La Vigne Mere

The Screwtape Letters, Week 3

The Screwtape Letters, Week 3, June 5, 2012 

Memory Verse:
     “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:10-12, NLT 

Read:
     - Letters 18-25
     - Letter 21, pp. 111-112 – Psalm 31:15
     - Letter 22, pp. 119-120 – Revelation 15:2-3 

Questions for Discussion:
  1.)    In Letter 18, Screwtape addresses the idea that “‘being in love’ is the only respectable ground for marriage” and that “this excitement [should be] permanent; and that a marriage which does not do so is no longer binding” (93). What are your thoughts on the grounds for (reasons for) marriage?
  2.)    Letter 19 deals with the “mindset” of devils. What do you notice about Screwtape’s “understanding” of God and love?
  3.)    In Letter 19, Screwtape says, “There must be several young women in your patient’s neighborhood who would render the Christian life intensely difficult to him if only you could persuade him to marry one of them.” I know this sounds familiar to you. How so?
  4.)    In Letter 20, Screwtape points out to Wormwood that his patient had discovered a “dangerous truth”. What is it and why is it dangerous to them?
  5.)    Letter 20 addresses the skewing of sexual desire among differing generations. What do you notice?
  6.)    Letter 21 is all about having a sense of entitlement. Something in this letter, I know, stings and sounds familiar to you. What is it and why?
  7.)    Letter 25 addresses the ideas of “mere Christianity” and “Christianity And”. This idea has been talked about at NewSpring Church before, “Jesus and ____”. Why is this so dangerous?

What Arrogance Is This?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” - Deuteronomy 6:5

My heart, my soul, and my strength are each given to me by a Holy, Supreme, All-Knowing God. Since each one of us is different, then each of those thing within us is also unique. We cannot love God the way others do. We must love God the way He asks us to - with the heart, soul and strength given to each of us, not anyone else’s. The best way to do this? To be the person, the me, He created me to be. What greater insult than to ignore the unique attributes the Supreme, Sovereign Creator of the universe gave me?

The Screwtape Letters, Week 2

The Screwtape Letters, Week 2 - May 1, 2012

Memory Verse:
     “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:10-11 

Read:
     - Letter 9, pp. 44-45 – Ecclesiastes 2:1-10
     - Letter 9, pp. 45-46 – Ecclesiastes 7:15-18
     - Letter 12, pp. 59-60 – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
     - Letter 12, pp. 60-61 – Ecclesiastes 8:16-17
     - Letter 14, p. 73 – Micah 7:19
     - Letter 15, pp. 75-76 – Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
     - Letter 15, pp. 76-78 – Matthew 6:34 

Questions for Discussion:

1.)    In Letter 9, Screwtape advises Wormwood to keep what knowledge out of the patient’s mind?

2.)    In Letter 9, Screwtape also advises Wormwood to keep the patient out of the company of experienced Christians. Why?

3.)    What is the danger in not recognizing the Law of Undulation in our own lives? (The answer to this is at the very end of Letter 9.)

4.)    In Letter 11 Screwtape addresses laughter. What are the four causes of laughter and how can Satan use laugher against us?

5.)    According to Letter 12, what should Wormwood keep his patient from realizing? Why?

6.)    In Letter 12, what is Screwtape’s argument for “small sins”?

7.)    According to Letter 13, there is power in doing things we truly enjoy. Why do you think that is?

8.)    According to Letter 14, what sort of state of mind does God want us to have?

9.)    Letter 15 is all about how we think about time, Past vs. Present vs. Future. What does God want us focused on and what do the devils try to get us to focus on instead? Why?

10.)   According to Letter 16, what’s the danger of “church-hopping”?

11.)   Letter 17 discusses gluttony. What are the different types of gluttony?

The Screwtape Letters, Week 1

The Screwtape Letters, Week 1 

Memory Verse:
     “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” – Ephesians 6:10 (NLT)

Read: Preface, Letters 1-8 

Scripture References:
     - Preface – Job 1:6-12***
     - Letter 1, p. 4 – 2 Corinthians 2:11
     - Letter 4, pp. 18-19 – Numbers 14:5-25
     - Letter 7, pp. 32-33 – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
     - Letter 8, pp. 39-40 – Habakkuk 3:16-19 

Okay, so here’s the deal: if you haven’t figured it out already, The Screwtape Letters is written as a series of letters (“correspondence”) between one demon (Uncle Screwtape) and another (Wormwood). The point of this book is to point out the subtle, unnoticed ways that the Enemy tries to work within us. Some things you should note and recognize as you read through this book:
      1.      It is written from the perspective of a devil, so “the Enemy” in the correspondence is God.
      2.      Write down any questions you have about the book – I do not want you to think you have to understand all of it the first time you read it!!! Spiritual warfare is a difficult subject to study, so be sure to ask questions! Don’t be scared of me – there are no stupid questions and if I can’t answer you offhand, I’ll do my best to get an answer for you.
      3.      Make sure you’re taking the time to try and find the sections in which Lewis directly references Scripture – the ones listed are not the only references in the book, so make sure you’re marking all that you find. Bring these in to talk about – we will make sure everyone has the same things marked when we talk about it. If you aren’t sure, that’s okay!! Just make sure you write down your questions. 

Questions for Discussion:
     - What does Screwtape call humans? Why do you think he uses this term?
     - According to Letter 2, what is the question Screwtape urges Wormwood to keep from the patient’s mind? Why?
     - In Letter 4, Screwtape advises Wormwood to keep his patient from praying to “Not … what I think thou art, but what thy knowest thyself to be,’ (Numbers 14:5-25). Why?
     - According to Letter 6, what’s the best thing a devil can use to barricade our minds from the Lord? What does Screwtape say it is their business to keep us thinking about?
     - What happens when we believe or disbelieve in devils
(Letter 7)?
     - What is the law of Undulation (Letter 8)?

 *** I will be reading part of a preface from 1961, which isn’t the preface to the books that we have. This reference goes to that preface.