Week 1: Introduction — The Right Approach

1.Stott argues that the right approach to Christianity requires both open minds and honest hearts — a willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Why do you think he felt it necessary to address the reader's posture before presenting any evidence? Do you think most people approach religion with genuine openness?

2.Stott distinguishes between intellectual difficulties (honest questions about evidence and reason) and moral difficulties (reluctance to accept Christianity's ethical demands). Which of these, in your experience, tends to be the bigger obstacle for people you know — including yourself?

3.He suggests that some people reject Christianity not because they have examined it and found it wanting, but because they have never seriously examined it at all. Does that description ring true for anyone you know? How does it challenge you personally?

4.Stott writes that Christianity centers not on a philosophy or a system, but on a person. Why does it matter whether Christianity's foundation is a set of ideas versus a historical individual? What changes when the focus shifts to a person?

5.What assumptions or preconceptions are you bringing to this study? Try to name one intellectual question and one personal or emotional reservation you have about Christianity (or about this book). Share these with your group if you are comfortable.

6.Stott calls for humility in the investigation of Christianity. What does intellectual humility look like when examining religious claims — and how is it different from either credulity (believing whatever you're told) or cynicism (dismissing claims before examining them)?

7.How does the introduction set up the overall structure of the book — moving from who Jesus is, to the human problem, to what Christ did, to how we should respond? Why do you think Stott chose this particular order?