Velvet Elvis, Chapter 7

February 19, Chapter 4 -- Good
pp. 156-177

1. What is the significance of Jesus rising from the dead in a garden? (pp. 156-157)

Our Environment, p. 157
2. Why should Christians be environmentalists? (p. 158)
3. What is the difference between calling creation ‘good’ and ‘perfect’? (p. 158)
4. What environmental sins does Bell talk about on page 159?

Moving Forward, p. 160
5. What will happen to creation when Jesus returns? (p. 160)
6. What is the full meaning of the cross? (p. 161)
7. What is the difference between the beginning of creation in Genesis and the end in Revelation? (p. 161) What does this mean about God’s goal for creation?

A New Culture, p. 161
8. What term does Paul use for Jesus’ resurrection? (p. 161) Why?
9. What did the first Christians do with the order of the Roman Empire? (p. 162) How did they do this? (pp. 162-163) (Read Acts 17:6 in the King James Version if you have it.)
10. What did Paul do first in world literature? (p. 163) (Galatians 3:28)
11. Why didn’t the first Christians spend a lot of time proving Jesus’ resurrection? (p. 164)

Serving Others, p. 165
12. What does Bell mean when he says God’s blessing is always instrumental? (p. 165)
13. And what does Bell mean when he says God’s blessing is universal? (p. 165)
14. Why does Bell call the church a “blessing machine?” (p. 166)

Good News, p. 166
15. When do the most powerful things happen in a church? (p. 167)
16. What’s wrong with setting out to make converts, according to Bell? (p. 167)
17. When does Bell think the church is at its best? (p. 168)

Difficulty, Suffering and Hope, p. 168
18. What message should the church never, ever give about following Jesus? (p. 170)
19. What is the church’s gift to the world around us? (p. 170) Why can we give this gift? How can we give it? (p. 171)

Velvet Elvis, Chapter 6

February 12, Chapter 6
"New," pp. 138-152

1. What would you say to Bell’s friend at the beginning of this chapter? (p. 138-139)
2. Who does Jesus call “sons of hell?” Why? (p. 139)

Who We Are Now, p. 139
3. What happens when we identify with Jesus’ death on the cross? (p. 139)
4. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does Bell say this means for us? (p. 141) Where should we be putting our efforts?
5. Read Philippians 3:16. What sort of attitude should we have about who we are now? How does that contrast with the guy Bell was speaking to at the beginning of this chapter? (p. 142)
6. What place does shame have in the Christian experience, according to Bell? (p. 142)
7. What should our view of our new life be? (p. 143)
8. What was Jesus’ definition of “eternal life?” (p. 143)
9. What should religious communities focus on? (p. 144)
10. What does Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son teach us about atonement? (p. 145)
11. What does Bell mean, “Hell is full of forgiven people?” (p. 146) What’s the difference between heaven and hell?

Two Realms, p. 147
12. What is Bell’s definition of “hell?” (p. 147)
13. What is Jesus’ goal? (p. 148) Why?
14. How does our vision of heaven and hell need to change? (p. 150)

T’Shuva, p. 150
15. What does Jesus mean when he says “T’shuva?” (p. 150)
16. What does Bell say it means to be reborn? (p. 150)
17. What do we need to do then? (p. 151-152) Watch out, this is a trick question!!!
18. What brings heaven to earth? (p. 151)