Radiant Groups Study Resources

12 Truths & a Lie Study Questions

Some questions taken from 12 Truths & a Lie Family Discussion Guide

• Chapter 1: How can I know for sure I’ll go to heaven?
  1. Read Romans 4:5 in the ESV, CSB and NIV translations. Explain in your own words the idea of counted (Greek word logizomai). How confident are you that God has looked at the motivation of your heart and the actions of your living and counted you as righteous?
  2. Read Romans chapter 4. Why is it important to Paul that we know that Abraham was credited with righteousness before he was circumcised? (Hint: Read vv. 9–10 and then vv. 2–3 again)
  3. What additional passages of scripture can you offer as evidence that God has counted you as righteous and has not revoked that righteousness?
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that God made Jesus to be sin for us, and that we in turn become the righteousness of God. Why is it difficult for us to see ourselves as righteous as God sees us? How can we begin to live out that truth?
  5. Do you view your obedience to God – whether consciously or subconsciously – as effort invested to earn salvation or as a grateful response for the gift of salvation that can never be earned?
  6. Does your motivation to obey God stem from a fear that you might not do enough good to truly have salvation, or from a deep, rich love for the Savior who freely gave you His righteousness despite your unworthiness?
  7. What does the posture of my actions say about my faith? (pp. 22–23)
• Chapter 2: What are the most important practices in a Christian’s life?
  1. Before reading this chapter, what has been your definition or understanding of what a Christian is? Has your definition changed/expanded after reading this chapter?
  2. Of the five core identities of a disciple explained on pages 40–41, in which are you flourishing and bearing fruit? Where do you need to grow?
  3. What keeps you from surrendering to live as a disciple of Jesus?
  4. What would it look like to live your life as a representative of Jesus in this world? What would stay the same? What would need to change?
• Chapter 3: How can I discover my purpose on earth?
  1. Describe a time when you wondered if your life had meaning and purpose. Why did you feel that way? How has that changed, or has it?
  2. Who is the Samwise to your Mr. Frodo?
  3. How does viewing work as taking the materials that God has made and preparing and developing them change your view of work?
  4. Is there anything you do, or have done, that gives you that “this is what I was made for!” feeling?
  5. We are called to make disciples “as you are going.” (Matthew 28:19) Where is it you are going? Who is there for you to make into a disciple of Jesus?
  6. Who are the “kings of the earth” in your life that you stand before? (Proverbs 22:29) Does the quality of your work give you a platform to share about Jesus?
  7. What would it look like to live your “ordinary life” with gospel intentionality? Describe how this could play out in your sphere of influence.
• Chapter 4: If God is really in control, why is there so much evil and suffering?
  1. What is a situation in your life, or in the life of someone close to you, that makes you question why God has allowed it to happen?
  2. Do you truly stand in awe of God? How does recognizing, or attempting to recognize, the magnitude of God’s power and wisdom affect how you view tragic and evil situation and events?
  3. How does God’s infinite perspective help us to be more confident that even amidst such evil, God is in control and “works all things according to the counsel of his will?” (Ephesians 1:11)
  4. Can you relate to one of the “purposes for suffering” listed on page 83? Please describe.
  5. What are some of God’s everlasting promises that you cling to regularly?
  6. Both Deuteronomy 31:6 and Matthew 28:20 tell of God’s promise to be with us always. Do you believe this promise? Why?
  7. How have you felt God’s presence in times of suffering?
• Chapter 5: Isn’t the Bible’s morality outdated?
  1. What do you remember about the 1970s or 1980s?
  2. While culture changes quickly, what have you noticed never changes?
  3. Have you seen Christians or the Church make a difference around you? If not, where could the Church focus its attention today?
  4. What moral issues are impacting your work or community?
  5. Why is the gospel always relevant?
• Chapter 6: Why isn’t God answering my prayers?
  1. Describe a time you have felt like you’ve felt “Holy-Ghosted” by God seemingly not answering your prayers. Why did you feel that way? What came of that situation?
  2. Describe a time when God did not answer your prayers in the way you asked and then blessed you by allowing you to understand His why.
  3. Greear gives an analogy of asking for a scorpion but being given a bunny. Tell about a time when you asked for this proverbial scorpion, but God gave you the bunny instead.
  4. What was a prayer that you persistently put before the Lord before it was answered? How long did you pray this prayer before God answered it? How did He answer it?
  5. Which one of the “maybes” listed on pages 114–116 resonates with you and why?
  6. On page 123, Greear breaks down Psalm 23 as a means of providing hope in times of struggle and/or waiting. Which of these sections do you find yourself in now? What comfort are you receiving by pondering God’s perfect faithfulness and provision?
• Chapter 7: How can I know God’s will for my life?
  1. Have you ever used a fun way (Magic 8 ball, rock-paper-scissors, flip a coin, etc) to decide something?
  2. Have you ever had an experience where you desperately wanted to know God’s will? How did that experience work out once you moved forward?
  3. What is God’s real desire for your life?
  4. How can you “become” the will of God in order to know the will of God?
  5. How does shifting your focus from knowing the will of God to becoming the will of God bring freedom?
• Chapter 8: I believe in God. Why do I still struggle with anxiety?
  1. When anxiety kicks in, how does knowing that God doesn’t just command us not to worry, Philippians 4:6, but He also gives us a way to obey this command help?
  2. Read Matthew 6:25–34. What is your gut reaction to what Jesus has to say? It’s ok to read these verses and not be totally comforted and soothed by them. Do they cause an internal wrestling? Do they call out an area you need to address? Are you comforted by these words?
  3. How does understanding that God created us with needs, and He cares about whether we have our needs met, help to understand what Jesus was saying about the birds and flowers in Matthew 6:26–30?
  4. Ponder that God wants your needs to be met but wants you to come to Him and to trust Him. Does this change how you reacted when you read through Matthew 6:25–34 in the prior question? Explain.
  5. What are some ways we can take our thoughts off what is causing our anxiety and onto God?
  6. Reading in God’s Word, we learn that we are made in God’s image and that Jesus died for our salvation. Does this help you to believe that you are valuable to God? Explain.
  7. Can you relate to how the author feels when he says on page 161 that worrying makes him feel like he is engaged with whatever is causing him anxiety? Share why.
  8. Who is someone you can share your worries with, will care and pray for you, but will point you back to the truth that God cares way more than anyone else can? Who is someone for whom you do this?
  9. God wants us to know and trust that He is sufficient for today and for whatever tomorrow will bring. How has God proven to you that He is trustworthy and present in your life? Share these God@Work stories with your group and rejoice together.
  10. What are the truths about God that can replace the “what ifs” that cause you anxiety? Make a list to reference when you are anxious. Share this with the group.
• Chapter 9: How could a loving God send people to hell?
  1. What ideas come to mind when you think of hell? Are your ideas similar to or different from the ideas presented in this chapter?
  2. What is the essence of heaven according to page 172? Of hell?
  3. Why is eternal punishment a just retribution for sin? (Pages 174–177)
  4. If hell is a real place, why aren’t Christians talking more about it?
• Chapter 10: How should christians handle political differences?
  1. When it comes to “identifying” with something, are you more inclined to say you are a Democrat/Republican, or a Christ follower?
  2. What is your view of politics? Do you consider political issues to be of the highest importance or do you care about them?
  3. Do your political views get in the way of living out and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those in your sphere of influence?
  4. On page 190, Greear shares that he keeps away from sharing political views and preaching on some specific issues because he feels his position as a pastor “…will be interpreted as representing the authority of the church…” Share about your own opinion(s) on how churches and pastors should approach political and cultural issues from the pulpit.
  5. On page 192, Greear says “Practicing good politics is a way of loving your neighbor.” How does this statement strike you? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
  6. When was a time when you took a firm stance on something and later learned that there was more to the circumstance than you had known at the time? Share how you initially formed your viewpoint and why you took a firm stance and then how the new information caused you to humbly change your position.
  7. Do your political views get in the way of being united with ALL your fellow believers who want to make much of Jesus and the gospel? Why? How can we all work to be unified in Christ while disagreeing on issues of the world?
• Chapter 11: Why does God care so much about my sex life?
  1. Does it surprise you how much the Bible talks about sex?
  2. How does our culture think Christians view sex as opposed to how the apostle Paul claims Christians view sex? (Page 206)
  3. Sexual immorality is a sin against what three persons? (Page 207)
  4. How is 2 Corinthians 5:17 good news for the sexual sinner?
• Chapter 12: If I’m a Christian, why do I keep on sinning?
  1. Many face the struggle of wondering if they are truly saved because of their ongoing battle with sin. Where do you stand with this right now?
  2. Now consider that in Romans 7:14–17, Paul claims he is a sinner who struggles with sin. As you contemplate that the apostle Paul also battled with sin after his conversion, how does this affect how you view your own sin struggle?
  3. What sin are you battling in your life? Are you willing to kill it, right now? Would you share this with someone and ask them to hold you accountable?
  4. Greear says that “God may let you struggle with certain sins to keep you closely tethered to his grace.” Do you agree with him? Explain why or why not.
  5. Share with the group the biblical truths that you lean on in the battle against your flesh.
• Conclusion
  1. “The lie: If you have doubts and difficult questions, you’re a bad Christian, or maybe not a Christian at all.” Does this describe you in any way? Share why you feel this way.
  2. Do you have questions that you are scared, nervous or intimidated to ask? If so, why are you holding back from asking these questions?
  3. Greear mentions the description of the Christian life, credited to St. Augustine and Anslem, the Archbishop of Canterbury, as “Faith seeking understanding.” Do you agree with this description? Why or why not?
  4. The author says that the apostle Thomas was all-in after having his questions answered. How about you? Would answers to your questions give you the desire to be “all-in” for Jesus or keep you from committing? Why did you answer the way you did?