Chapter 4: Shifts - Find a Penny

David here. The fourth week's reading in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz takes us through a story about Miller's experience at Reed College, recently voted as "the college where students are most likely to ignore God". Miller was attracted to the openess of the enivronment and the story he shares about people he encountered. specifically Laura and Penny, helped define his faith and bring up some interesting questions for discussion.

1. In a discussion with Laura about racism in America, Miller makes the comment, "I told her how frustrating it is to be a Christian in America, and how frustrated I am with not only the church's failures concerning human rights, but also my personal failure to contribute to the solution." Have you ever felt frustrated about being a Christian in America - whether it was the way you have been treated or the way the church handles things or issues? Share any thoughts and what role you played (or should have played) to help contribute to the solution.

2. Commenting on the things he learned from the few number of Christians at Reed, Miller states, "I learned that true love turns the other cheek, does not take a wrong into account, loves all people regardless of their indifference or hostility. The Christians at Reed seemed to me, well, revolutionary." Have you ever encountered anyone with this "revolutionary" Christian character? Share.

3. Towards the end of the chapter, Miller recounts the faith story of Penny, the desperate-to-know-God atheist, who encountered God in the strangest way. Her conversion story starts on page 46 and continues through the end of the chapter. Each of our conversion stories plays an extremely important role in who we are as a Christian, as is evident in Penny's story. The stories also draw us together as Christians. If you are willing, let's share our conversion stories with one another so we can draw closer as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some Scripture to chew on as you consider these questions...

• The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5 - 7 (The "Revolutionary Jesus")
• Saul's (Paul) Conversion Story - Acts 9:1-19

Chapter 3: Magic

Mark here. Well, this is kind of an interesting week for me to do the initial post, since I have been preaching for the last month on the idea of new life in Christ, which is a key idea in chapter 3 of Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. So I thought I would start by giving you some Scripture passages you may want to take a look at when you get time. They might provide some good insight or additional questions for us to talk about.

John 15:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5; Colossians 2:6-3:17

Miller quotes from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet:

Romeo: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptiz'd; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

Miller, speaking of seeing this play as a teen, remembers thinking about this sentiment, "People really should put a limit on how much they give to emotion."
What role does emotion play in our relationship with God? Is it possible that we can give too much to emotion in our faith?

Miller writes, "I think the devil has tricked us into thinking so much of biblical theology is story fit for kids." His primary example: the story of Noah's ark. If you get a chance, read Genesis 6-9:17, the story of Noah. What does this story say to you as an adult? Do you agree with Miller's observation?

Miller observes that what helped him accept Christianity was when he learned the four elements of story: setting, conflict, climax, and resolution. Setting is where you are. Every story needs conflict, either internal, external or both. Climax is the point of decision that determines how the story ends. Resolution is the ending based on the decision made.
Can you see your own faith journey in these terms? What other models have you seen or heard? Were these helpful or harmful to your understanding of Christianity?

This chapter of Miller's book centers on tracing how he moved from viewing Christianity's promise of new life as a trick or illusion to viewing the reality of new life in Christ as a reality that he desperately wanted. Why do we as people sometimes view new life in Christ as an illusion? Are there times when we don't even want new life? What moves us to an understanding of new life in Christ as a reality that we want?

Chapter 2: Problems

One of the most quoted psalms, Psalm 23, contains this line: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me..."

In Chapter two of Donald Miller's book Blue Like Jazz, Miller confronts this issue of the "darkest valley" and our roles as humans and as Christians when we encounter and recognize those times.

Here are a few questions to ponder and post responses to...

1. On page 13 of chapter 2, Miller states, "I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God." What do you think? Is "wasting time" the biggest downfall for Christians? Where is the line between "being a Christian" and "being religious"?
2. Miller comments that he bought his first television because of a preacher at a church he was visiting said that TV rots the brain. How do we as Christians digest and understand what a "preacher" says from the pulpit? Are we called to believe him/her without doubt? Are we called to challenge the thought? What do you think?
3. Miller on page 17 states, "I think it is easier to do bad things than good things." What do you think?
4. The issue of "original sin" comes up in this chapter. "Original sin" is the idea that we are all born with a tendency to sin because of the original sin by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In a sense, we are prenatured to "sin". What do you think about this idea of "original sin"?
5. "I think every conscious person, every person who is awake to functioning principles within his reality, has a moment where he stops blaming the problems in the world on group think, on humanity and authority, and starts to face himself. ... The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest. (it's me)" Have you had one of these moments of enlightenment? Share it with the group.

We look forward to the discussion. Feel free to share your thoughts on the questions above or any other part of the reading.

Week 1: Beginnings

Feel free to respond to any of the questions or comments in this post. Hopefully, good discussion will be generated!

In his first chapter of “Blue Like Jazz”, Donald Miller shares quite a bit of the images of God he had as a child and teenager. His concepts of God included a “stiff, oily man”, a rich man who drove a big car and had popular kids, and an idea of God as a “… slot machine, a set of spinning images that doled out rewards based on behavior and, perhaps, chance”.

What are some of the concepts of God you have had at various points in your life?

How did these concepts of God affect how you related to God?

In John 10:7-39, Jesus makes several statements in the hearing of the Jewish leadership regarding his identity. He tells them that he has come so that the sheep (God's people) may have life, and have it abundantly. His statements cause much unrest within the Jewish leadership. See this excerpt from John 10:24-30:

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

In his book, Miller writes, "Today I wonder why it is God refers to Himself as 'Father' at all. This, to me, in light of the earthly representation of the role, seems a marketing mistake. Why would God want to call Himself Father when so many fathers abandon their children?"

How would you respond to this question?

How do you relate to God today?

A New Start

The Young Adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Church of Elon was started to provide a Christian education option for young adults on Sunday morning. In recent years, we have found that it is becoming more and more difficult to have an ongoing Sunday morning Sunday School class due to the demands of family and the opportunities to serve our church in other areas. However, the need for a forum of education and discussion has certainly not disappeared. This blog represents a new effort to meet this need in light of changing circumstances.

Each week, David or Mark will post thoughts and questions based on material that this Sunday School class is studying. At that point, let the discussion begin! Anyone is invited to comment on the posts and comments that go with that week's materials. As comments are posted, you are invited to read the thoughts of others as questions are answered and new questions asked. The Sunday morning Sunday School time will be used as an opportunity to summarize and draw the discussion to a close. Our hope is that this new approach will allow folks to fulfill a vital need for Christian discipleship in a manner that tries to be understanding of other demands and obligations.

There is the general overview, now for the details:

1. While the posts will be based on the Sunday School material we are using at the time, it will not be a requirement that you will have read the material to participate the discussion. We certainly invite you to pick up whatever is material is being used to enhance the experience.

2. David or Mark will make the initial post of questions and observations by each Wednesday. They will also participate in the ongoing discussion to answer questions, provide their thoughts, and perhaps ask new questions.

3. This blog is not just for members of the Young Adult Sunday School Class. This is open to anyone who desires to participate. We have designed the blog to be as open and accessible as possible. We do ask that you show respect for others and please no vulgarity.

4. Remember that when you post a comment, it will be visible to everyone in the discussion. If you desire to make a private comment to David or Mark, you can reach us by email at youth@fbc-elon.org (David) or pastor@fbc-elon.org (Mark).

We hope that many will take advantage of this opportunity to engage in discussion and grow in our faith and in our knowledge of Christ. God bless you! The first post will go up Wednesday, January 9!