Hot Issues: Jesus Confronts Today's Controversies [Paperback]

Mark Ashton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

The Reality Check series makes just one assumption: that you're serious enough about your spiritual journey to investigate Christianity with an open mind. This isn't about joining anyone's religious club---it's about being real with yourself and with the others in your group. Since no one has all the answers, there's plenty of room for discussion. After all, if there is any truth to the Bible's stories about Jesus, then one thing he'd welcome are questions and opinions that come from honest, earnest hearts. Have you stopped to consider just how broken this planet really is? Look around you. Poverty, racism, intolerance, materialism, oppression of women . . . it doesn't take long to see plenty that needs fixing. Hot Issues explores six current social evils that affect us all one way or another. They'll come as no surprise---until you explore Jesus' radical responses to the same issues in his time. Hot Issues includes these sessions: The Poverty Line Crossing the Racial Divide Handling Hypocrisy The Treatment of Women Materialism and the Moral Yuppie Religious Intolerance For the Group Leader Reality Check is for spiritual seekers of every persuasion. Uncompromisingly Christian in its perspective, it steers wide of pat answers and aims at honesty. This innovative and thought-provoking series will challenge you and those in your group to connect heart to heart as together you explore the interface between Jesus, the Bible, and the realities of this world in which we live.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Reality Check series makes just one assumption: that you’re serious enough about your spiritual journey to investigate Christianity with an open mind. This isn’t about joining anyone’s religious club—it’s about being real with yourself and with the others in your group. Since no one has all the answers, there’s plenty of room for discussion. After all, if there is any truth to the Bible’s stories about Jesus, then one thing he’d welcome are questions and opinions that come from honest, earnest hearts.

Have you stopped to consider just how broken this planet really is? Look around you. Poverty, racism, intolerance, materialism, oppression of women . . . it doesn’t take long to see plenty that needs fixing. Hot Issues explores six current social evils that affect us all one way or another. They’ll come as no surprise—until you explore Jesus’ radical responses to the same issues in his time.

Hot Issues includes these sessions: The Poverty Line Crossing the Racial Divide Handling Hypocrisy The Treatment of Women Materialism and the Moral Yuppie Religious Intolerance

For the Group Leader Reality Check is for spiritual seekers of every persuasion. Uncompromisingly Christian in its perspective, it steers wide of pat answers and aims at honesty. This innovative and thought-provoking series will challenge you and those in your group to connect heart to heart as together you explore the interface between Jesus, the Bible, and the realities of this world in which we live.

About the Author

Mark Ashton is the director of seeker small groups at Willow Creek Community Church. In addition, he supervises the staff for more than 40 new believer groups, 80 seeker groups, and Willow's Internationals ministry. He is also the director of TruthQuest - Willow's ministry that answers tough questions about Jesus and Christianity. Mark is a frequent speaker at conferences and is the author of Absolute Truth?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 85 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310245230
• ISBN-13: 978-0310245230
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will get your group talking!, September 4, 2002

By 

"cruisincreeker" (Bartlett, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hot Issues: Jesus Confronts Today's Controversies (Paperback)

I have used this book to lead a discussion group. The group was mostly comprised of people who are in the process of investigating the claims of Christianity. It really got the group talking! Each of the sessions in the book raise questions that help everyone identify personally with the topic. It then helped our group to come to terms with what Jesus has to say about these very relevant issues that we all face in today's culture. It is well written, was well received, and easy to use. I believe it is a very effective tool to help people understand who Jesus is, and what he is saying to them about the world they live in. It makes those involved think about what their response should be to the issue, but most of all, it makes them think about what their response should be to Jesus, himself. I look forward to using this group discussion study guide again, as well as the other study guides in the Reality Check series!