Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis.

The main themes of C.S. Lewis's Mere Christianity.

1: Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe (The Moral Law). Core Theme: The universal sense of "oughtness"—the Moral Law or Law of Human Nature—points to a moral Lawgiver.

• Romans 2:14-15: What does this passage say about how God's law is known to everyone, even without special revelation? How does this correspond to Lewis's argument?

• Matthew 5:43-48 & Luke 6:31: Jesus appeals to a standard beyond custom. What is He appealing to? How does the "Golden Rule" assume a universal moral law?

• James 2:8-11: What does breaking one point of the law reveal about our relationship to the whole law? How does this illustrate Lewis's point that we all know the Law but fail to keep it?

• Discussion: Can you think of a time you appealed to a standard of "fair play" that others recognized? What does that instinct reveal?

Paul and the Power of Grace--John Barclay

In his transformative book, Paul and the Power of Grace, John Barclay's central argument is that grace (charis) in Paul is not merely a forgiving attitude but an unconditioned and incongruous gift—given without regard to the worth of the recipient, which fundamentally reorders the recipient's life and creates a new community. Each section starts with a key concept from Barclay, followed by questions and key passages to study.

Part 1: The Nature of Grace as an Incongruous Gift

Concept: Grace is unconditioned (given freely by God) and incongruous (given without matching the worth, status, or ethnicity of the recipient). It shatters all systems of worth.

Wonderful (Isaiah 9:1-7)

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful..." (Isa 9:6).

1. What judgment is announced in Isaiah 8 (Isa 8:7-8)?
• How does this transition to hope (Isa 9:1) shape your understanding of God?
2. Why were Zebulun and Naphtali (Galilee) the first to suffer invasion and conquest (Isa 9:1; 2 Ki 15:29)? Why is this area called "Galilee of the nations"?

Has God Chosen You? (Genesis 28:11-22)

"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway...to heaven" (Gen 28:12). “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’” (Gen 28:17).

• Have you seen a "stairway to heaven"?
• Have you definitively experienced God's presence?
• Have you met God?

1. What do Jacob and Esau's struggle in the womb suggest about them and their future (Gen 25:22)?
• How does Jacob’s action during birth live up to his name (Gen 25:25-26)? See footnote.
  
2. What does Jacob’s behavior toward his famished brother show about him (Gen 25:29, 31, 33)? Is he a good fun guy to hang out with?

Day 2. The Imitation of Christ. Bk 1, Ch. 8-14. Facing Temptations and Adversity.

A little more in depth in reading TKIC a second time. His words are timeless and priceless gems, and always relevant.

• Are temptations and adversity unavoidable in this life?
• How do you face them courageously? Do you:
• Obey God?
• Watch your words?
• Resist temptation?
• Embrace God’s fiery love?