The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith
Week 2: Chapter 1 — God Is Good
Read Chapter 1 of The Good and Beautiful God. Key Scripture: Psalm 34:8; Mark 10:17-18; Matthew 7:9-11.
Previewing Week 2 of The Good and Beautiful God
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
The word 'good' can feel thin and polite — but Smith wants to recover its full weight. This week, wrestle with what it would actually mean, all the way down, to believe that God is genuinely, thoroughly, unconditionally good.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Smith argues that our biggest problem is not that we don't believe God exists, but that we don't truly believe God is good. Do you agree that this is the more fundamental issue? Why or why not?
2.Jesus, when addressed as 'Good Teacher,' responds by saying 'No one is good except God alone' (Mark 10:18). Smith uses this to anchor the entire chapter. What is Jesus doing in that moment? How does the goodness of God differ from human goodness?
3.Smith draws on the image of a good father from Matthew 7:9-11 — a father who gives bread, not stones; fish, not snakes. How does this image challenge or confirm the picture of God you carry? What would it mean to relate to God as that kind of Father?