What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide

With all the issues facing The United Methodist Church today, there are plenty of theories and opinions about what we should do. Frankly, many of us are weary of the relentless bickering associated with all the rhetoric. What are we fighting for? This question not only points us to the futility of our disunity but also compels us to consider what we are fighting for—what deserves our greatest intensity and effort as we seek to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.


Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton offers a way to move beyond all the discord to a hope-filled future by exploring how we can come together around what matters most so that the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a vibrant part of our lives and witness. He says that fights, feuds, and uncertainties can distract us, leaving us ineffective and mired in mediocrity and decline; but focusing on what matters most causes our ministries to flourish and the church to become a relevant and vital presence in the community and world.With a warm and practical approach, he leads us on a journey of discernment, inviting us to explore:


the spiritual problem at the heart of the issues we’re facing,

three foundational reminders,

guidelines for determining the essentials necessary to make disciples,

a motto for working together in the midst of disagreement,

and thoughts about the ultimate essential, love.



This Leader Guide includes everything a group leader needs to plan and facilitate the six sessions, helping participants to explore what they have read, to view a video, and to discuss the reading and video with the group. The guide walks leaders through the study format and provides options for tailoring sessions to the time-frame and style of each group.

Thomas J. Bickerton is a gifted storyteller and wise mentor who happens to be the Bishop of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is a native of West Virginia and the chief spokesperson for the denomination's "Imagine NO Malaria" campaign, which is reducing malaria-related death and illness in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to being an avid sports fan, he enjoys photography, movies, and travel. He and his wife, Sally, have four grown children.