{"id":34204,"date":"2025-01-25T14:34:18","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T19:34:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=34204"},"modified":"2025-04-28T11:06:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T15:06:23","slug":"new-small-group-to-study-mere-christianity-fall-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=34204","title":{"rendered":"New Small Group to Study “Mere Christianity” (2\/10\/25)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new Small Group study is set to begin next month!\u00a0 It is based on the book entitled “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis.\u00a0 \u00a0This will be a chance to explore our faith through the eyes of a former atheist (C.S. Lewis).\u00a0 As part of a Small Group, we’ll be able to share our reactions and to encourage each other’s faith.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

WHO:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Anyone!<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Faith through the experiences of a former atheist<\/span><\/p>\n

WHERE<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 In room 204- 2nd floor education wing<\/span><\/p>\n

WHEN<\/span><\/strong>:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Monday evenings at 7PM (starting February 10)<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Messages of Hope- From a 1940’s Era Radio….<\/span><\/h3>\n

Small Groups only meet for a pre-determined period of time, and they generally meet to study one topic.\u00a0 This upcoming group will be a study of the classic, “Mere Christianity<\/a><\/span>” by C.S. Lewis (Click Here to view a summary of the book<\/a><\/span>).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

C.S. Lewis<\/p><\/div>\n

\nC.S. Lewis<\/a><\/span>, himself a former atheist, set out in this book to help people see Christianity, with fresh eyes, as a radical faith whose adherents might be likened to an underground group gathering in a war zone, a place where evil seems to have the upper hand, and to hear messages of hope from the other side.<\/p>\n

This book brings together C.S. Lewis\u2019s legendary broadcast talks of the war years.\u00a0 Talks in which he set out simply to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times. This is a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Messages of Joy- From the Experiences of a Former Atheist…<\/span><\/h3>\n

We will be using a study guide<\/a><\/span> created by a gentleman named Steven Urban<\/a><\/span>, who had a strange \u201cintrusion\u201d in his life, not once, but over 200 times. For four years he tried to find out what had caused that sensation by reading the major texts of the world\u2019s foremost religions, including the Bible. He read histories, biographies, philosophical, psychological, and theological works. He sensed that his experience was not uncommon, but, oddly, no one was talking about it\u2026.\u00a0
\nuntil he read a book called “Surprised by Joy<\/a><\/span>” (by C.S. Lewis). Though he wasn\u2019t crazy about this book, he found in it a man who had experienced the same recurring experiences of \u201cjoy\u201d (as he called them).<\/p>\n

A Thinking Faith…<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

With this experience, the book “Mere Christianity,” and his Bible brought Urban to a deep relationship with God, who, he believes, wants us to have a \u201cthinking faith.\u201d He says, \u201cFaith is not opposed to knowledge; it is opposed to sight. Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let’s get together for a fascinating study of this eye-opening book!\u00a0 \u00a0If you are interested in joining this class, please see Carol Fox for more details.\u00a0 If you don’t know Carol, you can contact the church office (Office@PitmanUMC.org<\/a><\/span>).\u00a0 All are welcome!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

“Faith is not opposed to knowledge;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 …it is opposed to sight. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Grace is not opposed to effort;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

…it is opposed to earning.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

~ Steven Urban<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div> \n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

An Infinite God viewed from Finite People…<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

For more thoughts on how the finite struggles to understand the infinite, check out this recording of a 1944 radio broadcast<\/a><\/span> by C.S. Lewis…<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t