Study Notes for March 10 meeting of Impact University Book Club
Pages 207 - 244

1. "Jesus saw money as something to guard against, not desire." (p. 210). What does this mean practically? Is there an appropriately "moderate" way to apply its truth. What in your mind would constitute an extreme application of it?

2. "God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver." That's an odd phrase. What's the relationship between giving and hilarity? (p. 210).

3. What does Yancey mean in saying that money needs to be "profaned." (p. 211). For whom is that true?

4. Money provides a battleground for the two worlds -- the visible and the invisible one. Regarding it, with what does the poor man contend? The rich man?
(p. 212).

5. What is Yancey implying in saying of the Apostle Paul that "he carried money lightly."? (p. 212). How is "holy indifference" to material things lived out in a Christian's life? (p. 212).

6. The Apostle Paul in many ways had what we'd call a very difficult life. What enabled him to speak of his many personal calamities as "light and momentary ....."? (p. 216).

7. Explain this sentence from p. 218: "Death was not the end-mark for Jesus, but the change-mark."

8. What does the following phrase mean? "Aging unprepares us for life in this visible world" (p. 219). What is a "good death" to a Christian? (p. 219).

9. What does "the church tamed death" mean? (p. 220).

10. How is the term "smoltification" applied to Christians? (p. 225).

11. It could be argued that a Christian who is so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly good "despises the Father's work" (p. 226). How so?

12. According to William James, a skeptic, Christians (at least some of them) serve as "torchbearers." (p. 237 -238). What does he mean?

13. A great thing, learned best by personal experience, is that sacrifice based on Christian faith turns into something else. What? (p. 239). And for whom?

14. What is the reverse corresponding truth to the assertion that "saints live in such a way that their lives would not make sense if God did not exist."? (p. 243).

15. Explain the following: "Pascal saw faith as a cosmic wager." (p. 243).