Mere Christianity: Leaders' Notes Series
Mere Christianity began as a series of broadcast talks by C.S. Lewis on BBC Radio during some of the darkest days of World War II. Later, these speeches were gathered into the book known and loved by Christians world wide. The book in itself is a treasure trove of Christian truths. Of all of the people I have talked to about the book, very few have ever read it only once.
The first time I read this book, I fell in love wit it. When I read it the second time, only months later, I knew that I wanted to create a discipleship study based on it. This notes that compose this study have taken me months to compose. I have read through the book more than 10 times now in the last year, and every time, I filled with joy and wonder at how God worked through C.S. Lewis to compose what I consider to be one of the best introductory texts to Christian Theology and Discipleship. As I near the completion of my leaders' notes, I am thrilled to make these discussion notes freely available to Christ's body in the world, the Church, so that those who are willing can teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
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Mere Christianity Leaders' notes:
- Book One – "Right and Wrong as a Clue to the Meaning of the Universe" (all 5 chapters)
- Book Two – "What Christians Believe"
- Chapter 1: "The Rival Concepts of God"
- Chapter 2: "The Invasion"
- Chapter 3: "The Shocking Alternative"
- Chapter 4: "The Perfect Penitent"
- Chapter 5: "The Practical Conclusion"
- Book Three – "Christian Behavior"
- Chapter 1: "The Three Parts of Morality"
- Chapter 2: "The 'Cardinal Virtues'"
- Chapter 3: "Social Morality"
- Chapter 4: "Morality and Psychoanalysis"
- Chapter 5: "Sexual Morality"
- Chapter 6: "Christian Marriage"
- Chapter 7: "Forgiveness"
- Chapter 8: "The Great Sin"
- Chapter 9: "Charity"
- Chapter 10: "Hope"
- Chapter 11: "Faith"
- Chapter 12: "Faith"
- Book Four – "Beyond Personality: or First Steps In The Doctrine of the Trinity"
- Chapter 1: "Making and Begetting"
- Chapter 2: "The Three-Personal God"
- Chapter 3: "Time and Beyond Time"
- Chapter 4: "Good Infection"
- Chapter 5: "The Obstinate Toy Soldiers"
- Chapter 6: "Two Notes"
- Chapter 7: "Let's Pretend"
- Chapter 8: "Is Christianity Hard or Easy?"
- Chapter 9: "Counting the Cost"
- Chapter 10: "Nice People or New Men"
- Chapter 11: "The New Men"
Buy a copy of Mere Christianity from Amazon.com
Fellowship
What's the big deal about fellowship? I know the Bible says that as a Christian we are to fellowship together. But what about those of us who are uncomfortable in social settings? Church can be sort of scary just because of all of the people (and sometimes "all of the people" may just equal 10). For those that have social anxieties; 10 is a big number. What about the "where two or more are gathered.." thing? That should be fellowship. I am not trying to sound like I want to avoid church; but having to stand around and talk to people before and after church really makes me nervous. And going and sitting in the car to wait on my spouse is getting old. (my spouse can get a fence post to talk back!)
So guys; help me out here and explain why fellowship is so important and how one is to go about it without seeking professional help.
Fellowship defind
N.T. fellowship has a deeper meaning tham what the present day church practices. The first 5 chapters of Acts stresses the fact that the early church met together for meals, worship, teaching and the LORD's Supper. It also makes the point that they had all things in copmmon. There were no needs among the early believers. Wrap this all up together and what comes out is close to the meaning of fellowship.
Now, as human nature goes, they were not all "talkers", I am sure that some of the early believers were not happy in crowds and may have even been afraid of crowds [like me]! But fellowship was not only catching up on the weeks details, it was taking care of individuals; it was seeing that needs were met and people were doing okay. We all have different gifts and abilities, God made us that way. Your wife sounds like someone who can draw people out and get them to communicate. Which may be one of the things that drew you to her and vise versa. What you need to do is rely on your talent and Spiritual Gift(s) to show you were you fit into the care of the Body, the fellowship.
Fellowship is not so much what we do as it is who we are. We are the fellowship of believers. So when we fellowship we are together as the body of believers. Our responsibility is to take care of each other.
We all need to fulfill our God given role in the fellowship. It doesn't necissarly (?) mesn hanging around and talking before and after church - it does mean we care for the Body and invdividual members of it. By doing that we fulfill the obligation of fellowship.
Suggestion - keep at Patrick MaManus book in your car, it will help to kill time.
I'm reading "Mere
I'm reading "Mere Christianity" as a study with a group at my church and have been researching ways to help go through the book purposefully. This looks like it will help a great deal. Thank you!
great study
Mere Christianity is a great book, but it's even better when you go through it with a discussion group.
I hope you find the notes helpful. Please write back on any errors you find, or things that can be made more clear, but especially on things you disagree with. Any feedback you give on these notes should make them more valuable for others.