WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Practicing the Way of Jesus Together: Active and passive spirituality.

Introduction:

While a new concept to many of us in the late modern Western church, the active and passive spirituality paradigm has a long tradition in church history. By “active spirituality,” we mean aspects of our spirituality that feel more like we’re doing something: spiritual disciplines, church activity, or spiritual formation. By “passive spirituality,” we mean aspects of our life with Jesus that feel more like God is the one doing something in us, and our role is to welcome His work, rather than fight it.

Something To Talk About:

In this teaching, we introduce an ancient paradigm called “active and passive spirituality.” We mature by combining practicing the way of Jesus (active spirituality) and accepting Jesus’ invitations in our pain. A key question we must ask daily is: What is Jesus trying to do in my life, and how do I cooperate?

Active Spirituality– the aspects of our apprenticeship to Jesus, where it feels like we do something: A spiritually alive person is mindful of their sinful nature, strives to live in the light of God, and dedicates their life to Him through self-effort. They are drawn to God’s Word, enjoy fellowship with believers, and find freedom from sin’s control. Spiritual life results from God’s grace, empowering individuals to respond to the gospel and live in a way that pleases Him. Growth comes through practice. We actively practice living out holiness by faith in the Holy Spirit at work within us. We fail – a lot. But practice makes you better. And step by step, as we walk by faith in Christ’s Spirit within us, we are steadily journeying forward toward the character that glorifies God most: Christ’s character of holiness. The Christian life is a relationship with God that develops over time. To grow in spiritual maturity (that is, to grow spiritually) is to look more and more like the person God designed you to be — more and more like Jesus. Active spirituality isn’t just about passively receiving spiritual blessings and actively seeking them through prayer, study, service, and other practices. Active spirituality encourages individuals to apply their faith in their daily actions and relationships, seeking to live by their spiritual beliefs. It involves actively seeking God’s guidance, wisdom, and power in all areas of life, trusting in His presence and purpose. It encourages individuals to move beyond passive acceptance of faith and actively respond to God’s call through specific acts of service, personal transformation, or pursuing one’s calling. Is your relationship with Jesus Christ active today?
Passive Spirituality – the aspects of our apprenticeship to Jesus, where it feels more like God is the one doing something in us: What does it mean to be passive? Passive spirituality is characterized by a lack of active participation in spiritual practices like prayer, Bible study, seeking God’s direction, and passively accepting life’s events and circumstances, without actively seeking God’s will or engaging in spiritual growth. There is a potential for stagnation. God created me with a purpose, yet we often fail to do what we know we should do. We procrastinate. Paul says it best in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” A passive spirituality can feel comfortable, allowing one to passively accept life’s events and observe, rather than actively engaging in spiritual growth and seeking God’s will. However, a passive spiritual life can lead to stagnation and hinder our relationship with God. We must actively engage in our faith to overcome this, seeking God’s guidance and pursuing a deeper connection with Him. Consciously challenge your inclination to be passive and actively seek opportunities for spiritual growth and service.

Discussion Questions:

How are you actively seeking to grow in your faith this week?
How does active engagement with your faith impact your daily life, relationships, and choices?
What are the benefits of actively participating in your faith community?
What are some common obstacles to staying active in your faith?
How can we encourage and support each other in staying actively involved in our spiritual journey?
What aspects of your spiritual life feel more passive or less engaging?
In what ways might a passive approach to spirituality limit your growth or connection with God?
How do you overcome feelings of apathy or disengagement in your spiritual life?
How can we make our spiritual practices more engaging and meaningful?
How can we learn from each other’s experiences, whether active or passive, to grow in our faith?
How can we create a more supportive and encouraging environment for active and passive individuals within our faith community?
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message? What challenged you?

Take one thing home with you:

Active versus passive obedience:

Active obedience is when we obey the commands of someone else. Passive obedience is the total submission to another, even when harm or suffering may result. The two concepts are very similar, but active obedience usually involves the performance of certain deeds, while passive obedience implies non-resistance. About God, active obedience is seeking out His commands and setting our hearts to do them. Passive obedience is the state of ongoing surrender that says, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus exemplified both active and passive obedience at all times during His ministry on earth, and Christians are to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power to follow His example (Acts 1:8).