Reader's Club

If you enjoy reading books that will challenge you to think more critically about the issues of today's world, then you are invited to come and join in the discussions of the Reader's Club. We meet on the third Tuesday, every other month, from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at the Village Center.  Below are the dates for the upcoming meetings, as well as the books to be discussed. For more information or to register, please contact the Village Schools office.

Tuesday, September 21 - Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller.  This is his latest book.  I am confident you will find this book to be one that reaches into your heart with timeless truths. 

Tuesday, November 16 - The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur.

We look forward to having you join us for some lively interchange of ideas prompted by the books we are reading.

Please mark this date on your calendar, be challenged with your reading, and then come and join in the discussion.

Discussion Questions for September 2010
Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller
What do you think of when you hear the word “idol?”  Perhaps many of you will respond with that very popular television show “American Idol” where people contend for the grand prize of a major recording contract.  Others of you might associate it with statues you might find in a museum of ancient history.  We probably all have our concepts of idols.

But, have you ever considered that money could be an idol? Or sex? Or Power? Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY, has.  And his thoughts are expressed in this, his latest book.

1. Why is this book so important in any discussion of the impact of the gospel upon our culture today?  What is its message?

2. In his introduction, Keller defines an idol as “whatever you look at and say, in your heart of hearts, ‘If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.”  Do you agree with that definition?  Does that mean that something “good” might become an idol?  What might some of those “good” things be?

3. In one of his biblical examples, Keller states that Abraham perhaps had become too attached to Isaac, thus necessitating God’s command for him to sacrifice his son.  How did you respond to this understanding of this very familiar story?

4. On page 39, the author shares four things a person can do when confronted with disappointments in life.  As you work through that list, which one is probably easiest for you to do?  Which one is probably the most difficult one for you to do?  Why?

5. Perhaps the greatest idol in the western world today is money.  It seems that our life revolves around money.  Even the atheistic philosophy Nietzsche stated that with the absence of God growing in Western culture, God would be replaced with money.  The Bible also expends many verses on the subject of money and possessions.  Why does money have such a hold on us?  How can this hold be released?

6. How does a person begin to identify the idols that are closeted in one’s life?  How can they be replaced? 

7. What value did this book have in your own walk with the Lord?  Would you recommend it to another?

Discussion Questions for May 2010
The Rise of Nuclear Iran by Dore Gold
Since 1979 with the deposition of the Shah and the elevation of the Ayatollah Khomeni both as spiritual and political leader, the nation of Iran has been a loathsome sore in the Middle East.  Quickly Iran aligned itself with the Soviet Union (Russia today).  Quickly it changed Iran from a nation guided by Western principles of democracy to a nation guided by the “sharia” law of the Koran.  Every American President since Gerald Ford have faced the threats of Iran. 

In 2004 Ahmadinejad was elected President.  From his earliest days he offered a threat to Israel  of its coming extinction, and a promise to his people that they would become a nuclear nation. 

Dore Gold, former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, writes of the rise of Iran onto the world stage.  He goes back to the Iranian Revolution and the capturing of the American embassy in Tehran in 1979.  And he records how the West has constantly been blinded to the true intentions of Iran.

1. What is the relationship between the religious beliefs of radical Iranian Islam and the desire for nuclear technology?

2. Why has the West generally had a closed mind or, perhaps better said, a weak will to confront Iran on its nuclear program?

3. What are the perceived consequences of having a nuclear equipped Iran?  What are the potential dangers?

4. How is it that the Iranians have learned to play the game of diplomacy so well, while the West has played it so badly?

5. What has been the role of the recent American administrations toward Iran?  How has it been successful?  How has it been unsuccessful?

6. If you could peer into the future, how do you think the story with Iran will be played out?  What will the Iranian people do?  What will the Iranian leadership do?  What will Israel do?  What will the United States do?  What will the United Nations do?  What will God do?  (This final one is the most important of all.)

7. Why is this book by Ambassador Gold so important and worthy to be read and studied?

Discussion Questions for March 2010
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
No discussion questions for this month.

Discussion Questions for January 2010
If God Is Good by Randy Alcorn

One of the ancient questions that has haunted mankind since the time of Job is: Why is there suffering and evil in the world?  If God is truly a good God, then why doesn’t He do something to stop evil and suffering from occurring?  The failure of God to act – does this mean that He is not good?  Also, if God is truly all-powerful and nothing is too difficult for Him, then why doesn’t He remove evil and suffering from the world?  The failure of God to act – does this mean that He is not all-powerful?  Randy Alcorn has written this book to help believers, as well as unbelievers, to wrestle with this important issue.  Throughout its pages, he draws his readers back to the premise that God has a purpose for suffering and evil in this world.  They are tools to draw men and women into His presence.

1. If suffering, pain, and evil are truly part of God’s program, then how can you and I best prepare ourselves to experience these in our lives?  Where do we start in this preparation process?

2. On pages 26-27, the author describes primary and secondary evils.  What are they?  Name an example of each type of evil. 

3. Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: God permits what he hates to accomplish that which he loves. (p. 34).  Do you agree or disagree with that statement?  Can you give any evidence to support your position?

4. What is the relationship between God and Satan?  What is Satan’s main objective?  How does he attack that objective?  What is God’s role? 

5. On page 67, Alcorn shares a quote from Robert Schuller.  How did you react to that quote?  What is Schuller really saying? 

6. In chapters 28 and 29, the author describes heaven and hell.  As you read these chapters, how realistic did you think his arguments were for both these?  Why is a proper understanding of heaven and hell vitally important in any discussion of the problem of evil today?

7. Page 349 contains one of the best arguments against God explaining His ways to us.  What would you do if God shared with you what your life would be like one year from now?  Would you be blessed, or would be depressed?  Why?

8. As you completed the reading of this book, how would you answer a friend’s question as to why God allows evil in the world?  What Scriptures would you use to support your argument? 

Discussion questions from previous Reader's Club meetings can be found in the Reader's Club Archive.

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