Discussion Questions

David Bercot says he can’t tell anyone exactly where to find fellowship, only give “principles…structure to work from”; what does that assumption reveal about how God leads His people, and what kind of humility (or discomfort) does it require from us when we want a clear blueprint? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says he can’t tell people exactly where to find fellowship, only give guiding principles. What does that suggest about how God leads us, and what humility does it take when we want a clear step-by-step plan?

He warns that “kingdom seekers” often change the outward “overnight” (head coverings, dropping TV, removing a wedding ring because “the Bible says we shouldn’t wear gold”) while ignoring “love, mercy, justice, forgiveness”; what specific “minor/outward” changes have you been tempted to treat as the main measure of faithfulness, and what do those temptations expose about your heart? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says people may change outward things fast but ignore love, mercy, justice, and forgiveness. What small outward changes have you been tempted to treat as the real proof of faithfulness, and what does that show about your heart?

In John 15 Bercot emphasizes Jesus’ warning that fruitless branches are “cast…into the fire,” and he argues we “play a role” even though “without Him you can do nothing”; how does that tension challenge common evangelical instincts about assurance, “Christ did it all,” and the place of obedience in salvation? JumpstartAnother way to ask: John 15 says fruitless branches are thrown into the fire, yet Jesus also says we can do nothing without Him. How does this challenge common ideas about being sure you’re saved, “Christ did it all,” and the need to obey?

When Bercot defines fruit first as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5) and then as advancing the kingdom (talents; sheep/goats), he insists the second must “flow from” love or it’s “a total waste”; how do you discern in your own life whether your service is love-driven or “mechanical…to gain brownie points,” and what practices help expose mixed motives? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says serving God must flow from love or it’s wasted, even if it looks good. How can you tell if your service is driven by love or by trying to earn “brownie points,” and what helps you spot mixed motives?

He claims that producing these two kinds of fruit “you can do in virtually any setting,” so changing churches “rarely” makes you bear more fruit or fixes family/financial problems; where have you assumed the opposite—that the right church would solve what is actually an internal issue—and what would “getting your own life…in order” look like concretely? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says you can bear fruit in almost any setting, and switching churches rarely fixes your life. Where have you thought the right church would solve what is really an issue in you, and what would it look like to get your own life in order?

Bercot says some seekers look radically obedient externally but are “full of…spiritual problems” (marriage conflict, rebellious children, debt, inability to submit to authority), and he even says some head-covering wives are “far less submissive” and may “run the whole church”; what does this expose about God’s priorities, and how should a group like yours guard against using visible distinctives to mask deeper disobedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says some people look very obedient on the outside but have serious problems at home and in their character. What does this show about what God cares most about, and how can your group avoid using visible rules to cover deeper disobedience?

He urges honest self-examination and even asking respected Christians to help identify blind spots like a “spirit of rebellion” that feels like “standing up for truth”; what would it take for you to invite that kind of scrutiny, and how would you tell the difference between courageous conviction and unsubmitted rebellion? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says we should examine ourselves and even ask mature Christians to point out our blind spots, like a “rebellious spirit” that feels like “standing for truth.” What would it take for you to invite that kind of feedback, and how can you tell the difference between strong conviction and rebellion?

In the story of the two visiting families, the pastor implies people often find in a new church what they carried in themselves; when have you seen your own attitudes shape whether others felt “loving” or “unfriendly,” and what would repentance look like before concluding “this church has problems”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: In the story of the two visiting families, the pastor suggests people often bring their own attitude into a new church. When have your attitudes shaped whether others seemed “loving” or “unfriendly,” and what would repentance look like before deciding “this church has problems”?

Discuss Bercot’s “William Law approach”: staying in a conventional church and aiming to become “the most loving…the meekest” person there, like William Law serving the poor while remaining Anglican; what parts of that approach feel compelling or impossible to you, and how does it confront the modern desire to find a perfectly aligned “tribe”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot praises William Law’s idea: stay in your normal church and try to be the most loving and humble person there. What about this feels inspiring or impossible to you, and how does it challenge the desire to find a church that matches you perfectly?

When describing conservative Anabaptists, Bercot praises their Sermon-on-the-Mount seriousness and stability but criticizes cultural “standards” (plain coats, black cars) and warns that “at least 75%” of outsiders who join end up leaving—especially if spouses/teens aren’t united; how should a family weigh obedience, unity, cultural sacrifice, and children’s spiritual welfare when choosing between conventional churches, Anabaptists, or fragile house churches? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot praises conservative Anabaptists in some ways but warns their culture changes are costly and many outsiders end up leaving, especially if the family isn’t united. How should a family weigh obedience, family unity, big lifestyle changes, and kids’ spiritual health when choosing between a regular church, Anabaptists, or a house church?