HEART OF CHRISTIANITY STUDY GUIDE

Week of Sunday, Apr 2, 2006

Study Questions – Chapter 5

1. For the first Christians, what was the proof of the divinity of Jesus: the virgin birth? The resurrection? What is the proof for you?

2. New Testament scholar Raymond Brown says that the first thing we would do if Jesus came back and did the same things and took the same stances is that we would kill him again. Do you agree or disagree and why?

3. Where do you think Jesus is now?

4. Why did Jesus die? Who was responsible for his death?

5. William Sloane Coffin says that God is defined by Jesus but not confined to Jesus. What do you think this means? Do you agree or disagree and why?

6. Dr. Borg says that Jesus is more central to our faith than the Bible and that when parts of the Bible disagree with Jesus, Jesus trumps the Bible. What do you think of this?

7. Do you think the people around you find it more difficult to believe in the humanity of Jesus or the divinity of Jesus?

8. Dr. Borg says it is important for us to distinguish between the “pre Easter Jesus” (the Nazarene prophet/teacher/healer) and the “post Easter Jesus” (the Christ who is present with us now). What do you think of this distinction?

9. Albert Nolan, a South African Jesus scholar says, “Jesus is a much underrated man. To deprive him of his humanity is to deprive him of his greatness.” What do you think?

10. The portrayal of Jesus in the Gospel of John is significantly different from the portrayal of him the in the other three gospels. Why do you suppose it would be important to know this and to know that John is the latest of the four gospels to be written?

11. In the publicity surrounding the release of The Passion of the Christ one radio preacher said, “The only thing that is important about Jesus is his death.” Do you agree or disagree and why?