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Week 14 : Imitate Christ, Christian Mens Breakfast

Week 14 Discussion Notes:1

  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.2

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 Reflections3 on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes:

  1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide ↩
  2. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide. ↩
  3. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

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Week 13, Christian Mens Breakfast: Imitate Christ

Week 13 Discussion Notes:1

  1. In Chapter 3, Kempis wrote, “A peaceful man does more good than a learned man.” Do you agree that peace is more important than knowledge? (Day 86)
  2. Do you agree that “simplicity leads to God?” Is modern life necessarily complex? (Day 87)
  3. What is a “pure heart” that Kempis refers to in Chapter 4, and how do you get one? (Day 87)
  4. In Chapter 5, Kempis cautions us to “not rely too much upon ourselves.” Isn’t self reliance what made America great–and the very foundation of capitalism? (Day 91)

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.2

All items listed below are online at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Book 2 , Chapter 3 : Goodness and Peace in Man (March 27, 2012)
  2. Book 2 , Chapter 4 : Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose (March 29, 2012)
  3. Book 2 , Chapter 5 : Ourselves (March 31, 2012)

Also Posted this Week at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Challoner’s Reflections3 on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes:

  1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide ↩
  2. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide. ↩
  3. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

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Week 12 : Imitate Christ, Christian Mens Breakfast

Week 12 Discussion Notes:1

  1. Does your inner spiritual life match the outward impression you project to others? (Day 77)
  2. In Chapter 1 of Book I, Kempis wrote, “Do not place much confidence in weak and mortal man, helpful and friendly though he be; and do not grieve too much if he sometimes opposes and contradicts you. Those who are with us today may be against us tomorrow, and vice versa, for men change with the wind.” Based on your own experiences, is this appraisal of other human beings accurate? Or, too harsh? (Day 78)
  3. In Chapter 2 of Book I, Kempis wrote, “It is often good for us to have others know our faults and rebuke them, for it gives us greater humility.” Does it seem good when others criticize your faults? (Day 81)
  4. John Selden’s view is that a little pride is allowed: “Pride may be allowed to this or that degree, else a Man cannot keep up his Dignity. In Gluttony there must be Eating, in Drunkenness there must be drinking: ’tis not the eating, nor ’tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the Excess. So in Pride.” Do you agree that only “excess” in pride is bad? (Day 83)

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.2

All items listed below are online at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Book 2 , Chapter 1 : Meditation (March 19, 2012)
  2. Book 2 , Chapter 2 : Humility (March 22, 2012)

Also Posted this Week at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Challoner’s Reflections3 on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes:

  1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide ↩
  2. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide. ↩
  3. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

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