There’s a lot of talk today about “culture wars,” but these external conflicts are only a symptom of a deeper problem: there is trouble with the truth. Beneath our differences about the values that should define our culture is a real disagreement about what is true. Those who hold to the traditional beliefs of the Christian faith find themselves at odds with a culture that no longer believes there are universal spiritual or moral truths that apply to everyone. And they grieve that the confusion about what is true is just as strong in the church. The Trouble with the Truth explores the truth—why it’s in trouble, what the culture tells us about it, and why the church is so confused about it. In an engaging and compelling style, Rob Renfroe reminds us that the Christian life requires commitment to both truth and grace. Like a tightrope walker with a balance bar, we must learn to balance compassion for people and passion for truth, combining them in equal measure just as Jesus did. Readers will examine the essentials about truth and grace, understand the differences between a cultural worldview and a scriptural worldview, and discover how to be instruments of real influence and transformation in our time by following Jesus’s example. The Leader Guide contains six session plan outlines, complete with discussion points and questions, activities, prayers, and more—plus leader helps for facilitating a group. Learn to balance compassion for people while maintaining a passion for truth. Rob Renfroe is Pastor of Discipleship at The Woodlands UMC in Houston, Texas, leader of the popular men's Bible study Quest, attended by over 500 men, and the author of The Trouble with the Truth and A Way Through the Wilderness. He also is President of Good News—a national organization committed to the doctrinal integrity and spiritual renewal of The United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Peggy, are the parents of two adult sons. The Trouble with the Truth: Leader Guide Balancing Truth And Grace By Rob Renfroe Abingdon Press Copyright © 2014 Abingdon Press All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4267-8626-6 Contents A Note to Group Leaders, Leader Helps, Session 1: Full of Grace and Truth, Session 2: Why Grace Is Essential and Truth Matters, Session 3: Why Our Culture Values Compassion Over, Truth: Understanding Three Worldviews, Session 4: Comparing the Cultural Worldview to a, Scriptural Worldview, Session 5: The New Absolutes, Session 6: What Does Love Require?, Optional Activities for Enhancing the Study, Notes, CHAPTER 1 Full of Grace and Truth Charting the Course Learning Objective Participants will examine the truth-grace dynamic revealed in Christ and begin pursuit of the proper balance of truth and grace in their lives. Themes for Exploration We see the perfect combination of grace and truth in the life of Jesus. To walk as Jesus walked, we must balance grace and truth. The culture and the church influence our beliefs about grace and truth. Key Scripture The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Theological Focus "When the Father sent the Son into the world that we might be saved, he came with grace and truth, compassion and righteousness, love and holiness. Without grace and truth together, we don't have the God of the Bible. Without compassion and righteousness together, we don't have Jesus of the Gospels. Without love and holiness together, we don't have the good news. The Christian faith is not one instead of the other or one more than the other but both together in equal measure, because this is the nature of our God." Getting Started (10 Minutes) Opening Prayer Almighty God, together we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus. May we behold him, filled with grace and truth. May we see that in him, a life is possible where compassion and righteousness, love and holiness, and justice and mercy can be held in tandem. Help us to hold fast to his teachings and to follow his example. In Jesus' name. Amen. Conversation Starter Say: The first chapter in our book explores grace and truth as vital attributes of Christian character. In our world, and even in our church cultures, we tend to favor one over the other rather than seeking both in equal measure. Today we will discuss how these attributes were displayed by Jesus and consider how we might grow as people of grace and truth. Ask: What individual do you know who exudes grace? What is he or she like? How have you seen this person affect the lives of others? What individual do you know who has a contagious love for truth, sharing it in a positive and impactful way? Engaging the Material (40 Minutes) Note: This section allows approximately 25 minutes total for discussion (of video, Scriptures, and book). More questions are provided than you will have time to cover; select in advance t