Jumpstarter 1 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion

Question 1

The chapter argues that “the kingdom life can’t be lived in isolation… We can’t surrender our lives to Christ if we can’t surrender ourselves to His church.” What picture of God’s intentions for Christian maturity and safety is implied in tying surrender to Christ so closely to surrender to His body?

Another way to ask: The chapter says you can’t fully surrender to Christ without surrendering to His church. What does that say about how God wants Christians to grow up and stay spiritually safe?

Direct Answer Based on David Bercot’s teaching, God intends Christian maturity and spiritual safety to happen inside a committed, accountable local church, because the church is Christ’s body and believers need each other to endure and obey.

Support from Transcript:

“The kingdom life can’t be lived in isolation from other Christians.”
“We can’t surrender our lives to Christ if we can’t surrender ourselves to His church. That’s because the church is His body.”
Those who live the kingdom life are “active members of a local congregation… where there is a high degree of accountability among all.”
One reason Christ gave the church: “so Christians can help one another in the Christian life.”
Wesley: the church is designed “to assist each other in working out their salvation… united together to oppose the devil.”
“United we stand, divided we fall,” tying safety to togetherness.

Discussion Follow-ups If the church is meant to be spiritual protection, what kind of commitment and transparency would we need to accept as normal?

Jumpstarter 1 of 10