We're continuing to discuss some practical ways to engage our OIKOS. This week we're exploring some strategies when we are talking to analytical people, especially those who have de-converted from Christianity.
We're continuing to discuss some practical ways to engage our OIKOS. This week we're asking the question, How do we know if we have the correct worldview? We suggest some ways to begin testing our web of beliefs.
Key Themes:
Brief review of last week's lesson
Reasons why conversion is not a good core belief
Three worldview tests: explanatory power, correspondence test, verification test
A closer look at the verification test
The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon
A critical challenge to the Christian worldview: existential test
We're returning to the theme of OIKOS strategies. We will spend the next few weeks exploring some practical ways to engage our 8–15 in faith conversations.
This week we continued our short series on how to navigate conversations with people who hold worldview perspectives that differ from our own. This included watching a discussion with a gay man.
Key Themes:
Review:
Faith conversations need to be based on love, not "winning" arguments.
Case study: conversation with "Randy"
Digging Deeper:
Video: "Hatmaker Controversy: A Test Case in Historical Theology"
A few weeks ago, we introduced the value of historical theology, as it pertains to the codification of the doctrine of the Trinity.
This is a follow up discussion in which I use a current event to further illustrate the importance of this key concept. While conservative Protestants do not hold history as infallible or inspired, that's not to say that Protestants interpret the Bible in isolation from history either. Protestants generally give some amount of weight to the universal teaching of the church where we see it as agreeing with Scripture. This video explores that concept a little more.
This week we continued our short series on how to navigate conversations with people who hold worldview perspectives that differ from our own. This included watching a discussion with a friendly Muslim.
Key Themes:
Review:
Faith conversations need to be based on love, not "winning" arguments.
This week we are introducing some foundational tools for doing good theology: creeds (or statements of faith). Talking to our OIKOS about what it means to be a Christian is a lot easier when we know what we believe.
Key Themes:
Establishing boundaries of the Christian worldview
In this conversation, we are exploring a foundational component to the Christian worldview: the Fatherhood of God. Many people in our OIKOS have broken relationships with their earthly fathers which damages their views of God.
Key Themes:
The biblical case for seeing God as Father
Parables of Luke 15: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son
Discussion: "What if my dad was made God for a day?"
