Dialogue with the World

Series: Dialogue with the World
Questions about Christianity by John Burke, June 1, 2008
This lesson was distinctly different from any others. Due to John’s illness two weeks ago and his travel last week, the discussion with leaders from different religions was postponed. Sill, John DID stay with the theme of this series, Dialogue with the World, but in this case it the Dialogue was with John. People text-messaged questions for John to answer. So, this week, Second Helping is based on your questions too. You’ll pick the questions to discuss in the group (Note: you’ll need some paper and pen/pencil before you get started.)

1. Begin with a couple of minutes to just think about your own questions about God, spirituality, the Bible, Jesus, heaven, hell… whatever. Write down the top three questions you would like to discuss. (Note: some might be questions that were discussed by John, but that you’d like to explore more and discuss in the group. There is a “cheat sheet” list of questions that were covered during the first two services below. But try not to look until you’ve spent some time thinking about your own questions) Next, go around the group and have each person read their top two questions. After everyone has nominated questions, get a list of those that were most common and work through those with discussion. (Just in case you have more time, you can go to question # 3). (45 - 50 minutes)

Before you start, keep in mind a couple of guidelines:

• As John said, not all questions are created equal. There are some questions that are key questions of faith… sort of foundational issues that really impact whether one can accept the whole idea of belief in Jesus as Savior (i.e., “Did Jesus claim to be God?”). Then there are some questions where sincere, reasonable Christ-followers can have differences of opinion that are impossible to resolve… but might be interesting to discuss (i.e., “Do we have free will or are our lives predestined?” or “Did creation happen through evolution or in one week?”). Last, there can be those that we will NEVER be able to answer given our limited existence in time and space (i.e., “What will it be like to live forever?”). (John also said there were silly questions.. i.e., “Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?”… but clearly that doesn’t count here). As John did, in your discussion, try to focus on the first type – central questions… or perhaps even the second type as long as everyone understand that any “answers” will be personal opinion.


• Next, be sure to keep an open mind. Jesus said that we could know the Truth, and it could set us free. Gateway values include open and honest questions… so remember the point is not to out-argue, but to sincerely and lovingly seek Truth together.

2. After the discuss, stop and think again. Did anything set you thinking in a different way? Is there more you need to learn? No doubt you addressed important question… questions at the heart of how you live your life and think about and relate to God. So, take a couple of minutes to write what YOU want to know more about and how you will start – a real, concrete “next step” you can do this coming week. Surely it delights God to know that someone is hoping to know Him better. (5 minutes)

3. End by discussing whether there are any big questions left “hanging”. If so, nominate someone in the group to go to the Second Helpings website and list those questions. In response, we’ll post reading ideas, Bible passages and other thoughts to those that are the big puzzlers in the group discussions. (5 - 10 minutes)

Questions from the Dialogue with John (for John’s answers you can listen/download the message at the Gateway Message Archive)
1. How do you “know” God is there?
2. Why do someone have to believe in “Jesus”… why can’t they just be a good moral person?
3. What happens to people who died without hearing about Jesus?
4. Why don’t Protestant Christians pray to the Virgin Mary?
5. If Christians are supposed to search for world peace, why is there so much fighting in the Bible?
6. Why did Jesus have to die to forgive my sins? Why didn’t God just forgive if He wants to forgive?
7. Will we meet spiritual leaders such as the Dali Lama in heaven?
8. Why are there so many different religions? 10. What happens to “non” christens when they die? Will non-Christians go to hell?
9. How do Adam and Eve tie in w/ the dinasours? Can I be a Christian an believe in evolution?
10. Did God pick people to go to heaven and earth?
11. Are Jesus and God one and the same?
12. Why does God forgive murderers and people who hurt children?
13. How can you know that the Bible is true when it was written by “man”?
14. How can you reconcile the vengeful God of the Old Testament and the loving/self-sacrificing God of the New Testament?

Want to get more/go farther?

• You can listen to this message - and other ones too at Gateway Messages.
• Get an idea of where you are in your spiritual journey and customize your own next steps at Gateway's Discover, Develop, Deepen website.
• Check out some books:
Read more about what C.S. Lewis says about Moral Laws in the Abolution of Man Learn about one scientist's road to belief in The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, by Francis S. Collins.

Read a systematic walk through the evidence that supports Christianity in The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Similar themes are covered in Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell, The Verdict of History by Gary R. Habermas (at Amazon.com) and Science Speaks by Peter Stoner (at Amazon.com)

• Search for other topics you want to know more about Gateway's online Bookstore. or go to the virtual Bookstore on the second level of the auditorum at Gateway's main campus.