Dr. Jeffress issues a bold wakeup call to all believers--from college students to grandparents--to stop apologizing for and start proclaiming the tough but essential truths that Christians have historically embraced.
Jeffress issues a bold wake-up call to all believers to stop apologizing for and start proclaiming the tough but essential truths that Christians have historically embraced. He provides the finest biblical, scientific, and historical evidence needed to defend these core beliefs in a culture turned hostile to God's truth.
1)
Wimp-Free Christianity1.When, if ever, has a non-Christian or Christian challenged your belief in one of the seven politically incorrect truths that are discussed in this book? Which of these truths do you think is the most difficult for people to accept? Why?
2.Explain the difference between absolute truth and relativism.
3.What do you think is the best example of how relativism has impacted societys view of morality during your lifetime?
4.What is the relationship between relativism and evangelism? How has relativism impacted the church, especially in evangelism?
5.Do you believe that societys move toward embracing relativism will lead to widespread persecution of Christians in this country? Why or why not?
6.Which of the seven truths presented in this book do you find most difficult to embrace? Why?
7.What is the authors best argument for the existence of absolute truth?
8.What do you hope to gain from studying the material presented in this book?
2) Chapter 1: Every Other Religion Is Wrong
1.Have you ever been in a debate with someone about the exclusivity of Christianity? What was his or her greatest objection to the belief that trusting in Christ is the only way to be saved?
2.How would you answer Phil Donahues objection that “a good Jew” goes to hell while a Nazi has a chance to go to heaven if he trusts in Christ at the last moment?
3.In what ways has our societys understanding of tolerance changed?
4.How would you answer the charge that exclusivity promotes hatred toward unbelievers? Do you believe there is a kernel of truth in that argument? Why or why not?
5.Do you believe that every single person on the planet who has never trusted in Christ as his or her Savior is doomed to hell? Why or why not?
6.Christianity is often charged with promoting anti-Semitism. What is the best argument against that charge?
7.Suppose a close friend or family member who is not a Christian says to you, “How can you be so judgmental in believing that I am going to hell and youre not?” How would you respond to that person?
8.Think of a friend or family member who is not a Christian, and take a moment right now to pray for him or her, asking God to give you an opportunity to share the gospel with that person.
3) Chapter 2: God Is Ultimately Responsible for All Suffering
1.What event in the world in general, or in your world specifically, has caused you to question Gods love or His power to stop evil?
2.How does the presence of evil in the world actually argue for the existence of God?
3.Do you believe that human freedom limits Gods control over His universe in any way? Why or why not? What scripture(s) supports your position?
4.Do you believe that God has two wills: a “perfect will” and a “permissive will”? Why or why not?
5.If you can, describe an experience in your life when God used short-term suffering to produce something good.
6.What words of comfort would you offer to a parent who has just lost a child and is asking, “Why did God allow this to happen?”
7.What are some of the pat answers Christians often use to explain suffering in the world? Why do you think we feel so compelled to offer such explanations?
8.Which of the insights about suffering in this chapter was most helpful to you? Why?
4) Chapter 3: God Sends Good People to Hell
1.What is the most difficult aspect of hell for you to accept? Why?
2.Why do you believe the idea of hell has fallen into such disfavor today?
3.Do you believe the “fire” of hell is literal or symbolic? Why?
4.How would you respond to the God-is-too-loving-to-send-people-to-hell argument?
5.Do you believe that every person on the planet must know and trust in Jesus Christ to escape hell? Is there some other provision for some people to be saved apart from the personal knowledge and acceptance of Christ? What scripture(s) supports your position?
6.Do you believe that the residents of heaven will be aware of the occupants of hell? If so, how do you think people will be able to enjoy heaven knowing that some of their friends and family members are suffering in hell?
7.What was the greatest insight you gained about hell from this chapter?
8.Do you think churches and individual Christians should emphasize the doctrine of hell, especially with unbelievers? Why or why not?
5) Chapter 4: Homosexuality Is a Perversion
1.Do you have a friend or family member who is homosexual? What, if anything, do you think Jesus would want you to say to this person about his or her lifestyle?
2.Do you believe that Christians unfairly emphasize the immorality of homosexuality while ignoring other sexual sins? If so, why do you think that is?
3.Do you think homosexual activity between consenting adults should be outlawed–as it is in some states? Why or why not?
4.Do you think marriage or civil unions between homosexuals should be legalized? Why or why not?
5.If a Christian homosexual came to you and said, “Im miserable and want to change my lifestyle, but I dont know how,” what specific counsel would you offer?
6.Are evangelical Christians unfairly portrayed as bigots for their stand against homosexuality? Why or why not? If so, what can they do individually and corporately to change that perception?
7.How has our cultures shift toward relativism changed peoples feelings toward homosexuality? In what specific ways do you see that change manifested? Do you believe that change has penetrated churches? If so, in what ways?
8.Taking the first question a step further, how would you respond if your son or daughter announced that he or she was gay?
9.In what ways has this chapter changed your attitude toward homosexuality?
6) Chapter 5: Husbands Are to Be the Leaders of Their Families
1.Before you read this chapter, would you have characterized yourself as an egalitarian–believing that husbands and wives have equal authority in the home–or a complementarian–believing that God has assigned the husband the leadership role in the family? Has this chapter changed your view? If so, how?
2.Do you believe that the principle of submission also applies when the husband is not a believer? Why or why not?
3.What counsel would you give to a wife who told you she was being physically abused by her husband? How would you support your answer biblically?
4.In what ways have conservative Christians distorted the principle of submission in marriage?
5.Have you noticed Christians attitudes about submission in marriage changing in the past ten years? If so, to what do you attribute this change?
6.The author used an example of one instance in which a husbands request to his wife (“Dont go to church.”) not be honored. Do you agree with the author that a wife should politely refuse to violate the command to not “forsake the assembling together of yourselves”? Why or why not?
7.If you are a wife, do you find submission to your mate difficult? Why or why not? If you are a husband, what are some specific ways in which you can place your wifes desires above your own?
8.How would you answer someones charge that the Bible teaches that women are inferior to men?
7) Chapter 6: Evolution Is a Myth
1.What is evolution? Differentiate between microevolution and macroevolution. How would you answer the question, “Do you believe in evolution?”
2.Why is theistic evolution–the belief that God used the evolutionary process to create life–neither good science nor good theology?
3.Do you believe that the earth is billions of years old or thousands of years old? Why? Do you think there is room for legitimate disagreement on this question? Why or why not?
4.How would you answer the following objection to allowing the presentation of creationism with evolution in the public classrooms? “Because of the separation of church and state, creationism should not be discussed in public schools. Let the churches and synagogues present creationism and the schools present evolution.”
5.Of the four fatal flaws in the evolutionary theory, which do you believe is the worst? Why?
6.Why is evolution just as much of a religious philosophy as creationism?
7.Given the tremendous odds against the random assembling together of protein molecules to produce life, why do you think so many people insist on evolution as the best explanation for the origin of life? Do you think the evidence presented in this chapter is powerful enough to change peoples opinions about evolution? Why or why not?
8.What do you believe is the evolutionists strongest argument for his or her position? What is the creationists strongest argument for his or her view?
8) Chapter 7: America Is a Christian Nation
1.What is the most outrageous example you have seen or heard of governments attempts to remove any acknowledgment of God from the public arena?
2.Why do you think the efforts to deny our nations unique Christian heritage have accelerated so rapidly in the last fifty years?
3.How would you answer the person who asks, “If we allow Christian prayers to be voiced in schools, what is to keep Hindus or Buddhists from being able to voice their prayers publicly?”
4.At a presidential inauguration a few years ago, Franklin Graham was widely criticized for ending his prayer with the words “In Jesus name, Amen.” Given the religious diversity in our nation, do you think Graham should have ended his prayer this way? Why or why not?
5.How has the understanding of the separation of church and state changed over the years? What insight did you gain about this principle from reading this chapter?
6.If your child were asked to pray at a public gathering, but the person in charge of the gathering asked your child not to mention the name of Jesus, what would you advise your child to do?
7.What, if anything, do you think Christians should do to help our nation reclaim its spiritual heritage?
8.How would you answer a Christian who says, “Christians have no business getting involved in politics; Jesus didnt and neither should we”?
9) Becoming a Velvet-Covered Brick
1.Do you agree with the premise of this chapter that Christians are sometimes too harsh in their presentation of truth? Do you think that Christians tend to err on the side of harshness or softness when it comes to voicing their convictions?
2.The author shared an experience on an airplane in which he resisted the urge to “dump” the gospel on a Jewish man instead of listening to his concerns and continuing to correspond with him. Do you agree with the authors decision, or should he have shared the gospel with the man, not knowing whether he would ever see the man again?
3.If we are going to influence our culture, we must go where the “fish” are. Do you think the trend toward homeschooling and Christian schools encourages isolation from the culture rather than influencing the culture? Why or why not?
4.What can we do to encourage our children to become influencers rather than victims of the culture?
5.Can you identify several non-Christians whom you are seeking to lead to Christ? If not, what could you do to become more engaged with unbelievers?
6.What do you think causes unbelievers to reject the truth of Christ? Are they more turned off by Christian truth or by Christians?
7.How do you explain the dichotomy between the tenderness with which Jesus treated some unbelievers (the Samaritan woman, the woman caught in adultery, and the thief on the cross) and the harshness with which he dealt with the Pharisees and other religious leaders?
8.Ask God to bring to your mind the name of one non-Christian you know whom you might be able to lead to Christ. Take a moment to pray for that individual, and then ask God to give you an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with him or her. What one thing could you do for that person that would demonstrate a genuine concern for him or her?