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WEEK 3 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

January 25, 2026

The power of an unhurried life

Introduction:

Is distraction undermining our spiritual life? Pastor Marty makes a case for a rule of life that accounts for a digital-distracted society by highlighting how our technology can be unhealthy for us. He also offers some guidance on shaping your rule of life to avert digital distraction and help orient your life towards becoming a person of love. live with purpose, and experience deeper peace, joy, and attentiveness to God.

Bottom line: What gets our attention shapes our hearts.

Something To Talk About:

Digital asceticism frees the soul from constant distraction, inviting presence, prayer, and reflection. By choosing faith over feeds, people over phones, and purpose over pressure, we reconnect with God’s deeper call.

  1. Faith over feeds: In the constant hum of notifications, our attention fractures, and faith can feel buried beneath the scroll. Digital asceticism—deliberate withdrawal from feeds and alerts—gives space for God’s voice to emerge. Choosing faith over feeds isn’t rejecting technology, but reclaiming our hearts. It’s in moments away from trending chaos that Scripture resonates, prayer deepens, and clarity rises. Each intentional pause strengthens spiritual focus, reminding us that true connection isn’t measured in likes or shares, but in faithfulness. By resisting the endless pull of digital distraction, we cultivate depth, presence, and a life shaped more by God than by screens.
  2. People over phones: We live in a world where glowing screens often replace human presence. Digital asceticism invites us to choose people over phones—to look up, listen deeply, and truly engage. By putting devices aside, we reclaim attention for conversations, laughter, and shared moments that no notification can replicate. Every intentional pause from scrolling fosters empathy, patience, and connection. Faith grows not in pixels but in presence. Choosing people over phones reminds us that relationships matter more than likes, that eyes meeting eyes matter more than feeds, and that real life, with all its depth, is found beyond the screen.
  3. Purpose over pressure: In a world of constant notifications and endless expectations, digital asceticism teaches us to choose purpose over pressure. By stepping back from the relentless scroll and curated chaos, we create space to discern what truly matters. Faith, creativity, and intentional living flourish when we refuse to be dictated by likes, deadlines, or comparisons. Purpose emerges in the quiet pauses, in the decisions guided by conviction rather than anxiety. Choosing purpose over pressure reminds us that our value isn’t measured by productivity or popularity, but by the depth of our focus, the clarity of our calling, and the intentionality of our days.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does constant connectivity affect your spiritual focus and prayer life?
  2. What areas of your digital life distract you most from God and others?
  3. How can faith overfeed change your daily routines?
  4. What practical steps can you take to choose people over phones this week?
  5. How do notifications and social media pressure influence your sense of purpose?
  6. When was a moment you felt truly present away from screens?
  7. How can digital asceticism deepen your relationships with others?
  8. What fears or resistance arise when you unplug intentionally?
  9. How does silence and solitude help you hear God’s voice?
  10. Which one practice of digital asceticism could you adopt immediately and why?

Take one thing home with you:

Digital asceticism is the intentional practice of stepping back from constant connectivity to reclaim focus, presence, and spiritual depth. In a world flooded with notifications, endless scrolling, and curated chaos, it encourages us to prioritize faith over feeds, people over phones, and purpose over pressure. By creating space for prayer, reflection, and meaningful engagement, we resist distraction and cultivate clarity in our thoughts and actions. This discipline is not a rejection of technology, but a conscious choice to let God, relationships, and calling guide our attention. Digital asceticism transforms how we live, work, and connect—turning moments of silence into spiritual nourishment