For reflection/ discussion: Why are some people drawn to Jesus and love the church, while others are disinterested in, put off by, or hostile to Jesus and the church?

For reflection/discussion:(1) What does Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares tell us about the presence of evil in the world that God created good? (2) Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and others drew a distinction between the "visible church" and the "invisible church" in order to address the difference between people who had an authentic, saving faith, and those who merely professed faith. The idea is that, in the end, those who belong to God are known to God alone. What are your thoughts on this idea? (3) Read the quote from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn above. Why is it important for us to be aware that evil runs through every human heart, our own included? (4) In what way is Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares good news? How does it also serve as a warning?

For reflection/discussion: (1) In what ways did Jesus' ministry defy, disappoint, and redefine Jewish expectations about the coming of the Messiah? (2) How can the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven help us deal with feelings of discouragement?

For reflection/discussion: (1) If you are a Christian, how did you become a believer? Was it the result of an intentional search, or were there unexpected, surprising elements involved? (2) Is your relationship with God the most important thing in your life? If not, why not? Who or what is more important?

For reflection/discussion: (1) How does the Parable of the Dragnet speak to our mission to share the good news with and welcome everyone without discrimination? (2) If someone were to point out that there are less than perfect people in the church, how might your knowledge of this parable help you address them? (3) Do you have confidence that you are among the "good fish" and, if so, on what basis?

For reflection/discussion: (1) How well do you know both the Old and New Testaments? (2) The early church denounced a man named Marcion of Sinope (c. 85-160 AD) because he rejected the God of the Old Testament in favor of the God of the New. What error did he commit, and why was it important to challenge him? (3) Because of Jesus, the ritual law laid out in the Old Testament is no longer binding on Christians. Why is a knowledge of the Old Testament still important to followers of Jesus?