Discussion Questions

David Bercot claims that “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:9–11) is a “simple thing” that can make a “colossal difference” in church life; what does that assumption reveal about what God is trying to produce in His people through church life, and how might that challenge our tendency to look for complex solutions? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If simple encouragement can change a whole church, what does that show about what God wants to grow in His people through church life? How does that challenge our habit of looking for complicated fixes?

He says that, as far as anyone knows, “not a single New Testament church ever split or fell apart” and that they were “still around and thriving in the second century”; how does that historical claim shape the way we should read Paul’s repeated habit of encouragement in his letters, and what would early Christians likely have assumed about unity, endurance, and the power of everyday obedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If early churches didn’t split and lasted a long time, how should that affect how we read Paul’s constant encouragement? What do you think those Christians believed about unity, sticking with it, and everyday obedience?

In his examples from Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, Paul begins by praising faith, love, gifts, and perseverance before giving corrections; what does this pattern suggest about God’s manner of dealing with His people, and how should it reshape the way we approach confrontation, admonition, and “speaking truth” in our congregations? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul often praises people before correcting them—what does that show about how God deals with His people? How should that change the way we correct others and speak hard truth in church?

Bercot argues that encouragement “begins inside of us” with genuine love, “regard them highly,” and even thinking encouraging thoughts when others aren’t present; what does that expose about the spiritual roots of a critical spirit, and how would it change your week if you treated your private thoughts as part of the ministry of building up the body? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If encouragement starts with loving thoughts even when people aren’t around, what might that say about where a critical spirit comes from? How would your week change if you saw your private thoughts as part of building up the church?

He gives “smile” as step one and even critiques the idea that seriousness at church requires a somber face, mentioning Puritans/Calvinists as a possible influence; what does it mean to treat joy as a theological and communal duty, and where do you see “somber equals reverent” operating in your own church culture? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What does it mean to treat joy at church as something we should practice, not just a feeling? Where do you see the idea that “serious means reverent” in your church?

Bercot’s mirror story (smiling that looks like frowning) highlights how encouragement can require conscious effort rather than natural temperament; where do you tend to excuse yourself from encouragement because “that’s not my personality,” and what would it look like to treat outward warmth as an act of love rather than self-expression? JumpstartAnother way to ask: When do you use “that’s not my personality” as a reason not to encourage others? What would it look like to show warmth as an act of love, even if it doesn’t feel natural?

He insists a sermon should be a “two-way conversation” through attentive listening, eye contact, nodding, looking up texts, and supportive smiling; how does that challenge modern assumptions about church as a service you consume, and what would change in your congregation if listeners saw their attentiveness as part of the church’s ministry? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How does treating a sermon as a two-way conversation challenge the idea that church is something you just watch and consume? What might change if listeners saw paying attention as part of serving the church?

When he calls sleeping during sermons “insulting,” compares it to falling asleep on someone’s sofa, and even recommends restroom breaks, walking, or coffee/thermos as “unconventional,” what does this reveal about the weight he places on honoring the Word and the speaker—and which of his suggestions do you resist most, and why? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What does Bercot’s strong reaction to sleeping in sermons say about honoring God’s Word and the speaker? Which of his practical ideas (breaks, walking, coffee, etc.) do you push back on most, and why?

In “express appreciation,” he outlines good/better/best feedback to speakers and then broadens it to overlooked ministries (children’s teachers, supplies, schedules, meals, checkbook/bills) and even larger ministries like Scroll Publishing; what hidden forms of labor in your church are most invisible to you, and how could specific gratitude expose whether you really “esteem others better than yourself” (Phil. 2:3)? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What kinds of behind-the-scenes work in your church do you hardly notice? How could giving specific thanks show whether you really put others ahead of yourself (Phil. 2:3)?

His later steps—come prepared to participate, be on time (10–15 minutes early), invite people into your home like Acts’ daily fellowship, volunteer to relieve overburdened workers, and support/obey leaders so they serve “with joy and not with grief” (Heb. 13); which of these practices would most disrupt your current lifestyle, and what does your reluctance reveal about what you truly value about church? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Which of these habits—coming prepared, being early, having people in your home, volunteering more, or supporting leaders—would be hardest for your life right now? What does your resistance show about what you really value about church?