Discussion Questions

The speaker says Jesus “reset” the complex religious systems of His day by telling us “who he wants us to be” rather than giving “a list of do’s and don’ts”; what does that claim suggest about God’s priorities in sanctification, and where do you see your own Christianity drifting back into “protocol for every situation”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If Jesus focused more on who we become than on rules, what does that say God cares about most when He changes us? Where do you see your faith sliding back into “rules for every situation”?

In Matthew 18 the disciples ask, “Who then is the greatest,” and Jesus answers by placing a child in their midst and saying conversion is required to “become as little children”; what assumptions about the kingdom does Jesus confront here, and how would early Christians—especially new converts preparing for baptism—have heard “unless you are converted… you will by no means enter”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: When Jesus says we must become like little children to enter the kingdom, what wrong ideas about God’s kingdom is He correcting? How might new believers getting ready for baptism have heard, “unless you are converted… you will not enter”?

The speaker ties childlikeness to faithfulness using Matthew 18:6 (millstone warning) and the picture of a child choosing his father over a stranger; what kinds of “leading little ones astray” are most plausible in a church context today (teaching, example, culture, online influence), and why does Jesus treat it as such a severe offense? JumpstartAnother way to ask: In a church today, what are common ways people can “lead little ones astray” (by teaching, example, culture, or online influence)? Why do you think Jesus warns so strongly about it?

The Guatemala story contrasts the “handsome… so much potential” man with the quiet, poor, consistently present man who chose church and family over better-paying work; how does that story expose what your eyes naturally value, and what would it look like to deliberately train your judgment to match “the vantage point that God has”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What does the Guatemala story show about what you naturally admire in people? How could you train yourself to judge people the way God does?

The speaker clarifies that “faithfulness” at a men’s prayer meeting meant faithfulness to God and to baptismal promises, not merely marital fidelity; how does that broader definition of faithfulness challenge modern evangelical instincts about assurance, grace, and “once saved always saved,” especially when “staying the course” is emphasized? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If “faithfulness” means staying true to God and our baptism promises, not just being faithful in marriage, how does that challenge common ideas about assurance, grace, and “once saved always saved”? What does it mean to “stay the course” without turning grace into earning?

In Matthew 20, Jesus does not rebuke the desire for greatness, but redefines the path as servanthood and slavery; what do you think early Christians—living under real social hierarchies and actual slavery—would have heard in “whoever wants to be first must be your slave,” and what would be the modern equivalents of that downward movement? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How do you think early Christians, who lived with strict social classes and real slavery, would hear Jesus say, “whoever wants to be first must be your slave”? What would that kind of “going lower” look like in modern life?

The speaker says, “Becoming great is not doing great things, but being great… Greatness is not doing. Greatness is being”; where do you see your discipleship measured mainly by “doing” (ministry output, knowledge, platform, experiences), and what concrete indicators would show that your inner life has actually changed? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where do you measure your discipleship mostly by what you do (ministry results, knowledge, platform, experiences)? What real signs would show your heart and character are actually changing?

He describes the Lord “dismantling” his “hierarchy of service” (missionary as pinnacle) and emphasizes the body working in harmony; what hierarchies of “important” Christian callings still operate in your church culture, and how do those hierarchies subtly devalue ordinary, hidden faithfulness? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What kinds of “most important” Christian roles still get treated as higher in your church culture? How can that make everyday, unseen faithfulness seem less valuable?

Using the “cake and frosting” illustration, the speaker warns that gifts, novelty, education, and attractiveness can impress at first but may not reveal character; what practices could a church adopt to evaluate “cake” rather than “frosting,” and how might those practices feel uncomfortable to talented or high-achieving believers? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How can a church learn to look for real character, not just impressive gifts, education, or personality? Why might those kinds of checks feel uncomfortable for talented or high-achieving people?

The speaker connects Matthew 7:21–23 and Matthew 25:31–40 to the warning that spiritual success cannot be gauged by impressive ministry (prophecy, exorcisms, “many wonderful works”) but by how we treat “the least of these”; what “low” places or overlooked people in your life would reveal whether you are actually doing the Father’s will, and what would need to change in your schedule, spending, or reputation-management to go there? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What overlooked people or “low” places in your life would show whether you are really doing the Father’s will? What would need to change in your time, spending, or image to move toward them?