4. April 23-May 13 Connecting Sunday and Monday Talk/"Will the world . . . ?"

What happened when you tried to be a reliable witness for Christ with non-Christians? Report on one of the conversations you had or an aspect of one of them.

3. April 23-May 13 Connecting Sunday and Monday/Because of what you say

Recently, a minster in a Reformed church in Grand Rapids stated that we are frequently told that God "hates sin but loves the sinner." He said that this statement was incorrect. He went on to emphasize that God not only hates sin but He hates the sinner as well. He referred to texts like Romans 9:13: " . . . Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." This is quite different from Thomas Long's view: "Worship trains us . . . to see people, including ourselves, as flawed and broken but also as created, chosen, and beloved by God . . . Once we see people as the treasures of God, we can't look at the kid in Blockbuster Video or the cashier at Wal-Mart the same anymore."
These opposite points of view are neither so easily dismissed. It is not by accident that the first section of the Heidelberg Catechism deals with man's sin and misery. Without this knowledge, he cannot understand his need of a Saviour. Is there "God's perspective" and "our perspective" in all of this? What do you think? How much of grace and how much of truth should be present in our approach with unbelievers?

2. April 2 - April 22: Standing By or Jumping In?

Choose one of the faith conversations you've engaged in during the past couple of weeks to share any insight you gained in talking about your faith, that was helpful, that was difficult, etc.

1. April 1- April 22: Standing By or Jumping In?

In what ways do you think Christians (perhaps you yourself) have compromised your witness so that the world has a difficult time making a sound judgment about Christ?