• Choose a Show
• Brian McLaren
• Think Fwd:

An New Kind of Christianity

(Chapters 10-11)

1. The author proposes that the Bible presents a trajectory of growth and maturity in human understanding of God in relation to God’s uniqueness, God’s ethics, God’s universality, God’s agency, and God’s character. Do you agree with this proposal, and why?
2. The author offers two analogies to understand the idea of an evolving understanding of God – math textbooks and a trip to the future. Restate these analogies, and respond to them.
3. Have you ever considered the Noah story as a story of global genocide? Respond to the idea of “trading up” understandings of God, as represented in the illustrations at the beginning of Chapter 11.
4. Talk about the four diagrams at the end of Chapter 11 and the different ways of reading the Bible they represent. Which approach best approximates the way(s) you have read the Bible in the past? How difficult would it be for you to shift to the way of reading the Bible advocated by the author – seeing Christ as the ultimate revelation of God, and the Bible as a witness to Christ? How difficult would it be for your church or domination to adopt this approach, and why?

Additional Questions:

Questions for Reading Groups:

1. What one, two, or three passages or ideas in this chapter did you respond most strongly to? What was your response – what feelings and ideas did the idea(s) or passage(s) elicit? Why do you think you responded in this way?
2. What quotes, points, or questions from this chapter would you most like to talk about with your group? What would you like to ask your other group members about these quotes, points, or questions?
3. How would you complete this sentence: “For me, the most important take-aways from this chapter were …”

A Five-Step Reading Circle:

A convener invites a circle of friends to read the book. The convener proposes how many chapters will be read per week, and when, where, and for how long the group will meet. At each meeting, the convener reads these five steps as ground rules for the group, and intervenes to uphold these ground rules as necessary. The convener may also lead in a brief opening and closing activity – such as reciting the Lord’s Prayer, observing a period of silence, journaling, etc.

1. A volunteer reads a sentence or paragraph from the week’s reading that was important to him or her for some reason.
2. That group member then talks about the passage for an agreed-upon period of time without interruption. (Ten minutes would be a good maximum, but five or seven minutes might be better for groups of more than five people.) He or she shares why the passage is important, what the passage means to him or her, and how he or she responds to it. Other members seek to “listen the speaker into free speech” through their attentiveness. Again, no interruptions are allowed, and periods of silence are fine.
3. That group member invites others to ask further questions about his or her responses to the passage – for the purpose of understanding the group member (not debating, not critiquing, not agreeing or disagreeing – only seeking to understand the group member better). Or that group member may ask a question of fellow members to which they may respond.
4. Another group member volunteers (or is invited by the leader to go next), and the process continues around the circle.
5. If time permits, the group leader may invite each member to reflect on what they have learned or gained from one another during the gathering. The group confirms the next week’s readings and meeting details.

Click Here to Join the Sweepstakes

Click Here to Download a PDF of the Study Notes

7 Responses to “Brian McLaren: Q3 – The God Question”

1. David Foreman Says:
   March 6th, 2010 at 7:45 pm

   Just wondering why questions 1 and 2 are on YouTube, but not number three. Reason?

   dave

2. David Foreman Says:
   April 1st, 2010 at 8:31 am

   Again, why is it I can’t find Question 3 on YouTube?

3. Brian McLaren – Navigating Through A New Kind of Christianity | David Kenney Says:
   April 18th, 2010 at 12:45 pm

   [...] Question 3 – The God Question [...]

4. The 10 Questions | A Natural Notebook Says:
   June 19th, 2011 at 12:15 pm

   [...] 3. Original Link broken I will post a replacement as soon as I find one. Aha! Found one (12/10): The God Q. [...]

5. franchise leads Says:
   December 16th, 2011 at 11:40 pm

   It is perfect time to make a few plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish and if I may I desire to recommend you few fascinating issues or suggestions. Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring to this article. I want to read more things approximately it!

6. promo code Says:
   December 18th, 2011 at 12:05 pm

   I dugg some of you post as I cogitated they were very useful very helpful

7. Integraalisalonki ti 12.10.2010 klo 18.00 Kirjasto 10:ssä | Integral Finland Says:
   December 19th, 2011 at 10:41 am

   [...] (video) *    Miten tietoisuuden kehityksen tasot näkyvät raamatun metanarratiivissa (kts video 1, video 2) *    Brian McLarenin haastattelu [...]

Leave a Reply