Discussion
Group Leader Guide Week 8 Group 6
Our Emotional Response Disarm, Guide and Defend No Doubt | Wk 8 | Group 6
餌兵勿食...窮寇勿迫 Do not swallow bait offered by the enemy… Do not press a desperate foe too hard. -Art of War: 7:35,36
TO KICK THINGS OFF, THE HOST OR FACILITATOR READS THIS OUT LOUD. Welcome to the 6th and final meeting of the NO DOUBT group journey. In this journey, we have learned how to wrestle with doubts and we are now looking at how to respond to questions about the Christian faith in a way that is spiritually, emotionally and intellectually effective. One of the best part of this journey experience has been getting to know our fellow travelers.
Everyone introduce yourself to the group by sharing your favorite author, composer, or movie director. THE PERSON WHO MENTIONED THE AUTHOR WHO WAS BORN LAST, READ NEXT. 2
CODE OF CONDUCT
When we break into groups and start sharing, please remember the group commitments we have made to each other. Show Up Participate Be Safe Keep it Confidential Be Encouraging Last week we talked about the strategy behind our emotional response. We learned that: â—? Before people can listen to a rational argument, they may first need their feelings to be heard and validated. â—? Empathetic Listening helps us turn hurt into healing and find opportunities for ministry. This week we are looking at the strategy behind our intellectual response. Christianity is, at its core, a very rational and reasonable faith. When we stand on our 3 hills, we can confidently GUIDE the conversation to honestly examine the evidence and DISARM the predictable objections to faith.
THE PERSON TO THE LEFT READS NEXT. Before we start, we want to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and discussions. Who can volunteer to say a prayer for the group this week? [prayer to invite Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and our discussions.]
3
Break into groups of 3 - 6 and discuss the following questions
THE PERSON WHO NAMED THE EARLIEST COMPOSER, SET A 15 MINUTE TIMER ON YOUR PHONE WHILE THE GROUPS DISCUSS RECON Mission
In groups of 3 - 6, read this section and share your answers to these questions. 1. Read these objections to the Christian faith that nonChristians sometimes use: Christians are mean and closed-minded Faith asks me to give up what I want and offers nothing of real value in return
2. Are these objections true? Do people have any valid reasons for having them?
4
3. Think about recent criticisms you have heard about Christians or Christianity. Do any of those criticisms feed into or depend on one of these objections? Can you name a few criticisms of the faith DO NOT feed into or depend on one of those objections?
4. What could you say or do to discredit these 2 objections?
Group insights to remember and share:
WHEN THE TIMER FINISHES, THE TIMEKEEPER READS: Write down your group insights to share with the larger group later. Intelligence Briefing
Many intellectual criticisms of the Christian faith depend on the assumption that believers are mean, believers are closedminded, and believers have to give up all the good things in life. The way we choose to respond can either reinforce or DISARM these objections. So, how should we respond to well-thought-out opposition to our faith? 5
It is time to break out our Bible apps and see what Jesus’ students taught on the subject. In your groups of 3 - 6, read these verses and discuss the following questions.
TIMEKEEPER, RESET THE 15 MINUTE TIMER I Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1. What attitude does Peter say we should show when answering questions about our faith? What is the “hope that we have”? What “reasons” do we have for having this hope? What is meant by “be prepared?”
2 Timothy 2:23-26 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 6
2. What attitude does Paul say we should we have when dealing with arguments and opponents? What should we avoid? What should we actively do? What is our end goal?
3. What are ways we can gently instruct opponents while avoiding quarrels?
7
4. How can we guide our opponents toward our end goal?
Group insights to remember and share:
WHEN THE TIMER FINISHES THE TIMEKEEPER READS: Write down your group insights to share with the larger group later.
8
THE NEXT PERSON TO THE LEFT READS Our biblical response to arguments and questions should DISARM the common objections to faith and GUIDE opponents to reasons that can lead them to a saving belief in Jesus.
Training Exercise
We’re now going to look at our No Doubt Intellectual Response that includes DISARM & GUIDE and DEFEND our 3 HILLS. In your groups of 3 - 6, do this activity and discuss these questions.
TIMEKEEPER RESET TIMER TO 20 MINUTES DISARM, GUIDE, DEFEND. 1. Take turns reading through these tips for responding to arguments about the faith. a. DISARM their objections to faith i. “Believers are mean” disarmed with 1. “I am broken and needy” 2. “I care about your feelings” 3. “It’s not my place to judge” ii. “Believers are closed-minded / stupid” disarmed with 1. “I took a small step of faith” 2. “I don’t have all the answers” 3. “That’s interesting, I’m going to look into that” iii. “God wants me to give up what I want and offers nothing of real value in return” disarmed with 1. “Now I have new desires” 2. “I have hope of eternal life”
9
b. GUIDE the conversation toward your end goal i .Do: Distill their comments into something reasonable and insightful ii. Don’t: label them into a particular group iii. Do: Be fascinated by, and appreciate their intellectual insights iv. Don’t: Defend every fine point of the faith v. Do: Admit when you don’t know, and refer them to Christian intellectuals who hold different points of view vi. Do: Guide the conversation to your 3 Hills or to your story c. DEFEND your 3 Hills i. Do: Strongly defend your 3 Hills ii. Don’t: expect them to take the leap of faith from historical fact to Christian belief without the help of the Holy Spirit. iii. Do: Offer to share your own story and talk more about the issue in the future.
2. ROLLPLAY. Someone in the group volunteer to play the role of the questioning individual and share an intellectual challenge to the faith. Someone else in the group volunteer to practice responding. Listen to their arguments, Rephrase their statements. DISARM the emotions and GUIDE the conversation. Try to lead them to your 3 HILLS to fight on your home turf. Others in the group, listen and be prepared to make suggestions when the other listener gets stuck and asks for help.
10
3. Was the conversation entirely rational? Did the emotional issues and empathetic listening come up?
4. Did the listener remember to pray before engaging? What roles can the Holy Spirit play in an intellectual discussion about faith?
Group insights to remember and share:
11
Regroup
SKIP THIS STEP IF THERE ARE NO OTHER GROUPS IN THE ROOM. WHEN THE TIMER IS FINISHED RESET THE TIMER FOR 5 MINUTES. THE NEXT PERSON TO THE LEFT READS In your group of 3 - 6, review your insights from the group discussions. What are the 2 or 3 best insights from your group that you would like to remember and share?
WHEN THE TIMER IS FINISHED, ONE SPOKESPERSON FROM EACH GROUP SHARE THEIR GROUP INSIGHTS WITH THE WHOLE GROUP.
AFTER THE LAST GROUP SHARES, THE HOST READS 12
Wheels Up!
This week, we learned that: ● ● ●
Many underlying objection to the faith can be DISARMed by how we respond. We should GUIDE the arguments to our 3 Hills and DEFEND them. Our end goal is for our opponents to find Truth and a saving relationship with Jesus.
Let’s pull out our dog tags one last time as a group. This tag is a reminder of everything we have learned in the NO DOUBT journey.
GO AROUND THE GROUP, READING ONE LINE FROM THE DOG TAG, AND SHARE, IN YOUR OWN WORDS, WHAT THAT LINE REMINDS US OF.
In our last personal exercise, we will get to know some experts who can help us guide others toward a more honest search for truth. We will also make one more update to our personal stories, so we can share them as an effective tool. And before you leave, ask someone in another discussion group more about their favorite author, composer, or director that they shared earlier.
Go in peace, and have NO DOUBT.
13