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A New Kind of Christianity

Chapter 17

1. How did you respond to the author’s introduction? Did you see what was coming?
2. The author surveys how our answers to the previous questions affect the way we look at the issue of homosexuality. Which part of his survey was most interesting, troubling, or helpful to you?
3. What from the reading of the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch most struck you, and why?
4. How hard do you find it to stay in conversation and friendship with people who hold a different opinion from yours on the issue of homosexuality? Why do you think this issue is so stressful and divisive? Has your reading of this chapter helped you imagine a less strident or divisive way of addressing the issue? Which of the other sexual issues, beyond homosexuality, do you think is most critical for us to begin thinking about, and why?

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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.

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3 Responses to “Brian McLaren: Q7 – The Sex Question”

1. michael Says:
   April 7th, 2010 at 2:07 pm

   Is there any chance that a former “sex offend” to have any dialog in the “church” apart from 12 step men’s groups. Finding our sexuality is all a part of growing up and should not be a point of contention.

2. Brian McLaren – Navigating Through A New Kind of Christianity | David Kenney Says:
   April 29th, 2010 at 12:11 pm

   [...] Question 7 – The Sex Question [...]

3. Reimagining The Slippery Slope « Jonathan Brink Says:
   June 1st, 2010 at 11:41 am

   [...] find wholistic relationships together in community?  (Brian McLaren also talks about the sex issue here and has some great points [...]

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