I will moderate the discussion which will be free flowing and interesting. Here are the ground-rules for the class, taken from Robert M. Price’s book The Reason Driven Life.
First Commandment
Thou shalt get to thy point as quickly and succinctly as possible.
Second Commandment
Thou shalt try to stay on topic at least for awhile.
Third Commandment
Thou shalt avoid politics like the plague!
Fourth Commandment
Thou shalt give heed unto the person talking. Neither shalt thou merely wait till they’re done so that thou mayest launch into thine own planned soliloquy.
Fifth Commandment
Thou shalt esteem individual persons above their opinions and beliefs. In this manner thou mayest abstain from personal enmity and avoid waxing wrathful.
Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not fracture the group discussion into two or more. But thou shalt all have
one conversation going on until the informal aftermath of the main event.
Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not grandstand.
Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not aim to convert the group to thine own faith or opinion.
Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt make sure all present know that they are not expected to speak,
though their participation is most welcome.
Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not interrupt thy brother or thy sister!
The class is intended for the adults in our church who do not currently belong to a Sunday school class or whose class is not meeting this summer. If you fit that profile, I hope to see you there. I can’t tell you what the topic will be because I won’t know until the Thursday before we meet.
The “Desserts with the Pastor” have been going well. We are getting to know one another better and enjoying food and fellowship. We are also sharing some very good ideas about how to help our church grow. Thank you to the hosts and participants. I have enjoyed the desserts we have already had and look forward to the forthcoming desserts. Let’s get together and grow together as Christ would have us to do. -Jon Burnham
