July 2022 Book Club Recommendations

Our goal in the Foundation Worldview Book Club is to provide resources for you to have meaningful, literature-based worldview discussions with the children God has placed in your care. We work hard to choose books with insightful, truth-based themes. However, we know that our subscribers will have different convictions about the content they allow in their homes, churches, and classrooms. We encourage you to read the recommended books ahead of time, to ensure that the content fits within the framework you have already established in your ministry context. Please also note that by recommending a certain book, Foundation Worldview is not endorsing every work published by a particular author.

Book for Adults

Book for Children Ages 8-12

Question 1 - This story heavily emphasizes the contrast between darkness and light, mainly because it takes place in a city without any real light. However, the darkness in this story is not only physical darkness in the city but also darkness inside of the characters. We see this when Doon bursts out in anger against his dad, when Lina selfishly spends her money on the colored pencils, when Lizzie and Looper steal from the storehouses, and when the Mayor cares for no one but himself. According to the biblical worldview, why does every human wrestle with darkness within?

Discussion Guide - Read Genesis 3 and Romans 5:12-21. Then discuss how sin affects everyone.

Question 2 - Several times, Lina passes a group called the “believers” who stand around singing and claiming that the Builders will come back and rescue them soon. How is this group similar to or different from Christians, who believe that one day Jesus will come back and make all things new?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how, like the believers, Christians live with the hope that this current world is not our true home. However, unlike the believers in this book, Christians have evidence that Jesus will return - the historical evidence pointing to the resurrection, the eyewitness testimony of the gospel writers, fulfilled prophecy, etc.

Question 3 - Characters such as Looper, Lizzie, and the Mayor steal from the City of Ember’s storage rooms to spend the time they have left living it up. What are the consequences of someone believing they can do whatever they want because everything is “meaningless”?

Discussion Guide - Discuss how living in a way where we care only for ourselves hurts others, as is evidenced in the book. It also hurts us, as we were not made to live for ourselves. And most importantly, living for ourselves is sinning against God, who created us for His glory.

Bonus Question - If your child has gone through Foundation Worldview Comparative Worldview Curriculum, ask how the morality of Looper, Lizzie, and the Mayor differs from what is taught in the Bible.

Discussion Guide - Discuss how the Bible teaches that morals are objective truths, not subjective feelings. These morals stem from God’s character. Anything good aligns with God’s character. Anything wrong goes against God’s character.

Book for Children Ages 4-7

Question 1 - What was the consequence of Adam and Eve believing the serpent’s words instead of God’s words.

Discussion Guide - Discuss how Adam and Eve’s sin separated them from God. As a follow-up, you can read Genesis 3.

Question 2 - How did Jesus solve the problem of humans being separated from God.

Discussion Guide - Discuss how Jesus lived a perfect life, died in our place, and rose again from the grave. Now, anyone who turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus can have a friendship with God. As a follow-up, you can read Romans 5:12-21.

Question 3 - What are some times in our day that we should talk to God.

Discussion Guide - Discuss some of the prayer routines you already have in place - in the morning, before meals, before bed, etc. Discuss other times in your day when you can talk to God - thanking Him, asking for help, sharing with Him what you are feeling, etc.