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Week 14 : Imitate Christ, Christian Mens Breakfast

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Week 14 Discussion Notes:[1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide]

  1. Kempis wrote in Chapter 6 about the benefits of having a clear conscience. Is a good conscience a subjective matter? Is it possible to have a good conscience (i.e. a mental state) when we ought to have remorse for our sin? (Day 93)
  2. Kempis wrote in Chapter 7, “Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.” You may object to this passage on the grounds that you have friends and family who would never desert you in times of need. Never? What Kempis writes seems harsh in that context. Yet the problem with every relationship with every other human being is that there are human beings involved. (Days 94 & 95)
  3. In Chapter 7, Kempis wrote, “Give up all other love for His [God’s], since He wishes to be loved alone above all things. Affection for creatures is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true and enduring.” Can’t human love be good and pure too? (Day 95)
  4. Kempis wrote in Chapter 8, “WHEN Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When He is absent, all is hard.” Is this summary too simple? Do you agree? Also, when is Jesus absent? (Day 97)

The Christian Mens Breakfast group meets this Saturday and (almost) every other Saturday at a local restaurant in Davie, FL. Call Tom Truex, or use the CONTACT tab at K-Line.ORG to get more information.

Our discussion will focus on the Chapters listed below, from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis.[1. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide.]

All items listed below are online at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Book 2 , Chapter 6 : The Joy of a Good Conscience (April 3, 2012)
  2. Book 2 , Chapter 7 : Loving Jesus Above All Things (April 5, 2012)
  3. Book 2 , Chapter 8 : The Intimate Friendship of Jesus (April 7, 2012)

Also Posted this Week at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Challoner’s Reflections[2. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ] on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes: