Some questions from Sunday and some more for home:CHAPTER 9: TAKING A STAND

• On page 151, Alex and Brett explain, “a changed heart will result in a changed life.” [Whiteboard:] What are some of the changes in a teenager’s life that we should expect to see after conversion?
• Read the paragraph on page 154 that starts with “When we…” Describe a situation in which you took a stand for God and suffered for it in some way. How was God at work in that situation?
• What do Alex and Brett mean when they say, “the right thing, though hard, really is the smartest—and in many ways the easier thing.” (p. 155) What do they mean by this? Explain why you agree or disagree.
• The section on page 157 and following is packed with wisdom. Have you ever taken a stand for something that wasn’t really worth taking a stand for?
• Of the six steps on page 157ff, were there any that surprised you? Which one is hardest for you, and why?
• From page 164: Is there a stand you know you should be taking but haven’t? [Discuss at home with Dad and Mom:] Is there something in your life you know is wrong but continue to do?

From the OFFICIAL STUDY GUIDE:

• When Eva decided to live for Christ, she had to make choices that isolated her from her friends. Have you ever had a similar experience? If so, talk about it.
• Do you think it’s harder to take a stand for what’s right around friends who say they are Christians or around friends who don’t? What are some of the different challenges in each case?
• Can you think of an example of a Christian you know who took a stand on an issue but made a choice that didn’t seem wise to you—and perhaps the outcome wasn’t positive either? If so, describe what happened. Apply¬ing the authors’ principles listed on page 157, how could that person have made a wiser choice?
• Alex and Brett include a letter from a guy who mostly disagreed with the values of the Modesty Survey but admired how the site responded to critics. Do the Christians you observe generally deal with critics respectfully, or generally not? If so, how? If not, how could they improve?
• Is there a stand you know you should be taking but haven’t? What are you willing to do about it, starting now?

Categories: Discussion Questions, Summer Reading '08