The chapter urges readers to go to primary sources rather than relying only on later theologians or denominational traditions; what does this imply about God’s desire for His people to seek truth honestly, and where might we be tempted to prefer inherited explanations over firsthand investigation? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says we should read original sources, not only later teachers or church traditions. What does this show about God wanting us to seek truth honestly? When are we tempted to accept what we were taught instead of checking it for ourselves?
The chapter says the early Christians, the Apostles, and Jesus used the Septuagint, and it describes the later abandonment of it as a “man-made tradition”; how should Christians weigh long-standing religious traditions when they appear to differ from the practices of Jesus and the earliest believers? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says Jesus, the Apostles, and early Christians used the Septuagint, but later Christians left it behind as a man-made tradition. How should Christians judge old church traditions when they do not match what Jesus and the earliest believers did?
The chapter praises the early Christians for reading the Apostles “literally, like a child” and obeying even when it meant poverty, torture, or martyrdom; what would a more childlike reading of Jesus’ commands change in the way modern Christians approach obedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter praises early Christians for reading the Apostles simply, like children, and obeying even when it cost them greatly. What would change today if Christians read Jesus’ commands in a more simple and trusting way?
The chapter contrasts early Christian “simple holiness, unfailing love, and patient crossbearing” with later Christianity’s focus on theological systems; how does this challenge common assumptions about what spiritual maturity looks like? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter contrasts early Christian holiness, love, and patient suffering with later focus on theology systems. How does this challenge our ideas about what spiritual maturity really looks like?
The chapter asks whether the real heretics are the early Christians who lived holy lives close to the apostolic age, or modern teachers shaped by later theologians who even persecuted dissenters; how should holiness, love, and obedience affect our evaluation of someone’s doctrine? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter asks who the real heretics are: early Christians who lived holy lives near the time of the Apostles, or later teachers who were shaped by theologians and even persecuted others. How should holiness, love, and obedience shape how we judge someone’s teaching?
The chapter lists issues where early Christians and modern Christians face similar questions—divorce and remarriage, abortion, modesty, caring for the poor, gender roles, entertainment, and conformity to culture; which of these areas most exposes our tendency to let culture interpret Scripture for us? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter lists issues like divorce, abortion, modesty, helping the poor, gender roles, entertainment, and fitting in with culture. Which of these areas most shows how we let culture explain the Bible for us?
The chapter criticizes modern gospel presentations built from “a patchwork of out-of-context verses from Romans” and commends presenting the gospel from the words of Jesus in the Gospels; how might our understanding of grace, faith, repentance, and assurance change if Jesus’ own calls to follow Him shaped our gospel message first? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter criticizes gospel messages built from scattered verses in Romans and praises starting with Jesus’ words in the Gospels. How might our view of grace, faith, repentance, and assurance change if Jesus’ call to follow Him came first?
The chapter describes theologians as sometimes using “creative and fanciful interpretations” to explain away Jesus’ teachings; what teachings of Jesus are Christians today most likely to soften, reinterpret, or treat as unrealistic? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter says some theologians use clever explanations to avoid Jesus’ teachings. Which teachings of Jesus are Christians today most likely to soften, explain away, or call unrealistic?
The chapter contrasts “knowing a whole bunch of man’s fancy doctrines” with “following Jesus in an obedient love-faith relationship”; how can a person discern whether study and doctrine are producing deeper obedience or merely religious confidence? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter contrasts knowing many fancy doctrines with following Jesus in loving obedience and faith. How can someone tell if their study is leading to deeper obedience or only to religious pride?
The chapter highlights Roger Hertzler’s approach to money, especially harmonizing all Scriptures on wealth and practicing love “in actions and in truth”; what concrete habits or financial decisions would change if Christians took seriously the idea of non-accumulation for the sake of God’s kingdom? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The chapter talks about Roger Hertzler’s view of money, especially using all Scripture on wealth and showing love through actions. What habits or money choices would change if Christians truly avoided storing up wealth so they could serve God’s kingdom?
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