Life Together. Discussion Questions Week 1

Transcription

1 Discussion Questions Week 1 that he had taken charge of a seminary and was sharing a common life with 25 church Introduction and Chapter 1 (Community) 1. Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? What were the circumstances surrounding Bonhoeffer's writing of this book? 2. On page 18, Bonhoeffer's writes, So between the death of Christ and the Last Day it is only by a gracious anticipation of the last things that Christians are privileged to live in visible fellowship with other Christians. What is Bonhoeffer s main point in this section? 3. Discuss Bonhoeffer s statement, Every human wish dream that is injected into the Christian community is a hindrance to genuine community and must be banished if genuine community is to survive (page 27). 4. What does Bonhoeffer mean when he writes, "Within the spiritual community there is never, nor in any way, any immediate relationship of one to another" (page 32)? 5. According to Bonhoeffer, what are the differences between human love and spiritual love? 6. How is Bonhoeffer s characterization of human vs. spiritual love affected by what he believes about the Gospel? 7. Evaluate Bonhoeffer s statement, we are bound together by faith, not experience (page 39). Why is this an important truth for the contemporary church to rediscover? 8. How should recognition of the privilege of community practically affect our attitudes about our own congregation? 9. What are your personal wish dreams and how do they affect your experience of 10. Evaluate your own community relationships. Where do they fall on the spectrum of human vs. spiritual love? 11. What makes spiritual love challenging?

2 Discussion Questions Week 2 Chapter 2 (The Day with Others) 1. How does Bonhoeffer encourage believers to silence the empty talk of anxiety and worry of the day? 2. Bonhoeffer describes the Psalms as the great school of prayer. What instruction does he give to support this statement (page 47 50)? 3. How does Bonhoeffer encourage us to handle some Psalms that don t seem immediately applicable to our own situation? 4. How does Bonhoeffer defend the centrality of God s word in our worship and our devotion (page 54)? 5. Comment on Bonhoeffer s assertion, But one who will not learn to handle the Bible for himself is not an evangelical Christian. 6. How does Bonhoeffer practically view congregational worship life? How does he see true community lived out in a local body of believers? Among families? 7. How do we know Christ in the presence of table fellowships? In other words, what does table fellowship signify and teach us (page 66 69)? 8. Summarize Bonhoeffer s view of work and prayer (page 69 71)? 9. What stands out to you about Bonhoeffer s ideas for various gatherings? 10. What can you learn from Bonhoeffer s way of doing family worship? 11. Evaluate how prayer and work blend (or don t blend) in your daily life. 12. What can you apply from Bonhoeffer s ideas about the day together in your own pockets of community at work, at school, in family, or at church?

3 Discussion Questions Week 3 Chapter 3 (The Day Alone) 1. How does Bonhoeffer understand the discipline of solitude and silence (page 77)? 2. According to Bonhoeffer, what is the fundamental rule of all true meditation (page 84)? 3. Critique Bonhoeffer s assertion, A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me (page 86). 4. What is the true test of meditation (page 88)? 5. How can Christian community become a diversion from our fear of being alone? 6. Why are both solitude and community important? 7. If solitude affects the fellowship of believers, how have you been blessed or encouraged by other believers spending time in solitude? 8. How can you encourage and even provide opportunities for other believers to seek times of solitude? If you are married, how can you encourage solitude for your spouse specifically? 9. What are your biggest obstacles to finding silence and solitude?

4 Discussion Questions Week 4 Chapter 4 (Ministry) 1. What does Bonhoeffer identify as a life and death contest in Christian community (beginning page 90)? 2. What does Bonhoeffer mean by the discipline of the tongue and why is this important in the local church fellowship (beginning page 91)? 3. Bonhoeffer asserts, The elimination of the weak is the death of fellowship. Explain why you agree or disagree with this assertion? 4. Why is meekness such an important ingredient in true community (beginning page 94)? 5. Briefly describe the ministries to which Bonhoeffer refers in this chapter. 6. Why is it so important to understand that our schedule is not our own to manage, but Gods to arrange (beginning page 99)? 7. Comment on Bonhoeffer s assertion, Nothing can be more cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin (beginning page 103). 8. What danger does Bonhoeffer ascribe to the cult of personality in the church (page 108)? 9. Reread Luke 9:46. Bonhoeffer states that this thought frequently comes up in Christian Community. As you reflect upon your own heart and motives, how does your own struggle with self justification, comparison, and judgment impact your ability to minister to others? 10. What are some areas of ministry (as defined by Bonhoeffer) that come naturally to you and what areas do you need to grow in? How do our strengths and weaknesses remind us of our need for one another? 11. How can you assist in helping others find their contribution to the community of believers?

5 Discussion Questions Week 5 Chapter 5 Confession and Communion 1. How does Bonhoeffer understand confession as it relates to confessing our sins to one another? To what extent do you agree or disagree? What are key reasons for your position? 2. Bonhoeffer asserts, The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation (page 112). Do you agree or disagree? 3. How does a lack of confession poison the soul as well as the entire believing 4. How does confession weave humility into our lives? 5. What might be some Scriptural support for Bonhoeffer s understanding of confession? 6. Bonhoeffer asserts that in confession there is a breakthrough to community, to the cross, and to new life. What does he mean by this? 7. What are the dangers Bonhoeffer warns us against in practicing confession (page 120)? 8. How does Bonhoeffer understand the Lord s Supper? 9. What has been your experience with confession to other believers? 10. What hinders you from confessing your sin to other believers? 11. What can we do as a community to foster confession of sin and forgiveness? 12. Do you see the Lord s Supper as Bonhoeffer does (an occasion for joy)? Why or why not?