The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson
Week 2: Chapter 2 — Into the City
Read Chapter 2 of The Cross and the Switchblade.
Previewing Week 2 of The Cross and the Switchblade
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Wilkerson's first trips into New York City are marked by naivety, failed attempts, and a rapidly deflating sense of romantic heroism — which turns out to be exactly the preparation God had in mind.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.When Wilkerson first arrives in New York City, he quickly discovers that the city is nothing like the world he imagined from a rural Pennsylvania parsonage. What specific moments early on shatter his idealized picture of how this mission would go?
2.Wilkerson attempts to get access to the boys on trial and is repeatedly rebuffed — most memorably when he is removed from the courtroom and photographed by press, leading to embarrassing headlines. How do you react to this scene?
a.Is this kind of public failure a sign that Wilkerson was wrong about his calling, or does it fit a broader biblical pattern? Can you think of other examples?
b.Have you ever followed what you believed was God's leading only to experience a very public or humiliating failure? What did that do to your faith?
3.Rather than returning home after the courtroom humiliation, Wilkerson feels more confirmed in his call. How do you account for that kind of resilience? What is the difference between stubborn pride and genuine Spirit-led perseverance?