Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity
Mere Christianity – Book 3 – Christian Behavior Source: CLS Book Club http://cslbookclub.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=26 Used with permission
Chapter 1 - The Three Parts of Morality
1. How does the schoolboy (and many adults) perceive God and morality?
2. If morals are directions for running the human machine as Lewis contends, then what can we expect to happen when morals are eroded or ignored?
3. What is the danger of equating moral obedience with idealism?
4. With what three areas is morality concerned?
5. When a man or woman says, "It can't be wrong because it doesn't hurt anyone else," what areas of morality is he/she overlooking? Why is this a non-Christian philosophy?
6. What does Lewis mean when he says, "You cannot make men good by law"? Do you agree/disagree?
7. How does the worth of the individual vary from that of a nation or civilization, depending on how you perceive an individual's lifespan?
8. While most people can agree on morals when it comes to inter-personal relationships (i.e. how we should treat one another), when do the disagreements arise?
Why?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 1 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 2 - The "Cardinal Virtues" [Note: This chapter was not one of the original radio broadcasts.]
1. Give Lewis's definition for each of the four cardinal virtues.
Prudence:
Temperance:
Justice:
Fortitude:
9. How might being a Christian sharpen your intelligence? Consider:
Proverbs 1:1-4: “1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,knowledge and discretion to the young—”
Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Proverbs 14:15: “The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.”
Isaiah 33:6: “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.”
10. When might it be appropriate for a Christian to abstain? Consider:
1 Corinthians 8:9 and 13: “9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”
Romans 14:7 and 15-21: “7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 2 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”
11. What does Lewis say about abstainers who want everyone else to follow suit? Consider
Romans 14:3-4: “3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.”
12. What distinction does Lewis make between doing a particular action versus developing a character quality?
13. According to Lewis, if we focus on actions only, we might encourage three wrong ideas. List them
1.
2.
3.
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 3 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 3 - Social Morality
1. Christ did not preach a brand new morality, according to Lewis. Instead, what did he do?
2. Why does Christianity not give a detailed political program for implementing the Golden Rule?
3. According to Lewis, which group within the church ought to take the lead in putting the Golden Rule (and other Christian principles) into action in society?
4. Lewis lists three "hints" from the New Testament as to what a Christian society might look like. List them. Each of the following scriptures corresponds to one of the "hints." Try to match them by placing the respective hint number before each scripture. (1) (2) (3) ___ Ephesians 5:21-22 and 25 ___ Ephesians 5:19 ___ 1 Thessalonians 4:11 ___ Romans 13:1 ___ Ephesians 6:1-4 ___ Philippians 4:4-7 ___ 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 5. What were Lewis's thoughts on lending money? Consider
Exodus 22:25: “25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.”
Leviticus 25:35-38: “35 “ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.”
Deuteronomy 23:19, 20: “19 Do not charge a fellow Israelite interest, whether on money or food or anything else that may earn interest. 20 You may charge a foreigner interest, but not a fellow Israelite, so that the LORD your God may bless you in everything you put your hand to in the land you are entering to possess.”
Nehemiah 5:1-13: “1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.” 4 Still others were saying, “We Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 4 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.” 6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say. 9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.” 12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!” At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.”
6. What principles do you see set forth in the Old Testament?
7. What rule does Lewis recommend for charitable giving?
8. What two obstacles to charity does Lewis identify?
9. What will it take for a Christian society to develop?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 5 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 4 - Morality & Psychoanalysis
1. Even though we won't have a "Christian society" until most people become Christians, what jobs are we still to do?
2. What distinction does Lewis make regarding Freud and psychoanalysis? Which part contradicts Christianity?
3. According to Lewis, what goes into making a moral choice? Which part can psychoanalysis address? Which part is morality concerned with?
4. Lewis writes, "Bad psychological material is not a sin but a disease." Do you agree/disagree?
5. How do humans judge? How does God judge? Consider
Matthew 7:1-5: “1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Galatians 6:1-2: “1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
James 4:11-12: “11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Romans 14:10 and 13: “10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister ? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 6 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity 6. What happens every time we make a choice? What are the eventual outcomes of each path?
7. What puzzled Lewis about Christian writers? Consider
Matthew 5:21-22 and 27-28: “21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sisterwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”.
8. As a person gets better, what becomes more apparent to him/her? What does this suggest about contemporary American culture where very few people see themselves as sinners?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 7 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 5 - Sexual Morality
1. What distinctions does Lewis make between chastity and the social rule of modesty or propriety?
2. If you break the rule of propriety…
a. to excite lust, you are ______
b. out of ignorance or carelessness, you are ______
c. to shock or embarrass, you are ______
3. How does Lewis define "the old Christian rule of chastity"? Do our instincts agree with it?
4. How does Lewis use the analogy of food to illustrate how the sexual instinct has gone awry?
5. In what way would Christianity agree that sex is nothing to be ashamed of? In what way would it disagree?
6. List the three reasons Lewis gives why it is difficult to desire complete chastity?
7. What is the best thing to do when faced with a seemingly impossible task? What is the fatal thing?
8. Lewis does not consider un-chastity the supreme vice. What sorts of sins are more serious?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 8 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 6 - Christian Marriage [Note: This was not one of the original radio broadcasts.]
1. Why was Lewis reluctant to speak about marriage?
2. While churches take various positions regarding divorce, on what do they agree?
3. How does the virtue of "justice" (introduced in Book III, Chapter 2) fit in with marriage?
4. What is the danger of basing marriage on "being in love"?
5. According to Lewis, what happens when we try to live on thrills? What happens what we allow thrills to fade away?
6. Did Lewis believe the Christian view of marriage and divorce should become the law of the land? What did he propose?
7. What reason does Lewis give for the husband being the head of the house? Do you agree/disagree? Consider
Ephesians 5:21-33,6:1-9: “21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the churChapter 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (see Ephesians 6:1-9 for more context) Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 9 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Genesis 2:18-24: “18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 10 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 7 - Forgiveness
1. Why might forgiveness be even more unpopular than chastity? Why is it necessary?
2. What are two things we can do to make forgiveness easier?
3. Lewis spends a lot of time clarifying what loving your neighbor is and what it is not.
Loving my neighbor does not mean:
Loving my neighbor does mean:
4. How did Lewis resolve the "straw-splitting distinction" between hating the sin, but not the sinner?
5. Describe the test Lewis proposed. What happens when we deny any data inconsistent with our hatred?
6. How does Lewis distinguish fighting in a war from the sixth commandment - Thou shall not kill (Exodus 20:13)?
7. How do we go about loving those who have nothing lovable about them?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 11 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 8 - The Great Sin
1. Would you have selected pride as the greatest sin?
2. How can we spot pride in our own lives?
3. How does pride get its pleasure?
4. How can some people be proud and at the same time appear to be religious? Consider
Matthew 7:21-23: “21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Luke 18:10-14: “10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.””
5. What is the "test of being in the presence of God"?
6. Sometimes a person's pride is utilized to control simpler vices. What is the danger of this?
7. How does Lewis distinguish pride from pleasure in being praised?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 12 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity 8. What does a humble person look like?
9. What is the first step in acquiring humility?
10. What do you learn from the following Bible passages about pride?
Psalm 10:4
Proverbs 11:2
Proverbs 13:10
Proverbs 16:18
Proverbs 18:12
Daniel 4:37
Romans 12:16
1 Corinthians 13:4
James 4:6
11. If you have access to the book, read chapter 8 of Charles Colson's autobiography Born Again (1977). How did C.S. Lewis's chapter on pride impact Colson's life?
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Chapter 9 -- Charity [Note: This chapter was not one of the original radio broadcasts.]
1. How has the meaning of the word "charity" changed over the years?
What is the Christian sense of the word?
How is it used in conversation today?
2. What does Lewis say about "liking" someone?
3. How can "liking" someone potentially conflict with exercising charity towards him/her?
4. Can one's temperament be a sin? What should the more reserved personalities do about the virtue of charity?
5. After distinguishing between feelings and an act of the will, what rule does Lewis recommend? Consider
1 John 3:18: “18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”.
6. Why do the seemingly insignificant decisions we make every day carry great importance?
7. Regardless of our feelings, what is true of God's love for us?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 14 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 10 - Hope [Note: This chapter was not one of the original radio broadcasts.]
1. There is an old quip -- "he is so heavenly minded that he's of no earthly good." Would C.S. Lewis agree? Why or why not?
2. What should we aim at? Why? Consider
Matthew 6:33: “33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Colossians 3:1, 2: “1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
3. According to Lewis, why do we find it difficult to want heaven?
4. According to Lewis, we have deep longings for something of which we get a fleeting taste, only to have it fade away in reality. What are two wrong ways of dealing with this recurring disappointment?
5. The Christian approach recognizes that creatures are not born with desires unless:
______
6. If a desire cannot be satisfied in this world, what does that suggest to Lewis?
7. What desires do you have that will not likely be satisfied in this world but perhaps in the next?
8. What are some practical ways we can keep alive our desire for our true country?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 15 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 11 - Faith [part 1]
1. Christians use the word "faith" in two senses (or on two levels). In the first sense, faith means ______In the second sense, faith means ______(Lewis talks more about the second one in Chapter 12.)
2. How does Lewis define faith?
Compare his definition with the one found in Hebrews 11:1.
Do you have another definition of "faith" that you heard somewhere or came up with on your own?
3. How does Lewis use the analogy of anesthesia and surgery to illustrate the workings of faith and the human mind?
4. List some situations where emotions can carry out a blitz against a person's faith.
5. What does Lewis caution about moods?\
6. In what ways must we "train the habit of faith"?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 16 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity What do we learn by attempting to practice Christian virtues? Consider
Romans 3:20-23: “20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Galatians 2:16 and 3:21-24: “16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
3:21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.”
7. What is the ultimate source of all our faculties, skills, and abilities? Consider
Deuteronomy 8:17-18: “17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
1 Corinthians 4:7: “7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 17 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity Chapter 12 - Faith [part 2]
1. What does God care about even more than our actions?
2. A person who is not in right relation to God may think of God as:
A.
B.
3. How does a person get in right relation to God?
4. In what way is the road back to God one of moral effort? In what way is it one of giving up on trying harder?
5. Once we have handed ourselves over to Christ, what is our new way of obedience?
Book 3 February 18-August 5, 2017 Page 18 of 19 Spirit of Joy Men’s Fellowship Saturday Bible Study Mere Christianity
6. Lewis describes two extremes of the "faith in Christ" vs. "good actions" debate. What is the flaw with the view that good actions are all that matters? What is the flaw with the view that faith is all that matters? Consider
James 2:14-26: “14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
Ephesians 2:8-10: “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
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