Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and His Mission According to Holy; Scriptures Both Ancient and Modern
James E. (James Edward) Talmage
Book Club
Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and His Mission According to Holy; Scriptures Both Ancient and Modern
James E. (James Edward) Talmage
8 ways to start a deeper conversation.
Contains spoilers for the entire book.
Discussion topics
Topic 01 of 08
Scriptures ancient and modern
How does Talmage's use of modern scripture, including the Book of Mormon, alongside the Bible shape his account of Christ?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of chapters such as the one on the birth of Jesus being made known to the Nephites?
- How does that set this book apart from other lives of Jesus?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.
Discussion topics
How does Talmage's use of modern scripture, including the Book of Mormon, alongside the Bible shape his account of Christ?
Keep the conversation going
- What did you make of chapters such as the one on the birth of Jesus being made known to the Nephites?
- How does that set this book apart from other lives of Jesus?
Why does Talmage begin with Christ's pre-existence and foreordination, long before the Nativity?
Keep the conversation going
- What does he mean by the need of a Redeemer?
- How does beginning there change the way you read the Gospel story?
How does Talmage weave the four Gospels into one story, and where did you notice him choosing between them?
Keep the conversation going
- What did the chapter notes add to your reading?
- Did the book read to you more as history, theology or devotion?
Which of Christ's parables or sermons, as Talmage explains them, struck you most?
Keep the conversation going
- How does his reading of the Sermon on the Mount fit his wider purpose?
- Did any of his interpretations surprise you?
How does Talmage approach the miracles, and how does he answer those who doubt them?
Keep the conversation going
- Which miracle does he use to say most about who Jesus is?
- How do you respond to his way of reasoning about them?
How does Talmage describe the suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross, and why does he place so much weight on Gethsemane?
Keep the conversation going
- What does the Atonement mean in his account?
- How does this part of the book compare with other accounts you know?
How does Talmage's account continue past the Resurrection, including Christ's ministry among the Nephites?
Keep the conversation going
- Why does he think the story does not end with the Ascension?
- What does that suggest about how he sees history?
How does Talmage connect the life of Christ to the apostasy he sees in later Christianity and to its restoration?
Keep the conversation going
- Who do you think the book was written for, and how would different readers receive it?
- What did you take from the book, whatever your own beliefs?
There is no single right answer. Bring your own reading.