Discussion
Group Leader Guide Week 4 Group 2
Finding Our Three Hills No Doubt | Wk 4 | Group 2
“視生處高，戰隆無登，此處山之軍也” “Camp on defensible hills, and don’t attack your enemy where he holds a defensible hill. This is all you need to know about mountain warfare.” - Art of War 9:2 paraphrased
TO KICK THINGS OFF, THE HOST OR FACILITATOR READS THIS OUT LOUD. Welcome to part 2 of the No Doubt group journey. In this study, we are learning how to wrestle with doubts and answer questions about the Christian faith in a healthy way. CODE OF CONDUCT As we break into groups and start sharing, everyone please remember the group commitments we have made to each other. 1. Show Up - I will give priority to attending our group meetings, I will text or call if I am absent or late. 2. Participate - I will read, share, listen, and volunteer to help our group experience be more successful. 2
3. Be Safe - We want our group to be a safe place where we can be heard and feel accepted. I will resist sharing my own judgements, quick answers, and easy fixes. I will welcome and listen to others. 4. Keep it Confidential - I will keep personal information that is shared within the group strictly confidential. 5. Be Encouraging - I will get to know others in the group and encourage them on their journey to live a healthy spiritual life that is pleasing to God.
It’s easier to complete the journey experience if we get to know our fellow travelers. Everyone introduce yourself to the group by sharing your name, where you live, and your favorite vista or mountain.
THE PERSON WHO MENTIONED THE HIGHEST POINT, READ NEXT. Last week in our group journey we learned: ● Jesus deals gently with his followers when they doubt him. He wants them to examine the evidence, so they can stop doubting, and believe. ● Jesus endured persecution and criticism, and he wants us to love and pray for those who challenge us. That is part of his strategy for winning. ● Each person has a little bit of truth-seeker and worldchanger in them, and that affects how we talk about proof and faith. This week we are going to look at Christian beliefs that CAN be and SHOULD BE defended.
3
THE PERSON TO THE LEFT READS NEXT. The early Christian leaders shared a faith that was virtually IRREFUTABLE, in part because they argued for things they could prove and they relied on the Holy Spirit. Each week, we are also going to invite God to guide our thoughts as we go through this group journey. Who can volunteer to say a prayer for the group this week? [quick prayer to invite God to guide our thoughts and our discussions.]
THE PERSON WHO GOT TO WORK THE EARLIEST THIS MORNING , SET A 10 MINUTE TIMER ON YOUR PHONE AND THEN READ: Break into groups of 3 or 4. And each group discuss the following questions.
RECON Mission
In groups of 3 or 4, discuss your answers to these questions. 1. Are there faith claims, made by others, that you have difficulty either believing or defending? (e.g. All dogs go to heaven, Jesus was born on December 25, 1 A.D. )
2. How do you feel about arguing for or against these types of beliefs?
4
3. Has someone ever expected you to defend a belief that you felt unable or unwilling to defend? Can you share that experience?
Group insights to remember and share:
5
INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING
WHEN THE TIMER FINISHES READ: Write down your group insights to share with the larger group later.
THE NEXT PERSON TO THE LEFT READS It is sometimes difficult to know how and when to defend different faith claims. So this week we are going to learn how to pick our fights, both strategically and biblically. In the No Doubt Journey, we talk about our defensible beliefs as ‘hills’. Defending beliefs can be like defending hills in a military campaign. Our faith hills are places we want to occupy because they are hard to attack and they are strategically located. It is time to break out our Bible apps and see what Jesus’ students modeled on the topic. In your groups of 3, read these verses and discuss the following questions.
TIMEKEEPER, RESET THE 15 MINUTE TIMER The Hills that the Apostles Defended
1. Read Acts 4:8-10, 13, 18-20, 33. What things did Peter and the other Apostles “testify” about when they went to court and shared their faith? Acts 4:8-10 (NLT) 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,[a] the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 6
Acts 4:13 (NLT) 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:18-20 (NLT) 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:33 (NLT) 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.
2. Read I Cor 15: 1 - 8. What things did Paul include in his gospel and on what did his readers “take their stand?” 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NLT) 15 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 7
3. What evidence did they give to argue these faith claims? Would that type of evidence appeal to truth seekers or early adopters?
4. Were the Apostles being purposeful and selective in choosing their arguments? Should we be selective in which faith claims we fight for, or should we fight for them all?
Group insights to remember and share:
8
WHEN THE TIMER FINISHES THE TIMEKEEPER READS:
Write down your group insights to share with the larger group later. THE NEXT PERSON TO THE LEFT READS Peter and Paul and the other apostles argued that: 1) Jesus is the Messiah, and 2) God raised Jesus from the dead They argued for these 2 hills because they were both essential to their faith, and they could support them with cold, hard evidence. How do we know whether or not we should fight for something we believe? Strategically, we should fight for hills that are important and we know we can defend. As part of the No Doubt Journey, we are each going to choose our own hills that we will defend.
TRAINING EXERCISE
In your groups of 3 - 4, evaluate these faith claims and discuss these questions. TIMEKEEPER RESET TIMER TO 15 MINUTES 1.
What does it mean for a Christian belief to be defensible? essential?
2. Score each of the following claims on whether it is essential or defensible. (E, D, E+D, or blank) Then each person in the group add one claim of their own to the list. a. Transubstantiation - communion literally becomes the body and blood of Jesus when eaten b. True disciples of Jesus can drink deadly poison without being harmed c. Eye-witnesses say that Jesus rose from the dead, 3 days after his crucifixion d. Jesus claimed to be the Jewish Messiah e. The Ark of the Covenant is in a church in Ethiopia 9
f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n.
The Bible contains reliable historical accounts My life has changed since I became a follower of Jesus A creator God exists Christians go to heaven when they die God helps those who help themselves Paul wrote the book of I Corinthians The wise men were 3 kings from the far East ( group provided ) ( group provided )
3.
Circle the beliefs that we feel are most defensible and essential to our faith.
4.
Are there essential beliefs that are not defensible with cold, hard evidence? Can these be reworded as defensible truth claims? (e.g. . Jesus is the Messiah -> Jesus claimed to be the Messiah)
5.
Which 1 statement of faith do I feel is most important for me to defend? What are 3 defensible truth claims that support this belief?
6.
Why is it good to limit the number of hills we will defend? What should we do about all of the other hills?
REGROUP
WHEN THE TIMER IS FINISHED RESET THE TIMER FOR 5 MINUTES. THE NEXT PERSON TO THE LEFT READS Each group review your insights from the 3 group discussions. Choose 3 insights and a spokesperson to share with the other groups.
WHEN THE TIMER IS FINISHED, EACH SPOKESPERSON SHARE THEIR GROUP INSIGHTS WITH THE WHOLE GROUP. AFTER THE LAST GROUP SHARES, THE HOST/ FACILITATOR READS
WHEELS UP!
This week we’ve seen that the Apostles fought for a few essential, defensible hills of the faith. This week in our personal journey, we will dig deeper into our own story and our own 3 hills to make sure those hills are the right hills for us, personally. Make sure to do the personal journey this week. We all get to define and defend our own 3 hills, but next week we are going to watch a video that will show us how to defend these 3 hills: The Gospels are historically reliable, Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God, and Jesus rose from the dead. So we are going to need some popcorn. Can I get 2 volunteers to bring snacks, someone to open us in prayer and someone to help with the video setup next week? And before you leave, ask someone in another discussion group more about their favorite mountain peak. See you next week. 11
12
13