Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. In ... [PDF]

Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. In contemporary American culture, it is common to think of questions of morality as being an issue of relative truth (each person has to decide what is true for them), as opposed to absolute truth (something that is true for everyone at all times regardless of the person's opinions or feelings). a. What are some examples of how our culture thinks of moral issues as an question of relative truth? b. Why do you think it is so common to think of morality in terms of relative truth? Almost everyone agrees 50 years ago most Americans would have viewed morality as an issue of absolute truth. What changed? c. Are there reasons for seeing morality as relative truth? If so what are some? Are there reasons for seeing morality as absolute truth? If so, what are some? 2. Most people who believe that morality is an issue of relative truth still believe that there are some things that are always morally wrong (for example, rape and murder). a. In our age of moral relativism, what are other examples of actions and or attitudes that the contemporary conventional wisdom condemns as always morally wrong? b. If morality is relative, and not founded and God's unchanging character and revealed truth, is there any basis for calling any action or attitude wrong? If so, what? How do you think an unbeliever may answer this question? c. If moral truth is founded in God’s unchanging character and his truth as revealed in the Bible, is all moral truth always absolute? Are there any moral truths that should adapt to our contemporary culture? Explain your answer. 3. Every day we read product warning labels from the products manufacture that give us ‘rules’ about how the product is to be used, warning of consequences of breaking those rules. a. Why is it that most people will openly accept and follow the ‘rules’ for using a product like a blow dryer, but then many of those same people get angry and reject the idea of God-our designer, giving us ‘rules’ by which we should guide our life? b. Why do most people readily believe the warning labels on most products, such as using the blow-dryer in the bathtub will electrocute you, but then we don’t believe the warnings of God, such as the warning of Matthew 7:24-27? 4. In an honest appraisal of your life, what foundation is your life built upon? How much attention have you given to the issue of your life’s foundation? a. What is the right foundation – the foundation of rock that Jesus describes in Matthew 7:24-25? What is the foundation of sand that Jesus describes in Matthew 7:26-27? b. What is the foundation of your life? How can you know for sure if you’re building on the right foundation? c. If you faced a major storm in your life, how well would you hold up? 5. As you reflect on the major issues in your life and your struggle with sin and/or temptation, do you honestly believe that your problem is primarily a truth problem or an obedience problem? Is your primary problem that you’ve believed the culture’s lies about areas of your

life, or you’re not sure what is the right thing to do (a truth problem) or that you know what God says is the right thing to do, and you just don’t want to do it?