For some time now, Kiki & I have felt the Lord leading us to use our home in the work of furthering His Kingdom. So we are excited about the opportunity to begin an additional ministry of Island Baptist Church.
The Island Baptist College and Career Group meets every 1st, 3rd & 5th Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Tim & Kiki's place. We are a ministry of and not a replacement or in competition with Island Baptist. We seek to glorify Jesus Christ in our activities, actions, and conversation. We seek to enjoy good fellowship and discipleship with the young Christians of Island Baptist.
What to Prepare for Our Next Gathering
What to Prepare for Our Next Gathering
Screwtape Letters
Letter(s): For next meeting read Letter 1 "Reason and Reality"
Questions:
7. Why would Screwtape advise Wormwood to "Keep pressing home on him the ordinariness of things."? What "comfort zones" in our Christian walk do we need to be cautious of?
8. Read Luke 10:39-42. What ordinary everyday distractions was Martha concerned with? Who did it make her resent? What did she miss out on?
Screwtape Letters
Letter(s): For next meeting read Letter 1 "Reason and Reality"
Questions:
1. In what way does Screwtape say that Wormwood is being naive?
2. What is Screwtape's explanation of why Wormwood should avoid reliance on "argument"?
3. What is the difference between "thinking and doing", and how does this impact our daily lives?
4. Screwtape claims that people "having a dozen incompatible philosophies dancing together inside their head". What specifically does he credit for this? What do you think the other "weapons" are today?
5. If, according to Screwtape, people are not persuaded by what is true or false, what does he say people are concerned with? Why do they believe what they believe?
6. Read Hebrews 2:14-18. What is the "abominable advantage" God has over Satan? How should this encourage us in our Christian walk?7. Why would Screwtape advise Wormwood to "Keep pressing home on him the ordinariness of things."? What "comfort zones" in our Christian walk do we need to be cautious of?
8. Read Luke 10:39-42. What ordinary everyday distractions was Martha concerned with? Who did it make her resent? What did she miss out on?
Read Letter 2 "Distracting the Christian Mind"
Questions:
1. "There's no need to despair," Screwtape writes. "Hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed after a brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp and are now with us." What is Lewis alluding to in this passage?
2. Why does Screwtape suggest, "All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favor"?
3. Screwtape claims, "One of our great allies at present is the Church itself." What strategies might tempters employ with new Christians to create dissatisfaction with the church?
4. Consider yourself a new Christian who has walked into your church for the first time. What expectations might you have about fellow church members, the leadership, the church, and the worship service?
5. Screwtape tells Wormwood to keep the patient focused on the visible church. St. Augustine wrote there is a "visible" and "invisible" church in Christianity. How would you describe these two churches, and why does Screwtape believe it is important to keep the patient fixed to the "visible"?
6. Screwtape claims the patient "has an idea of 'Christians' in his mind, which he supposes to be spiritual but which is, in fact, largely pictorial." What romanticized view of Christianity might a new convert have of their spiritual life?
7. In regards to our disappointment, Screwtape said, "Work hard, then, on the disappointment or anticlimax which is certainly coming to the patient duringhis first few weeks as a churchman." For what purpose might God allow disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavor? What is the result if we get through the "initial dryness"?
8. After all of this, Screwtape provides Wormwood the perfect means to attack his patient. "He [the patient] has not been anything like long enough with the Enemy to have any real humility yet." Why is humility for a new believer so important? What is the importance of humility in the Christian life?
Read Letter 3 "Relationships"
Questions
1. Read Romans 12:2 & 1 Timothy 4:16. How is God working "from the center outward" to transform our conduct to His standard?
2. What is the first method of temptation that Screwtape suggests using on the patient?
3. read John 14:15, 1 John 5:3, and Ephesians 6:6. Screwtape says that the patient thinks "his conversion is something inside him." What is conversion if it's more than just a commitment to a heart change?
4. Although seemingly counter intuitive, why would Screwtape want Wormwood to have the "patient" practice an hour of self-examination "without discovering any of those facts about himself which are perfectly clear to anyone who has ever lived in the same house with him or worked in the same office"?
5. What is the second method of temptation that Screwtape suggests using on the patient?
6. What methods does Screwtape suggest Wormwood employ to render the patient's prayers for his mother innocuous?
7. What are two advantages that Screwtape say will occur by employing this method?
8. Read Luke 18:1. What motivates the Pharisee to pray? How should we approach God when praying for others?
9. What is the third method of temptation that Screwtape suggest using on the patient?
10. What annoying habits of others irritate you? Which of your annoying habits do you think irritate others?
11. What is the fourth method of temptation that Screwtape suggests using on the patient?
12. What si the "double standard" Screwtape encourages between the patient and his mother?
13. Provide an example of something being said "with the express purpose of offending and yet having a grievance when offence is taken".
14. At the end of the letter, Screwtape wants Wormwood to search out whether the mother is jealous of her son's recent conversion. How is this similar to the story of the 'elder brother' in the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15: 11-32?
Read Letter 4 "Sincere Prayer" - November 2, 2017
Questions:
1. Screwtape encourages Wormwood to keep his patient from praying altogether. How does this contrast to God's direction in the following verses: Luke 18:1; Colossians 4:2; Thessalonians 5: 16-18?
2. What is Lewis referring to in the comment about the "parrot-like nature" of prayers?
3. Read Matthew 6:5-9. How does Jesus respond to this same question?
4. What is the difference between producing in ourselves "a vaguely devotional "mood" in which real concentration of will and intelligence have no part" as opposed to what Screwtape refers to as a "prayer of silence" that is used by those very advanced in the Enemy's service?
5. Read John 4:24. What sort of balance must take place between our emotions (or spontaneous prayer) and more formal prayers like we find in the Disciple's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-15?
6. How does 1 John 1:9 relate to praying for forgiveness and our desire to feel forgiven?
7. What does Screwtape mean when he writes that humans don't "start from a direct perception of Him"?
8. Screwtape likes imaginary pictures of God as a focus for prayer. What mental images of God do we create in our mind?
9. Why does Screwtape say that we do not desire the "real nakedness of the soul" as much as we suppose?
10. What does God say in Ecclesiastes 5:4 about making bold claims in our prayer life?
