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A small group guide for The Sin of Certainty was just made available FREE OF CHARGE by the goodTSOC people at HarperOne.

I know. You were thinking the book was free, but we’re not idiots.

I ran through the questions and they look great. For example.

Enns clearly has issues. Discuss how, if he were in the room with you now, you would shame him. Give examples.

Discuss the logical fallacy of Enns being certain that certainty is a sin. Find other examples in the book where Enns simply drops the ball, logically speaking.

If Enns’s false teachings were brought into your church, discuss how long it would take for attendance to drop 10%; 25%; 85%.

Based on Enns’s anecdotes, discuss his personal and professional failings. What factors in his life might have contributed to his being a failure?

Actually, you have to pay to get those sorts of questions. The questions available online (which can also be downloaded) are more like this:

Enns believes that many Christians have experienced“uh-oh” moments when something casts doubt, insecurity, or questions on the faith they felt was solid (p. 7). Have you ever experienced one of these “uh-oh” moments? What prompted it and how did it make you feel? When you came out the other side, did your faith feel stronger or weaker?

Enns lists five common obstacles to remaining Christian (pp. 119–20). Have you ever encountered these “obstacles”? If so, how did they affect your faith?

Do you see the “mysteries and uncertainties” of life as “opportunities to trust more deeply” (p. 205)? Why or why not?

In all, the small group guide contains 37 questions—4 per chapter plus one big question at the end. The questions nail the book very well and I hope many of you will be able to make use of the guide, either in a group setting or on your own.

Peace.

 

 

Pete Enns, Ph.D.

Peter Enns (Ph.D., Harvard University) is Abram S. Clemens professor of biblical studies at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has written numerous books, including The Bible Tells Me So, The Sin of Certainty, and How the Bible Actually Works. Tweets at @peteenns.