Discussion paper questions
Questions for “A Discussion Paper on Christian Formation”
The following questions were designed as example questions to help readers engage key pieces of the Discussion Paper. You may have other questions that serve you better in your engagement and reflection. We would appreciate learning from you what those questions are. In the meantime, we trust the following material will prove helpful to you.
We thank you in advance for the time, care and thoughtfulness with which you dedicating to this conversation.
The Proposed Process and Questions:
1.Before reading the following paper we would like you to take a minute or two to think about (and hopefully write down) your current definition/understanding of - what it means to be a Christian - what it means to be Spiritual - and what Christian Formation is.
CLICK HERE to view the paper or HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY.
2. You’ve read the paper. Now here are some questions to prompt some discussion... Please post your thoughts at the following email address (HarcourtACF@gmail.com) and we will add them to a discussion blog on this subject.
Each quote from the paper is followed by a question for reflection... If we haven’t touched on a pressing question you have, let us know your thoughts!
Quote: “This shift to an emphasis on ‘practice’ lies at the heart of what we mean by the phrase ‘Christian Formation’.”
Question: - what do you make of this shift from focusing on beliefs to focusing on practice? Is this even a shift for you? Please explain.
Quote: “... as with any discipline, it is unlikely that we are born with the necessary skills to live as disciples of Christ; instead we have to work to acquire them.”
Question: - the comment has been made elsewhere that spiritual practice is to the Christian what the workout is to the athlete... Does this resonate with your current understanding of being a Christian? In what ways?
Quote: “Formation and learning will be for the whole community - to equip it and the individuals within it to be God’s living and loving presence in a broken and ever-changing world.”
Question: - how equipped do you feel you are to respond as a Christian to our broken world - locally and globally? How could Harcourt help you be better equipped?
Quote: “... as facilitators of learning our role should be “to start conversations not end them!” If Harcourt is to commit to those new endeavours in Christian Formation, then individuals, groups, committees, the council and the whole congregation will need to participate intentionally in significant conversations about the future of the Christian faith.”
Question: what are the conversations that you feel need to be started at Harcourt?
Quote: “‘Church’ can be approached in a variety of ways. There are perhaps two extreme models. On the one hand there is the ‘consumer’ model where church attendees act as consumers. (...) On the other hand there is the ‘discipleship’ model. From this perspective, ‘disciple’ is substituted for ‘consumer’ and ‘service’ for ‘entertainment’. Those involved are not simply an ‘audience’ but ‘agents’: ‘participants’, not ‘recipients’. In this model, participants attempt to become disciples of Jesus, living life as he lived his.”
Question: - where do you think Harcourt is on the spectrum “consumer” - “discipleship” model of church? Where should it be? Do you have any suggestions to help us make the move? Please share .
Quote: “The church is no longer about entertaining us; it is about “gathering us, equipping us and sending us out” to the world as apostles of the Good News.”
Question: - how good a job does Harcourt do at gathering us? At equipping us? At sending us out? What can we do to improve?
Quote: “To be the alternative community that Jesus talked about involves deepening the community’s identity, practice and life committed to radical justice, equality, hospitality, diversity, and, above all, constant and intentional learning.”
Question: - how do you feel about the idea of church being an “alternative community” to the “dominant culture,” one that better reflects God’s Vision of a world of justice and compassion? What does that mean to you practically? How can we do a better job becoming that alternative community?
Quote: “... what steps might Harcourt take to expand and strengthen its character as an intentional learning community?”
Question: - what would be your response to this question from the paper? How well does Harcourt do at being an “intentional learning community?” What could it do better/differently? What do YOU want to learn in order to be a better Christian?
* * * * *
3. After reading the paper we would like to know if your definition/understanding of these three things changed at all. If so, could you tell us how and even perhaps why.
