How to Use This Book

State of the Art is written to be read, studied, and discussed — alone or in a group, in one sitting or over many weeks. This short page explains how the book works and shows you each of its interactive tools.

The three modes

Every chapter moves through the same rhythm. Watch for these three modes:

• Declare
• Study
• Portal

• Declare — what the people of God can confess together. These appear in bordered declaration panels, like the one below. They aim to be faithful to Scripture and the historic creeds, not to any political party.
• Study — the Scriptures opened, with questions for reflection and space to write your own response. This is the Bible-study heart of the book.
• Portal — the wider world: the state of each issue today, the main views held by sincere Christians, and links to go deeper.

The interactive tools

You don't need an account, and nothing you write is uploaded. Everything you type is saved privately in your own browser on this device.

Declaration panels

Declarations look like this:

✝An example declaration

We declare that this book is a tool, not an authority. Test everything; hold fast to what is good — measuring every claim here against Scripture.

1 Thessalonians 5:21NIV↗

Scripture links

Any reference like this one — John 1:1-5NIV↗ — opens the full passage at Bible Gateway in a new tab, where you can switch translations. Some passages also include the text inline:

Micah 6:8NIV↗

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Reflect & respond

Throughout the book you'll find journaling prompts. Type freely — your words stay on your device and reappear when you return.

✎ Reflect & Respond

What drew you to a book about the Church and the issues of our day?

Try it now — then revisit this page later and your answer will still be here.

Private to your browser

Self-check questions

These let you think before you peek. Form your own answer, then reveal a response to compare.

?What are the three modes this book moves through?

Declare, Study, and Portal. Declare names what we can confess together; Study opens Scripture and invites reflection; Portal maps the issue and the range of faithful views, then points you to deeper resources.

Multiple views

Where sincere Christians disagree, the book lays out the main positions so you can weigh them. Click each to expand:

⚖ For example — how should Christians relate to political power?

▸Withdrawal

Some emphasize the Church as a distinct community whose main task is to be the Church faithfully, wary of entanglement with state power.

▸Transformation

Others stress engaging culture and government to seek the common good, reforming structures toward justice.

▸Tension

Still others hold both: full engagement and deep wariness, refusing to baptize any party while working for the good of the city.

Key terms

Hover or tap underlined terms like

imago DeiThe Latin phrase imago Dei means 'image of God' — the biblical teaching that every human being reflects God and bears inviolable dignity.

for a quick definition. The full Glossary collects them all.

Tracking your progress

At the end of each chapter, mark it complete. Your progress appears on the home page. Here's the control you'll see:

Progress is saved privately in your browser and shown on the home page.

For groups and classes

Each chapter's Reflect prompts and Discern sections double as discussion questions. For ready-made paths through the book — a full thirteen-session journey and a shorter eight-session core track — see the Group Study Plan.

Ready? Begin with The Kingdom of God — the lens for everything that follows.