To the early Christians, what many today consider radical was simply Christianity without compromises. Join David Bercot to understand why the faith of the first believers looked so different from much of modern Christianity.

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Course Content

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Obeying Christ is Not Legalism
How Obedience Can Become Pharisaism
The Gospel of Jesus About the Poor
The Spirit of Sectarianism
Churches That Evangelize
Be Ashamed to Die
When Persecution Comes
Gossip: Not a Minor Sin
Gaining Victory Over Bitterness
How to Be an Encourager (New)
Survey: Radical Christian Living
Additional Readings: Radical Christian Living
Free Course Guide

What This Free Course Covers

Radical Christian Living is a free course taught by David Bercot on living the Christian life without compromise. The lessons begin by distinguishing obedience to Christ from legalism, then warn how sincere obedience can drift into Pharisaism when outward standards, man-made rules, or self-righteousness replace love and the inner life. From there, the course turns to practical areas of discipleship:

Jesus’ teaching about wealth and the poor, the danger of sectarian division, the need for churches to evangelize, and the call to make Christ’s kingdom the center of one’s life. Later lessons address trials that often test Christian character, including persecution, gossip, bitterness, and discouragement within church life. Taken together, the course presents a serious, practical vision of kingdom living:

obeying Jesus, loving others, serving the poor, guarding unity, speaking carefully, forgiving fully, and encouraging the church.

Obedience to Christ Legalism and Pharisaism Kingdom priorities Care for the poor Church unity Evangelism Persecution Speech and gossip Forgiveness Encouragement

What You Will Study

  • The difference between obeying Christ and being legalistic
  • Ways obedience can turn into Pharisaism, especially through man-made rules and outward-focused religion
  • Jesus’ teaching about wealth, poverty, treasure in heaven, and helping the needy
  • The danger of disputes, factions, sectarianism, and forced uniformity in church life
  • Three characteristics Bercot identifies in churches that evangelize effectively
  • The call to make serving Christ’s kingdom central rather than secondary
  • How Christians may face persecution and respond with wisdom and faithfulness
  • Practical teaching on gossip, bitterness, forgiveness, and encouragement

Questions This Course Helps Answer

  • Is taking the commandments of Jesus seriously the same thing as legalism?
  • What does Bercot identify as real legalism or a legalistic mindset?
  • How can sincere Christians drift into Pharisaism while trying to be obedient?
  • Why does Jesus connect treasure, the heart, and service to God rather than mammon?
  • What does the course say about making care for the poor a central part of Christian life?
  • Why are disputes, dissensions, and factions treated as serious sins rather than normal church life?
  • How can churches work together more effectively in evangelism?
  • What does it mean to win a victory for Christ’s kingdom during one’s life?
  • What is the difference between primary and secondary persecution?
  • When should Christians obey civil authorities, and when would obedience to Christ create a conflict?
  • Why does Bercot describe gossip as more serious than many Christians assume?
  • How does bitterness affect the soul, and why is forgiveness essential?

Lesson-by-Lesson Guide

Obeying Christ is Not Legalism

Bercot argues that obeying the commandments of Jesus is not legalism, since Jesus calls His followers to do the will of the Father. He also warns that Christians can become legalistic by focusing on the letter over the spirit, adding man-made commandments, majoring on minor matters, or seeking loopholes to avoid obedience.

  • Is obedience to Christ legalism?
  • What does Bercot say legalism is not?
  • How can man-made applications become confused with God’s commandments?
  • Why does looking for loopholes undermine obedience?

How Obedience Can Become Pharisaism

This lesson examines how Christians who want to avoid worldliness can fall into another danger: Pharisaism. Bercot uses the image of a narrow road with ditches on both sides, warning against both loose living and self-righteous, outward-focused religion.

  • How can obedience become Pharisaism?
  • What are the two dangers on either side of the narrow way?
  • Why can extra-biblical standards become spiritually dangerous?
  • How should churches think about burdens placed on others?

The Gospel of Jesus About the Poor

Bercot focuses on Jesus’ teaching about wealth, treasure in heaven, trust in God, and service to the poor. He urges students not to treat help for the needy as an occasional add-on, but as a serious part of kingdom discipleship.

  • What did Jesus teach about laying up treasure on earth?
  • Why does wealth compete with service to God?
  • How does Jesus’ teaching connect judgment and care for the needy?
  • How can Christians make helping the poor a central part of life?

The Spirit of Sectarianism

This lesson addresses disputes, dissensions, factions, and divisions as works of the flesh rather than marks of faithful church life. Bercot warns against both compromise with the age and cult-like uniformity that replaces Christ’s teaching with human control.

  • Why are factions and divisions spiritually serious?
  • What is the difference between unity and forced uniformity?
  • How can doctrinal concern become sectarian pride?
  • Why must love remain central in church life?

Churches That Evangelize

Bercot discusses evangelism in local communities and asks why many serious kingdom churches do little witnessing. He identifies three traits of churches that evangelize effectively: a full-time evangelistic vision, teamwork, and a message that can be clearly presented.

  • Why is witnessing a responsibility of every Christian and church?
  • What does Bercot mean by churches making evangelism a top priority?
  • How can a church work together as a team in evangelism?
  • Why does a clear, shareable vision matter?

Be Ashamed to Die

Using the phrase “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for the kingdom,” Bercot challenges Christians to live with purpose. The lesson draws on Jesus’ parable of the talents and gives examples of kingdom service, including evangelism, support work, counsel, prison ministry, and practical service.

  • What does it mean to win a victory for the kingdom?
  • How does the parable of the talents challenge aimless living?
  • What kinds of service can support the spread of the gospel?
  • Is kingdom work limited to public preaching or evangelism?

When Persecution Comes

Bercot distinguishes between primary persecution, aimed directly at Christianity, and secondary persecution, where laws require Christians to violate Christ’s teachings. He discusses obedience to governing authorities, possible conflicts with civil law, and the need to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

  • What is the difference between primary and secondary persecution?
  • When does obedience to government become a conflict for Christians?
  • Why does Bercot say First Amendment protections are not absolute?
  • How should Christians think wisely before acting under pressure?

Gossip: Not a Minor Sin

This lesson treats gossip as a serious sin that damages reputations and reveals the condition of the heart. Bercot urges Christians not to pass along rumors, not to form opinions without hearing the other side, and to speak about what is true, noble, pure, and praiseworthy.

  • Why is gossip not a minor sin?
  • How can gossip damage a person’s reputation without a fair hearing?
  • Why do people find gossip entertaining?
  • What should Christians do before believing or repeating a report?

Gaining Victory Over Bitterness

Bercot defines bitterness as hatred and resentment and presents it as a serious sin that must be put away. The lesson emphasizes forgiveness, warns that God’s forgiveness is conditional, and encourages believers to let go of resentment even when they have been wronged.

  • What is bitterness?
  • Why does Bercot call bitterness a serious sin?
  • How does forgiveness relate to receiving God’s forgiveness?
  • What helps a person forgive when they have been wronged?

How to Be an Encourager (New)

Bercot teaches that encouraging and building up others can make a major difference in church life. He offers practical steps such as smiling, listening attentively, speaking encouragement, preparing for church, showing hospitality, being on time, volunteering wisely, and supporting church leaders.

  • Why does encouragement matter in church life?
  • How can attentive listening encourage a speaker or teacher?
  • What practical habits help build others up?
  • Why should church leaders be especially encouraged and supported?

Survey: Radical Christian Living

This is listed as a survey lesson for the course. No transcript sample was supplied, so its specific content cannot be summarized from the provided source material.

  • How can students give feedback on this course?
  • What reflections might students have after completing the lessons?

Additional Readings: Radical Christian Living

This is listed as an additional readings section for Radical Christian Living. No transcript sample or reading list was supplied, so the specific readings are not identified here.

  • What additional reading is connected with the course?
  • How can students continue studying the themes of radical Christian living?

What students are saying

4.94 out of 5 — 32 reviews
Angelique van Someren Jul 23, 2026
★★★★★
Highly recommended! The different ministries I never thought about being ministries.
Verified Student Aug 16, 2025
★★★★★
Excellent!
Verified Student Jul 11, 2025
★★★★★
I was truly convicted by several of these lessons that I was ignorant of, and am so grateful for this series and Bercot's courage to deliver them.
Verified Student Apr 10, 2025
★★★★★
I found this content very practical. Personal applications are easily made.
Verified Student Jun 27, 2024
★★★★★
This course is different from the rest in that is more personally convicting than some of the rest. I highly recommend it.
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Radical Christian Living

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Course Includes

  • 12 Lessons
  • 10 Quizzes
  • Course Certificate