Preparing for a ministry trip in the Dominican Republic, a group from Liberty Baptist is reading through this insightful little book by Sarah Lanier – Foreign to Familiar; A Guide to Understanding Hot- and Cold- Climate Cultures 

I will be adding to the thought questions for each chapter over the next few weeks.

Introduction:

• What is one reason why we should take time to think about how different cultures communicate?

Chapter 1:

• Looking at your immediate family, which culture do you think it would best fit into?
• Have you ever run into conflict with the opposing culture? What did it look like?

Chapter 2:

• What are some things that are important to hot climate cultures?
• What are some things that are important to cold climate cultures?

Chapter 3:

• Would living in a hot culture like some she described be frustrating to you or relaxing for you? Why would you say that?
• Can you think of certain people with whom you respond in a warm culture way rather than a cold culture way?

Chapter 4:

• While reading this chapter, were there any times that you thought, “I can’t believe they think that way!?” When?
• Can you think of any ways that individualism can be an inferior mentality?
• Are there any times in the Bible when believers are called to think in a group-oriented manner?

Chapter 5:

• When would a hot culture’s view of possessions be enjoyable? When would it not?
• With your close friends do you see a different culture emerge? How so?

Chapter 6:

• Comment on the quote: “Sarah…They won’t drop everything to sit in a formal living room with you.”

Chapter 7:

• List one thing that stuck out to you about dress and greetings in low and high context cultures.

Chapter 8:

• What do you plan on telling yourself when those in the DR run on a different time than us?

Chapter 9:

• Have you ever thought about re-entry as being difficult? Why do you think that may be?

Chapter 10:

• Thinking back over this book, what is one thing that stuck out to you?