What story do we believe about God, humanity and politics?
The political world sees Christians as a special-interest group, a subset of one party or the other. So how can believers across the political spectrum talk about politics in a way that is uniquely Christian, that sets us apart from people who share our political disposition but not our faith?
Light to the World: Navigating Politics in Light of the Christian Story outlines the four-chapter story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration, and explores how each chapter of this grand story empowers us to resist the partisan call to polarization and extremism.
This discussion guide is meant to help small groups begin working out how to live out the Christian story when we engage with politics, no matter where we may fall on the political spectrum. Each chapter consists of two to three rounds of reading, reflection and discussion, followed by prayer prompts. Readings for each chapter are taken from a range of biblical texts in both the Old Testament and New Testament, to reinforce that these themes cut across the entire Bible.
The Participant Edition contains all scripture readings, passage summaries, discussion questions, and prayer prompts across 23 pages.
The Leader’s Guide contains all of the same content as the Participant Edition, plus ten pages of additional material that will help you get conversation going and ensure your group explores questions from more than just one angle. Small group leaders will appreciate the suggested guidelines for structuring meetings and the tips for facilitating difficult discussions. Everyone will appreciate the additional context offered for every round of discussion.
(If you are going to use Light to the World for personal devotional study, we recommend the Leader’s Guide.)