• Week 1 “Kingdoms in Conflict: Part I” – Covers the class overview, introduction and chapters 1 through 4.
• Week 2 “Kingdoms in Conflict: Part II” – Covers the rest of the Old Testament: chapters 5 through 10 .
• Week 3 “A Conquering Love: Part I ” – Covers chapters 11 through 14, including the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ and the Scarlet Thread traced throughout the Bible .
• Week 4 “A Conquering Love: Part II” – Covers chapters 14 through the end of the book, including the crucifixion, the birth of the church, and the future as prophesied in the Bible.

Many opportunities to generate exciting and challenging discussions are possible with The Scarlet Thread, but the group leader is really the one who studies and makes the book work.

Here’s some resources to help:

• See the sample study guide for chapter 1.
• See the Powerpoint presentations used at the Columbus Love Ethics class.

Sincerely,
Keith McCallum

Burden

Chapter 1 is meant to remove or at least call into question the spiritual barriers which keep people from falling in love with the Kingdom of God and pursuing it further. It should be read along with the Introduction. This material should spark a flame of passion and excitement to discover God’s Eternal Plan! (Consider Key Verses, below.)

Key Goals to Pursue

Address Non-Christian Barriers: people should be conversant with the major objections and “speculations…raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:5) which are so popular today. An average Christian worker should know how to deal with the following objections:

1.       “I’m a man of science; I’m not really interested in the God thing.” (See the sidebar, “God Is” and related footnotes.)

2.       “All scriptures are alike.” (See Futher Study and its footnotes regarding this issue; also Assertion #1 on page 3, if true and properly understood, means that God would never send contradictory, confusing and mixed messages if He intended to reveal Himself.)

3.       “I think the Bible means something different to each person who reads it.” (See Further Study; also Assertion #1, if true, means God has His own message, and we need to start by understanding His viewpoint. Is it so impossible for God to reveal Himself with clarity?)

4.       “The Bible is so hard to understand, even experts are confused. I could never understand it.” (See Further Study and Assertion #1 for the same reasons.)

5.        “How could a good God create such an evil world?” (See page 4, Assertion #2 and Assertion on page 7).

6.       “I believe in aliens.” (There is extra-terrestrial intelligent life – see page 6).

7.       “I really don’t have time for religion.” (See Assertion on page 5: His plan affects you.)

8.       “Why were we created?” (See Rev.21:3 on page 5 and surrounding text.)

9.       “The Bible is just a confused book of mixed-up stories, legends and piecemeal sayings collected over the years.” (See Consider This on page 4.)

10.    “It’s so unfair for God to limit salvation only to one culture – what about all the other cultures across the world?” (See Assertion #1 on page 4.)

Tip: Have people taking turns arguing one on one against each other with each of these points. Limit the argument to less than five minutes and then discuss the discussion as a group.

Address Christian Barriers: everybody struggles with meaning and purpose. This chapter offers an excellent opportunity to discuss the important questions on people’s minds.

1. Do you think God has a plan and purpose for you?  If so, how would you go about discovering it? (ANSW: Consider the Means of Growth as an answer.)
2. What are your goals like for the next five years? How about within the next year?
3. Are you excited about God’s plan? What practical difference would it possibly make knowing about this plan and taking the time to study this book?
4. What is the difference between Sovereign Free Will and Free Will? What does Sovereign Free Will look like at a practical level? (ANSW: It’s that place deep inside you where nobody can touch, and nobody is allowed to touch, by God’s decree.)
5. Surely we aren’t free to make any choice we wish; how is it then possible we have Sovereign Free Will? (ANSW: Although the arena of operation is restricted, where Sovereign Free Will operates, it operates sovereignly. Where is that? In our choice regarding where we stand with God.)
6. What does it mean to be “close to the Kingdom of God?” Are we close it? How? What does the “Kingdom of God” look like? (See Luke10:11b on page 7. Much of the answer to this question is found in Part II. See also footnote 3. The discussion leader should try to build up some excitement and anticipation for the group’s direction as we uncover the excitement of God’s Kingdom and His plan for our lives.)

Key Scriptures: it’s useful to understand what these verses are saying, the surrounding context, and why they’re so vital for gaining God’s perspective and “Keep Looking Down.”

• Luke 8:10 “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God…”
• Colossians 1:9 “We are asking that you may see things, as it were, from His point of view, by being given spiritual insight and understanding.”
• Hebrews 6:19 “This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary.”
• Revelation 21:3 “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”

From the Introduction: Look up the reference where the following verses are

• “There is radiance, a vastness “Full of Light from the Lord.”
• “the Creator of all light, and He shines forever without change,”
• “before the foundations of the earth.”
• “For we are God’s masterpiece,”
• “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us.”
• “For we are God’s co-workers”
• “fellow-heirs with Him,”
• “Come…inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
• “It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
• “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness,”
•  ”I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Background Study

The following books offer deeper study on the question of Inspiration and Apologetics. For advanced study groups, it would be worthwhile to have each person take one of these books, outline the relevant parts and present it to the others.

Geizler, N. and Nix, From God to Man (Chicago, IL:  Moody Press, 1974).

McCallum, D. Christianity: the Faith that Makes Sense (Wheaton, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, 1992)

McDowell, J. The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Nashville:  Thomas  Nelson Publishers, 1999)

Zacharius, R. Jesus Among Other Gods.

Francis A. Schaeffer. No Final Conflict: The Bible Without Error in All That It Affirms. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1975.

R. L. Harris. Inspiration and Canonicity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1969.

K. A. Kitchen. Ancient Orient and the Old Testament.

Paul Little. Know Why You Believe. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1971.

The following books are extremely helpful in developing a deeper understanding of the plan of God, providing valuable conviction and insight throughout the study of this book.

R.T Forster and V.P. Marston. God’s Strategy in Human History: A Challenging New Look at God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility. Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1984.

Donald Grey Barnhouse. The Invisible War. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1967.

C. S. Lewis. A Weight of Glory and Other Addresses. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1962. Reprint, 1979.