Since we’ve been talking about Eros this month, David interviewed Kathy Keller who co-authored “The Meaning of Marriage” with her husband Tim. She also happened to exchange letters as a child with C.S. Lewis!
S5E24: “The Meaning of Marriage”, After Hours with Kathy Keller (Download)
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Show Notes
Introduction
Quote-of-the-week
God, the best maker of all marriages,
– Shakespeare, Henry V
Combine your hearts in one
Biographical Information
Kathy Keller was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and when she was twelve years old, she corresponded with someone you might have heard of, a Professor by the name of Clive Staples Lewis! She first received a B.A. in English and then went on to receive a Master of Theological Studies, summa cum laude from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. This is when she met her future husband, Timothy Keller, and together they have three adult sons.
After graduation, Kathy and Tim helped lead a Presbyterian church in Hopewell, Virginia, after which they moved to Philadelphia where Kathy served as an editor at Great Commission Publications.
In 1989 the Kellers founded a church I’m sure many listeners have heard of, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. Besides being a co-founder, Kathy has served in various roles at the church, such as Assistant Director of Communication and Media.
She is the author of Jesus, Justice, and Gender Roles and she is co-author with her husband of a book which we’ll certainly talk about today, The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God.
Biographical Information for Kathy Keller
Chit-Chat
Kathy gave an update regarding Tim’s health.
Beverage and Toast
- Kathy was drinking Lemon-Ginger Tea
- David was drinking a Presbyterian!
Discussion
1. “Penfriends with Lewis”
- I heard that you weren’t raised in a particularly religious home, so how were first exposed to C.S. Lewis?
2. “Becoming a Christian”
- If your home wasn’t particularly religious, how was it that you became a practicing Christian?
3. “Dear Jack…”
- How was it that you and C.S. Lewis became penpals?!
- How many letters did you receive and what did you talk about?
- Where can these letters be read?
- Kathy is the last 4 Kathy’s in Letters to Children
- Kathy is “Kathy Kristy” In Collected Letters, dated 30th November 1962, 3rd April 1963, 29th October 1963, and 11th November 1963.
4. “Visiting the Kilns”
- Did you ever visit The Kilns?
5. “The Voyage Continued”
- What happened to the rest of the children who wrote to Lewis?
6. “Marriage”
- So, let’s talk about Eros and marriage. First of all, autobiographical. Please tell us about how you first met Tim. Did you fancy him immediately?!
- What did your courtship and journey towards marriage look like?
7. “Time-travelling Advice”
- What do you wish you would have known? What I mean is, if you could go back in time and talk to yourself during your dating, engagement, and early years of marriage, what would you have told yourself?
8. “The Meaning of Marriage”
- In 2014, together with your husband, you released the book The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God. What was it that prompted the writing of this book?
- For whom is this book written? Is it best for the reader to be at a particular stage of a romantic relationship?
9. “Misunderstanding Marriage”
- What is the main misunderstanding people have about marriage?
- Do think this is the main misunderstanding of Christian couples as well? Or do you think that they fall into different traps?
10. “Misunderstanding Marriage”
- For listeners who haven’t read your book, could you give us a quick tour of the book and idea of which topics you cover in your book?
11. “Revisions?”
- It’s been nearly ten years since the two of you wrote The Meaning of Marriage. If you were to add a chapter or two now by way of revision, what might you add or emphasise.
12. “Final Advice”
- My wife and I have been married for a little over a year and we have a six-month-old son. If you could only offer one sentence of advice from all your years of marriage, what would it be?
More Information
- Letters
- Marriage
- Ministry
