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Winter/Spring 2026 Book Study – How Now Shall We Live?, by Charles Colson and Nancy
Pearcy, 1999 and 2004 (available in print from Amazon or in audiobooks through audible)
Hosted by Steve and Pauline Funk (likely starting off in our home on the far south of Lethbridge
down by Costco, but may move to the North side very close to Highway 3 part way through)
Every second Monday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 for a time of discussion and community,
starting January 5, 2026 and ending on May 25, 2026 (a total of 11 sessions).
After the introductory session on January 5, 2026, there will be a prereading assignment of
approximately 50 pages every two weeks.
How Now Shall We Live? is a book that has been foundational to my (Steve’s) understanding
of the Gospel. It gave me a means of organizing and assimilating the grand themes of the Bible
that I still use 26 years after I first read the book. The best thing is, when you have a means of
assimilating scripture, you will be more motivated to read it, study it and then live accordingly,
because you will know how to live in accordance with the scriptures. Hence, the title, How Now
Shall We Live?
How Now Shall We Live? sets out a clear definition of what a worldview is – “It is simply the
sum total of our beliefs about the world, the ‘big picture’ that directs our daily decisions and
actions.” The first 1/2 of the book is organized around three basic questions that every
worldview must answer:
1. Where do we come from and who are we?
2. What has gone wrong with the world?
3. What can we do to fix it?
If you think about how Christianity answers those three questions, you basically have the
Gospel in a nutshell and a way to organize the grand themes of the Bible. Not only that, but you
will have clear understanding and guidance for how to live, which is what the last 1/2 of the book
is about. As Christians, we should be living in accordance with the purpose God designed us
for and in such a way that we are not only pointing individuals to him (the Great Commission),
but redeeming the culture around us (the Cultural Commission) as well.
Along the way of reading and discussing this book, you will find numerous examples of how
different worldviews answer the three basic questions posed above, and how a Biblical
worldview is the only one that fits with reality and enables us to make sense of the world around
us. The book is NOT going to give you an Islam or Mormonism from A-Z type of approach, for
example, but it will provide you with the tools to ask questions and understand other worldviews.
Then, when other worldviews are failing to address the biggest problems in the world or
misdiagnosing the problems altogether, you will be equipped to evangelize AND to offer
solutions that align with Biblical values and truths, which have power to transform the culture.
The real beauty of How Now Shall We Live for me was that it wasn’t prescriptive. What I mean
by that is it didn’t lay out a detailed process or series of steps for me to live as a Christian.
Rather, it encouraged me by pointing me back to the Bible as the place where I could always
find the answers to life’s questions. It also gave me a way to organize those answers so that I
would be better equipped to live as a Christian who is prepared to speak about his faith AND to
influence the culture, rather than being influenced by it. In this regard, one of the most impactful
quotes from the book is - “It is especially crucial to cultivate the mind in order to avoid the
snares and expose the false values of modern culture. Every day we face attempts to seduce
us into worshipping the idols of modern life, sometimes cleverly disguised.”
Please prayerfully consider joining us every second Monday evening from January 5 to May 25,
2026 as we “cultivate the mind”. If you have any questions about the book study, feel free to
chat with me on Sunday morning or email me at steve.funk@mnp.ca. Again, the first session
on January 5, 2026 will be an introductory one, so you could come to that one to learn more
about the book and discern whether the study is for you.
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Location