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The Reason for God Discussion Guide: Conversations on Faith and Life
This discussion guide will help you learn how to dialogue with those who share common doubts and objections to Christianity. In the video sessions (DVD/digital video sold separately), Timothy Keller and six panelists hold candid and unscripted discussions about the broad scope of people's discomforts with God, the Bible, and Christianity in The Reason for God small group discussion guide can be used individually or in a group setting by anyone engaging with friends who don't share his or her beliefs. For each discussion, the study guide In his New York Times bestselling book, The Reason for God , Timothy Keller established himself as a modern-day C. S. Lewis who brings together faith and intellect, theology and popular culture, modern-day objections and historic Christian beliefs. Using literature, philosophy, and Scripture, Keller explores the truth and challenge of Christianity in this six-session small group conversation starter. You and your group will be challenged to wrestle with your friends' and neighbors' hardest questions and engage those questions in ways that will spark honest, enriching, and humbling dialogue. Designed for use with Reason for God Video Study (sold separately).
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Timothy J. Keller
454 books5,943 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
Timothy Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For over twenty years he has led a diverse congregation of young professionals that has grown to a weekly attendance of over 5,000.
He was also Chairman of Redeemer City to City, which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for faith in an urban culture. In over ten years they have helped to launch over 250 churches in 48 cities. More recently, Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into 15 languages.
Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”
Dr. Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of West Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and Director of Mercy Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 1, 2020
I had read the book "Reason for God" by Tim Keller a while back and wanted to go through the book as a group in my bible study group. This booklet and accompanying video series was a great way to talk about many of the big conversations and topics that Keller speaks about in the book.
There are six sessions, which fall under the following topics:
1. Isn’t the Bible a Myth?
2. How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God?
3. What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life?
4. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
5. Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice?
6. How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
Though the book has more topics and deeper content, this lesson guide was a perfect way to cover the main points (and bigger questions) found in the book. The format also provided excellent questions and talking points, which helped us better engage and discuss as a group.
Pros: Plenty of questions, talking points, and scripture references for anyone interested in discussing "The Reason for God" as a group, or to have personal in-depth study.
Cons: None.
Bottom Line: Would highly recommend this book to serve as a guide for anyone interested in having detailed conversations around some of life's biggest questions about God.
There are six sessions, which fall under the following topics:
1. Isn’t the Bible a Myth?
2. How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God?
3. What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life?
4. Why Does God Allow Suffering?
5. Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice?
6. How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
Though the book has more topics and deeper content, this lesson guide was a perfect way to cover the main points (and bigger questions) found in the book. The format also provided excellent questions and talking points, which helped us better engage and discuss as a group.
Pros: Plenty of questions, talking points, and scripture references for anyone interested in discussing "The Reason for God" as a group, or to have personal in-depth study.
Cons: None.
Bottom Line: Would highly recommend this book to serve as a guide for anyone interested in having detailed conversations around some of life's biggest questions about God.
October 28, 2025
This was not what I was expecting, but honestly I really appreciated that. Instead of just getting non-Christians together and telling them they are wrong or disprove everything they say, Tim Keller does a fantastic job of actually listening to these people, acknowledging their questions/concerns, and then lovingly explains a biblical view of some big questions about Christianity. Really cool book that shows how to be a witness for Christ in a loving way.
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February 3, 2026audio bible study // don’t want to rate this bc i don’t think it’s what i thought it was going to be but still a good listen to get others perspectives on christianity - i definitely want to read more timothy keller books though!!!
November 11, 2024
Read this when it came out years ago and it is still profound today - modern classic!
August 22, 2017
Went through this with a group at our church. Read the book back in 2011.
Some have criticized Keller's softness on homosexuality, but at least here, in lesson three, Keller gives a solidly biblical position on homosexuality.
Some have criticized Keller's softness on homosexuality, but at least here, in lesson three, Keller gives a solidly biblical position on homosexuality.
December 23, 2017
I used this Discussion Guide along with the DVD 'The Reason for God-Conversations on Faith and Life' and the book 'The Reason for God-Belief in an Age of Skepticism' as part of a course in Christian Apologetics in our homeschool. The DVD features a culturally diverse group of people meeting to discuss the most common objections to Christianity. The panel includes atheists and agnostics. I think these are great resources for those seriously seeking answers to tough questions about God. Each person on the panel exhibits an exemplary representation of how to talk with people of differing views. I highly recommend this for both private and group study.
The discussions are divided into six sessions. Topics include:
1) Isn't the Bible a Myth? Hasn't Science Disproved Christianity?
2) How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God? What About Other Religions?
3) What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life? Why Are There So Many Rules?
4) Why Does God Allow Suffering? Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?
5) Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice? Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites?
6) How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time? How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
The discussions are divided into six sessions. Topics include:
1) Isn't the Bible a Myth? Hasn't Science Disproved Christianity?
2) How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God? What About Other Religions?
3) What Gives You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life? Why Are There So Many Rules?
4) Why Does God Allow Suffering? Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?
5) Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice? Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites?
6) How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time? How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
February 7, 2018
We were blessed to be able to do this study with several groups of Lycée Students in France in 2010 and 2011. What a wonderful tool for outreach. What wonderful discussions we were able to facilitate and in turn be equipped to facilitate. We have loved every minute of working with this material. It has also been valuable in our own family. I love TK's humility and conviction. A Godly character worthy of emulation. Thanks for the great demonstration Mr Keller. Highly recommend for parents to use with their teenagers. Highly recommend for small groups and for equipping in having a voice of conviction with integrity and humility for the believer.
January 31, 2022
Rating this not based on simply the book itself, but based on the accompanying study videos.
Tim Keller does a phenomenal job in holding peaceful, engaging, encouraging, and helpful conversations on many difficult subjects.
I feel more equipped to hold these conversations myself and have learned a lot by examining how Tim Keller approached the subjects.
We went through this study as a young adults group in my church.
Tim Keller does a phenomenal job in holding peaceful, engaging, encouraging, and helpful conversations on many difficult subjects.
I feel more equipped to hold these conversations myself and have learned a lot by examining how Tim Keller approached the subjects.
We went through this study as a young adults group in my church.
March 27, 2018
Very much along the lines of C.S. Lewis - I found nothing new here - it is very much updated to reflect more today's society. This may date it quicker than Lewis, but it is still a very good application construct for now.
April 3, 2018
Fantastic Read. For those who are serious about seeking and have questions. Timothy Keller is careful, logical, and biblical. Highly recommended. I studied this book with 2 other guys. Very insightful, and want to read again.
November 17, 2023
Just an absolute classic for a reason. This is an incredible apologetic for the Christian faith that I think I would recommend to any non-Christian. Tim Keller is an amazing communicator. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
July 16, 2017
Tim's discussion is useful. But the DVD series works in a completely different order than the book. We we reading the book as a group and the DVD series was a very poor companion in that regard.
October 13, 2018
Good discussions.
June 16, 2019
A stunning example of thoughtful and respectful Christian engagement with skeptics.
December 30, 2022
Read with my bible study group. Great tool to generate God focused conversation. The short video clips helped also.
January 16, 2024
Incredible clear read and compassionate apologetic of the Christian Faith. Personally my favorite chapter was the one on God’s forgiveness.
August 12, 2011
However limited as discussion guides go, it is clear and concise, cutting cleanly to the crux/heart of the matter. The following paired questions are the jump starters to six discussions/sessions where conversations on faith and life were captured live and unscripted as author/pastor Dr. Timothy Keller meets with a small group of people to address their concerns and doubts and objections to Christianity and its truth claims. It serves as a basic reminder of the fundamentals of Christian beliefs and provides reasons to believe.
Discussion 1 -
Isn't the Bible a Myth?
Hasn't Science Disproved Christianity?
Discussion 2 -
How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God?
What About Other Religions?
G.K. Chesterton in "The Anarchist": "A bigot is not the one who thinks he's right. Every sane man and woman thinks they're right. The bigot is the one who cannot understand how the other person came to be wrong" (37).
Discussion 3 -
What Give You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life?
Why Are There So Many Rules?
C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man: "But you cannot go on 'explaining away' for ever: you will find that you that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on 'seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see" (43).
Aldous Huxley in Ends and Means: "The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure metaphysics. He is also concerned to prove that there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do" (47).
Discussion 4 -
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?
Albert Camus in Essais: "The god-man [Jesus] suffers too, with patience. Evil and death can no longer be entirely imputed to him since he suffers and dies. The night on Golgotha is so important in the history of man only because, in its shadows, the divinity ostensibly abandoned its traditional privilege, and lived through to the end, despair included, the agony of death" (51).
Discussion 5 -
Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice?
Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites?
R.C. Sproul in Reason to Believe: "The Christian church is one of the few organizations in the world that requires a public acknowledgment of sin as a condition for membership. In one sense the church has fewer hypocrites than any institution because by definition the church is a haven for sinners. If the church claimed to be an organization of perfect people than her claim would be hypocritical. But no such claim is made by the church. There is no slander in the charge that the church is full of sinners. Such a statement would only compliment the church for fulfilling her divinely appointed task" (69).
Discussion 6 -
How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
"In his 800-page book The Resurrection of the Son of God, historian N.T. Wright says that there is no historically possible alternate explanation for the birth of the Christian church than the bodily resurrection of Jesus. There is a tremendous amount of evidence" (88).
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
Discussion 1 -
Isn't the Bible a Myth?
Hasn't Science Disproved Christianity?
Discussion 2 -
How Can You Say There Is Only One Way to God?
What About Other Religions?
G.K. Chesterton in "The Anarchist": "A bigot is not the one who thinks he's right. Every sane man and woman thinks they're right. The bigot is the one who cannot understand how the other person came to be wrong" (37).
Discussion 3 -
What Give You the Right to Tell Me How to Live My Life?
Why Are There So Many Rules?
C.S. Lewis in The Abolition of Man: "But you cannot go on 'explaining away' for ever: you will find that you that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on 'seeing through' things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden beyond it is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see" (43).
Aldous Huxley in Ends and Means: "The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure metaphysics. He is also concerned to prove that there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do" (47).
Discussion 4 -
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
Why Is There So Much Evil in the World?
Albert Camus in Essais: "The god-man [Jesus] suffers too, with patience. Evil and death can no longer be entirely imputed to him since he suffers and dies. The night on Golgotha is so important in the history of man only because, in its shadows, the divinity ostensibly abandoned its traditional privilege, and lived through to the end, despair included, the agony of death" (51).
Discussion 5 -
Why Is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice?
Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites?
R.C. Sproul in Reason to Believe: "The Christian church is one of the few organizations in the world that requires a public acknowledgment of sin as a condition for membership. In one sense the church has fewer hypocrites than any institution because by definition the church is a haven for sinners. If the church claimed to be an organization of perfect people than her claim would be hypocritical. But no such claim is made by the church. There is no slander in the charge that the church is full of sinners. Such a statement would only compliment the church for fulfilling her divinely appointed task" (69).
Discussion 6 -
How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time?
How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
"In his 800-page book The Resurrection of the Son of God, historian N.T. Wright says that there is no historically possible alternate explanation for the birth of the Christian church than the bodily resurrection of Jesus. There is a tremendous amount of evidence" (88).
"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
April 18, 2016
Really enjoyed the book. Comes from a lot of his personal experiences so he has a ton of credibility in saying what he is saying. Very practical and tough questions with answers to some of them. Some chapters are very dense and philosophical, can be hard to follow with the higher order thinking. Gave me a new perspective on forgiveness. That chapter alone is worth reading. If you see it at a bookstore turn to chapter 12 'the true story of the cross.'
March 21, 2015
Great companion book to The Reason for God. We held a small group study in a home to watch the dvd and work through the questions. Tim Keller does a fine job of engaging unbelievers and creating a framework in which they are able to understand the Christian faith in Jesus more logically and accurately. I hope many people are given the gift of faith because of this study. I highly recommend it.
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October 20, 2021I read this book as a participant in the men's ministry study at my church. It is intended to spur conversation in a small group setting, which it did fairly well. It works best alongside the video series prepared for it.
Alongside this discussion guide, I read the suggested chapters from the full book version of the The Reason for God (also by Keller). I believe that I gained much more from reading the full book than I would have by relying solely on this guide and the videos.
Alongside this discussion guide, I read the suggested chapters from the full book version of the The Reason for God (also by Keller). I believe that I gained much more from reading the full book than I would have by relying solely on this guide and the videos.
Read
March 6, 2022The discussion guide is good, better in my opinion than the video series on RightNowMedia. Don't get me wrong, the videos were engaging and interesting, but I don't think they could capture the best arguments and persuasions for those people looking for a reason to believe. I have a copy of the book too, but haven't read it yet. It looks possibly even better than the discussion guide. We'll see.
May 5, 2013
Read this first - going back and reading the full book now -- all I have to say is this (and the full book) should be required reading for every everyone believer or skeptic. Dr. Keller raises so many questions that challenge your thinking and cause you to really look deep at your faith and the reasons for it.
May 1, 2011
A helpful starting place for conversations, although I don't have a group of friends with whom I think I could use this format. Dr. Keller's humility and graciousness are a great example for me, though, and can be applied in any setting.
February 24, 2013
Went though this study guide for Keller's book along with the DVD for CE at church. Awesome study asking some hard questions. I loved learning from Keller's kind spirit while addressing those unsaved people in the study.
March 19, 2017
Worthwhile companion to the book.
November 28, 2010
This discussion guide is helpful and brings up some new topics and arguments that were not fully included in the original book.
Want to Read
December 27, 2010World Magazine book of the year 2008
October 26, 2012
Read the book, skip the DVD.
January 1, 2013
It's a very practical book that digs into relevant questions for today. It's one that I'd like to 'own' as well as own--to digest the arguments and make them my own.
July 21, 2012
Excellent review of the main objections to accepting the Christian faith, and how to respectfully listen and share our faith.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews