Week 1: Introduction — Changing Our Narratives About God

1.Smith opens by arguing that everyone operates out of 'narratives' — stories we believe about God, ourselves, and the world that shape our behavior more than our conscious beliefs do. How would you describe the narrative about God you grew up with? Where did it come from?

2.Smith draws a distinction between 'false narratives' and 'kingdom narratives.' In your own words, what is the difference? Can you think of a false narrative about God that you've encountered — in church, in culture, or in your own heart?

3.The book's central method is to look at Jesus in the Gospels as the clearest possible portrait of who God is. Why do you think Smith emphasizes Jesus specifically, rather than, say, the Old Testament or systematic theology? What does it mean that Jesus 'exegetes' the Father (John 1:18)?

4.Smith insists that spiritual transformation involves the mind, the body, and the soul — not just intellectual assent. Does this match or challenge how you've previously thought about spiritual growth? What feels hopeful or threatening about that broader vision?

5.The soul-training exercises throughout the book are meant to make new narratives 'real in the body.' Have you ever practiced a spiritual discipline (fasting, silence, service, Scripture memorization) that changed not just your thinking but your actual experience of God? What happened?

6.Smith suggests that many Christians carry a hidden anxiety that God is not really good — that he is demanding, unpredictable, or easily disappointed. On a gut level (not just theologically), does that resonate? What experiences have reinforced or challenged that anxiety for you?

7.As you begin this book, what is one honest question or doubt about God that you are bringing into the study? Name it specifically. Why does Smith believe it's safe to bring such questions to the Gospels?