Discussion Questions
Christina described lying in bed as a child asking, “If there’s a God, then who created God?” and concluding there couldn’t be a God—what does her story suggest about how God can pursue someone who “logically” talked themselves out of Him, and what does that reveal about God’s patience and initiative? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina talked herself out of believing in God with logic as a kid. What does her story show about how God can still go after someone like that, and what does it say about God’s patience?
Christina said she viewed religion as “for weak-minded people,” yet later said, “Now I know that we are all weak, and we all need Christ”—what kind of “weakness” do you think she came to see in herself, and how does that challenge the way modern Christians try to appear strong, put-together, or self-sufficient? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina once thought religion was for “weak” people, but later said everyone is weak and needs Christ. What kind of weakness do you think she saw in herself, and how does that challenge Christians who try to look strong and self-sufficient?
After hearing messages on salvation and grace (including the John Newton skit), Christina said she was embarrassed that she wanted to go back, and later she and Sam “laughed and cried” and gave their lives to Christ at the dining room table—what do you learn from the ordinariness of that moment about how God brings conversion, and how might early Christians have understood repentance and allegiance happening in a household setting like this? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina and Sam gave their lives to Christ at their dining room table, in a very normal moment. What does that teach you about how God brings someone to faith, and how might early Christians have viewed repentance happening in a household like that?
Christina said she asked Sam, “How do you know what teachings of Jesus to take literally?” and added, “Why would Christ come and say all this stuff… if he didn’t really mean it?”—which specific teachings of Jesus do you think she had in view, and how does that question expose assumptions in evangelical culture about which words of Jesus are “for today”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina asked how we know which teachings of Jesus to take literally, and why He would say things if He didn’t mean them. Which teachings do you think she meant, and what does her question reveal about how some Christians decide what still applies today?
She described a cascade of lifestyle changes (jewelry, wedding ring, makeup, entertainment, yoga, modest dress, no pants, head covering) and said, “You don’t need to be convicted to make these changes. We do things for the glory of God.”—how does that reasoning confront the modern idea that only “personal conviction” matters, and what do you think early Christians would have expected regarding visible separation from the world? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina made many outward lifestyle changes and said we don’t need a special “conviction” to do them—we do them for God’s glory. How does that challenge the idea that only personal feelings matter, and what do you think early Christians expected about looking different from the world?
Christina said she knew “in my heart” she was supposed to wear a head covering but avoided thinking about it, then later repented: “If he asked me to do something like cover my head, then why wouldn’t I?”—where do you see “fear of man” shaping obedience today, and what would it look like to repent of selective obedience without turning spirituality into outward performance? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina felt she should wear a head covering but avoided it because of what people might think. Where do you see fear of people affecting obedience today, and how can someone repent of picking and choosing what to obey without turning faith into just looking spiritual?
She criticized their former church for being shallow—“no teachings on how we can be saved from sin or living a godly life or being holy”—and for calling themselves “sinners on their way to heaven”—how does that phrase land on you, and what does it reveal about competing definitions of salvation (forgiveness only vs. deliverance from sin and a holy life)? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina disliked the idea of being “sinners on the way to heaven.” How does that phrase hit you, and what does it show about different views of salvation—only being forgiven vs. being changed and set free from sin?
Christina was disturbed when church leaders discussed attracting the world, quoting, “Do not love the world…”—what does this expose about evangelism methods that depend on being appealing, and how would early Christian evangelism (marked by costly discipleship and a distinct kingdom) have clashed with that strategy? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina was upset that church leaders focused on attracting the world, while Scripture says not to love the world. What does that say about evangelism that tries to be popular, and how would early Christian evangelism have clashed with that?
David Brousseau’s book shifted her perspective: Jesus came “to bring heaven to earth now,” and she connected it with dying daily, bearing the cross, simplicity, and generosity—what practical decisions in her testimony showed “kingdom now” living, and where would that directly disrupt the priorities of typical middle-class Christianity? JumpstartAnother way to ask: A book helped Christina believe Jesus brings “heaven to earth now,” tied to daily dying to self, the cross, simplicity, and generosity. What choices in her story showed that kind of life, and how would it challenge normal middle-class Christian priorities?
Christina read John 15:9–14, emphasizing “If you keep my commandments… my joy may remain in you… You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.”—how does her connection between obedience and joy challenge the way many Christians separate joy/assurance from obedience, and what “uncomfortable” command of Jesus do you most resist believing leads to fullness of joy? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Christina connected obeying Jesus with having real joy, based on John 15:9–14. How does that challenge the idea that joy and assurance can be separated from obedience, and what hard command of Jesus do you most resist believing could lead to true joy?