Discussion Questions

David Bercot says the early Christians “wouldn’t have known what you’re talking about” if asked about *assurance of salvation* because the term isn’t in Scripture or early Christian vocabulary—what does that suggest about the kinds of questions we bring to the gospel, and what might it reveal about God’s priorities compared to ours? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says early Christians wouldn’t recognize the phrase “assurance of salvation.” What does that say about the kinds of questions we bring to the gospel, and what might it show about what God cares about most?

In Acts 2 Bercot identifies five steps—preaching, faith, conversion (“cut to the heart”), repentance, and baptism—and notes that Peter’s gospel proclamation didn’t include what “Luther said constituted the gospel”; what exactly is missing from Peter’s message, and how would adopting Peter’s emphasis reshape what your church treats as the “core” of evangelism? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says Peter’s message in Acts 2 doesn’t include what Luther called the gospel. What part is missing, and how would focusing on Peter’s message change what your church sees as the main point of evangelism?

Bercot insists the first stage of salvation is an “objective reality” centered on baptism rather than a “subjective experience”; what do you think is gained spiritually (and what is threatened) when salvation is anchored to an objective event instead of an inner experience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says the first stage of salvation is based on baptism (an outward event) more than an inner feeling. What might be gained or lost when salvation is tied to something objective instead of a personal experience?

Bercot lists things that happen at the first stage (forgiveness, receiving the Spirit, being added to the church, becoming God’s child “if indeed we suffer,” becoming a branch that can be cut off, entering life conditioned by love and continuing to believe/obey, and having one’s name written in the Book of Life that can be blotted out); which of these conditions feels most uncomfortable, and what does it imply about God’s view of covenant relationship versus automatic status? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot lists several things that are true after the first stage of salvation, but with conditions and warnings. Which condition makes you most uneasy, and what does it suggest about relationship with God versus an automatic “saved” status?

Using Israel crossing the Red Sea and Paul’s question in Acts 19 (“In what then were you baptized?”), Bercot argues the apostles evaluated salvation by concrete criteria rather than by asking about a spiritual experience; how would that apostolic/early Christian instinct challenge modern “testimony culture,” altar-call expectations, or the way we counsel doubting believers? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says the apostles looked for clear signs like baptism, not stories about spiritual feelings. How would that challenge today’s testimony culture, altar calls, and how we help people who doubt their faith?

Bercot claims that in the early church, even someone like Simon Magus could be recognized as truly “initially saved” and yet later fall away; how does that distinction between being genuinely saved and later forfeiting salvation confront common evangelical categories like “never really saved” or “once saved always saved”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says someone like Simon Magus could be truly saved at first but later fall away. How does that challenge ideas like “he was never really saved” or “once saved, always saved”?

Bercot says the early Christians would universally answer “no” to the question, “Are you assured you will definitely go to heaven when you die?”—how does that strike you emotionally and theologically, and what do you think it reveals about early Christian humility, fear of God, and confidence in God? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says early Christians would answer “no” to “Are you sure you’ll go to heaven when you die?” How does that hit you emotionally and spiritually, and what might it show about their humility, fear of God, and trust in God?

When Bercot calls Romans 8:35–39 “one of the most misunderstood” passages and ties interpretation back to John 15’s warning about being cut off, what assumptions about God’s love and human freedom might be driving modern readings, and how would an early Christian reading change the way we handle suffering, perseverance, and apostasy? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says Romans 8:35–39 is often misunderstood and should be read with John 15’s warning about being cut off. What beliefs about God’s love and human choice shape modern readings, and how might an early Christian reading change how we face suffering and the danger of falling away?

Bercot argues the New Testament holds two messages in tension: real warnings about shrinking back and real confidence that churches will be confirmed to the end (1 Cor 1, Phil 1, Heb 10); what would it look like for your congregation to teach both without sliding into either “easy believism” or despair—and where do you think your tradition is currently unbalanced? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says the New Testament gives both strong warnings and strong encouragement about lasting to the end. How could your church teach both without slipping into “easy believism” or hopeless fear, and where is your tradition most out of balance?

In the “insurance class” story (“Don’t sweat it… you’re going to make an A”), Bercot defines the difference between “confident expectation” and “presumption,” saying confidence belongs only to those abiding in an “obedient love faith relationship”; what concrete patterns of obedience, repentance, and continued faith would honestly support that kind of expectation in your life—and what patterns would expose that you’ve been relying on presumption instead? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Bercot says there’s a difference between real confidence and careless presumption, and confidence is for those who keep living in obedient love and faith. What habits in your life support real confidence, and what habits might show you’re just assuming you’re okay?