Discussion Questions

1. Read for yourself Genesis 11:1-9. What stands out to you as you read this passage?  

2. At the outset, the Bible doesn’t have great things to say about cities. The city of Cain,

Babylon, Nineveh, cities are depicted as run by corrupt kings, full of arrogance and

violence, and walled off from outsiders. What do you think of this description of cities?

3. The Garden of Eden is depicted as the opposite of a city. It’s a refuge without walls

where life is abundant, and all have access to God. So, one could conclude that the goal

of the biblical story would be to flee from cities and return to the garden. What would it

look like for someone to live out these garden values regardless of their location?

4. Surprisingly, Revelation 22 describes the merging of the Garden of Eden with the life of

the city. There is a new Eden, but this time it’s urban, a city of God that is also an

abundant garden of life. In the end even the corruption and tragedy described in biblical

cites is no match for the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus’ work on the cross. Do

you find this encouraging for your own walk with Jesus? If even the biblical city can be

redeemed and made into something holy and beautiful what could God do with you?