Here are some discussion questions for section 2 - Wales:
1. Hudson's experience in Wales includes a small group experience around the Alpha program. Alpha is a program designed to ask and answer foundational questions about Christianity. If you could ask any question about Christianity, what would you ask? (see p. 56/57 for suggestions)
2. How does language impact the worship experience? Does language also impact your faith, and if so, how?
3. Have you ever attended a revival? What are the goals of a revival? If you were to organize one at your place of worship, what would you include?
4. When Hudson attends a service at a smaller church in Mumbles (p 54), she talks about being distracted by certain elements of the sanctuary. What, if anything, distracts you in worship? How are you brought back to the moment? How do you adjust?
5. Discuss this sentence from p 58: "While people might like to attribute their doubts to more intellectual motives, most people's objections to God aren't actually coming from answers to the Alpha questions - they're coming from a reaction to the church, which many see as a lifeless institution."
6. Hudson admits that we all see God in different ways (p. 65) - some see God as Father, some as Uncle, and some as Santa Claus. What are your primary images or experiences of God?
7. There's a fair amount of discussion about the Prosperity Gospel in this section of the book. Read the quote from Rick Warren on p. 67 and offer comments.
8. Bible passage: Read John 9, the story of the man who was blind since birth. Hudson writes some about suffering. She asks why we suffer and whether this is a punishment for sin, or whether it's just part of life. How does Jesus answer those who question him about the blind man? Can we distinguish between God redeeming tragic situations and God causing tragic events? If so, how?
9. The mode of transportation in much of the Wales section is by walking. How might walking be a spiritual experience?
10. Is the church about advancing the gospel? (p 71) How does tradition interact with innovation in advancing the gospel? Are those concepts mutually exclusive? Does one have benefit over the other when speaking to those newer to the faith?
1. Hudson's experience in Wales includes a small group experience around the Alpha program. Alpha is a program designed to ask and answer foundational questions about Christianity. If you could ask any question about Christianity, what would you ask? (see p. 56/57 for suggestions)
2. How does language impact the worship experience? Does language also impact your faith, and if so, how?
3. Have you ever attended a revival? What are the goals of a revival? If you were to organize one at your place of worship, what would you include?
4. When Hudson attends a service at a smaller church in Mumbles (p 54), she talks about being distracted by certain elements of the sanctuary. What, if anything, distracts you in worship? How are you brought back to the moment? How do you adjust?
5. Discuss this sentence from p 58: "While people might like to attribute their doubts to more intellectual motives, most people's objections to God aren't actually coming from answers to the Alpha questions - they're coming from a reaction to the church, which many see as a lifeless institution."
6. Hudson admits that we all see God in different ways (p. 65) - some see God as Father, some as Uncle, and some as Santa Claus. What are your primary images or experiences of God?
7. There's a fair amount of discussion about the Prosperity Gospel in this section of the book. Read the quote from Rick Warren on p. 67 and offer comments.
8. Bible passage: Read John 9, the story of the man who was blind since birth. Hudson writes some about suffering. She asks why we suffer and whether this is a punishment for sin, or whether it's just part of life. How does Jesus answer those who question him about the blind man? Can we distinguish between God redeeming tragic situations and God causing tragic events? If so, how?
9. The mode of transportation in much of the Wales section is by walking. How might walking be a spiritual experience?
10. Is the church about advancing the gospel? (p 71) How does tradition interact with innovation in advancing the gospel? Are those concepts mutually exclusive? Does one have benefit over the other when speaking to those newer to the faith?