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Secrets of the Kingdom Life  /  Chapter 3: Naysayers and Half-and-Half Christians  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 5
Wesley’s warning—“Do not say, ‘I can do nothing’… if you have faith… you can love him and keep his commandments”—pushes hard against spiritual passivity; in what ways have you been taught (or have you taught yourself) to treat inability as humility, and what would repentance look like if this quote is true?
Another way to ask: How have you learned to call “I can’t obey” a kind of humility? If Wesley is right, what would you need to repent of or change?

Direct Answer In the chapter’s logic, saying “I can do nothing” is not humility but evidence of unbelief, because faith expects Christ to strengthen real obedience. Repentance would look like surrendering to Christ’s reign in the heart and actively walking in his commands with trust rather than excuses.

Support from Transcript:

  • Wesley: “Do not say, ‘I can do nothing.’ If so, then you know nothing of Christ. Then you have no faith.”
  • “For if you have faith… you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”
  • “You can love him and keep his commandments.”
  • “Show then your love to Christ by keeping his commandments, by walking in all his ordinances.”
  • “Trust in Christ to live and reign in your heart.”
  • Bercot says kingdom life “takes enormous faith,” and many go only halfway.
Discussion Follow-ups What “I can’t” statements function as cover for “I won’t”? How might prayer change if it assumes Christ will actually empower obedience?

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