The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Week 3: Single-Minded Obedience
Read Chapter 3 of The Cost of Discipleship ("Single-Minded Obedience"). Key passages: Matthew 5:29-30; Luke 9:57-62
Previewing Week 3 of The Cost of Discipleship
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Bonhoeffer now sharpens the call to a fine point — exploring what it means to obey Jesus without reservation, qualification, or exception.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Bonhoeffer describes what he calls "the great divide" between those who hear Jesus' words and do them, and those who hear and do not. He says this divide is not between serious and casual Christians but between disciples and non-disciples. Does that strike you as too sharp a distinction, or does it ring true?
2.He argues that the moment we begin to ask "How far does the command go?" or "What is the minimum required?" we have already stepped off the path of discipleship. Why does asking about limits reveal a divided heart rather than theological precision?
3.Bonhoeffer takes seriously the radical sayings of Jesus — "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out" — and refuses to spiritualize them away into general principles. What does this approach demand of us as readers of the Sermon on the Mount? Are there commands of Jesus you have been tempted to domesticate into something more manageable?