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This may not make a lot of sense unless you’ve read “True Spirituality” by Francis Schaeffer — but the general idea of each question should still resonate… here are some discussion questions I put together recently for a small group discussion which I moderated last night. We looked at the last half of the book and I intended to focus primarily on the last chapter, which handles the topic of substantial healing in the church. One of the goals in the discussion was to look at a more holistic understanding of personhood, first beginning at the core (thoughts) and progressing outward to body, family, church, etc. It’s an area I’d like to explore more in the future as even in a healthy church I think some of this is missing. Feel free to chime in the discussion.

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Page 145. Does our role as Christ’s means of communication to the external world change anything in how we act, especially in the order of thoughts -> actions through our bodies -> effect on the world?

Page 148. What is lost if the church functions on less than the personal level?

Page 149. In our respective roles within the church, and as a church, how are we doing on consciously encouraging freedom in the present life from the bonds of sin, and freedom in the present life from the results of the bonds of sin?

Page 149. How are we teaching faith, both as a church and in individual actions? What does teaching faith look like? How do we consciously do this moment by moment?

Page 150. Schaeffer says we must teach in words the duty to exhibit that God exists and that he is personal? How do we do this, and how does the corporate body practice this truth?
As individuals, families, and as a corporate body, how do we show we take holiness and love, and love and communication, seriously? What would it look like?

Page 151. What difference, specifically, would it make to us in practice if the passages on prayer and the Holy Spirit were really not in the Bible?

Page 153. Organization is necessary for a healthy church, and the Presbyterian system of government provides solid organization, but might there be areas where organization nonetheless can risk stepping in the way of following the Holy Spirit’s leading?

Page 154. On the topic of loyalty, when under fire, how easy or hard is it to remain focused on the larger picture (the role of the Church as a whole) when focusing on your immediate organization (i.e. local church or component of the local church). How does it change when focusing on Christ as the head of the Church?

Page 155. On the topic of “many a Christian’s child” seeing real love and communication… We’re in an era where there are many youth who have grown up in the church and end up leaving that particular local fellowship, with the reason often described as wanting to be elsewhere so as to be around people who are “real”. “Authenticity” is another prized buzzword today. Is there a lack of love and communication that could be bringing this about? In an era where people are trying to find their humanity, are we helping or are we perpetuating the world’s result of loss of humanity?

Page 156. How can we make love and communication (especially in diversity, 2nd paragraph) a reality on a local level?

Page 156. Do we struggle to see fellow church attenders as real people, individually, names, faces, souls, etc. (cf.pg.154) and not just as members, attenders, givers, etc.? If so why might this be?

Page 157. In our spheres of influence in the church, how are we making it conducive for a growth in what Schaeffer terms “true spirituality”.

Page 157. Though it’s valuable to be aware of one’s natural giftings, is there a risk that we could focus too much on the natural abilities rather than the supernatural (what God is doing)? How might this appear (either way)?

Page 157. (final paragraph) Are there ways where we, either in thought or action, “smash” something for not being perfect instead of realizing what is possible and cultivating that seed?

Page 157-8. How are we helping one another on to “increasingly substantial healing on the basis of the finished work of Christ”? Especially within the context of the local fellowship, in what ways are we helping one another in this area?

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(Here are my notes from the remainder of the 2nd part of the book…)

Page 91. Schaeffer states that “restoration must be first upon the understanding of what Christ has done…and then beginning to practice this moment by moment.” How does this relate to L. Crabb, The Silence of Adam, on remembering? How does remembering help in a specific instance?

Page 107. What are the sobering implications of being a death-producing machine despite being a Christian? (i.e. David, Uriah)

Page 115. Why does Schaeffer say that evangelical Christians are often very harsh in the area of psychological guilt?

Page 121. Have you believed, or at least used an excuse, conditioning (i.e. Pavlov’s dog) and reactive responses? How would you respond to someone speaking in this manner?

Page 122. Though we say what we believe, how often do we put it in practice and actually fully believe that God is there, especially in tough moments when unable to feel anything else? If we were honest with ourselves would we say we “hope” God’s there but not really act as though we truly believe it?

Page 124. How do we help one another to think in the light of the truth of the total unified, holistic Christian system in counseling?

Page 132. Why does Schaeffer say the sin of the church has been to forget that relationships are not primarily legal?

Page 135. How do we demonstrate to the world the reality of personal relationship?

Page 136. Do we tend to view all humans as equals? Why is this so hard (esp. if legally subordinate)? (see p. 138, regarding offices)

Page 142. Have there been times when you have tried to place too much on a human relationship? What has happened?

Page 144. Why does Schaeffer say at the bottom of page 144 that, though he hesitates to add it, personal and real love and communication between Christians is fun?