OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

• It is important that a leader have adequate knowledge and a temperment that allows for candid, uninhibited discussion. The leader of the group may recruit a resource person for this discussion.
• Gather some quotations from leading theologians and church leaders that illustrate differing opinions.
• Talk to some members in the group as well as some advisors so that you can make this a profitable discussion and avoid acrimony or unproductive diversions.

GROUP BUILDING

This may be in the form of singing, a brief skit, Scripture reading, and a brief introduction, all designed to encourage honesty, humility, a willingness to listen, and an appreciation for unity with diversity-the ability to agree to disagree in the Spirit of God.

GROUP PRESENTATION

Look for some creative way to present the theological discussion of this session.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Use any of the following questions to guide your discussion.

• How is Scriptural authority to be interpreted practically?
  • Primarily in terms of a theological system?
  • Or, as coming more from the work of the Holy Spirit in leaders and in the Body of Christ?
  • Or, in terms of the teaching of the Church? (Is there a sense that some groups rely more implicitly, others more explicitly, on what their leaders and the Body of Christ around them believes?)
• How do Christians view traditional beliefs and other religions? Do they see them as:
  • Anti-Christian and demonic?
  • Sub-Christian, needing completion in Christ?
  • Para-Christian with adequate revelation?
• How should Evangelicals relate to the larger Church?
  • In strict isolation?
  • Through dialogue and cooperation?
  • Through ecumenical unions?
• How do we look at the "health and wealth gospel" of the U.S. (particularly in some Pentecostal and TV evangelists) and the "big man and land dream" in Africa? What should be the Christian attitude toward wealth?
• How should these distinctions be handled?
  • The spiritual and the mundane?
  • Evangelism and social action; pastoral and prophetic roles?
  • Salvation and justice?
  • Christ and culture?
  • The Church and the State?
• Are the primary concerns of ethics personal or corporate? Are Christians primarily failing to address issues of personal righteousness-what we eat, drink, and watch and how we handle our sex, time, and money-or are they issues of justice that we neglect? How are we to regard lifestyles and fairness in society or in a Christian organization in terms of Biblical principles?

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

From brief, written responses and evaluation at the end of this session and from later discussions, decide where the primary interest of your group lies and how that concern can be best followed up.

Dean Borgman cCYS