Transcript Rivermont Presbyterian Church

Rivermont Presbyterian Church
The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
Sunday School Class
Family Cookout
Bring a Side-Dish or Dessert
Date:
Time:
Place:
Saturday, August 8, 1998
4:00PM to 8:00PM
Winridge - At the Pfisters
Directions:
29 North
Turn left on 130
2 1/2 miles, turn right on 795,(Winridge Dr.)
3/4 of mile on your left
And your favorite quote
from the Screwtape Letters
Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire ?
[or a barbecue grill]?
Warning: “It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away
from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards do the trick. Indeed, the safest road to
Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without
signposts.” Screwtape
“And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell.” . Mathew 10:28
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Class Schedule Through 12/14/97
Book / Chapter
Date
3 / 7 Forgiveness
3 / 8 The Great Sin
11/9/97
11/9/97
3 / 9 Charity
3 / 10 Hope
11/16/97
11/16/97
3 /
3 /
11 Faith
12 Faith
11/23/97
11/23/97
4 /
4 /
1 Making and Begetting
2 The Three-Personal God
11/30/97
11/30/97
4 /
4 /
3 Time and Beyond Time
4 Good Infection
12/7/97
12/7/97
4 /
4 /
5 The Obstinate Toy Soldiers
6 Let’s Pretend
12/14/97
12/14/97
Facilitators
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Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
Book 3 - Christian Behavior
Summary of Chapters:
5 - Sexual Morality
6- Christian Marriage
The Christian Rule is:
Either Marriage with complete faithfulness to your partner, or
else total abstinence
Ephesians 4: 17-24 - 5:22-32
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Sexual Morality
The Christian Rule: Virtue of Chastity
Chastity should not be confused with social
rule of modesty, propriety or decency
The Christian Rule is:
Either Marriage with complete faithfulness to your partner, or
else total abstinence
This rule is so contrary to our instincts, that obviously either
Christianity is wrong or our sexual instinct has gone wrong.
The biological purpose of sex is children.
Please discuss the following definition:
Sex was made for the ultimate intimate enjoyment within the bounds of
marriage in which children can be an additional blessing.
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Sexual Appetite
Food strip-tease (sexual starvation or perversion)
Why are lies about sex so powerful?
Christianity has glorified marriage more than any other religion.
What is the view of the Film and TV industry on sexual morality?
Every civilized man must have some set of principles by which he
chooses to reject some of his desires and and to permit others.
Christian Principles
Hygienic Principles
Sociological Principles
Perfect Chastity - like perfect charity - will not be attained by any merely
human efforts.
Sex: The Center of Christian Morality is Not Here.
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Christian Marriage
Marriage is for Life
Keeping Promises: A Basic Moral Principle
The important difference between:
Being in Love with someone or
Loving someone
Love is an evolving process - ever improving and deepening
The Question of Divorce
The Question of Man’s Headship
Constitution, Natural Psychology
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Assignment for the Class
At the End of this study I would like to encourage the class to
Take action:
at the personal, and communal levels
Letters to the Editor or even a Manifesto covering aspects of the
Moral and Social Reality of Our Times
(With a Christian Perspective)
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Questions for Discussion
5. Sexual Morality - A discussion of the Christian virtue known as chastity.
-How is Christian chastity different than social rules of modesty?
-Lewis uses an analogy with food to prove that our sexual instinct has gone wrong. Describe the
food analogy.
-In regards to sex, does Christian philosophy contradict the following statement: "There is
nothing to be ashamed of in the fact that the human race reproduces itself in a certain way, nor in
the fact that it gives pleasure."?
-Do you think that our sexual instinct has been corrupted?
-Do you think that Christian chastity is impossible? According to Lewis, what is the most fatal
thing we can do when faced with this seeming impossibility?
- Is unchastity the supreme Christian vice? If not, what is?
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6. Christian Marriage - A discussion of Christian marriage and its many implications..
-The sexual impulse in man works best in ...
-The words "one flesh" could be translated _ _ in modern English.
-Using another food analogy, Lewis compares the isolation of sexual pleasure with ...
-All Christian denominations agree that divorce is more like having both legs cut off than ...
-According to Lewis, the most common reason for people who get married in church as a mere
formality is ...
-According to Lewis, living together outside of marriage causes one to be guilty on two accounts
which are ...
-According to Lewis, what does the passion of love impel two people to do?
-Why does ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love?
-Why is Lewis against forcing the laws of Christian marriage on people through government regulation?
-What example does Lewis site to support the idea that the headship of man over women is natural in
marriage?
-Why is a man better suited for dealing with the families foreign policy?