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WEEK 5 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

July 27, 2025

The practices that changed me: The practice of an ordered life.

Introduction:

Our spiritual journeys are often marked by learning, growth, and experiencing God’s love and wisdom. However, true transformation comes not just from knowing but from doing – actively putting our spiritual practices into action in our daily lives. In the Christian faith, the primary focus is always spiritual growth.

Something To Talk About:

Deep, lasting spiritual change is a process. It rarely happens overnight. It involves training, testing, and time. There are no shortcuts. Transformation flows out of an intimate relationship with Jesus. God uses the spiritual disciplines to grow us from the inside out, but they are not an end in themselves. They are a means to an end, that is, to grow us in Godliness. Consider that:

  1. Practice with Jesus: Practicing spiritual disciplines with Jesus involves intentionally engaging in practices that draw one closer to Him. These practices, rooted in faith and love for God, include prayer, Bible reading, worship, and service, all done to abide in Christ and become more like Him by doing them with Him. It is actively inviting and including Jesus in all aspects of life. This includes seeking His guidance, relying on His strength, and allowing His teachings to shape our thoughts, words, and actions. It’s about more than just acknowledging Jesus; it’s about a daily, intentional partnership in living out our faith. Spiritual disciplines do not develop overnight; we must be intentional in making them a part of our lives. They are not something we feel but something we do. That’s why we need spiritual “sharpness,” meaning that we have to discern those activities that are biblical spiritual disciplines and separate them from those that are not, with Jesus guiding our steps.
  2. Practice for Jesus: What is the purpose of the spiritual practices? It’s to become like Jesus. The goal is conformity to Jesus. As we partner with Jesus in His love for all people, we become more like Him. As apprentices of Jesus, we seek our Jesus’s instruction on how to love like He loves. This lifestyle doesn’t just happen. It happens when we keep our hearts in alignment with His. It means looking at each day and each situation as an opportunity to glorify Him. We study Him in the Scriptures and pattern our lives after His (1 Corinthians 11:1). He was kind, so we imitate His kindness. He gave unselfishly, so we set aside our preferences and devote our time, resources, and energy to His purposes. People who live for Jesus discover their spiritual gifts and utilize them to make a positive impact on their world. Our spiritual practices are for Him to bring us closer to Him. 
  3. Leave the results to Jesus: Leave the results to Jesus means surrendering control and trusting God’s plan, even when the outcome isn’t what’s desired or expected. It’s about recognizing that our efforts are important, but the ultimate results are in God’s hands. Remember the story in the Bible when the children of Israel were trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s chariots. They were terrified because they didn’t see any positive outcome. Moses said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (Exodus 14:13–14). They probably wanted to stand there and do nothing. God was saying to them, “Just trust me and leave the outcome to me.” And we know the rest of the story. Just like the people of Israel, it isn’t easy for us to simply trust and stand still, but to take action and leave the outcomes to God. 

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you think about the idea of spiritual practices, what word or phrase catches your attention? Why do you think it does?
  2. What are your experiences with spiritual disciplines? Which practices have you engaged with in your spiritual journey, and what have you learned from them?
  3. How can we practically apply spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible reading, and solitude, to our daily lives, and how do these practices help us grow closer to Jesus? 
  4. What does it mean to practice spiritual disciplines with Jesus? 
  5. How can we create space for solitude and silence, even in our noisy world, and what benefits can we gain from these practices?
  6. How can spiritual practices be ensured to deepen the relationship with God rather than becoming rigid rituals?
  7. What areas of your life are you currently finding it most challenging to surrender to Jesus and leave the results in His hands? Why are these areas particularly difficult?
  8. What are some practical ways to actively surrender to Jesus in your daily life, especially when facing uncertainty or difficult circumstances? 
  9. Can you share a time when you had to trust God with something without knowing the outcome? How did that experience shape your faith?
  10. How can a deeper relationship with Jesus be cultivated to foster trust and make surrender a more natural response to life’s circumstances?

Take one thing home with you:

Spiritual disciplines serve as a reminder of this fact. We need God. These practices are ways of combating our tendency to become caught up in thinking that the ordinary aspects of life are enough to fill our souls.

We don’t engage in spiritual disciplines for the sake of the disciplines themselves. They are not primarily to make us more self-disciplined or knowledgeable, as good as those things may be.

Spiritual disciplines remind us that we need more than a comfortable life. We need God. Our souls are meant to be fueled by Him alone, or else we won’t have what we need to live.