J-Curve Session 25: (Pastor Matt Carter, Chapter 25)

Brick Lane Community Church
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Class Description: Session 25, Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Resurrection Realism: The J Curve Protects Us from Cynicism

Paul’s resurrections realism avoids the depression of pessimism and the denial of optimism.  A resurrection lens allows us to live truly victorious lives that can look any enemy in the face - cancer, slander or depression.

Class Notes:

1.    P 199 Mere optimism is blind to the dark side of life and thus collapses in the face of evil.

a.    Why is that true?  Why does mere optimism collapse?

2.    P 199-200 Connecting paragraphs and Phil. 1 quote.

a.    How does the constant consciousness of Jesus’ resurrection obliterate the victim narrative? (Turn over to P 201 - first full paragraph.)

b.    Can you think of some mundane work that you did this week - maybe something that felt like a little death?  How would focusing on Christ’s resurrection have freed you to rejoice even in something that was just plain boring?

3.    P 200 Paul encourages the Philippians to pray.... (focus esp. on the final two sentences of the paragraph)

a.    For Christians, dying is not failure, but rather the promise of resurrection!  

b.    What suffering are you and I enduring right now in which it’s difficult to actually believe that?  Where are we fighting against our acorns cracking open?

4.    P 201-202 Stage 1: Paganism

            Realistic Despair

a.    How does this worldview make complete sense?  Why do many people end up here with Eeyore?

5.    P 202 Stage 2: Christianity - Realistic Hope (Read paragraph)

a.    Why does this realistic hope enable people not only to build castle walls, but to sail around the world?  Why does it transform life into an adventure?

6.    P 202-203 Stages 2 & 3

a.    How do secular liberalism and contemporary culture strip the foundations out of hope, and where do they leave us?

7.    P 204 Paul’s resurrections realism avoids the depression of pessimism and the denial of optimism.  A resurrection lens allows us to live truly victorious lives that can look any enemy in the face - cancer, slander or depression.

a.    What is the practical application of this reality?  What do we do with it?  How would you like to live out of the strength of this reality this week?  What might it look like for you?