Personal Discipleship Starts with Self-Examination
- Pastor Gary
- May 27
- 3 min read
Updated: May 27
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”— Luke 6:41–42
Jesus didn’t pull punches. His words cut through our excuses and point us to the truth: before we try to “fix” others, we must first be honest about ourselves.
That’s the heart of personal discipleship.
It’s not just attending a Bible study or listening to sermons. It’s allowing God’s Spirit to shine light into the hidden corners of our heart. It’s practicing the uncomfortable, life-giving discipline of self-examination.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, understood this deeply. He believed that transformation happens when we stop pretending and start reflecting. His early discipleship groups—called “class meetings”—were built on grace-filled accountability. And at the center of those meetings were 22 brutally honest questions designed to help people grow in holiness and Christlikeness.
These questions weren’t just for a one-time inventory. They were meant to be asked daily in self evaluation and part of our accountable discipleship. Why? Because discipleship is personal, but not private. It’s a journey we walk together.
Why Self-Examination Matters
1. It guards against hypocrisy.Jesus warns us not to point fingers when we haven’t first looked in the mirror. Wesley’s questions help us do just that—they expose the “planks” in our own eyes so we can walk in truth.
2. It invites transformation.We don’t examine ourselves to wallow in guilt—we do it so grace can work. These questions help us name what’s broken, so God can begin to heal it.
3. It deepens community.When we’re honest with ourselves about our struggles, it enables us to make space for others to be honest too. That’s where real Christian fellowship begins—not with perfection, but with shared pursuit of Christ.
Start the Journey
Here’s an invitation: set aside time this week to reflect on just a few of these questions. Even better, talk about them with a trusted friend or mentor. Let the Spirit speak. Let the Word guide you. Let the grace of God reshape you.
Discipleship doesn’t start with fixing others. It starts with letting Jesus change you.
John Wesley’s 22 Questions for Self-Examination
Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am?
Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
Can I be trusted?
Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
Did the Bible live in me today?
Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
Am I enjoying prayer?
When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
Do I pray about the money I spend?
Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
Do I disobey God in anything?
Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
Am I defeated in any part of my life?
Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
How do I spend my spare time?
Am I proud?
Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
Do I grumble or complain constantly?
Is Christ real to me?
Let’s not be content with appearance. Let’s pursue depth. Let’s walk in grace.Personal discipleship starts with asking hard questions—and trusting that the God who sees us fully also loves us completely.
Would you like a printable version of these questions to use in your small group or mentoring relationships? Let me know, and I’ll send you one!
