Study Guides

Study Guides

for

Christ’s Team
A 21st Century View of Christianity

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This version is for ease of previewing.

Robert C. Frank

Study Guide for Chapter 1

The Continuing Flow of Creation

This chapter discusses early creation, the role of Jesus Christ in creation, and our participation as God’s assistants.

 1.  Have you ever had the opportunity to view the night sky on a clear night from some location away from  city lights, either with or without a telescope? If so how did it make you feel? 

2.  One theory of the formation of planets is that they are produced by the accretion of stellar dust. That suggests that we are made of star dust. What thoughts do you have about that connection?

3.  Jesus is often thought of as the ultimate example of servant leadership. Explain.

4.  Discuss the Apostle Paul’s description of the Body of Christ in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 12) and compare it to descriptions of modern teams.

5.  What evidence do you see in the world around you that creation is continuing at an evermore rapid pace? Briefly discuss.

6.  How do you understand your role in continuing creation? Remember that there are not only those who have creative ideas, but the team members who do a wide variety of other things in support of the team.

7.  Discuss the many ways that Christ’s Team is involved in reducing suffering.

Study Guide for Chapter 2

The Christianity-Science Relationship

This chapter begins with an effort to understand the goal of continuing creation and then illustrates how science and Christianity have contributed to the achievement of that goal.

1.  In this chapter minimum requirements for ideal lives are listed. Are there any that are lacking in your life? Discuss people you know personally who lack some of the requirements.

2.  From your memory of stories like The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe or Castaway what are some of the hardships produced by a lack of companionship on an island?

3.  Consider the case of a scientist living alone on an island with no outside communication. Can research be carried out under those conditions? What factors inhibit the research?

4.  Discuss some of the issues that have gotten media attention where there seem to be disagreements between the teachings of science and Christianity. What are your thoughts?

5.  Imagine that you have just finished reading the book of Mark and are having lunch with the author. What questions would you like to ask him about Jesus that would provide information not included in his book?

6.  What are some of the ways people have tried to prove the existence of God? Why have these often left us with more uncertainties?

7.  Have there been any incidents in your life that you considered to be miracles? Why is it so difficult to prove to other people that they are acts of God?

Study Guide for Chapter 3

The Rules of Life

This chapter discusses the rules that Christ’s Team members are expected to obey, why members fail to obey them, and how relationships are healed.

1.  Explain how obeying each of the Ten Commandments improves the quality of teamwork. Do the same for the two commandments advocated by Jesus.

2.  Give some additional examples of how science is occasionally needed to clarify the application of the Ten Commandments or those suggested by Jesus.

3.  Think of five laws produced by civil governments (e.g. buckling seatbelts) and explain how they are related to the Ten Commandments or those advocated by Jesus.

4.  Discuss the possible benefits and hazards of Stem Cell research.

5.  What are some common addictions in our modern world that prevent us from obeying the rules of life? How has social science helped people deal with these addictions?

6.  The book points out that when we disobey the rules of life our punishment is that we are deprived of the ability to lead the best life that we can live. Explore that for the case of a person who swindles other people out of their money and lives luxuriously.

7.  Can you recall cases where people that you have known have not forgiven or have not been forgiven for something that occurred in the past? How has the lack of forgiveness affected their lives?

Study Guide for Chapter 4

Communication with God

This chapter discusses how humans communicate with God through prayer.

1.  As you think about your own prayers, what questions come to mind? How do you understand the one you are praying to? What image do you have of God as you are praying?

2.  Discuss some specific times in your life when your prayers were exceptionally meaningful.

3.  Why is gratitude so important for achieving a happy and whole life?

4.  Can you think of some times in your life when you especially needed courage? Did you pray for courage and if so did it help?

5.  Discuss your feelings about prayers for healing. Have you ever prayed for healing for yourself? Have you prayed for others? How did God respond?

6.  If you have tried Centering Prayer, discuss your experience. If you haven’t tried it, try it and discuss your experience.

7.  What things do you think you can do to make improvements to your prayer life?

Study Guide for Chapter 5

A Spiritual Oasis Every Seven Days

This chapter emphasizes the importance of the weekly worship service for providing learning, inspiration, direction, and stability for Christ’s Team.

 1.  What visual art do you see inside and outside your church? Make a list. Are there some things that really stand out in your mind? How does the visual art aid your worship experience?

2.  Try to write down from memory the sequence of events in the worship service at you church. Would you classify your worship service as traditional, contemporary, or a mixture? Do you think that your worship service is typical for your denomination?

3.  Describe the different ways that music is produced in your church. Which do you like best? List some hymns that you like. Why do you like them?

4.  Try to think of some things that you could do to help you remember the key points of the Pastor’s sermon.

5.  Think creatively. What are some things that your parish could do to make the worship service seem more like a Spiritual Oasis that would draw more people in each week?

6.  What activities in your parish help adults get to know each other better? Youth? Children? Try to think of other ways of helping members get acquainted.

7.  What are some things that the members of your parish could do to make visitors feel more welcome?

Study Guide for Chapter 6

The Family Team

This chapter discusses the critical role that families play in continuing creation on Earth.

1.  Discuss the pros and cons of the various ways that matchmaking takes place between young men and women: (1) chance meeting; (2) peer pressure; (3) selection by parents; and (4) computer matchmaking. Which has the best chance of producing stable marriages?

2.  Discuss the husband and wife relationship as a team. How do they decide on their individual roles? How do they normally communicate with each other? How can they improve their ability to communicate with each other? Share examples from families you know.

3.  Make a list of the various stages of child development. How are they different for boys and girls? How are they the same? Why is physical exercise so important?

4.  Make a list of the benefits of the use of television and computers in childhood education. Make a similar list of the ways that they can harm childhood education.

5.  Make a list of the ways that participation in a Christian parish or congregation provides assistance for parents who are raising children.

6.  Discuss the “travel light” principle mentioned in the chapter. How can members of families manage their possessions better through teamwork?

7.  What are some games or other forms of entertainment that members of families can participate in together?

Study Guide for Chapter 7

Caring for Strangers

This chapter shows that Christ’s Team members have a long history of caring for the ill and poor throughout the world.

1.  When you walk through a large supermarket how do you feel about the strangers you see there? How about those who are dressed poorly or differently?

2.  Describe some of the changes that have taken place in medical practice in your lifetime. How has hospital care changed?

3.  Do you know of any hospitals that were once operated by Christian organizations but are now independent? Any still operated by Christian organizations?

4.  Have you ever had any contact with the Salvation Army? If so explain the circumstances and how they helped you or you helped them.

5.  If your church has contact with missionaries working in foreign countries, describe what they are doing and how their work has changed over the years.

6.  Does your church provide assistance to sick or poor people in your local community? How have you or can you provide assistance with those programs?

7.  Discuss the role of volunteers in programs providing assistance to the sick or poor. Why are volunteers still so important?

Study Guide for Chapter 8

The Future

This chapter discusses the future of life on Earth and the role that Christ’s Team must continue to play.

 1.  Describe some of the things that have taken place in recent years that would have been very difficult to predict.

2.  As you look back over the history of human life on Earth, what are some things that have not changed very much? Some things that have changed a great deal?

3.  In what ways have members of your church been teaching teamwork? Have they specifically talked about serving on Christ’s Team? How might they do a better job of promoting that understanding?

4.  What creative ways do you see for encouraging non-Christians to become part of Christ’s Team?

5.  Discuss more fully how space exploration has helped us understand the problems of life on Earth.

6.  Discuss some ways members of your church can get involved in providing better management of our planet?

7.  Share your thoughts about how Christians should relate to other religions in the care for life on Earth.