Discussion Questions

Paul says his “great conflict” and “striving” aim to “present every man perfect in Christ”; what does that reveal about what God is ultimately after in His people, and how does that pressure-test modern versions of Christianity that aim more at comfort, therapy, or mere forgiveness than perfection? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul says he works hard to make every person “perfect in Christ.” What does that show God really wants for His people, and how does it challenge forms of Christianity that focus mostly on comfort, therapy, or just being forgiven?

The speaker defines “the mystery of God” as “Christ living in us” and says Paul wants a “total understanding, not just partial”; what parts of your Christian life feel like you’re operating on a “partial understanding” of Christ-in-you, and what would have to change for that mystery to become your normal operating reality? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If the “mystery of God” is Christ living in us, where do you feel you’re living with only a partial grasp of that? What would need to change for “Christ in you” to shape your daily life in a normal way?

The speaker contrasts the world’s premium on academia (his Harvard/Boston “peon” story) with “hidden” heavenly wisdom found in knowing the Father and the Son; where do you feel tempted to treat intellectual respectability, credentials, or being “well-read” as a substitute for actually knowing God? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where are you tempted to think being smart, well-read, or having degrees matters more than truly knowing God? How can those things become a substitute for real relationship with the Father and the Son?

He brings in Genesis 6 and the Book of Enoch as an example of forbidden “heavenly knowledge” given to sinful mankind; whether or not you’re comfortable with Enoch, what does this illustration assume about God’s boundaries on knowledge, and how does that collide with modern Christian curiosity about “secrets,” end-times speculation, or supernatural “insider” information? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What does the Genesis 6/Enoch example suggest about God putting limits on what people should know? How does that challenge Christian interest in “secret” knowledge, end-times theories, or supernatural insider info?

Paul’s warning about being deceived by “persuasive words” comes right before “as you received Christ…so walk in Him,” and the speaker calls following Christ “uncomplicated”; what would it look like in real life for persuasive, sophisticated arguments to slowly detach someone from simple obedience—and what “complications” have you accepted that might be doing that? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How can impressive, clever arguments slowly pull someone away from simple obedience to Jesus? What extra “complications” have you accepted that might be doing that to you?

The speaker says people don’t generally come to Christ through philosophy, and that philosophy tends to “spin out of control” when it demands reasons for what is finally answered by “God said it”; in your experience, where is the line between healthy thinking and the kind of reasoning that becomes “empty deceit,” and how do you recognize when “critical analysis” is functioning as unbelief? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where is the line between good thinking and reasoning that turns into “empty deceit”? How can you tell when your “critical analysis” is really becoming unbelief?

He argues that “thanksgiving” is an antidote to negativity and entitlement and even helps one “think clearly”; where have you seen ingratitude make faith brittle or distorted, and what concrete practices of thanksgiving would actually re-train the instincts of your mind? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where have you seen a lack of gratitude make someone’s faith weak or warped? What specific habits of giving thanks could retrain how your mind reacts day to day?

On circumcision, the speaker compares the shock of circumcision no longer being required to someone today saying baptism is no longer necessary; how does that comparison expose early-Christian assumptions about initiation, obedience, and belonging—and where does modern evangelical culture subtly treat commanded practices as optional “add-ons”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If stopping circumcision felt like someone today saying baptism isn’t needed, what does that show about early Christian views of obedience and belonging? Where does modern evangelical culture treat commanded practices like optional extras?

The speaker initially takes “let no one judge you…festival…Sabbath” as reassurance about celebrations (even referencing Easter), but then admits Chrysostom reads it as Paul reproving the Colossians for keeping “petty feasts”; what do the two interpretations imply about Christian freedom, conscience, and the danger of being either (a) controlled by other people’s judgments or (b) clinging to shadows after the substance has come? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If “let no one judge you” means freedom to celebrate, what does that say about conscience and not being controlled by others? If it means Paul is correcting “petty feasts,” what does that warn about holding onto shadows after Jesus has come?

Paul says “do not touch…do not taste…do not handle” has “an appearance of wisdom” but is “of no value against the indulgence of the flesh,” and the speaker applies it to modern church bans (WhatsApp/YouTube/Facebook) and asks: “If the world’s things are actually a threat to us, what does that say about us being dead?”—what does this challenge in how you pursue holiness, and how would “seeking things above” look different from rule-based avoidance in your specific habits this week? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Why do strict rules like “don’t touch, don’t taste” look wise but still fail to change the heart? In your habits this week, what would “seeking things above” look like instead of just avoiding certain apps or media?