Discussion Questions

In the opening prayer (“Lord, make me childlike; deliver me from the urge to compete…”), what kinds of “competition” for place, prestige, or position show up in church life today, and how does the chapter suggest those urges can hide inside “kingdom living”? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What kinds of “competition” for status or attention show up in churches today? How can those desires hide under the cover of “kingdom living”?

Jesus’ warning (“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled…”) and James’ claim (“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”) portray God taking an active stance toward pride; what does that reveal about God’s priorities, and how does it challenge the modern assumption that God is mostly “fine” with our inner attitudes as long as we believe correct doctrine? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What do Jesus and James teach about how God feels toward pride and humility? How does that challenge the idea that God doesn’t care much about our attitudes if our beliefs are right?

The “Greg Glorious” illustration argues that the world mainly cares about public modesty, not the heart; where have you seen Christian culture reward the same “skin-deep modesty,” and what practices in your own life most tempt you to manage appearances instead of dealing with the inner person? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Where have you seen Christians praise “modesty” that is mostly about looking good on the outside? What tempts you to manage your image instead of dealing with what’s in your heart?

The chapter defines godly humility as “to truly hold a modest opinion of our own importance,” then calls lowliness and meekness humility’s “twin sisters”; what do lowliness and meekness look like in daily decisions (speech, money, interruptions, credit, leadership), and which of those feels most offensive to modern values like self-esteem and self-promotion? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What do “lowliness” and “meekness” look like in everyday choices like how you talk, spend money, handle interruptions, share credit, or lead? Which part feels most against today’s values like self-esteem and self-promotion?

Philippians 2:3–4 is used to describe humility as rejecting selfish ambition and esteeming others better; what would “esteem others better” actually look like in a concrete conflict (marriage, workplace, church disagreement), and what excuses do Christians commonly use to avoid that command while still calling themselves humble? JumpstartAnother way to ask: In a real conflict (marriage, work, or church), what would it look like to “esteem others better”? What excuses do Christians use to avoid doing that while still calling themselves humble?

The chapter criticizes a common Christian definition of humility: “I abase myself because I’m sinful, so I depend on God”; how does the chapter distinguish between humility as a “theological doctrine” and humility as a “quality of the heart,” and where do you see evangelical Christianity confusing the two? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How does the chapter separate humility as an idea you believe from humility as a heart attitude you live out? Where do you see evangelical Christianity mixing those two up?

Simon regularly says “no good dwells in me” yet is deeply offended when confronted about a specific sin; what does that reaction reveal about the kind of “humility” Simon actually has, and what does your own defensiveness (or withdrawal) reveal when someone names a concrete sin pattern in you? JumpstartAnother way to ask: If Simon says “no good lives in me” but gets angry when corrected, what does that show about his humility? When you get defensive or shut down after being corrected about a specific sin, what does that show about you?

Sylvia publicly talks about being “unworthy,” but cannot accept any fault in her marriage and responds by gossiping about the pastor; what does this story suggest about the connection between false humility and blame-shifting, and how might “I’m a sinner saved by grace” become a way to protect pride rather than crucify it? JumpstartAnother way to ask: How does Sylvia’s story show that fake humility can lead to blaming others? How can saying “I’m a sinner saved by grace” become a way to hide pride instead of fight it?

Brother Phil’s congregation enjoys sermons against “sin in general” but fires him when he addresses specific New Testament commands they are disobeying; what does that expose about what kinds of “grace” and “freedom” many churches prefer, and how do you see this dynamic shaping what pastors are “allowed” to say? JumpstartAnother way to ask: What does it say about a church when people like general sermons on sin but reject specific New Testament commands? How does this affect what pastors feel safe to preach?

The chapter claims that “how we respond when someone talks to us about specific sins…reveals how much humility we really have”; thinking of a recent correction you received (or avoided), what response would have looked like true meekness and lowliness, and what practical steps could a group like this take to become the kind of community where specific correction is received rather than punished? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Think of a recent time someone corrected you (or you avoided it); what would a meek and lowly response have looked like? What could this group do to become a place where loving, specific correction is welcomed instead of punished?