How to Use The Reason for God

DVD study with non-Christians

Many churches have small groups for their members to gather together for Bible study, discipleship, and
building community. In The Reason for God DVD, Timothy Keller leads a different kind of small group
a group for non-Christians.
Christians have gained a reputation in the secular world (sometimes deserved) for being dogmatic and
judgmental toward non-Christians, or for speaking in jargon and assuming knowledge of the Bible that
excludes those outside the faith.
A group for non-Christians creates a safe space where those who are exploring the Christian faith can
have their questions invited, their doubts and difficulties respected, and their struggles recognized.
When non-Christians encounter Christians who understand and sympathize with their doubts and critiques of the churcheven though they disagreeit provides an opportunity for openness, authenticity,
and friendship. It also demonstrates the humility and regard for others that Christ himself taught.
This kind of group can serve someone who grew up in the church but left because of negative experiences there, or someone who has no familiarity with the church and finds its culture completely alien.
Lastly, a group for non-Christians can have a life that continues well after the group. In some cases a
group may continue to meet formally, studying other introductory materials to Christianity. In others,
friendships or informal connections may form, or group members may be invited to attend a church or
join a regular Bible study. If someone in the group comes to believe in the God of the Bible for the first
time, the relationships formed in the group can provide a natural source of support, discipleship and accountability.
A group for non-Christians could meet for a set number of weeksperhaps 6 to 8to go through a
book, curriculum, or set of topics together. The group leader should be familiar with the questions and
objections of non-Christians and be able to deal with them sensitively. New groups could be created as
needed depending on interest, or could be offered on a regular basis. They could be promoted through
word of mouth, public advertisement, through a website or mailing list, etc.
If youve completed The Reason for God group study and now want to apply what youve learned by starting a group for non-Christians, here are several ways you can get started:

Use the knowledge youve gained in the study to pose the same questions that form the
titles of each discussion to your friends and see where the conversation leads.

Start a book club or discussion group based on books like The Reason for God or Kings
Cross, and meet to discuss the chapters.

Watch the DVD, or selected portions of it, and use these as a discussion starter.
See the PDF titled Questions to Use in Running Your Own Discussion Group
at www.timothykeller.com

Use other courses for those exploring the faith such as Alpha or Christianity Explored.
These courses have their own websites with a wealth of resources for leaders.

Copyright 2011 by Redeemer City to City & Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

Sample Session Discussion 1

Isnt the Bible a Myth?

Hasnt Science Disproved Christianity?
questions for group discussion

1. Do you have any comments about the DVD discussion? Did anyone say anything that you especially
agreed with or disagreed with?

2. We heard at the start of the DVD that,

Everyone who considers Christianity brings heartfelt questions and intellectual objections, born out of real
life experiences.

What questions or objections do you have and why?

3. One of the participants on the DVD said,

The Bible is a wonderful text, its complex, a lot of things going on, some people believe it to be the truth, I
myself do not.

Have you ever read the Bible? When and why?

4. Are people you know more troubled by the ethical aspects of the Bible or its historical accuracy? Why?

Copyright 2011 by Redeemer City to City & Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

5. People say that there are many good things in the Bible, but you should not take it literally; you must
not insist that it is entirely trustworthy and completely authoritative because some parts of the Bible
are wrong, historically unreliable, and culturally regressive. Would you agree? Why or why not?

6. One of the participants asked another,

Do you believe in something larger than yourself or larger than our immediate material world?

How would you respond to this question?

7. One of the participants on the DVD said,

There are a lot of miracles that happen in the Bible, butIve never seen a miracle along [the lines of] what
happens in the New Testament.

How do you and people you know react to the idea of the miraculous?

8. One of the participants said on the DVD,

Evolution is very crucial for meit being able to mesh into the Bible properly. Because I definitely believe in
evolution. So, if the Bible says evolution does not exist, then I feel it loses credibility.

What do you think of this statement? Do you or people you know feel this way?

9. In John 7:17 Jesus proposes this challenge to people who doubted his words,

If anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak
on my own.

Jesus is saying that if you want to know in your own experience whether or not the Bible really is true,
then put its teachings into practice. What would it take for you to take up this challenge?

Copyright 2011 by Redeemer City to City & Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

a note to churches and pastors

Until about a generation ago, there was a common language for public moral discourse in the West based
largely on the Bible. It was assumed that most people knew the basic tenets of Christianity, and if someone
walked into a church, the language and customs they found there would be familiar to them.
Today, in our increasingly diverse and postmodern society, we can no longer assume that this is the case. There
is no overall consensus on who God is or whether he exists, how to interpret the miracles and teachings of
the Bible, or even on the nature of truth. This poses a challenge to churches and Christians, whose faith and
biblical texts are not considered credible by many in our society.
However it is also an opportunity for both Christians and non-Christians to examine the Bible with fresh
eyes, and to give a fair hearing to Christianity as well as to modern science, philosophy, academia and popular
culture as we seek to understand the deeper questions: Is there a God? What is the meaning of life? How does
that shape how we relate to each other and to our problems and circumstances?
Many people today are pragmatic. They want to see how Christianity works, how it fleshes out in real life.
Particularly for those who are less familiar with the faith, coming to faith can be a process that requires hearing multiple descriptions of the gospel, talking about it with people, and seeing it manifested in real relationships and circumstances. Becoming a Christian is not just a decision, but a change in ones mindset or entire
worldview, and it may take time before a leap like this can be made.
For Further Study:
The Missional Church by Timothy Keller, redeemercitytocity.com
Post-Everythings by Timothy Keller, redeemercitytocity.com
Stories of Renewal - http://vimeo.com/24798234
Discover.redeemer.com, featuring different perspectives on God and Christianity
Free Sermon Resource at sermons2.redeemer.com. Click on Can I Believe?
Veritas.org, which brings leading Christian and secular thinkers together on college campuses to
discuss their fields and how they are impacted by their faith.
The Reason for God curriculum, and materials like it, can be used for:
Training for pastors and ministry workers
Church outreach ministries
College campus ministries
Youth groups
Business leaders
Young professionals
The DVD component of the curriculum can also be used on its own for:
Church libraries
Evangelistic showings
Thought-provoking documentary
Running a discussion group of your own
Copyright 2011 by Redeemer City to City & Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

AVAILABLE NOW WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD

THE REASON FOR GOD: CONVERSATIONS ON FAITH AND LIFE

In the New York Times bestselling book The Reason for God, Timothy Keller established himself as a modern-day
C. S. Lewis who brings together faith and intellect, theology and popular culture, modern-day objections and historic
Christian beliefs.
Now fans of the book will find resources to help them engage with those same objections. The Reason for God
curriculum can be used individually, in groups, or by any believer who is engaging with friends who dont share his or
her beliefs. Christians will be challenged to wrestle with their friends and neighbors hardest questions, and to engage
those questions in ways that will spark an honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue.
The Reason for God DVD captures a live and unscripted conversation between Timothy Keller and six panelists discussing their objections to Christianity. The accompanying discussion guide will help small groups and individuals dig
deeper into these objections and learn about both sides of the issues.
Session Titles and Descriptions:
1. Isnt the Bible a Myth?
2. How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God?
3. What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life?
4. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
5. Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice?
6. How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
DVD: Six sessions. Approximately 120 min. total.
Discussion Guide: 92 pg.
Awards:
2011 Christian Retailers Choice award for Curriculum (Nontraditional)
2011 Outreach Magazine Resources of the Year for Small Group (Curricula)
Copyright 2011 by Redeemer City to City & Redeemer Presbyterian Church.