Appendix

The first time the Scripture is read, let the Word soak into your mind. Allow a few minutes of silence.

The second time the Scripture is read, note any word that God seems to be emphasizing. After the second reading, anyone in the group can share the word or phrase that spoke to them, but they should not elaborate.

Read the passage a third time. This time allow God to reveal to you the significance of this word. Spend three to five minutes in silence, conversing with God. After the silence, anyone who is willing can share what they felt God spoke to them through the passage.

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners. (Matthew 9:12-13)

Go in peace, and live gladly in the knowledge of God’s love for you.

In the next chapter we’ll study God’s holiness. The soul-shaping practice is margin, which will be explained in depth at the end of the chapter. Margin is something you’ll want a full week to practice before you gather again to discuss, so plan on reading the chapter and soul-training section early.

Begin with five minutes of silence. At the conclusion of the five minutes, offer a brief prayer.

Divide into small groups of three or four and discuss what you learned from the soul-training practice of margin. Use these reflection questions to start your conversation:

1. Were you able to develop margin in any way this week? If so, describe what you did and how you felt about it.

2. As you tried to develop margin in your life, what was most difficult? What was most rewarding?

3. How do you plan to practice the discipline of margin in the future?

4. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercise?

The primary focus of this chapter is that God is love and God is also holy. God’s wrath toward sin is an action that reflects that love and holiness.

1. Chapter six addresses two false narratives. The first is that God is always angry and wrathful toward us. The second false narrative is that God doesn’t care about sin at all and is more of a “teddy bear.” Which of these two narratives do you identify with more? Why?

2. To love is “to will the good of another,” according to Dallas Willard (here). When this understanding of love comes in contact with our sin, the result is God’s wrath, because “God is fiercely and forcefully opposed to the things that destroy his precious people” (here). What would you say to a friend who wanted to understand how a loving God could be wrathful?

3. On here the author gives the example of MADD as a rare instance when human wrath could be compared to God’s wrath. Can you think of any other human examples?

4. We are given this wonderful quote from George MacDonald: “love loves unto purity” (here). What thoughts and feelings do you have when you consider that God longs to remove everything from your life that would destroy you?

5. “God will not violate the choices we make. People may choose to bar God from their life. Thus the doors of hell are locked from the inside” (here). How is this vision of hell similar to or different from your own understanding?

6. The chapter concludes with the important point that we must first trust in God’s love and forgiveness before we can begin to understand God’s holiness. The first five chapters of this book unpack God’s love and goodness. What impact have the previous five chapters had in preparing you to understand God’s holiness?

Read Hebrews 12:18-29 aloud.

1. This passage begins by contrasting the covenant made on Mount Sinai with the covenant made by Jesus’ blood. What images of God’s holiness do you see throughout the passage?

2. One way of interpreting this passage is to view pieces in our lives that can be “shaken” and removed as those pieces that are opposed to God. On the other hand, the kingdom we are receiving is the unshakable kingdom of God—the “with-God life.” Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt shaken and eventually purified? Did you see God’s hand at work through that situation, and if so, in what way?

3. How does it feel to know that while purification can be painful, it ultimately leads to deeper intimacy with God?

Have a volunteer from the group read the quote below from the chapter. Then sit in silence and soak in these words to close your time together.

God is against my sin because he is for me. And if I am for sin, God stands against those desires, MacDonald is saying, because they cause my destruction. I would not have it any other way. To be sure, I am prone to excusing my sin or rationalizing my weaknesses, but God is not in that business. Though we are now reconciled through Christ, God is not indifferent to my sin. It hurts me, and therefore it hurts God—because God loves me.

God does not make me feel bad or shame me into better behavior. Nor does he use fear or guilt. God’s method of change is the highest of all. God’s holy love burns the dross of sin out of our lives. It is God’s kindness that leads to genuine repentance (Romans 2:4). As MacDonald said, “love loves unto purity.” (here)

God’s love is loving you “unto purity.” Go in the assurance of God’s deep desire for your good.

In the next chapter we’ll explore God’s self-sacrificial nature. The soul-training practice for the week will be reading the entire Gospel of John. You’ll need to allow ample time for this exercise (one to three hours). Some groups have done their reading together out loud; you may wish to consider this option as well.

Begin with five minutes of silence. At the conclusion of the five minutes, offer a brief prayer.

Divide into small groups of three or four and discuss your experience of reading the Gospel of John. To help you begin, you might use these questions:

1. What did you notice that you hadn’t noticed before in previous readings of the Gospel of John?

2. How would you describe the effect this week’s reading had on you?

3. If time allows, spend a few minutes looking over past soul-training exercises. What exercises are you still doing? What impact are they continuing to have on your life?

The primary focus of this chapter is that self-sacrifice is an essential part of the character of God.

1. This chapter begins with a story of the author’s sister being uncertain of the necessity of the cross. Before reading this chapter, how would you have explained Jesus’ need to die on the cross?

2. On here the author gives us an imaginary conversation with Athanasius, based on the book On the Incarnation. Look back over this section and share parts that you really enjoyed and parts that raised questions for you.

3. The author introduces the idea that God feels both joy and pain. How do you feel about a God who feels pain? Why?

4. “Maybe vulnerability is true strength” (here). This idea runs against cultural narratives that many of us hold. Who in your own life have you seen demonstrate strength through vulnerability?

5. “At the heart of the universe is this one principle: self-sacrifice is the highest act. The grain of wheat must die in order to give life. The cosmos reflects the nature of the God who created it” (here). Can you name other examples of creation revealing this principle? Have you ever considered it a characteristic of God to be self- sacrificing? What impact does this statement have on your own feelings toward God?

6. What was your reaction to the Brennan Manning story (here), specifically the understanding that Jesus could not have done any more for us?

The following Scripture study follows a lectio divina format. Use the Scripture on the next page as your text (Philippians 2:6-11). Before you begin, decide who will read the Scripture each time.

The first time the Scripture is read, allow the Word to soak into your mind. Allow a few minutes of silence.

The second time the Scripture is read, note any word that God seems to be emphasizing. After the second reading, anyone in the group can share the word or phrase that spoke to them, but they should not elaborate.

Read the passage a third time. This time allow God to reveal to you the significance of this word. Spend three to five minutes in silence, conversing with God. After the silence, anyone who is willing can share what they felt God spoke to them through the passage.

[Jesus], though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)

Have a volunteer from the group read the quote below. Then sit in silence for a few minutes soaking in these words to close your time together.

Here is a key principle of the kingdom of God: What we let go of will never be lost but becomes a thing of beauty. No wonder the manger and the cross are two of the most beautiful images this world has ever seen. In the incarnation God, who created millions of spinning galaxies, chose to become vulnerable, and in so doing, heaven came down and kissed the earth. In the crucifixion God, who could not die, subjected himself to death, and in so doing lifted the whole world to himself. (here)

God loves you so much he became vulnerable for you. Go with that amazing good news.

In the next chapter we’ll explore how God transforms us. The soul-training practice for the week is solitude. You’ll need to schedule time for this practice and let others in your life who may be affected by it know when you’ll be doing it.

Begin with five minutes of silence. At the conclusion of the five minutes, offer a brief prayer.

Divide into small groups of three or four and spend ten to fifteen minutes discussing your experience of solitude. Use these reflection questions to get your conversation started:

1. Begin by sharing how your time of solitude went. Remember that for some people this discipline can be very difficult and even frustrating, while for others this exercise is very energizing.

2. One of the aims of the time of solitude is to give you the ability to “take off your masks” and simply be who you truly are in the presence of God. This is a powerful and complex idea, so it may be helpful to refer to here. Would that describe your experience with this exercise? Explain.

3. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercise?

The primary focus of this chapter is that the resurrection of Jesus transforms us into new beings (in whom Christ dwells), which empowers and guides how we live as Christians.

1. The author opens the chapter with a story about a friend of his named Carey, who did not want to sin, and yet continued to sin. Can you relate to Carey’s struggle to overcome sin? What have you done in the past to address areas of sin in your life? How effective were those efforts?

2. Read this out loud: “In Christ I am no longer to be defined by sin. I have been reconciled. Sin has been defeated” (here). What is the implication of this statement in your daily life?

3. “Christians are people Christ dwells in” (here). As a group, spend a few minutes in silence. During that time, imagine Jesus “dwelling” within you. After the silence, if you’re comfortable, share what this reality means to you.

4. As ones “indwelt by Christ,” we are not under the law; however, not everything is “beneficial” for us. Our choices no longer define who we are; instead, our choices are made in light of who we are. Reflect on the last twenty-four hours of your life. Call to mind the choices that you made. What choices did you make to “determine who you are”? What choices did you make “in light of who you are”? How would your day have been different if you had made more decisions in light of who you are?

5. The author gives us this amazing paradox: “We minister out of our brokenness. We heal others through our vulnerability because that is where Christ shines most brightly” (here). In what ways are you broken? How might the light of Christ shine through those wounds?

Read John 15:1-5 aloud.

1. The author gives us this definition for “abide”: “To abide means to rest in and rely on Jesus, who is not outside of us, judging us, but is inside of us, empowering us. The more deeply we’re aware of our identity in Christ and his presence and power with us, the more naturally we’ll do this. We must get our narrative right and practice spiritual exercises to deepen our awareness of truth. In the end, Jesus’ way is easy. He said that his yoke was easy and his burden was light (Matthew 11:30). Typically, we try to do what we think Jesus wants us to do . . . by [our] own strength. We can’t do that. But we ‘can do all things through Christ who strengthens’ us (Philippians 4:13)” (here). Write your own definition for what it means to “abide” in Christ, based on the author’s definition. If you‘re comfortable, share your definition with the group.

2. Read John 15:4-5 again. What, if any, practices do you have in your life that help you “abide” in Christ?

End your time together by saying to each other in your group these words of good news: You were meant to house the fullness of God!

The next chapter looks at the slow process of spiritual transformation. The soul-shaping practice for the week is slowing down.

Begin with five minutes of silence. At the conclusion of the five minutes, offer a brief prayer.

Divide into groups of three or four to discuss your experience of slowing down. Use these reflection questions to help your conver-sation:

1. Slowing down is countercultural in our day. Describe the challenges you encountered. Will you keep trying to slow down in the future?

2. How would you describe the level of hurry in your life? What impact is the hurry in your life having on your relationship with God and others?

3. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercises?

The primary focus of this chapter is that to live an authentic and effective Christian life we must slow down the pace of our lives and become aware of the present moment.

1. The first part of the chapter (here) explores how our view of time evolved into “tyranny of the urgent” and even regarding humanity as a machine designed to produce tasks with efficiency. Discuss your experiences of being in the workplace, and the expectations placed on your performance.

2. The author reminds us that “we cannot love, think, eat, laugh or pray in a hurry” (here). Looking back over the last week, what did you attempt to do in a hurry that can’t be done in a hurry? When did you slow down and experience some of the blessings that come from slowing down?

3. “Too many of us are trying to serve God without listening to God. There will be time to serve, but listening to Jesus always takes precedence” (here). Why do you think we’re tempted to serve God without listening to God? What impact do your old narratives about God have on your need to be busy with God-work?

4. The author gives us this illustration from A. H. Strong: “A student asked the President of his school whether he could not take a shorter course than the one prescribed. ‘Oh yes,’ replied the President, ‘but then it depends on what you want to be. When God wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but when He wants to make a squash, He takes six months.’ Strong goes on to explain that spiritual growth, in addition to being slow, is also not uniform. Some years we may experience tremendous growth, and some we see very little change. An oak tree has only a couple of months of actual growth each year in terms of measurable expansion, says Strong. The rest of the year, the other ten months, are spent solidifying that growth” (here). Reflecting on your spiritual journey over the last year, when have you experienced growth and when have you experienced solidifying? How about the last five and/or ten years?

5. Have someone from the group read this quote out loud to conclude your time of engaging the chapter:

Why is eliminating hurry from our lives so crucial? When we eliminate hurry we become present, or more specifically, present to the present moment in all of its glory. We become aware of our surroundings. We see colors and smell smells; we hear hushed sounds and can actually feel the wind in our faces. In short, we “show up” and experience the fullness of life. And that includes, not least of all, being present to God. If I am to live well as a Christian, I need to be constantly connected to God. Hurry is not part of a well-lived life. (here)

Read aloud Luke 10:38-42.

1. We are often tempted to view Martha and Mary as having two personality types: Martha is the active busybody and Mary is the contemplative. But based on the author’s insights we can see that the issue is not their personalities; it’s the choices they made at that particular moment: Martha chose to serve, while Mary chose to listen. What are the ways that you regularly listen to Jesus? What activities tempt you away from those times of listening?

2. Name specific ways you as a group can support and encourage each other to continue listening to Jesus.

Spend fifteen to twenty minutes sharing with your group what you have gained by sharing this journey with them. Discuss this question: How has this group blessed you during these last several weeks?

Your study of The Good and Beautiful God has come to an end, but there are many options for your group. One option would be to begin the next book in The Apprentice Series, The Good and Beautiful Life (available January 2010). The two books are designed to go together. The Good and Beautiful Life explores the narratives of Jesus, and how those who have been “pickling” in his message are being set free from struggles with anger, lust, lying, self-righteousness and so on. The book takes a close look at the Sermon on the Mount.

Another option would be for members of the current group to form new groups and invite their friends to go through The Good and Beautiful God together. This second option is a great way to continue “pickling” in these narratives and falling more deeply in love with God. Whatever option you choose, select a date for your group to begin.