What does Jesus' statement that any word spoken against the Son of Man will be forgiven reveal about God's character, and how should it shape the way Christians respond to people who hold wrong ideas about the Father and the Son? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Jesus said any word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. What does that show about God, and how should we treat people who have wrong ideas about the Father and the Son?
If errors about God keep appearing in every century and God is able to take care of them, what does that show about His purposes for the church and the limits He places on its leaders? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Wrong ideas about God keep coming back, and God can handle them. What does that show about His plans for the church and about how far its leaders should go?
Before Nicaea, teachers who said Jesus and the Father were one and the same were answered in writing and removed from teaching, yet most were left in the church. What does that show about what early Christians considered essential? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Before Nicaea, people who said Jesus and the Father were the same were answered in writing and removed from teaching, but most stayed in the church. What does that show about what early Christians thought mattered most?
Early Christians said they did not persecute anyone and that the most they would do was put a person out of the church. How did that conviction connect with Jesus' words that His kingdom is not of this world, and what was lost when it was abandoned after Nicaea? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Early Christians said they did not persecute anyone and would at most put a person out of the church. How does that fit with Jesus saying His kingdom is not of this world, and what was lost after Nicaea?
Why is it dangerous to treat a favorable event, even an apparent answer to prayer, as proof of God's approval, as many Christians did when Constantine legalized Christianity and sought their friendship? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Why is it risky to think a good event, or even an answered prayer, proves God approves, as many Christians did when Constantine became friendly to them?
Is it better to let a heretic go on teaching elsewhere than to go beyond Scripture and the historic faith in order to silence him, and why might that idea make serious Christians uncomfortable? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Is it better to let a false teacher keep teaching somewhere else than to go beyond Scripture to stop him? Why might that feel uncomfortable?
Many Protestants call the teaching that believers must live obediently to receive eternal life on Judgment Day 'works salvation.' How does the claim that salvation has two phases challenge modern assumptions about faith, assurance and eternal security? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Many Protestants call it 'works salvation' to say we must obey to get eternal life on Judgment Day. How does the idea of two phases of salvation challenge what people believe today about faith, assurance and eternal security?
How did Athanasius's way of explaining Jesus' words about the Father turn the Bible into a dangerous book for ordinary believers, and where do you see the same problem in churches today? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How did Athanasius's way of explaining Jesus' words make the Bible seem dangerous for ordinary believers? Where do you see the same thing in churches today?
Origen went to Heraclides to win a brother, while the bishops at Nicaea came wanting to condemn Arius. When you correct a fellow Christian, how can you tell which of those two motives is driving you? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Origen went to win his brother Heraclides, but the bishops at Nicaea wanted to condemn Arius. When you correct another Christian, how can you tell which of these is your real motive?
If a teaching cannot be found in Scripture or in the earliest church, yet many leaders or a popular movement support it, what habits can help you test it before you go along with the crowd? JumpstartAnother way to ask: A teaching may not be in Scripture or the earliest church, yet many leaders support it. What habits can help you test it before you go along with the crowd?
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