This is the first of six sessions based on the book Finding God in Other Christians. The aim of the session is to allow the group to deal with difference and to begin to discover the riches inherent in the kind of diversity that reflects the hospitality of God. In it, we shall be thinking about some of the misunderstandings that can arise between Christians and which contribute to a fracturing of the life of the wider Church. The basic premise for this opening session rests on the idea that Christians do not have to agree, or think about any one issue in a prescribed way, in order to ‘qualify’ as Christians, but we do need to hear one another honestly and with a desire to understand where the other person is coming from.

Opening Conversation

Take a few minutes to get to know each other, even if you have all met. Be prepared to trust one another. Take time to understand where you’re all coming from in terms of churchmanship and theology in general. If you describe yourself as a Christian, what do you mean by that? Do you all go to the same church? Have any of you ever tried going to a church quite different from the one you’re used to? What did you learn from the experience?

Video

Bible Readings

John 13: 34-35
John 14:2
Matt.13:51-53
Phil. 2:1-11

Key Points

• In their different groupings, Christians are hiding from each other.
• Good conversation is not about winning arguments
• God’s nature is to be hospitable
• Moving on in faith means sitting light to the things of the past, but it does not mean shedding the old faith like a worn out set of clothes.

Questions and Discussion Points

Diversity and Difference

• When it comes to the things that divide Christians today, especially in areas of sexuality and gender, is it possible to ‘agree to differ’?
• How might we deepen the conversation in order to find a common base from which to learn to love one another as Christ loves us?

All one in Christ

• How would you define being a Christian?
• Would Jesus be a Christian, according to the way you define it?
• Are there any particular attributes of Christians you don’t normally engage with that would be characteristic of Jesus?
• Do you have any close Christian friends who are not from your churchmanship or denomination? If not, why do you suppose that is?
• If you do, what is the most significant aspect of that friendship for you personally? What aspects of the friendship challenge you most?