Puritanism: Write an outline on the first part

Name : Helen Benson

Subject: Puritanism

Question: Give an outline on the Chapter 1 of the first part the book Pilgrim Progress.

OUTLINE ON ‘CHRISTIAN FALLS’

INTRODUCTION: Pilgrim Progress is a dramatic dream experience of warning of disaster to come to the individual and the community who has neglected God or are in spiritual degeneration.

In a series of outlines on this book I seek to make my first outline on the first chapter of the book:

Title: FLEE FROM DESTRUCTION TO COME

Christian the main character of this book expresses so many things that believers need to bear in mind and this are found in the outline below.

• Fear of Death and Judgement
• Man as obstacle to fleeing from destruction to come
• Guidance to escaping destruction
• Persistence to escape destruction.

AIM OF LESSON 1

• To facilitate the fact that believers can perceive divine revelations through dreams
• To encourage the church to prepare for the tribulations or trials that will come along our ways
• To demonstrate the doctrine of perseverance of the saint
• To enable believers to avoid distractions to meet their goals

1. Fear of Destruction and Judgement

Christian in the book had a dream like anyone could dream. But this dream was dreadful it is about Destruction and Judgement. For our group discussion in this outline let us consider the destruction and Judgement at Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen.19:23-29)

In our application for the 21^st Century. How can we liken the spiritual degeneration of our nation today or the community we lived in?

Group discussion 1: (Note: divide the church into groups of 5) List 7 distinctive features of spiritual degenerations.

    

1. Man As Obstacle to Fleeing from Destruction to come.

‘Pliable’ and ‘Obstinate’ are two neighbours of Christian in Pilgrim Progress. One was terrible and threatening to ‘Christian’ the other was sympathetic.

How do you as a believer describe the neighbours around you? And Like the    ‘Evangelist’ that appear to Christian and showed him the way of escape. Who can you said in your life is your spiritual eye or guidance?

Group discussion 2: (divide the adult class into 3 groups) Outline factors that can bring about obstacles in a believer’s way to escape from the wrath of God to come?

1. Guidance to escape destruction

Again let us spend more time in discussing further how can you be led out of present situation that are frightening, confusing and likely to bring destructions?

Consider the ‘The red sea Experience’ (Exodus. 14:21-30). How did Moses led the way of escape in this OT narrative? Describe in your own words what it means to be ‘frighten’ or ‘Have a feel of no escape’.

Group Discussion 3: Main theme of discussion is the person of the Holy Spirit as believers guide in all things) what are the similarities of the Evangelist in the book in comparison to the ‘Holy Spirit’?

1. Persistence to escape Destruction.

We have earlier discussed many things that can stand in our ways of escape from danger. What will you do to persist unto escape from dangerous situation?

Like ‘Pliable’ and ‘Obstinate’ they are two voices in the ears of Christian. Today there are many voices that can either lead us astray or bring us to the right path.

a.       List 5 things that can distract you from escaping danger e.g Lot’s wife (Gen.19:24-29)

b.      Mention three encouraging words that give you that persistency to flee from danger.

LESSON PRAYER: Lord help us to escape from the wrath to come against ungodliness while yet the Lord tarries, and keep us in step with the Holy Spirit. Amen.