Prayer

God of Hope, be with me, with us today. Inspire us, encourage us, stir us up that we might know you better. That we might love you better. That we might see you, among these friends, today. Amen.

Introduction

The format is simple. Some teaching, some talking, some summarizing, some homework.

Discussion

• When have you been stumped by someone’s questions? What about it stopped you?
• How do you employ questions in your life? When are they used for something other than learning and personal growth?

Further Study

• Find an argument in an opinion piece. What frames is it employing? Examine its expectations and truth claims. Ask yourself what seems fair and what doesn’t.
• Write a reflection or journal on the idea of arguments. Explore what you think is appropriate. Are there limits? Explore also the danger in treating all arguments as equal.
• Watch some TED talks. What persuades you? Take some time thinking about what makes it so for you.