Where is God in Entertainment?
By Lauren Yarger
Being in the world, but not of it. Christians have tried to balance the two existences for centuries and technology throws more balls up in the air than ever for today’s Christians. Christianity Today’s Study Series offers some help: Faith and Pop Culture (Thomas Nelson 2005).
This eight-week small group study offers a host of contributing writers in articles from Christianity Today at the beginning of the lessons focusing on different popular art forms (television, film, sports, literature) and challenges participants to look beyond the culture to find the creative God of scripture through discussion questions, activities and projects. The format is flexible and doesn’t feature a lot of “homework” (in fact, one assignment is to watch a movie).
How do Christians enjoy entertainment without compromising values on things like nudity, violence and other questionable content? How do we make the right choices and even influence society? Shouldn’t God be enough entertainment himself? The study urges discussion on such topics and would be appropriate not only as a church bible study, but as a small group study in a neighborhood or other setting that includes seekers and non-Christians.
While the study delves into some areas of pop culture, others are missing, most notably the theater, music and the internet, the last two being so complex on their own, that they probably would require their own study guides. Other books in the study series are Engaging the Culture, Islam, Politics, Faith and work, The Bible, The Future of the Church and Creation Care.
By Lauren Yarger
Being in the world, but not of it. Christians have tried to balance the two existences for centuries and technology throws more balls up in the air than ever for today’s Christians. Christianity Today’s Study Series offers some help: Faith and Pop Culture (Thomas Nelson 2005).
This eight-week small group study offers a host of contributing writers in articles from Christianity Today at the beginning of the lessons focusing on different popular art forms (television, film, sports, literature) and challenges participants to look beyond the culture to find the creative God of scripture through discussion questions, activities and projects. The format is flexible and doesn’t feature a lot of “homework” (in fact, one assignment is to watch a movie).
How do Christians enjoy entertainment without compromising values on things like nudity, violence and other questionable content? How do we make the right choices and even influence society? Shouldn’t God be enough entertainment himself? The study urges discussion on such topics and would be appropriate not only as a church bible study, but as a small group study in a neighborhood or other setting that includes seekers and non-Christians.
While the study delves into some areas of pop culture, others are missing, most notably the theater, music and the internet, the last two being so complex on their own, that they probably would require their own study guides. Other books in the study series are Engaging the Culture, Islam, Politics, Faith and work, The Bible, The Future of the Church and Creation Care.
For more about the book, click here.
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