Zondervan - Politics

Left? Right? or Center? Along with rifts over theological issues and worship practices, politics is a hot-button issue that often divides the church. For some, involvement in politics and with the state should be avoided at all costs; for others, political activism is a central avenue of expressing their faith. Some Christians view endorsement of one political party over another as a no-brainer; for others, the matter is much more complex. For some, political issuessuch as the separation of church and stateare a source of great frustration; others view it as a source of great opportunity. Some view political involvement as a way to serve God and others; while other Christians view most politicians as corrupt, untrustworthy, and power-hungry. For some believers, the government is worthy of honor, respect, and trust; others are distrustful of the government and reject its claim of allegiance, determining to trust solely in God.

Discussing politics inevitably leads to differences of opinion; thats why many people avoid talking about it at all costs! But differences of opinion need not lead to division in your group; conversely, you can use this Bible study to get to know each other better, understand various approaches to theology and culture that may be different from your own; and most importantly, learn more from Scripture about what God saysand doesnt sayabout politics. We hope this Current Issues Bible Study guide will help you grow closer as a group and challenge you in ways you may not expect.

These studies are designed to be used in small groupscommunities of people with a commitment to and connection with each other. Whether youre an existing small group or youre just planning to meet for the next eight weeks, this resource will help you deepen in your personal faith and grow closer with each other.

Along with the eight studies, youll find a bonus Small-Group Builder article from Christianity Todays SmallGroups.Com. On SmallGroups. Com, youll find everything you need to successfully run a small-groups ministry. The insightful free articles and theme-specific downloads provide expert training. The reproducible curriculum courses bring thought leaders from across the world into your groups discussion at a fraction of the price. And the revolutionary SmallGroupsConnect social network will help keep your group organized and connected 24/7.

Each study session begins with one or two thought-provoking articles from Christianity Today or one of its sister publications. These articles are meant to help you dive deeply into the topic and engage with a variety of thoughts and opinions. Be sure to read the articles before you arrive to your small group meeting; the time you invest on the front end will greatly enrich your groups discussion. As you read, you may find the articles persuasive and agree heartily with their conclusions; other times you may disagree with the claims of an article, but thats great too. We want these articles to serve as a springboard for lively discussion, so differences in opinion are welcome. For more insightful articles from