Basic Christianity by John Stott
Week 6: Part Two — The Nature of Man (Man's Need)
Read Part Two, Chapter 5 of Basic Christianity by John Stott. Key passages: Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3.
Previewing Week 6 of Basic Christianity
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 10-week guide when you’re ready.
If guilt is the diagnosis, what are the consequences — and are there any remedies within our own reach? Stott presses the question further this week.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Stott describes the consequences of sin in terms of three broken relationships: with God (guilt and estrangement), with others (conflict and exploitation), and within ourselves (shame and disintegration). Which of these three fractures do you see most clearly in the world around you? Which do you feel most acutely in your own experience?
2.Stott argues that death — spiritual and physical — is the ultimate consequence of sin. Romans 6:23 frames this starkly: 'the wages of sin is death.' How does understanding death as a consequence of rebellion against God, rather than merely a biological fact, change how we think about it?
3.Stott surveys the various human attempts to solve the human problem — education, politics, psychology, religion, and self-improvement. Why does he find each of these insufficient on its own? Do you find his critique fair, or does it seem too dismissive?
a.What can each of these approaches genuinely accomplish?
b.What can none of them ultimately provide?