November 29, 2016

Advent Book Study

23 minutes

Join our online Advent book discussion! We’re reading Bishop Will Willimon’s, Fear of the Other: No Fear in Love, which invites us to welcome and love others, as Christ has welcomed and loved us when we were the Other. A new discussion question will be posted each week on our Facebook page, corresponding to each chapter in the book. When posting comments or questions, please use language that does no harm (in keeping with John Wesley’s first General Rule). We look forward to having meaningful and fruitful conversation with one another!

Listen to our podcast featuring Omar, a 20-year-old refugee who arrived in Orlando with his mother in late September, and Kathleen, a member of our refugee ministry team assisting with their resettlement, conversation led by Pastor Emily.

Discussion Questions

Chapter 1Nov. 30: Bishop Willimon shares about his experience growing up in the segregated South. He specifically points to a time where races were separated on the bus, indicated by a sign. He says, “Nobody I knew questioned that sign, especially no one who sat next to me in church each Sunday.” (p. 6) What are some things you fail to question in your own context today?

Chapter 2Dec. 7: Bishop Willimon explains that fear alone is not the issue; rather it’s “excessive” or “misplaced” fear that becomes a problem. (p. 27) Whom or what do you fear either excessively or irrationally? And what steps can you take to train your fears?

Chapter 3Dec. 14: Bishop Willimon says, “Every time we miraculously move from exclusion to embrace, it’s a little earthly experience of what one day we shall do forever.” (p. 48) What are some ways that you can move specifically from exclusion to embrace of all people?

Chapter 4 & 5Dec. 21: Bishop Willimon claims that the love that is called for in John 13:34 “love each other” refers to love within the church. He goes on to say that it’s more difficult for him to love the other who sits next to him in church rather than someone who is distant geographically or different religiously. (p. 74) What are some practices we can engage in that will help us love one another as a congregation?

Want to participate in an Advent book study in person, but don’t have a small group to connect with? Join us for coffee and conversation for a one-time book review in the Cafe in the Gathering Space on either of these dates:

Sunday, December 11 at 6:30 pm

Wednesday, December 14 at 6:15 pm

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