read Job 2:11-13. What is the Biblical example for dealing with people's suffering?
2. Read pages 32-34. Explain Keller's dream and how he uses that to explain suffering.
Relate Rom. 8:18 to this.
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Over the years, people who try to defend the existence of God come up with theodicies to explain the problem of evil. If you are interested in further study, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil#Answers_and_theodicies and Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis ; chaps. 2,3 (The Invasion and The Shocking Alternative)
Summarize what you read and enlighten the rest of us mere mortals.
Here is a link to a message on this subject by Tim Keller http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/suffering-if-god-good-why-there-so-much-evil-world
Week 3 - Christianity is a Straightjacket
or What gives you the right to tell me how to live my life/ Why are there so many rules
or Christian moral rules are an impediment to freedom
Contemporary movies, the philosophy fostered by evolution, Supreme court decisions define freedom to mean (pg 36) "there is no overarching ________ for which we are ___________. If there were we would be ____________ to ___________ to it and to _________ it and that is __________. True freedom is freedom to create your own __________ and _________."
This philosophy of freedom is based on the following 4 mistakes
I. Truth is unavoidable
Briefly explain Nietzche's view of people who claim to have the truth.
How did the Pharisees illustrate his view in Matt: 23:2-4?
Explain C.S. Lewis' "window illustration" and how it explains why refuting truth leaves you in an untenable position.
Briefly explain Freud's view of truth and religion claims
What does G.K. Chesterton mean by "there is a thought that stops thought."?
II. Community can't be completely inclusive
The objection is - Christianity is socially divisive because it isn't open to all. It should be completely inclusive, open to all on the basis of our common humanity.
Keller gives an imaginary scenario of someone on the GLAD board and Focus on the Family board. Explain how he uses this example to illustrate that actually communities are defined by their differences.
What does he say are better standards for judging whether a community is culturally open?
"We should criticize Christians when they are ___________ and ____________ to ______________."(40)
III. Christianity isn't culturally rigid
Critcism - "Christianity forces people from diverse _________ into a single iron _________." (41)
Rebuttal - "Christianity has been more __________ and possibly less __________ of diverse _________ than ___________ and many other ___________." (41)
Explain how the constant global shift of the center of Christianity as opposed to non-moving demographics of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islaam, Confucianism, etc. argue against Christianity being a cultural straightjacket.
Sanneh argues on page 42, "When Africans become ________, their African-ness is _________, __________, and ___________, not ___________ by European-ness or something else."
Walls writes on page 45, "There is no ________ ________ the way there is an __________ __________ which you can recognize from Pakistan to Tunisia to Morocco." Do you agree with him?
How should that effect your view of Christians who behave differently than you in cultural ways?
IV. Freedom isn't simple - it's more constraining than we might think
Immanuel Kant defines an enlightened human being as one who trusts in his/her own _________ of _________ rather than in _____________ or ___________. (46) Freedom to determine our own _________ __________ is considered a necessity for being fully _____________.
Explain how losing your freedom/ constraints can lead to enhanced freedom (46)
Explain what this cartoon has to do with the topic
Look at the following 3 verses and comment on the limitation of freedom expressed and the benefit obtained.
John 8:31,32
Matt 10:39
Matt 11:28-30
What is one of the most common questions that Keller gets in Q&A sessions? (48)
How does he answer that?
Read 2 Cor. 5:14 . What is the most liberating freedom-loss of all?
Relate something you gladly gave up when you fell in love.
"Human beings are most free and alive in ___________ of __________." "We only become ourselves in love and yet healthy love relationships involve __________, __________ __________, a mutual loss of _____________." (49)
Keller says on page 50 there must be a mutual loss of independence. What happens if it is one-sided?
God calls us and says in effect follow me, and it's one way - my way. Explain why this isn't a unilateral loss of independence or a one sided adjustment.
Tim Keller messages on this topic
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Week 4 - The Church is Responsible for so Much Injustice
or - why are Christians such hypocrites?
I. Character flaws
This objection according to page 53 goes something like this, "If Christianity is all it claims to be, shouldn't ___________ on a whole be much ________ ___________ than everyone else?"
Read James 1:17 and Matt. 5:45. What does Keller mean by common grace?
How does he use common grace to dispute the above objection?
Read Mark 2:16,17. How does this verse relate to the above objection?
II. Religion and violence
Put this objection to religion in your own words.
Explain what Keller means by "transcendentalize"
When religion is removed, are crimes against society done away with? Give examples.
Keller says on page 56,"We can only conclude that there is some _________ __________ so _________ ____________ in the ________ ________ that it expresses itself regardless of what the ___________ of a particular society might be..."
III. Fanatacism
Define or describe fanaticism the way people opposed to Christianity define it.
What are the things we should be fanatically zealous for according to Keller?(57)
"The typical criticisms by secular people about the oppresiveness and ____________ of the Christian Church actually come from Christianity's own __________ for ___________ of itself." (61) In other words, according to Sommerville (60), "Where then did we get this list of virtues by which we can discern the Church's sins? We actually got it from within the _________ ________."
Read James 1:26,27. According to this verse and Keller on page 60 what is self righteous religion marked by?
Read Mark 10:43-45. What is true faith marked by?
Explain the difference between being good for honor vs charity?
Explain how the confusion of these led to the crusades.
Who first came to the conclusion that slavery was wrong according to historian Rodney Stark?
"The greatest champion of justice in our era (MLK,Jr) knew the ___________ to ___________ was not less Christianity but a ____________ and ___________ Christianity." (65)
Message by Tim Keller on this topic.
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CHAPTER 5 How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell?
The objections to this will be threefold : 1) A God of judgement simply can't exist 2) A God of judgement can't be a God of love 3) A loving God would not allow hell
I. A God of judgement simply can't exist (pgs. 72-75)
Robert Bellah states that ___% of Americans believe that "an individual should arrive at his or her __________ __________ independent of any church or synagogue." He states that the most fundamental truth in American culture is what?
Therefore our culture has no problems with a God of what?
Therefore our culture has problems with what kind of God?
Our culture has not always been this way. In the past they tried to shape their _________ to fit _________. In modernity we try to shape _________ to fit our ____________. We now think we can control the __________ environment and the ____________ realm also. Western culture also values forgiveness over judgement which is not universal to all cultures.
II. A God of judgement can't be a God of love (pgs. 75-78)
Watch this video. What is Keller's definition of "wrath"?
How is not judging unloving?
Read Romans 1:18-32. How would you define "sin" from this passage?
Look at verses 24, 26, 28. How would you define judgement from this passage?
Milosz and Volf who have lived through the atrocities done by "nonreligious" societies agree that "a loss in the belief of a God of judgement can lead to __________."
According to page 85, where do people get the idea of a God of Love?
III. A loving God would not allow hell
Keller defines "hell" 3 different ways
1."The Biblical picture is that sin separates us from the presence of God which is the source of all ____, _____, ________, or ______ ________ of any sort....... If we were to lose His presence totally that would be _______ - the loss of our capability for giving or receiving love."
Read 2 Thes. 1:9. How does this passage support this view of hell?
The Apostle's Creed states Christ descended into hell. Using this definition how would you explain the Creeds statement?
What does that tell you about God?
Read the following quote from Martyn Lloyd-Jones
You do not know how much Jesus loves you until you know how much he suffered.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the great Welsh preacher, said:
Suppose you arrive at your home, and find a friend waiting for you.
He says, while I was waiting, a bill came and I paid it.
Lloyd-Jones says: How do I respond to this?
I have no idea how to properly respond until I know how big the bill was.
Was it just postage due for a letter, a few cents?
Then just a simple “Thanks” is enough.
But suppose it was the tax collector. Suppose it was ten years of back taxes.
Suppose it was a great debt I could never pay that would land me in
debtors prison for the rest of my life. What if that was the debt my friend paid.
Until I know how much he paid—
I don’t know whether to shake his hand or fall down and kiss his feet.
What did Jesus actually experience on the cross?
Unless you believe in hell, will never know how much he loves you.
You will never know how much he values you.
2. "Hell, then, is the trajectory of the soul, living a self_________, self_________ life going on and on forever."
“Christianity asserts that every individual human being is going to live for ever, and this must be either true or false. Now there are a good many things which would not be worth bothering about if I were going to live only seventy years, but which I had better bother about very seriously if I am going to live for ever. Perhaps my bad temper or my jealousy are gradually getting worse – so gradually that the increase in seventy years will not be very noticeable. But it might be absolute hell in a million years: in fact, if Christianity is true, Hell is the precisely correct technical term for what it would be.”or again
“Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others… but you are still distinct from it. You may even criticize it in yourself and wish you could stop it. But there may come a day when you can no longer. Then there will be no you left to criticize the mood or even to enjoy it, but just the grumble itself, going on forever like a machine. It is not a question of God “sending us” to hell. In each of us there is something growing, which will BE hell unless it is nipped in the bud. “C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (Granite Publishers, Inc, 2006).
Read Luke 16:24-31. Where can you see in this story that this man is self absorbed, etc?
Does he ask to get out? Why or why not?
C.S. Lewis states, "The gates of hell are locked from the inside." What do you think he means by that?
3. "Hell is simply one's freely chosen _________ apart from _______ on a trajectory into ________."
C.S. Lewis states,"hell is the greatest monument to human freedom." What do you think he means by that?
C.S. Lewis also says both God and man will say, "Thy will be done" at judgement day. What do you think he means by that?
How does this explain the objection - Why doesn't God just annihilate people instead of sending them to hell?
How does this explain the objection - Why doesn't he just let everyone go to Heaven?
Keller, along with J.P.Moreland, Francis Chan, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis, J.I.Packer, F.F Bruce, Lee Stroebel, and many other Bible teachers don't believe in a literal lake of fire for the following reasons. Read the verses and try to figure out their arguments
Luke 12:49, Rev.1:14, James 3:6, 1Cor 3:15 , Heb 12:29
Jude 7,13
1Cor 15:42-44
Matt. 11:24, Luke 12:46-48, Rom. 2:5
What do you think about that concept?
When do you suppose God created hell?
This message can be heard at http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/hell-isnt-god-christianity-angry-judge
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CHAPTERS 6 & 7
You Can't Take the Bible Literally / Science Has Disproven the Bible
According to Dawkins on page 87, what % of scientists believe in a personal God?
"Miracles are scientifically impossible". What are some of the flaws of that statement?
Read Matt.28:17. How does this verse answer the objection that miracles were just natural acts misunderstood by ignorant unscientific people.
According to pages 98 & 99 give 2 reasons Jesus did miracles.
1.
2.
Isn't science in coflict with Christianity? Keller says we shouldn't have to choose between the two.(95) Jumping ahead to Chapter 8 Keller gives some scientific "clues" of God. Why does he call them "clues"?
List the clues and briefly explain them
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Can you believe in evolution and still be a Christian? Explain your answer.
One of the objections to the Bible is "You can't trust it historically. Keller addresses this with three objections . List these 3 and explain them (103-113)
1. Luke 1:2, 2Pet 1:16, 1Cor 15:1-6, Acts 26:26
2. Mark 14:71, Mark 9:34, Matt. 14:30, Luke 22:42-44, Matt 26:56
3. Mark 4:38, John 21:7-11, John 8:6-8
Some people object to the Bible because it is "culturally regressive". Keller encourages these objectors not to reject it but to try 3 different perspectives. List these and briefly discuss them
1. (pg 114) Example: slaves (1Tim 1:9-11 & Deut 24:7)
2. (pg 115)
3. (pg. 116-117) (See John 3:33 and John 7:17)
Explain what Keller means by a "Stepford God".
Listen to a message on this topic by Keller http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/literalism-isnt-bible-historically-unreliable-and-regressive
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