Download CHAPTER 3 Crazy Love

SCBC
presents . . .
Crazy
STUDY GUIDE
SCBC
3223 Kennedy Rd. (Near McNicoll Ave)
English Service: 9:30am
“This book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are
bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don’t want
to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do.” Francis
Chan
SCBC
3223 Kennedy Rd. (Near McNicoll Ave)
English Service: 9:30am
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“This book is written for those who want more Jesus. It is for those who are
bored with what American Christianity offers. It is for those who don’t want
to plateau, those who would rather die before their convictions do.” Francis
Chan
ABOUT THIS STUDY GUIDE
Small Group Guidelines

Love each other

Share openly and personally

Allow Time for Others to Speak

Listen to Others. Seek Understanding

Spend time with each other Outside the Group

Don’t feel like you need to get through all the questions as a small group
Note: This book is deeply convicting. It may reveal areas of your life that the Lord wants to
address. Please approach this study with an open heart and be honest about where you are.
It will help you get the most out of this book.
Crazy Love Sermon Series and Small Groups
1. Listen to the sermon on Crazy Love at SCBC (3223 Kennedy Rd.)
2. Watch Video Introductions to Each Chapter http://crazylovebook.com/videos.html
3. Read the Assigned Chapter
4. Complete the Discussion Questions
5. Be a part of a small group and journey through crazy love together.
Structure of the Book

Chapters 1-3 lays the foundation for the book

Chapters 4-10 call us to examine ourselves, address life in light of who God is, and
discover what is wrong in our churches and ultimately, in ourselves
Crazy Love DVD Trailer - Good for Starting Small Groups
Book Introduction: http://crazylovebook.com/index.html
DVD and Small Groups:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y43MV2YQcy0&lr=1&feature=mhum
Contact Paul Lam
416-297-8011 x1203
[email protected]
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Study Guide Questions created by Paul Lam, July, 2012
Artwork and Formatting by Angela Zheng
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PREFACE & CHAPTER 1
Stop Praying
Leading Question: Talk about a moment in your life where you saw something that caused
you to stop, pause, and be in awe? (Think: nature, art, architecture, acts of kindness, news,
film)
What is the main point of the preface and chapter 1?
Do you ever feel like something is missing in your faith?
Francis described himself as, “I was quite happy with how God was working in me and in
the church. Then God began changing my heart. This took place largely during the times I
spent reading His Word.” 20
Francis mentioned that he was comfortable in his faith. How
would you describe your faith journey right now?
What do you hope to get out of this book?
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What comes to mind when you hear or see the word, “God”? Awe Shock. Boredom. Been
there done that?
Pick one attribute of God that spoke to you most. How does this attribute enlarge your view
of God?
Read Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6. Write your thoughts below on what God is like and your
response to His majesty.
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How does your view of God affect your everyday life?
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CHAPTER 2
You Might Not Finish this Chapter
Leading Question: Have you ever been afraid of death? Share your story and what was
going through your mind.
What is the main point of the chapter?
Buechner writes, “Intellectually we all know that we will die, but we do not really know it
in the sense that the knowledge becomes part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of
living as though it were true. On the contrary, we tend to live as though our lives would go
on forever.” How often does death factor in your daily thinking? Why?
Worries tend to consume us. What are your worries and stressors? How do you usually deal
with them?
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How does Francis define worry and stress?
In what ways do you live as though life were about you?
In what ways are you living for
God right now?
What are you going to do with your life? As a result of reading this chapter, is there an
area that the Spirit is leading you and convicting you to change.
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CHAPTER 3
Crazy Love
Leading Questions: What is your father like? What kind of relationship did you have with
him growing up?
What is the main point of the chapter?
When you hear the word, ‘father’ what thoughts come to mind?
How has your earthly father taught you positively and negatively about God as Father?
Chan writes, “God didn’t command that we have a regular quiet time. He tells us to love
him with all our heart, mind, and soul” We often feel guilty for not spending time with
God. How do we move from guilt to love?
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We can do nothing to earn the love of God and our deeds are like filthy rags, why does God
love us?
God the greatest good on earth in my life. T/F Explain.
CHAPTER 4
Profile of the Lukewarm
Leading question: What kind of soil are you right now?
Francis writes, “My caution to you is this: Do not assume you are good soil”. Why might this
be helpful advice?
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Francis talks about the thorns that choke our faith. He writes, “A relationship with God
simply cannot grow when money, sins, activities, favorite sports teams, addictions, or
commitments are piled on top of it.” What distracts your faith?
The goal of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don’t swear, and
good church attendance. Is this accurate about your faith? Why or why not?
Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words
halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?
2 Corinthians 13:5, “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test
yourselves.” Francis gives us a profile of the lukewarm. Pick 3 areas of lukewarm faith,
which resonated with you and explain why.
Lukewarm #1
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Lukewarm #2
Lukewarm #3
Jesus’s call to discipleship is all encompassing. Jesus said, “any of you who does not give up
everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33. Jesus owns all of our lives and we
must not water down the call to discipleship. Is there something or someone that is holding
you back from giving everything to follow Christ? Bring these to God in prayer and have
your small group pray for you.
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CHAPTER 5
Serving Leftovers to a Holy God
Leading question: What are your favorite leftovers? Or what are the worst leftovers that you
have ever had?
What is the main point of the chapter?
Francis is challenging our ideas of what it means to be a “Christian.” Jesus wants all or
nothing.
Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will find it.”
Luke 14:33, Jesus said, “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my
disciple.”
What do these verses say about discipleship? What is Jesus asking of us? Please use the
space below to respond.
Respond to Francis’s question: Can I go to heaven without truly and faithfully loving Jesus?
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Read the following quotes about money aloud in your groups:
“I am concerned for the poor but more for you. I know that what Christ will say to you in
the great day . . . Oh my friends! Enjoy your money; make the most of it; give none away
enjoy it quickly for I can tell you, you will be beggars throughout eternity.” Robert Murray
M’Cheyne
Prosperity heartens the heart. William Wilberforce
If we are going to be a disciple and give up everything we have, we have to consider what we
do with our money. Francis reminds us of God’s heart for the poor and challenges our view
of money. Have you ever considered yourself to be poor or filthy rich? Are you giving out of
obligation, guilt or a genuine love for Christ?
Giving God our leftovers is evil. We are often more concerned with making money, success
in our career, potential marriage partners, etc. But the fact is that nothing should concern
us more than our relationship with God; its about eternity, and nothing compares with
that.” What is your heart right now? Are you giving God your best? Are will you willing to
say to God that He can have whatever He wants? Do you believe that wholehearted
commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in your life? Do you
know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and
loving the people He has made?”
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CHAPTER 6
When You’re In Love
Leading Question: Share about an experience in which you felt loved by another person.
What is the main point of the chapter?
Could you ever be satisfied in a heaven without Christ?
Quite often, Christians focus on obeying the commandments and on stopping our sin.
Francis challenges us to focus on loving Christ and others first. How might this be helpful
to you?
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Many of us have a hard time loving God. Why do you think we need God’s help to love Him
and others?
“People generally do find greater joy in giving freely to others than they do in rampant selfindulgence.” In what ways are you more concerned with your own interests? In what ways
are you concerned with the interest of God and others?
If you really want to experience God’s supernatural provision, then do as He says. Test him.
Give more than you can manage, and see how He responds. Share with your small group
any stories of God’s gracious provision.
Francis challenges us to test God in the area of giving. This week, pray about some area that
the Lord is putting on your heart to give to. God may be calling you to give generously to
one of the following: the local church, world missions, poverty, social justice or a friend in
need? Share the area with your small group to hold you accountable and talk about it the
next week. You may contribute as a small group to an area or do so individually or he may
call you to be involved in a local community service.
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CHAPTER 7
Your Best Life Later…
Leading Question: What is one of your heroes? Role Models? Why?
Talk about the dare from last week. How has God responded to your faith giving as an
individual or as a group?
Francis tells us that the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 are far from perfect. What makes
these characters stand out? How do they inspire you?
Why would there be impending judgment for those who have ignored the poor? What does
this tell us about God?
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How is our love for Christ connected to our love for our neighbor?
What difference does it make to think more about eternity in your personal life? (not
someone’s else life)
What are you doing now that requires faith? Is your life characterized more by faith or
comfort? Why?
Read Isaiah 58:2-14 as a group. What is the Lord’s primary concern in this passage? How
can our lives be more concerned with our Lord’s concerns?
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CHAPTER 8
Profile of the Obsessed
Leading Question: What are you passionate about?
What is the main point of the chapter?
According to Francis, what difference is there between someone who follows Christ and
someone that does not?
Francis writes: People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure.
Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back. Does this
describe your life? Why or why not?
Obsessed people are risk takers and are more concerned with God’s kingdom than safety.
Does this describe your life? why or why not?
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What does 1 Timothy 6:6-13 teach us about money? How should it change the way we
live?
“A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don’t always make sense in terms of
success or wealth on this earth.” What priorities govern your decision making process for a
job? spouse? Is your decision making governed by your relationship with Christ or
something else?
Is serving a joy or burden to you? Why?
How much time do you spend caring for others?
How can you personally become more open with God in prayer?
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In what ways is God calling to become more of an obsessed person? Share with your small
group. Pray for each other.
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CHAPTER 9
Who Really Lives that Way?
What is the main point of the chapter?
This chapter highlights many different inspiring stories. Which two stories inspired you
most? And why?
Story A
Story B
Visit mossyfoot.com or check out World Vision to see how you can be more involved
personally or as a small group in loving the poor. You can watch Nathan Barlow’s story in
mossyfoot.com/barlow-bio.html
How do these stories inspire you to live more counter-culturally for Jesus?
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What holds you back from living more radically for Jesus Christ?
What are your thoughts about the way the Robynson family celebrated Christmas? How
might it change how you celebrate the Lord’s birth?
How does the example of Cornerstone Church change the way we view our church? The
ways we view the church? How we handle the finances of the church?
CHAPTER 10
The Crux of the Matter
Our hope and prayer is that no one who reads this book will walk away unchanged.
Everything that we have learned in this book will be worth nothing, if the Spirit does not
convict us of sin (areas that are unpleasing to God and need to change) and righteousness
(our call to please God with our lives). Therefore, this last session will have a shortened
time of discussion, but extended time of prayer. Leaders use the questions to further the
discussion and leave plenty of room for prayer.
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Francis reminds us that many of us are waiting on God to reveal his calling and we ignore
his call to do something with our lives. Is this you?
God wants our complete surrender. List some of things that Francis does to keep focused on
Christ. How have these things helped you? Which one of them would you like to practice?
Who is the Holy Spirit? What is the role of Spirit in transforming lives?
“The point is that there is another path, an alternative to the individualism, selfishness,
and materialism of the American Dream.” 166
How is God personally calling to respond to this book?
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How is God calling you to respond to this book as a small group and as a church?
Now (as a group) close this book. Get on your knees before our holy, loving God. And then
live the life with your friends, your family, parents, spouse, children, neighbors, enemies,
and strangers that He has created and empowered you through the Holy Spirit to live.
Read together 2 Timothy 4:7-8
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will
award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
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