WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Practicing the way – Part 3

Introduction:

It is normal to dream of a future better than our current reality. Even those of us with the most enjoyable and well-rounded lives often have something that we would like to see change in ourselves. What we change into and how that change happens is an entirely different matter.

We can change for the worse, unintentionally, or based on ideas or values that have nothing to do with Jesus. However, the goal of a community of people who are committed to following Jesus is that we change to become more like Him. While we often want God to transform us miraculously, instantaneously, and privately, God’s method usually changes us slowly over time, with our participation and the essential support, accountability, and loving challenge of our community.

Something To Talk About:

Spiritual formation is the process of sanctification in which God uses every circumstance in believers’ lives to conform them to the image of Christ and make them into loving members of His family. Theologically, spiritual formation is the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit on the human heart, which helps become more like Jesus. There is unintentional and intentional spiritual formation.

1. Unintentional spiritual formation: We all have desires; some are good and may be in the direction of what is wrong and upside down.  Paul in Ephesians tells us that our calling is more about our character than our career. The invitation is to put off an old way of life and put on a new way of life. One of the key tasks of our apprenticeship with Jesus is to discover our identity and calling and the changes needed to become more like Him. Spiritual formation is the process over a lifetime by which we are transformed to become more like Jesus and, in doing so, more like our true self. Unintentional spiritual formation is how you are formed with little or no intention, including the stories we believe, our habits, our relationships, and our environment. Our habits form us. The more you do something, the more you want to do something. The less you do something, the less you want to do something.  All of this happens over time and through our experiences. The stories we believe, our habits, our relationships, and our environment form us. We need to wake up and realize who we are becoming.
2. Intentional spiritual formation: Intentional spiritual formation is when our apprenticeship to Jesus is stronger than the formation of the world around us through teaching. Teaching counters the stories we believe. Jesus is a teacher, and we see Him changing society by telling people: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2). Getting right ideas into our head is the starting point but not the ending point. It must move to our body. The way of Jesus is a way of life, and practice counters old habits. Most people think we change by trying hard, but we change by training hard. Apprenticeship to Jesus is the practice of training to think and live as He did. The practices and training of Jesus are known as the spiritual disciplines; things like the Sabbath rest, daily silence/prayer, and solitude. The Holy Spirit is the center of all we do and the power source for our transformation. Our role is to seek teaching, practice, and live in community. The rest is God’s role.  

Discussion Questions:

1. Over the years, what rhythms have you developed that influence your walk with God? Which of these rhythms strengthens your spiritual life? Which ones undermine healthy spirituality?
2. What attribute of Jesus’s character do I most want to grow in? What practice, habit, or rhythm would help grow this in me?
3. What are my unintentional habits?
4. What does it mean to be intentionally formed by God?
5. What spiritual disciplines can help you be more intentional in your spiritual formation?  How can you identify areas in your life where you need to grow spiritually?
6. What practical steps can you take this week to pursue spiritual growth actively?
7. Who do you know that most resembles Jesus’s character and lifestyle? What is it about them that reflects Jesus to you?
8. What attribute of Jesus’s character do you most want to grow in? What practice, habit, or rhythm would help develop this in you?
9. What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful, or challenging to understand from this sermon?

Take one thing home with you:

We serve a God of powerful transformations. Throughout Scripture, God takes those whom the world deemed the lowest, the hopeless, and the helpless and uses them to change the world. You are not beyond transformation. God longs to break off that which inhibits you from experiencing the fullness of life. He longs to heal you, deliver you, and set you free.

If God cares enough to change who you were when He saved you, then He cares enough to help you change how you act now. The transformation He made in us wasn’t a one-time event. It was designed to be continuous throughout your life. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” God hasn’t stopped His transformation of you. He will continue it. Give Him permission to continue transforming who you are and how you act by transforming your thoughts. Salvation was just the beginning of that transformation God wants to do in our lives.