1. Would you attend the baby shower? Why or why not? Would you help Mary with the planning, decorating, and refreshments? What explanation from the Scriptures would you give to justify your decision?
2. To what extent should you take into account the fact that Mary is a young believer? If this matters to you, why does it?
3. If you would not attend the baby shower because of the couple’s sin, what sins can a couple be openly guilty of which would be acceptable to you? List the various types of non-Christian couples for whom you would attend/refuse to attend a baby shower. On what biblical basis is the list based?
4. Most of Mary’s friendships are with non-Christians. To what extent are you like her in this? What percentage of your close friendships are with non-Christians? How content are you with your life in this regard? To what extent does it follow Christ’s example?
5. How would try to handle the dispute that broke out in the small group over Mary’s invitation? If the evening progressed so that you were pushed into a corner and try as you will, it appeared that someone would have to be offended—Mary or members who were considered long-term, mature believers—which of the two should you offend?
6. Some members of the small group—older, long-time Christians—decided that since Mary refused to cancel the baby shower they could no longer fellowship with her and so would have to leave the group. What would you say to them? Should Christians who disagree over such things be able to remain in the same church? The same small group? Why or why not?
7. Are Christians who attend the baby shower affirming the couple’s life style? Why or why not? What difference does it make?
8. To what extent should the possibility of being misunderstood by fellow Christians figure into these decisions?
9. The members of the small group who plan to attend say they can not believe Christians would hesitate over this invitation. We should be as eager to go to this shower as we would to one given for a Christian couple—who also are sinners. Couples having a baby can use help, this couple, estranged from their families, needs friends, and Christians should be eager to not only attend but to be faithful friends over the long-haul of raising the child. Refusing to extend help and friendship if we dislike their choices or their moral or religious beliefs effectively cuts us off from those who most need the grace of the gospel. No wonder the world doesn’t take our claims to truth and faith seriously. How would you respond? Why?
10. We should expect Christians to disagree at times, especially over issues like this requiring discerning choices. What should that disagreement look like, or to put it another way, what does it mean for Christians to disagree Christianly?
11. Some months after the shower Mary reports that she is now considered the lesbian couple’s child’s “grandmother.” To what extent would the evangelical Christian community better reflect God’s grace if more Christians were in such relationships?
12. To what extent are Matthew 6:12-15, Matthew 18:23-35, and Luke 7:36-50 relevant to this discussion?
