Ten Questions: Intro

The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers)

The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers), by Mark Mittelberg

Here are my notes on the referenced book to be used for group discussion.

Introduction

Right off the bat we’re reminded of 1 Peter 3:15-16, “…do this in a gentle and respectful way.” Mark Mittelberg uses the analogy of a coach and professional athlete when he offers three keys: preparation, prayer and proximity.

• Preparation:
  • There’s no substitute for reading and reflecting on some key spiritual questions before you get into conversations.
  • It will be tempting, especially as you study and get increasingly ready to answer hard questions, to talk more and more but listen less and less. You must discipline yourself to do the opposite.
• Prayer
  • Probably the single most important part of the process
  • Remember this is a spiritual battle
• Proximity
  • Luke 19:10 — “seek and save those who are lost”
  • The Great Commission

Our Purpose

• NOT to address every fine point or nuance
• NOT to exhaustively satisfy our friends’ curiosity
• Rather, we should learn to destroy obstacles — “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…” (2 Cor 10:5)

Our Motivation

Our purpose must be motivated by love….not just to win an argument.

1. Question 1: What makes you so sure that God exists at all–especially when you can’t see, hear, or touch him?
2. Question 2: Didn’t evolution put God out of a job? Why rely on religion in an age of science and knowledge?
3. Question 3: Why trust the Bible, a book based on myths and full of contradictions and mistakes?
4. Question 4: Everyone knows that Jesus was a good man and a wise teacher–but why try to make him into the Son of God, too?
5. Question 5: How could a good God allow so much evil, pain, and suffering –or does he simply not care?
6. Question 6: Why is abortion such a line in the sand for Christians–why can’t I be left alone to make my own choices for my own body?
7. Question 7: Why do you condemn homosexuality when it’s clear that God made gays and that he loves all people the same?
8. Questions 8 & 9: How can I trust in Christianity when so many Christians are hypocrites? And why are Christians so judgmental toward everyone who doesn’t agree with them?
9. Question 10: Why should I think that heaven really exists–and that God sends people to hell?
10. Conclusion: The questions our friends need us to ask them.

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Question 1 »

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