Finding God In Narnia:

"Discover the Wonder: He's Closer Than You Might Think"

Sunday, December 4, 2005 - Rev. Rurel Ausley

Luke1:29-35; 2:8-15; Mark 1:15; 2 Kings 6:14-18

1. When was the first time you became aware that the world in which we live is not all that there is? Was it some “revelatory moment” or just a gradual realization of things? What things make you believe that we are not alone in this world; that we are indeed spiritual beings having a human experience? How does the concept of eternity and that there is something bigger than us lead us to believe in God?

2. Make sure that you have a copy of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Read it this week and prepare yourself to be an educated witness to our world as millions of people watch this movie…and most of them will be clueless about what they have seen and experienced. Get a copy of “Knowing Aslan” at the church for specific help in this. You can give the book away as a witness.

3. Read all of our Scriptures for this morning. In what ways were Joseph and Mary just an ordinary engaged couple? What happened that completely changed that for all of eternity? Who appeared to Mary and what was said? Have you had any life-transforming moments that have changed the course of your life? What was Mary’s response to being “contacted” from another world?

4. In Luke 2, how were the shepherds just being ordinary? What happened in a moment that completely changed all of that? What was their response? What do you think it would be like to suddenly see and experience a totally different reality in a moment? How is that like conversion to us? (John 3:1ff) What happens to us when we are “born again”?

5. Read the first chapter of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The kids are playing hide and seek, and Lucy hides in the Wardrobe. What happens? How is this experience like the two above Scriptures? One minute normal, next minute aware of a whole new world? Explore this whole concept of moving back and forth between worlds.

6. In talking about the spiritual world, how can we know that it exists? Why is it true that just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean that it is not there? What life experiences can you name that you know are real but you can’t see? Ex. radio/TV waves. What does the Bible tell us about the spirit world? (Eph.6:12)

7. How is life filled with surprise encounters with this spiritual world? In what ways do people unintentionally “bump in” to the spiritual world? What names do we tend to give these experiences? Luck? Coincidence? In what ways do you think God is intentionally trying to “get through” to us in the midst of our everyday lives? Why don’t we notice Him? How does He get our attention sometimes?

8. What are some “wardrobe doors” for us to intentionally access God’s spiritual world that is around us? How does conversion enable us to get into the spiritual world? (John 10:7-9, John 3:3-8) How does worship become a door for us to enter into God’s presence? Prayer? Pain and suffering? Holy Communion? How can we constantly practice being aware of God’s presence around us?