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Will the Theologians Please Sit Down  /  Chapter 5: The Kingdom of Children  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
Bercot concludes that Christianity originally centered on “Christ and His kingdom,” not “fine points of theology,” focusing on an “obedient love-faith relationship” and “bearing fruit”; if that’s true, what specific theological habits (argument addiction, system-building, identity-by-positions) might be crowding out obedience and fruit in your life or church, and what concrete changes would demonstrate a return to Jesus’ emphasis?
Another way to ask: Bercot says early Christianity focused more on Jesus, obedience, and bearing fruit than on debating theology details. What habits like arguing, building systems, or making identity about “positions” might be crowding out obedience in you or your church, and what changes would show a return to Jesus’ focus?

Direct Answer Based on Bercot’s conclusion, habits that crowd out obedience include obsessing over detailed theological systems and treating theology as the center, rather than living in loving obedience to Jesus and bearing fruit. A concrete return would look like re-centering teaching on Christ the King and the lived practices Jesus stressed—love, fruit, and kingdom citizenship.

Support from Transcript:

  • “Christianity originally centered on Christ and His kingdom, not on fine points of theology.”
  • Bercot says it’s “rather difficult to put together a detailed theological statement just from the teachings of Jesus,” because the kingdom message “is not theology.”
  • He defines the focus: “people entering into an obedient love-faith relationship with Jesus the King and bearing fruit.”
  • “Jesus didn't talk much about theology because that wasn't particularly important to Him.”
  • “However, He did talk a lot about fruit… [and] how we are to live as citizens of His kingdom… love one another and… love God.”
Discussion Follow-ups If your church calendar and conversations were audited, would they show more energy spent on debates or on practices of love and obedience? What would you remove or add to prove the shift?

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