Mosaic Podcasts
New Series! Christians & Culture
Session 1: Defining culture
Here are a few questions to ponder in preparation for our time together.
1. How would you define the term "culture?" This term is pretty broad, so feel free to jot down a few different angles or ideas on this.
2. Read Genesis 1:26-31. This passage is very foundational but also very broad. What connections do you see here with the theme that "culture is not optional?" Are there other Bible passages that you can think of that speak to the fact that we are "culture makers"?
3. In the podcast, Branson notes that "culture is not neutral," and gives the example of McDonald's/Big Mac. What are some other examples of everyday cultural practices that we probably think of as neutral/normal? I'll list a few here: going to Meijer, going to college after high school, college athletics, prison as a form of punishment, voting as a way to choose leaders...and I could go on.
4. "Culture is embodied." Culture is not taught, it is caught. Culture isn't so much the result of thinking, as it is the result of doing/acting a certain way. Let's think about one of the most powerful cultural forces in our world: Disney. So here's my broad question: how does Disney shape and form our culture? What are all the dimensions of Disney? How does it shape and form our culture?
Now think about that question in a way that is connected to church, maybe even your area of focus and/or ministry. For example, how have you seen culture shape and form students in youth ministry? How has culture impacted relationships in your discipleship groups?
1. How would you define the term "culture?" This term is pretty broad, so feel free to jot down a few different angles or ideas on this.
2. Read Genesis 1:26-31. This passage is very foundational but also very broad. What connections do you see here with the theme that "culture is not optional?" Are there other Bible passages that you can think of that speak to the fact that we are "culture makers"?
3. In the podcast, Branson notes that "culture is not neutral," and gives the example of McDonald's/Big Mac. What are some other examples of everyday cultural practices that we probably think of as neutral/normal? I'll list a few here: going to Meijer, going to college after high school, college athletics, prison as a form of punishment, voting as a way to choose leaders...and I could go on.
4. "Culture is embodied." Culture is not taught, it is caught. Culture isn't so much the result of thinking, as it is the result of doing/acting a certain way. Let's think about one of the most powerful cultural forces in our world: Disney. So here's my broad question: how does Disney shape and form our culture? What are all the dimensions of Disney? How does it shape and form our culture?
Now think about that question in a way that is connected to church, maybe even your area of focus and/or ministry. For example, how have you seen culture shape and form students in youth ministry? How has culture impacted relationships in your discipleship groups?
Session 2: Engaging Culture
Questions to ponder:
1. Culture is made up of different spheres, including those of politics, economics, education, arts and entertainment, etc. Do Christians sometimes treat these spheres as totally bad or evil? If so, which ones do we single out as bad? Why do you think that is? Why is it dangerous to see one of these spheres as totally bad or evil?
2. Branson mentioned the idea of common grace, that God gives wisdom and abilities to every human being, not just Christians. How do you see evidence of common grace in the sphere of art/entertainment? In other words, what are some examples of really good music, movies, TV, etc., that show and speak truth, even though they are made or produced by non-Christians? Write down 2-3 examples of pop culture (songs, movies, etc.) that you can share with the rest of the group as examples. Do some of those examples also show evidence of idolatry and sinfulness? Can something do both of those things at the same time?
3. When we look at any sphere of culture, we need to see how it is rooted in God's good creation and God's good intentions for his creation. Branson used the example of education as something that has a good purpose rooted in God's intentions for his creation. Let's try doing this for other areas of culture and society. If sin never entered the picture, we would still have
- Art
- Recreation (sports, etc.)
- Politics
- Business
How would you summarize the main purpose of these areas of culture? For those of you serving in a context outside the church and church ministries, how do you see what you do there as a form of culture-making and engaging culture? In other words, what's the good, creational purpose of your area of service? And how is joining in that part of your witness as a follower of Jesus?
4. The church doesn't just engage or react to culture, but the church is called to pioneer culture. We are culture-makers in how we interact and relate with each other. But we often don't see our life together as Christians this way. What are some ways that our life together (worship, fellowship, relationships with other Christians) is called to make culture in a different way than those who don't know Jesus?
For those of you who are working specifically within the church and church ministries, how are those ministries and what you do there a form of "culture-making"?
1. Culture is made up of different spheres, including those of politics, economics, education, arts and entertainment, etc. Do Christians sometimes treat these spheres as totally bad or evil? If so, which ones do we single out as bad? Why do you think that is? Why is it dangerous to see one of these spheres as totally bad or evil?
2. Branson mentioned the idea of common grace, that God gives wisdom and abilities to every human being, not just Christians. How do you see evidence of common grace in the sphere of art/entertainment? In other words, what are some examples of really good music, movies, TV, etc., that show and speak truth, even though they are made or produced by non-Christians? Write down 2-3 examples of pop culture (songs, movies, etc.) that you can share with the rest of the group as examples. Do some of those examples also show evidence of idolatry and sinfulness? Can something do both of those things at the same time?
3. When we look at any sphere of culture, we need to see how it is rooted in God's good creation and God's good intentions for his creation. Branson used the example of education as something that has a good purpose rooted in God's intentions for his creation. Let's try doing this for other areas of culture and society. If sin never entered the picture, we would still have
- Art
- Recreation (sports, etc.)
- Politics
- Business
How would you summarize the main purpose of these areas of culture? For those of you serving in a context outside the church and church ministries, how do you see what you do there as a form of culture-making and engaging culture? In other words, what's the good, creational purpose of your area of service? And how is joining in that part of your witness as a follower of Jesus?
4. The church doesn't just engage or react to culture, but the church is called to pioneer culture. We are culture-makers in how we interact and relate with each other. But we often don't see our life together as Christians this way. What are some ways that our life together (worship, fellowship, relationships with other Christians) is called to make culture in a different way than those who don't know Jesus?
For those of you who are working specifically within the church and church ministries, how are those ministries and what you do there a form of "culture-making"?
Session 3: Christians & Politics
1. The number one question this week is: WHAT ARE YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND POLITICS?
Write at least one question down to share with the group. Anything is fair game. Questions you want to ask in church but haven't. Questions about other Christians and their politics, but you try to be polite. Questions about political parties, about voting, about the Bible, about America and American Christians.
So let's wrestle through some good questions. I'll have a few questions of mine that I'll bring as well, but I really want to focus first on the questions of the group.
Write at least one question down to share with the group. Anything is fair game. Questions you want to ask in church but haven't. Questions about other Christians and their politics, but you try to be polite. Questions about political parties, about voting, about the Bible, about America and American Christians.
So let's wrestle through some good questions. I'll have a few questions of mine that I'll bring as well, but I really want to focus first on the questions of the group.
Session 4: Christians & Homosexuality
So, your assignment this week is essentially the same as last week.
1. The number one question this week is: WHAT ARE YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND SEXUALITY?
Write at least one question down to share with the group. Anything is fair game. Questions about the Bible, questions about how the church has interacted with the LGBT+ community, questions about interacting with gay and lesbian friends, how to walk alongside youth who are questioning their sexuality, etc.
So let's wrestle through some good questions. I'll have a few questions of mine that I'll bring as well, but I really want to focus first on the questions of the group.
1. The number one question this week is: WHAT ARE YOUR MOST PRESSING QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANS AND SEXUALITY?
Write at least one question down to share with the group. Anything is fair game. Questions about the Bible, questions about how the church has interacted with the LGBT+ community, questions about interacting with gay and lesbian friends, how to walk alongside youth who are questioning their sexuality, etc.
So let's wrestle through some good questions. I'll have a few questions of mine that I'll bring as well, but I really want to focus first on the questions of the group.
Past series
Session 1: Why Study the Bible?
Here are a few questions to ponder before we engage in conversation together.
1. What is something that struck you in a new and different way, based on this podcast?
2. What question or questions came to light in your mind as you listened to this?
3. What do you think about the idea that the Bible is for the purpose of "training us in love?"
4. If the main goal of engaging the Bible is for transformation, not just information, how does that shape our approach to the Bible? What attitudes and/or postures do we need to have in order to receive it that way?
5. Branson briefly mentioned four assumptions or faulty ways that people approach the Bible - as a book of promises and blessings, as a book of laws, as a mirror and/or inkblot, and as a puzzle to figure out. Are there one or more of these that fit how you've heard Scripture used in your family, church, etc.? I'm not asking you to throw anyone under the bus, just to be clear, but to reflect a bit on the hidden assumptions that might be at play in your own background and experience.
1. What is something that struck you in a new and different way, based on this podcast?
2. What question or questions came to light in your mind as you listened to this?
3. What do you think about the idea that the Bible is for the purpose of "training us in love?"
4. If the main goal of engaging the Bible is for transformation, not just information, how does that shape our approach to the Bible? What attitudes and/or postures do we need to have in order to receive it that way?
5. Branson briefly mentioned four assumptions or faulty ways that people approach the Bible - as a book of promises and blessings, as a book of laws, as a mirror and/or inkblot, and as a puzzle to figure out. Are there one or more of these that fit how you've heard Scripture used in your family, church, etc.? I'm not asking you to throw anyone under the bus, just to be clear, but to reflect a bit on the hidden assumptions that might be at play in your own background and experience.
Session 2: The Bible as Story
Some questions to ponder:
1. What approach do you take to reading the Bible? Do you read a few chapters from different places, as I mentioned that I have sometimes done? How does your approach to reading the Bible shape how you think about what the Bible is?
2. What are some stories that you love? What books, movies, etc., tell a story that resonates with people?
3. Branson says that the most foundational way to see the Bible is as a big story. Is this a new way of thinking or something that you've encountered before? What is helpful about looking at the Bible this way? What questions or concerns do you have about looking at the Bible this way?
4. Thinking back to question 2 above, can you think about any story (fictional or true) that affects people so deeply that it transforms the way they live? What would be an example?
5. If the Bible is an "open-ended," ongoing story, does that change how we see ourselves? What does it mean to be IN a story that God is CURRENTLY writing?
1. What approach do you take to reading the Bible? Do you read a few chapters from different places, as I mentioned that I have sometimes done? How does your approach to reading the Bible shape how you think about what the Bible is?
2. What are some stories that you love? What books, movies, etc., tell a story that resonates with people?
3. Branson says that the most foundational way to see the Bible is as a big story. Is this a new way of thinking or something that you've encountered before? What is helpful about looking at the Bible this way? What questions or concerns do you have about looking at the Bible this way?
4. Thinking back to question 2 above, can you think about any story (fictional or true) that affects people so deeply that it transforms the way they live? What would be an example?
5. If the Bible is an "open-ended," ongoing story, does that change how we see ourselves? What does it mean to be IN a story that God is CURRENTLY writing?
Session 3: Hearing God in the World of the Bible
Some questions to ponder:
1. Can you think of a time in life when held an assumption about something (not just the Bible), and that turned out to be a problem? How did you figure out what your assumption was? What was that process like?
(For example, when I got married, I assumed that the point of playing a board game with my wife was winning that board game. I figured out that was my unstated assumption when she got upset at how focused I was on winning at any cost. Whoops.)
2. This is a pretty open-ended question, but what are some basic assumptions that Christians in our culture have? Can you think of an assumption that might warp how we read what the Bible says about a specific topic (wealth? sex? power? etc.)
3. To prepare for our time together, look at these Bible passages. We'll think through them in more detail together: Luke 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
1. Can you think of a time in life when held an assumption about something (not just the Bible), and that turned out to be a problem? How did you figure out what your assumption was? What was that process like?
(For example, when I got married, I assumed that the point of playing a board game with my wife was winning that board game. I figured out that was my unstated assumption when she got upset at how focused I was on winning at any cost. Whoops.)
2. This is a pretty open-ended question, but what are some basic assumptions that Christians in our culture have? Can you think of an assumption that might warp how we read what the Bible says about a specific topic (wealth? sex? power? etc.)
3. To prepare for our time together, look at these Bible passages. We'll think through them in more detail together: Luke 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Session 4: Hearing God in Hard Passages
Some questions to ponder:
1. Have you ever had someone ask you a hard question about a Bible passage? What was the passage and what was their question? Or, if that's never happened to you, what's a Bible passage that you find confusing or troubling? Why?
2. Why is it important to be able to give good explanations about these difficult passages (as much as you are able)?
3. Read Numbers 5:11-31. Make a few observations. What is this passage telling people to do? Is there anything troubling or disturbing in this passage? Especially if you weren't a Christian, what questions might this passage raise about the character of God? How would you apply this passage today? (Or should we just ignore it and hope it goes away?)
4. Read Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-4:1, and the book of Philemon (the whole book!). We'll think through this example in more detail in our time together.
1. Have you ever had someone ask you a hard question about a Bible passage? What was the passage and what was their question? Or, if that's never happened to you, what's a Bible passage that you find confusing or troubling? Why?
2. Why is it important to be able to give good explanations about these difficult passages (as much as you are able)?
3. Read Numbers 5:11-31. Make a few observations. What is this passage telling people to do? Is there anything troubling or disturbing in this passage? Especially if you weren't a Christian, what questions might this passage raise about the character of God? How would you apply this passage today? (Or should we just ignore it and hope it goes away?)
4. Read Ephesians 6:5-9, Colossians 3:22-4:1, and the book of Philemon (the whole book!). We'll think through this example in more detail in our time together.