Description: This group meets in Orchardhill, Glasgow. Programme: LIVING THE QUESTIONS 2.0 This is very different from the typical study of our faith and invites you to reconnect with God, Jesus and the modern world. People know that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer the human race. At the same time, many sense that there has to be a lot more to our understanding of how Christianity has developed within the context of our world. In the light of some forceful arguments against Christianity by people like Richard Dawkins author of “The God Delusion” and Christopher Hitchens author of “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” who are presenting a challenge to all peoples of faith that demands that we rethink how faith came about, our understanding of God, of Jesus, the Bible and how our traditions have developed over the years. Some people in the wider world question whether "salvaging" Christianity is even a task worth undertaking. What is offered in this study is a safe environment where you have permission to ask some of the difficult questions you've always wanted to ask but have been afraid to voice for fear of being thought a heretic. This study takes place within the context of a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to religion in general. You only need to examine the roots of the “war on terror” to understand why this is happening. Recent television program’s like “The Enemies of Reason” and the “Root of all Evil” highlight the need for a course like this. Living the Questions course will be based on selected topics from the 21 themes listed opposite. It is a DVD and web-based small group study exploring beyond the traditions and rote theologies in which so many people and local churches seem to be stuck. Ideal for Christian invitation, initiation and spiritual formation, Living the Questions will help seekers and long time church members alike in discovering the significance of Christianity in the 21st Century and what a meaningful faith can look like in today's world. Themes All sessions, Thursdays at 8pm. Invitation to Journey 1. An Invitation to Journey
6th Nov: Taking the Bible Seriously 20th Nov: Thinking Theologically 8th Jan: Stories of Creation 22nd Jan: Lives of Jesus 5th Feb: A Passion for Christ: Paul 19th Feb: Out into the World: Challenges Facing Christians Reclaiming the World 5th Mar: Restoring Relationships
Call to Covenant19th Mar: The Prophetic Jesus 16th Apr: Evil, Suffering & A God of Love 30th Apr: The Myth of Redemptive Violence 14th May: Debunking the Rapture 28th May: Practicing Resurrection 11th Jun: Reclaiming the World 25th Jun: Joint event for the 2 local groups. LTQ 2 continues after the summer of 2009: Dates to be announced. 15. A Kingdom without Walls 16. Social Justice: Realising God’s Vision 17. Incarnation: Divinely Human 18. Prayer: Intimacy with God 19. Compassion: The Heart of Jesus’ Ministry 20. Creative Transformation 21. Embracing Mystery Format The format of each session includes a DVD, guided discussion, spiritual exercises, Bible Study, and bring and share refreshments. The 20 minute DVD for each session includes conversation, sermon clips, lecture excerpts, and spiritual exercises for practical applications (including different forms of prayer and meditation, movement, walking the labyrinth, etc. For more information see contact details at the bottom of the page. Chris Vermeulen or one of the 20 people who have done the course will be delighted to tell you more. Chris will provide you with a list of names. Venue & time: Thursday, 23 October 2008 at 8.00pm in the manse, and fortnightly thereafter. Contact: Rev Chris Vermeulen 23 Huntly Avenue Giffnock Glasgow G46 6LW T: 620 3734 (home) 638 3604 (office) E: chris@orchardhill.org.uk Web: www.orchardhill.org.uk |