M.C.
Mere Christianity
Fall 2009
Week 1 – Intro to Class (notes/HW)
Week 2 – Right and Wrong as a clue to the Universe (looking at relativism, the law, absolute, social) (notes/HW)
Week 3 – What Lies Behind the Law (God as lawmaker), We have cause to be uneasy (the bad news) (notes/HW)
Video Week – Tim Keller @ Google
Week 4 – What Christians Believe (and rival conceptions of God, humanism, materialists, dualism) (notes/HW)
Week 5 – The Shocking Alternative (Lord, lunatic, liar) (notes/HW)
Week 6 – The Practical Conclusion (notes/HW)
Week 7 – Christian Behavior – 3 Parts of Morality (man-man, man-self, man-God) (notes/HW)
Video – Four Circles Gospel Presentation
Week 8 – Cardinal Virtues, Christian Marriage, Forgiveness (notes/HW)
Week 9 – The Greatest Sin, Charity, Faith, Hope (notes/HW)
Week 10 – Nice People or New Men (notes/HW)
Week 11 – Review
Week 12 – Test
This will be a twelve week course looking at C.S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity. This book is a good introduction to the Christian faith as well an apologetic (a defense of the faith). The book is broken down to FOUR main sections:
- Right and Wrong as a Clue to the meaning of the Universe
- What Christians Believe
- Christian Behavior
- Beyond Personality (Doctrine of the Trinity)
Lewis writes in a very accessible manner and presents the Christian case in a very logical flow. When you read through the material and follow his logic, try to keep in mind that this can act both as personal edification and as a tool/technique you can use to share your faith.
Class Format [Approximately 50min]:
- Opening Hymn [5min]
- Sermon Discussion [10min]
- Lesson (Reading, Lecture, Q/A) [20min]
- Prayer [10min]
- HW [5min]
As we prepare for this class, here are some of the objectives of this class are:
- Growing in our knowledge of and relationship with God (worship)
- Helping others to grow in Christ (discipleship)
- Being able to share our faith, both in word and deed (evangelism)
- Being able to analyze other beliefs, their good points and points where they fall short (apologetics)
In this class we will be using Mere Christianity as a tool and a reference. But as always, the BIBLE is the final authority on what we believe. We have a responsibility to compare, filter, and discern what C.S. Lewis says as well as any teacher or preacher with what God says. We recognize that men are imperfect and will make mistakes. Praise be to God that there is grace.
Materials for Class: 1 Pen, 1 Notebook, 1 Bible, 1 copy of Mere Christianity
For those looking to save paper, here is the online edition of Mere Christianity.