10-Week Study & Discussion Guide

Do Hard Things

by Alex Harris·71 discussion questions

Week 1 — FreeRead the Introduction and Preface of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Jeremiah 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:12

Discussion question your group will work through:

1.The book opens with a direct challenge: "Most people don't expect you to understand... And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last." How did those words land on you when you first read them? Did they feel motivating, accusatory, or something else entirely?

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About This Study Guide

At a glance: this is a 10-week study and discussion guide for Do Hard Things by Alex Harris, with 71 questions organized by reading assignment. Week 1 is free to read, with no card required.

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris is a rallying cry to a generation that has been told to sit down, take it easy, and wait until adulthood to do anything that really matters. Written when the twins were eighteen years old, the book challenges the modern concept of adolescence as a "vacation from responsibility" and replaces it with a bold vision: the teen years are not a holding pattern but a launching pad. Drawing on biblical truth, history, and the stories of real young people who are already doing extraordinary things, Alex and Brett introduce the concept of the "Rebelution" — a rebellion against low expectations that fuels genuine personal and social change. Their central thesis is simple but countercultural: doing hard things is not the exception for young people who follow Christ; it is the calling.

This study guide is designed to help you engage Do Hard Things chapter by chapter, whether on your own or with a small group. Each week, read the assigned chapter before you meet (or before you sit down to journal), then work through the discussion questions at your own pace. Some questions ask you to recall and understand what Alex and Brett actually argued; others invite honest self-examination; and still others push you to connect the chapter's ideas to the gospel and to God's purposes for your life right now. You don't need to answer every question perfectly — the goal is honest engagement, not impressive answers.

By the end of this guide, you should have a clearer picture of what the "Rebelution" means for your specific life, a deeper understanding of why God calls us to hard things rather than comfortable ones, and at least one or two concrete commitments you are ready to act on. Expect to be challenged. Expect to be encouraged. And expect that the God who equipped teenagers like David, Esther, and Mary for world-changing obedience is fully able to do the same in you.

Introduction — The Rebelution Begins

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Read the Introduction and Preface of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Jeremiah 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:12

Before diving into the chapters, take time to sit with the book's opening provocation: most people don't expect you to understand, care, or follow through — and Alex and Brett are betting that you will.

1.The book opens with a direct challenge: "Most people don't expect you to understand... And even if you do something about it, they don't expect it to last." How did those words land on you when you first read them? Did they feel motivating, accusatory, or something else entirely?

2.Alex and Brett coined the term "Rebelution" — a combination of "rebellion" and "revolution." In your own words, what are they rebelling against, and what are they revolting toward?

3.The twins wrote this book as teenagers themselves. Does that fact change how you receive their message? Why or why not?

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10-Week Schedule

  1. Week 1Introduction — The Rebelution Begins7 questions
  2. Week 2Chapter 1 — Rebelutionaries in Action7 questions
  3. Week 3Chapter 2 — The Myth of Adolescence7 questions
  4. Week 4Chapter 3 — Counterfeit Comfort and the First Hard Thing7 questions
  5. Week 5Chapter 4 — Hard Things That Are Beyond You7 questions
  6. Week 6Chapter 5 — Hard Things That Are Unglamorous7 questions
  7. Week 7Chapter 6 — Hard Things That Are Opposed7 questions
  8. Week 8Chapter 7 — Hard Things That Require Together7 questions
  9. Week 9Chapter 8 — Start Here, Start Now7 questions
  10. Week 10Review & Reflection8 questions

Chapter 1 — Rebelutionaries in Action

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Read Chapter 1 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12; Psalm 71:17

1.Alex and Brett open with real stories of teenagers who have done remarkable things — from lobbying for legislation to launching non-profits and humanitarian projects. Which story struck you most, and what made it feel significant rather than just impressive?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 2 — The Myth of Adolescence

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Read Chapter 2 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:1; Luke 2:52

1.Alex and Brett argue that "adolescence" as we know it — a prolonged period of irresponsibility between childhood and adulthood — is a modern invention, roughly a hundred years old. Did this claim surprise you? What had you previously assumed about the teen years?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 3 — Counterfeit Comfort and the First Hard Thing

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Read Chapter 3 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Hebrews 12:11; Romans 5:3-4

1.Alex and Brett describe the first category of hard things as those that are "outside your comfort zone" — not necessarily huge, dramatic acts, but everyday choices to push past what is easy and familiar. What does your personal comfort zone look like? Name two or three things you consistently avoid because they're uncomfortable.

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 4 — Hard Things That Are Beyond You

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Read Chapter 4 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

1.Alex and Brett describe a second category of hard things: those that are "beyond your current abilities" — tasks that require you to grow into them rather than simply deciding to do them. How is this different from the first category (things outside your comfort zone)?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 5 — Hard Things That Are Unglamorous

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Read Chapter 5 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Colossians 3:23; Luke 16:10

1.Alex and Brett identify a third category of hard things: those that are "not fun, flashy, or popular" — the behind-the-scenes, ingrate work that almost never gets applause. Why is this category particularly hard for our generation to embrace?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 6 — Hard Things That Are Opposed

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Read Chapter 6 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:12; Acts 5:29

1.Alex and Brett describe a fourth category of hard things: those that are "opposed by others" — choices that will earn you ridicule, pushback, or social cost. How is opposition different from mere difficulty? Why does opposition feel uniquely threatening?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 7 — Hard Things That Require Together

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Read Chapter 7 of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25

1.Alex and Brett describe the fifth category of hard things as those that "require working with others" — collaboration, accountability, and the kind of teamwork that forces you out of independence and into genuine community. Why might this qualify as a "hard thing" in a culture that prizes individual achievement?

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Chapter 8 — Start Here, Start Now

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Read Chapter 8 and the Conclusion of Do Hard Things. Key Scripture: Galatians 6:9; James 1:22

1.The final chapter is essentially a call to action. After everything you have read, what has been the most repeated excuse you have made (internally or out loud) for not starting yet? Name it honestly.

+ 6 more questions in the full guide

Review & Reflection

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Review your notes from all previous weeks and any passages of Do Hard Things that were most meaningful to you

1.Looking back across the entire book, which chapter or concept hit you hardest? Why do you think that one landed with particular force?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide
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About the Do Hard Things guide

How many weeks is the Do Hard Things study guide?

This study guide covers Do Hard Things in 10 weeks, with week-by-week discussion questions, reading references, and closing prayers for each session.

How many discussion questions are included?

The complete guide includes 71 discussion questions across 10 weeks — an average of 7 questions per week, designed for group conversation.

Can I use this guide for a book club?

Yes — the questions are written for group discussion and work well for small groups, book clubs, church studies, and couples reading together.

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