Reality Check
Everyone in his circle knew him as a generous, committed, sold out believer. He and his partner were known for their giving. They had a reputation in the community for sacrifice and devotion. Behind closed doors they had made a private agreement that completely contradicted the image they were projecting publicly. Neither of them told anyone. They both died within hours of each other on the same day.
Who is Ananias?
In Part 1 we talked about people who say "that's just how I am, people know how I stay" — as a reason not to change.
Which Bible character had the most dramatic before and after in scripture where who they were became completely unrecognizable compared to who they became?
Who is Saul/Paul?
David had just watched Uzzah die instantly for touching the Ark. He refused to bring it to Jerusalem and left it at someone else's house. The moment he heard that household was being blessed because of it — he went and got it immediately.
What is Selfishness?
Brother Gerald had been pastoring for 31 years. One Sabbath morning under pressure from a difficult board, he said something from the pulpit he could never take back. His license was suspended for a year. He served the suspension, came back, and finished his ministry with integrity.
Who is Moses?
You feel called to do something but keep waiting for the "perfect time." This reflects what root issue?
A. wisdom
B. fear disguised as preparation
C. Patience
D. Discipline
What is B?
Everyone who encountered him praised him. He was well known, highly respected, and had a remarkable testimony of transformation. People traveled to meet him, learn from him, and receive from his ministry. But quietly, in his personal arrangements, he had already made a private compromise that would follow him home, and he walked away from that encounter having gained everything publicly while negotiating his private contradictions with God on his own terms.
Who is Naaman?
In Part 1 we talked about the person who publicly humiliates someone in a position of less power, and how we respond.
Which woman in scripture was publicly dismissed and humiliated by the very people who should have protected her, and whose response became an example of dignified resilience?
Who is Tamar?
After being confronted about Bathsheba and Uriah, David fasted and wept for seven days while his child was sick. The moment the child died, he got up, washed his face, ate a meal, and went to worship. His servants were stunned.
What is Acceptance / Spiritual Maturity / Surrender?
Yvonne and Marcus had been trying to get their business off the ground for six years. Tired of waiting, Yvonne told Marcus to bring his business owner cousin in as a partner. The tension became unbearable and the cousin had to go. Years later, the business became a success.
Who are Abraham, Sarah and Hagar?
Scrolling on social media leaves someone feeling behind and resentful. This reflects a lack of what internal anchor.
What is contentment?
He was powerful, anointed, and had seen God move in extraordinary ways through his ministry, but he had a type. He kept choosing the wrong relationships — not because he didn't know better, but because he didn't want to know better. Every time it caught up with him he shook it off and kept going.
Who is Samson?
Fill in the Blank In Part 1 we talked about the blessing going to someone else — and questioning God's judgment.
Which Bible figure was so frustrated watching evil prosper and injustice go unanswered that they took their complaint directly to God and opened with it?
Who is Habakkuk?
Miriam had done something extraordinary. She led an entire nation through a defining moment. She had a gift, a platform, and a proven track record, but when her younger brother's influence began to eclipse hers she did not celebrate. She questioned. She challenged. She brought someone else into the conversation to add weight to her objection. God heard every word.
What is pride?
Desmond built his reputation over 15 years the hard way. Then Kyle shows up, gets one viral moment, and every door Desmond worked a decade to open is now opening for Kyle instantly. Desmond shuts down emotionally. Stops engaging. His wife finds him sitting in the car at midnight staring at nothing.
Who is Elijah under the juniper tree?
Doing the right thing for recognition instead of sincerity reveals:
A. Discipline
B. Hidden motives
C. Growth
D. Wisdom
What is B?
He was one of the most celebrated worship leaders of his generation. People quoted his work. His content was deep, theological, and moving, but privately he was in a full blown crisis of faith. He had looked around at his life and at the lives of people who wanted nothing to do with God and concluded that living right was pointless. He almost walked away entirely. Nobody knew how close he came to the edge until he wrote about it later.
Who is Asaph?
In Part 1 we talked about the apology, and the pride that makes it nearly impossible to say I was wrong.
Which leader in scripture was confronted by someone far below their social rank, acknowledged the confrontation without deflection, and declared the other person more righteous than themselves?
Who is Judah?
David knew what Amnon did to Tamar. He did nothing. Absalom killed Amnon over it. David mourned but still did nothing. He allowed Absalom back after three years of exile but refused to see him face to face for two more years after that.
What is Avoidance / Unresolved conflict / Passive leadership?
Marcus was the peacemaker, everyone trusted him. Two people in his friend group had been mistreating a quieter member for months. People told Marcus directly. He brought it up once, laughed it off when it got awkward, and never mentioned it again. The quiet one eventually disappeared from the group.
Who is Eli?
Someone gets defensive when corrected instead of reflecting. This reveals a resistance to this process.
What is growth?
He grew up with the best spiritual foundation a person could have. Godly family, strong values, mentored by one of the greatest leaders of his generation. He started well — humble, teachable, effective. But as his influence grew so did his need for control. He could not share the spotlight. He wrote letters dismissing people he felt threatened by. He refused to welcome certain people into his circle and forbade others from doing so either. The Apostle John called him out by name.
Who is Diotrephes?
In Part 1 we talked about who you are when nobody is watching — the temptation scenario.
Which person in scripture was in the most private, least witnessed moment of their life, faced a temptation they had every reason to give in to, and made a choice that cost them everything.
Who is Joseph?
Their father died in judgment. Their family name was associated with rebellion against God. They had every reason to be bitter, every reason to walk away, and every reason to believe God wanted nothing to do with them. Instead they became the worship leaders of an entire generation and wrote psalms people still quote thousands of years later.
Who are they and what trait does this describe?
Who are The Sons of Korah? and What is resilience?
Terrence and Vanessa went on vacation with another couple. Every restaurant, every excursion, every beach — people were drawn to Terrence. Strangers loved him. He was being the man Vanessa fell in love with, but she didn't like that other people liked it too.
Who is Michal?
Someone keeps repeating the same patterns, but wants to grow in christ.
What is insanity?