A father-in-law paid for a house, yet the family still had to believe him, search for a place, sign paperwork, and cooperate with the process. What does that picture reveal about God's generosity and His right to set the terms for receiving salvation? JumpstartAnother way to ask: A father-in-law paid for a whole house, but the family still had steps to take. What does that teach us about how God gives salvation and who decides how we receive it?
Hebrews 12 says the Lord chastens those He loves, and Jesus says the Father prunes the branches that bear fruit. What do these pictures reveal about God's heart toward His children when discipline is painful? JumpstartAnother way to ask: God corrects those He loves and prunes branches that bear fruit. What do these pictures tell us about how God feels toward His children when correction hurts?
Daniel Willis says the most revealing thing about the early Christians is sometimes what they never said, such as once saved, always saved or assurance by feeling. Why might their silence on those ideas matter as much as their direct teaching? JumpstartAnother way to ask: The early Christians never taught some ideas that are common today. Why might what they left out matter as much as what they taught?
Daniel Willis says every early Christian who speaks of being born again ties it to baptism, and that a baptized Amish believer with no dramatic story has been born again. How should that shape the way we view Christians whose faith story has no emotional turning point? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Early Christians connected being born again with baptism, even for people with no dramatic story. How should that change the way we see Christians without an emotional testimony?
Daniel Willis teaches that if God tells you to do one thing and you do another while saying you believe Him, you did not believe Him. Why is it uncomfortable to treat disobedience as a form of unbelief, and where does that challenge your own life? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If God tells you to do one thing and you do another, did you really believe Him? Why is that hard to hear, and where does it touch your life?
Jesus' command to be perfect as the Father is perfect is often treated as an impossible bar meant to show we cannot obey. If the word points to complete, mature love, even love for enemies, why might that reading be harder to accept than the impossible one? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Some say Jesus' command to be perfect is impossible on purpose. If it really means growing into mature love, even for enemies, why might that be harder to accept?
Many Christians say a believer is seen only in Christ's perfection, no matter what that believer does. How does the teaching that we have Christ's righteousness when we walk His way challenge that assumption? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Some say God sees only Christ's perfection in a believer, no matter how that believer lives. How does walking in Jesus' way challenge that idea?
Many believers rest their assurance on a past prayer or on the idea that eternal life can never be lost. How does John's assurance, with its tests of walking in the light, keeping His commands, and loving the brothers, differ from that assumption, and where does godly fear fit in? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Many people feel sure of salvation because of a prayer they once said. How is John's kind of assurance different, and how does godly fear fit in?
Walking in the light, confessing sins, forgiving others, repenting, giving alms, and loving in deed are named as ways of staying in step with Christ so that His blood keeps cleansing us. Which of these is most neglected in your own life, and what habit would change that? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Several practices help us stay in step with Christ so that His blood keeps cleansing us. Which one do you neglect most, and what habit would help?
A marathon runner stopped for breakfast and lunch, walked and shuffled, yet never left the course and crossed the finish line. When you slow down, get distracted, or sin, what decisions and relationships keep you from walking off the course of the Christian race? JumpstartAnother way to ask: A marathon runner took long breaks but never quit and finished the race. When you slow down or sin, what choices and people help you stay in the Christian race?
Keep studying
Go deeper from here
Return to the full lesson, continue the course, or keep browsing related resources.
