Life Group Book Discussion Questions
The Gospel by Ray Ortlund
Chapters 2-3
- As you reflect on what you have read so far, how would you summarize what a gospel culture looks like? What are some of the marks?
- (p. 40-41) Does Ortlund’s description of the church challenge the way you have typically thoughtof church? Does it challenge the way you have approached being a part of the church?
- (p. 43-46) How often should we think about the sanctification of our brothers and sisters in our local church? How is this central to cultivating a gospel culture?
- Read the paragraph in the middle of p. 47 together. What are the visions that tend to creep in, captivate our hearts, and draw us away from this picture of the gospel’s end for us who are in Christ? How does the church encourage each other to keep our eyes fixed on this hope?
- Read the quote by Lesslie Newbigin on the top of p. 52 together. How can our view of the Bible be too small? What is the danger of this?
- Read Isaiah 65:17 together (found at the top of p. 53. Answer the same questions above, but about the gospel.
- “…a gospel-rich church rejoices in hope” (p. 54). Take some time as a group to throw out a few of the pressing issues/happenings of the day. What difference should genuine hope make in the way the church responds to each, in contrast to the world around us? How do these responses communicate the gospel to the world?
- How does any longing about “heaven” that exceeds a desire for God himself expose our heart as miss-directed? How can such miss-directed longings draw us away from the true gospel and hinder the cultivation of true gospel culture?