Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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College & Career Class Christmas Dinner

Saturday, December 20, 1997 6:30 PM

At the Ribeiro’sNARNIA

422 King’s WayTel. 385-8946

Wiggington Road

501 Old Forest

221501

Chadwick DriveCambridge Dr or King’s Way

Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a fire? CSL

Woods onWiggington

Ticket for the Diner: Your favorite quote from Mere Christianity

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Book / Chapter Date Facilitators

3 / 7 Forgiveness 11/9/973 / 8 The Great Sin 11/9/97

3 / 9 Charity 11/16/973 / 10 Hope 11/16/97

3 / 11 Faith 11/23/973 / 12 Faith 11/23/97

4 / 1 Making and Begetting 11/30/974 / 2 The Three-Personal God 11/30/97

4 / 3 Time and Beyond Time 12/7/974 / 4 Good Infection 12/7/97

4 / 5 The Obstinate Toy Soldiers 12/14/974 / 6 Let’s Pretend 12/14/97

Class Schedule Through 12/14/97

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Book 3 - Christian Behavior

Summary of Chapters:

5 - Sexual Morality6- Christian Marriage

Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

The Christian Rule is:Either Marriage with complete faithfulness to your partner, or

else total abstinence

Ephesians 4: 17-24 - 5:22-32

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Sexual Morality

The Christian Rule: Virtue of Chastity

Chastity should not be confused with social rule of modesty, propriety or decency

The Christian Rule is:Either Marriage with complete faithfulness to your partner, or

else total abstinence

This rule is so contrary to our instincts, that obviously either Christianity is wrong or our sexual instinct has gone wrong.

The biological purpose of sex is children.

Please discuss the following definition:Sex was made for the ultimate intimate enjoyment within the bounds of

marriage in which children can be an additional blessing.

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Sexual Appetite

Food strip-tease (sexual starvation or perversion)

Why are lies about sex so powerful?

Christianity has glorified marriage more than any other religion.

What is the view of the Film and TV industry on sexual morality?

Every civilized man must have some set of principles by which he chooses to reject some of his desires and and to permit others.

Christian PrinciplesHygienic Principles

Sociological Principles

Perfect Chastity - like perfect charity - will not be attained by any merely human efforts.

Sex: The Center of Christian Morality is Not Here.

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Christian Marriage

Marriage is for Life

Keeping Promises: A Basic Moral Principle

The important difference between:

Being in Love with someone or Loving someone

Love is an evolving process - ever improving and deepening

The Question of Divorce

The Question of Man’s HeadshipConstitution, Natural Psychology

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Assignment for the Class

At the End of this study I would like to encourage the class toTake action:

at the personal, and communal levelsLetters to the Editor or even a Manifesto covering aspects of the

Moral and Social Reality of Our Times

(With a Christian Perspective)

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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Questions for Discussion

5. Sexual Morality - A discussion of the Christian virtue known as chastity.

-How is Christian chastity different than social rules of modesty?

-Lewis uses an analogy with food to prove that our sexual instinct has gone wrong. Describe the food analogy.

-In regards to sex, does Christian philosophy contradict the following statement: "There is nothing to be ashamed of in the fact that the human race reproduces itself in a certain way, nor in the fact that it gives pleasure."?

-Do you think that our sexual instinct has been corrupted?

-Do you think that Christian chastity is impossible? According to Lewis, what is the most fatal thing we can do when faced with this seeming impossibility?

- Is unchastity the supreme Christian vice? If not, what is?

Rivermont Presbyterian Church

P. Ribeiro Nov. 2, 97

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6. Christian Marriage - A discussion of Christian marriage and its many implications..

-The sexual impulse in man works best in ...

-The words "one flesh" could be translated _ _ in modern English.

-Using another food analogy, Lewis compares the isolation of sexual pleasure with ...

-All Christian denominations agree that divorce is more like having both legs cut off than ...

-According to Lewis, the most common reason for people who get married in church as a mereformality is ...

-According to Lewis, living together outside of marriage causes one to be guilty on two accountswhich are ...

-According to Lewis, what does the passion of love impel two people to do?

-Why does ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love? -Why is Lewis against forcing the laws of Christian marriage on people through government regulation? -What example does Lewis site to support the idea that the headship of man over women is natural in

marriage?

-Why is a man better suited for dealing with the families foreign policy?