Find your chapter below for additional books, videos, articles, Scripture, and discussion questions on each unquestioned answer.
- Introduction – Unanswered questions, unquestioned answers
- Chapter 1 – God said it; I believe it; that settles it for me
- Chapter 2 – Just have faith
- Chapter 3 – God will heal our land if we humble ourselves and pray
- Chapter 4 – It’s just me and Jesus
- Chapter 5 – Love the sinner, hate the sin
- Chapter 6 – Christianity is a relationship, not a religion
- Chapter 7 – Jesus was a social justice warrior
- Chapter 8 – It’s not my place to judge
- Chapter 9 – This world has nothing for me
- Chapter 10 – God is good all the time—all the time God is good
- Conclusion – Out of the shallows, into the deep
Introduction – Unanswered Questions, Unquestioned Answers
Study Questions
- How does Simplicism differ from simplicity?
- How would you describe the effects of Simplicism on our culture? On your life?
- What are some clichés that you have found yourself reciting without reflection?
- What clichés are you looking forward to reading about? Why?
Scripture
- Matthew 22:37
- 1 Corinthians 2:16
- 1 Peter 3:15
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Proverbs 4:5
- Colossians 2:8
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
Additional Reading
- Love Your God with All Your Mind, J.P. Moreland
- Think, Learn, Succeed, Carolyn Leaf
- Your Mind Matters, John R. Stott
- Think, John Piper
- A Rulebook for Arguments, Anthony Weston
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 1 - God said it, that settles it for me
Study Questions
- What beliefs or teachings that you learned as a child have you adjusted as you matured in your faith?
- What doubts have you wrestled with since becoming a Christian?
- How have you benefited from studying the Bible?
- What are some things we ought to keep in mind about God’s Word as we study it?
Scripture
- Psalm 119
- Galatians 5:22–23
- 2 Corinthians 3:17
- Proverbs 3:6
- 2 Corinthians 10:4
Additional Reading
- Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace
- Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh and Sean McDowell
- Doubting Toward Faith, Bobby Conway
- Understanding the Faith (Chapters 2, 5, 6), Jeff Myers
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 2 – Just have faith
Study Questions
- How is the notion of faith often misunderstood by Christians and non-Christians alike?
- Did this chapter challenge any of your beliefs about biblical faith?
- What do you think it means to live faithfully? In what do you place your faith?
- How does living out what you believe show your faith to others?
Scripture
- Matthew 8:5–13
- Romans 10:13–17
- Galatians 2:14–16
- Hebrews 10:31–11:3
- James 2:14–23
Additional Reading
- Understanding the Faith (Chapter 1), Jeff Myers
- Forensic Faith, J. Warner Wallace
- Love Your God with All Your Mind, J.P. Moreland
- The God Who is There, Francis Schaeffer
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 3 –God will heal our land if we humble ourselves and pray
Study Questions
- Have you ever been angry at God because you thought he promised you something but never delivered?
- Why is context important when reading the Bible? How can you keep from taking God’s words out of context?
- What role does prayer play in your life?
- What steps would you like to take to strengthen your prayer life?
Scripture
- Matthew 6:9-13
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Luke 11:5
- Luke 18:1–8
- Hebrews 4:16, 10:22
- Ephesians 3:12
Additional Reading
- Playing with Fire, Walter Russell
- Eat This Book, Eugene Peterson
- How to Read the Bible for all It’s Worth, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
- Fearless Prayer, Craig Hazen
- Understanding the Faith (Chapter 7), Jeff Myers
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 4 – It's just me and Jesus
Study Questions
- What do you find valuable about belonging to a church?
- What is it about church community that is challenging?
- Do you need to make any changes in your habits surrounding church—such as attendance, involvement, and attitude?
- How has the body of Christ helped you through personal struggles?
Scripture
- Hebrews 10:23–25
- Romans 12
- 1 Corinthians 12
- 1 Peter 2:9–10
Additional Reading
- Life Together, Dieterich Bonhoeffer
- The Mark of a Christian, Francis Schaeffer
- Why I Still Believe, Mary Jo Sharp
- Why We Love the Church, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 5 – Love the sinner, hate the sin
Study Questions
- Are there people you need to forgive? Are there people from whom you need to ask forgiveness?
- How can you have a gospel witness to people who have been hurt by this cliché?
- How should the Bible’s message about our identity change the way we think about sin, forgiveness, and sanctification (especially in relation to restoration, evangelism, etc.)?
- In what do you find your identity?
Scripture
- 1 John 1:8–10
- Psalm 103:12
- Romans 8
- Romans 2:1–5
- Isaiah 6:5
Additional Reading
- Grace Defined and Defended, Kevin DeYoung
- Understanding the Faith (Chapter 9), Jeff Myers
- Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
- Books on Sexuality
- Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, Christopher Yuan
- Messy Grace, Caleb Kaltenbach
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 6 – Christianity is a relationship, not a religion
Study Questions
- What was your experience with Jesus growing up?
- Has Christianity always been familiar to you? If so, was there more of an emphasis on relationship or on religion?
- How would you define religion?
- Do you agree that religion is an integral part of being a Christian? Why?
Scripture
- Romans 12:2
- Matthew 5:17–20
- Galatians 2:20
Additional Reading
- The Story of Reality, Gregory Koukl
- Understanding the Faith (Chapters 5 & 6), Jeff Myers
- How Now Shall We Live?, Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 7 – Jesus was a social justice warrior
Study Questions
- What are some injustices that you have witnessed?
- How has your faith influenced your view of justice?
- Can biblical justice and social justice be reconciled in today’s society?
- How do you see Jesus as the fulfillment of our desire for justice?
Scripture
- Psalm 33:4–5
- Leviticus 19:15–18
- Luke 10:25–37
- Deuteronomy 6:4–15
- Isaiah 61:1–2
Additional Reading
- Generous Justice, Timothy Keller
- Restoring All Things, John Stonestreet and Warren Cole Smith
- Understanding the Culture (Chapter 16), Jeff Myers
- Social Justice (PDF), E. Calvin Beisner
- The Quest for Cosmic Justice, Thomas Sowell
- God, Justice, and Society, Jonathan Burnside
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 8 – It's not my place to judge
Study Questions
- Are Christians called to judge others? If so, how can we do this lovingly?
- Have you ever shied away from a confrontation by using this cliché? What was the confrontation?
- When have you felt judged? How did that experience make you feel? How did you respond?
- What tactic would you like to try in your next challenging interaction?
Scripture
- John 8:31–32
- 2 Timothy 2:23–26
- John 14:1–7
Additional Reading
- The Beauty of Intolerance, Josh and Sean McDowell
- Tactics, Gregory Koukl
- The Intolerance of Tolerance, D.A. Carson
- Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult, J.P. Moreland and Garrett Deweese
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 9 – The world has nothing for me
Study Questions
- In what ways you have been tempted to ignore the challenges of this world and focus only on heaven instead?
- What is our responsibility to engage and change our world to bring about shalom?
- How do you see God currently redeeming the world?
- How can you make the most of each opportunity (kairos) you have?
Scripture
- Jeremiah 29:1–9
- Matthew 28:18–20
- John 17:13–19
Additional Reading
- Culture Making, Andy Crouch
- Understanding the Culture (Chapter 4), Jeff Myers
- How Should We Then Live, Francis Schaeffer
- How Christianity Changed the World, Alvin J. Schmidt
- In, But Not Of, Hugh Hewitt
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Chapter 10 – God is good all the time – all the time God is good
Study Questions
- What are your first thoughts when you hear “God is good”?
- What are some times in your life you have struggled to believe that God is good?
- Where do you see evidence of God’s goodness in your life?
- How can we share God’s goodness with others while acknowledging the reality of pain and evil in our fallen world?
Scripture
- Romans 5:3–11
- John 16:33
- Romans 8:18–30
- Psalm 13
Additional Reading
- The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis
- A Grief Observed, C. S. Lewis
- Understanding the Faith (Chapters 14 & 16), Jeff Myers
- If God, Why Evil?, Norman Geisler
- If God is Good, Randy Alcorn
Videos, Articles, Websites, and More
Conclusion – Out of the shallows, into the deep
Study Questions
- What are some clichés you’re going to think differently about now?
- Are there any clichés you disagree with me about? Why? Why not?
- What practical steps would you like to take to counteract Simplicism?
Scripture
- Romans 12:2
- 2 Corinthians 10:5
- Proverbs 4:23, 14:15
- Philippians 4:8
- 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Additional Reading
- Ten Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe, Larry Osborne
- The Secret Battle of Ideas about God, Jeff Myers
- Half Truths, Adam Hamilton
*Mention of a resource (books, articles, websites, links, etc) does not indicate an endorsement of the material, author, or organization by Jeff Myers, Summit Ministries, or David C Cook. These resources are meant to inspire thoughtful discussion and further thinking.