Opening Question:

What is something you do regularly that you’ve never really stopped to ask “Why do we do this?” What happens when we keep a practice but forget the reason behind it?

Key Takeaways:

• We can become faithful to a practice without understanding its purpose. God wants us to live from conviction, not simply tradition.
• JRNY’s core value is “We are aggressive, not apathetic.” Biblical aggression is not about being rude, pushy, or angry—it is about responding with urgency to what we know is true.
• Awareness creates aggression. The more aware we become of what is at stake, the harder it becomes to remain comfortable doing nothing.
• Everyone has sinned and falls short of God’s standard. Sin is not only what we do outwardly; it also exists in our hearts and attitudes.
• Sin separates us from God, both in the brokenness we experience now and in the reality of eternal judgment.
• We cannot fix or manage our sin problem on our own. Jesus is the only one who can rescue us and reconcile us to God.
• The gospel is not primarily about what we do for God—it begins with what Jesus has already done for us through His death and resurrection.
• We do not know how much time we or the people around us have. Because eternity matters, Jesus has commissioned His followers to share the gospel with urgency.

Discussion Questions:

Part 1: Conviction vs. Tradition

1. Are there any areas of your faith where you might be going through the motions without really thinking about why you do them? What could it look like to move from simply practicing something to understanding the conviction behind it?
2. JRNY says, “We are aggressive, not apathetic.” What is your first reaction when you hear the word “aggressive” connected to Christianity? How does the sermon redefine that word?

Part 2: Awareness Creates Aggression

1. Read Romans 3:10–12 and Romans 3:23. What do these verses say about the condition of every person? Why is it important that the gospel begins with the reality that everyone has sinned?
2. The pastor said, “There are not GOOD and BAD people in this world. There are BAD people who have been transformed by a GOOD God.” How does this idea challenge the way we might compare ourselves to other people?

Part 3: The Problem We Can’t Fix

1. The pastor said, “Sin separates us NOW.” Where do you see the effects of sin and brokenness in everyday life—in yourself, in relationships, or in the world around you?
2. The pastor said, “We cannot fix or manage the problem of sin. You can only be rescued from it.” What is the difference between trying to become a better person and recognizing your need to be rescued by Jesus?
3. Why do you think talking honestly about sin can actually be an act of love? What could happen if we make the “label” of sin less serious than Scripture does?

Part 4: Jesus Is the Good News

1. Read Acts 4:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:21. According to these verses, what has Jesus done that we could never do for ourselves?
2. The sermon described the cross as the place where grace and justice meet. What does the cross show us about both the seriousness of sin and the love of God?
3. Why is it important that our message about Christianity would not still be true if Jesus had never died on the cross? What does that reveal about the center of the Christian faith?
4. If someone who knew nothing about Christianity asked you, “Why do I need Jesus?”, how would you explain your answer in your own words?

Part 5: Why Urgency Matters

1. Read Matthew 24:36–42. What does Jesus say about His return? How should knowing that we do not know when He will return affect the way we live today?
2. What makes sharing your faith feel uncomfortable? The sermon mentioned things like being awkward, offending someone, or being thought of as weird. Which of those fears feels most real to you?
3. The pastor said, “The greatest tragedy is somebody living and dying without Jesus.” How does that statement change the way you think about the people you interact with every week?
4. If awareness creates aggression, what is one truth from this message that you need to become more aware of—and what might change in your life if you actually lived like that truth was urgent?