Session 6: Transformed by the Renewal of the Mind

Session 6: Transformed by the Renewal of the Mind (pp. 135-179)

1. How does Wright summarize St. Paul’s vision of Christian virtue? Do you have any ideas about what that might look like in our daily lives?

2. Summarize Wright’s interpretation of Colossians 3:2.  According to Colossians, what are the virtues that we are called to “put on”?

3. Why is Abraham so important for Paul? How might Abraham be a model for us as we strive to have our minds renewed and think in a different way?

4. According to Wright, what is Paul’s view of the conscience? How or why might conscience be or become unreliable?

5. According to Wright, Paul’s whole vision of Christian virtue is about being remade in God’s image or, in other words, becoming truly human. (pg. 168). How does Paul and/or Wright think that we can achieve this? How do you think it might be achieved?

6. What do you make of Ephesians 4:13-5:20? Do you agree with Wright that “Paul” is offering “habits of heart and mind, ways of learning how to think Christianly about the ultimate future and about the pathway toward it – the pathway which is, as it were, a daily resurrection”?

7. For Paul, what is the role of suffering in the development of Christian character?

Session 5: The Kingdom Coming and the People Prepared

Our reading group resumes on Wednesday, but only the evening session. The morning session is canceled because of Vacation Bible School.

Here are the discussion questions for Chapter 4:

Session 5: The Kingdom Coming and the People Prepared (pp.101-133)

1. What is Wright referring to when on page 103 he writes, “The fact that it’s all been selected and arranged doesn’t mean it’s all been made up”? According to Wright what is the “larger truth” that modern scholarship seems to miss?

2. What is Jesus’ “program” for God’s kingdom as found in the Beatitudes? How is this program to be put into effect?

3. Why does Wright quote (on pg. 115) Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s summary of Jesus’ call, “Come and die”? What does this mean in the context of Jesus’ death and the Christian life?

4. Summarize Wright’s interpretation of Jesus’ saying about clean and unclean foods. According to Wright, what is Jesus’ purpose in teaching people that uncleanness comes from within?

5. On page 126 Wright claims, “Jesus as a ’moral example’ is a domesticated Jesus, a kind of religious mascot.” What does he mean by this? How does he believe Jesus should serve as an example for us? Do you agree or not? Why?