WEEK 6 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

Practicing the way – How we change: the practices

Introduction:

This series is meant to reshape how we live as followers of Jesus. Becoming an apprentice of Jesus requires we actively work to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what He did. We want to follow in His steps so closely that we become covered in the dust of our Rabbi.

Bottom Line: Following Jesus isn’t about trying really hard; it’s about training hard.

Something To Talk About:

Spiritual disciplines are the way to “life to the full. ” They are how we posture our mind and body to access the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We need to understand the central role of these practices in discipleship.

Spiritual disciplines are an important part of the Christian life. Whether new to the faith or on this Christian journey for years, we all need spiritual disciplines. A spiritual discipline is something that we practice regularly to nurture and strengthen our relationship with Christ. When we become Christians, we are justified and placed in right-standing with God. God no longer holds us guilty for breaking His law; the sacrifice of Christ covers us. However, at the time of our conversion, we also begin a journey towards sanctification. Sanctification is the process of becoming righteous and holy.
The process of sanctification depends on the work of the Holy Spirit and our willingness to live in ways that honor God. This is what Paul means in Philippians 2:12b- 13 when he says to “…Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Spiritual disciplines are not new. Christians have practiced them since the early life of the Church. There is much we can learn about the spiritual practices of Christ, the early church, and contemporary Christians who have gone before us. For example, prayer: Jesus prayed regularly. He prayed after teaching the crowds, after doing miracles, to give thanks to God, at the Lord’s supper, right before His crucifixion, and as He breathed His last breath on the cross. He also taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:5-8. Prayer is simply communication with God. It involves praise, adoration, thanksgiving, repentance, and intercession.
Another is solitude: Jesus practiced solitude. He often withdrew from the crowds to spend time alone with God (See Luke 5:16). In our busy, fast-paced culture, we usually forget that solitude is an important part of the Christian life. We are tempted to bypass the rest that God has given us in favor of productivity and work. Jesus also encouraged His disciples to practice solitude and rest. In Mark 6, after the disciples returned from a teaching mission, Jesus encouraged them to come with Him to a quiet place and get rest. Although a crowd approached them, Jesus knew they needed rest to maintain a vibrant spiritual life.
Many spiritual practices we have today derive from the practices we see in scripture and the early Church. Of course, in our modern world, we engage with spiritual disciplines differently than the early Church did. While we technically have an easier time due to the wealth of technology and resources available, our modern-day distractions can make it challenging to prioritize spiritual disciplines.
We can practice spiritual disciplines by focusing on consistency, giving ourselves grace, and keeping our focus on Christ. To remain consistent with spiritual disciplines, choose a few that you feel confident that you can do. Decide on a time that you will practice that particular discipline and make an effort to do so regularly at the same time every day.
Lastly, focus on Christ. Spiritual disciplines will be unfruitful if Christ is not at the center. Before practicing any spiritual discipline, take a moment to remember why you are practicing it and how it can help you draw close to Christ.

Discussion Questions:

What are your initial thoughts when you hear the words self-discipline? – This metaphor may excite you if you like sport, but possibly not if you are not particularly sporty. Do you like or dislike this athletic metaphor for the Christian faith, and why?
What are spiritual disciplines, and why are they important for a Christian’s life?
Are there any spiritual disciplines you have found particularly helpful in your life?
How do spiritual disciplines help us to grow closer to God and others?
What are some common misconceptions about spiritual disciplines?
How do spiritual disciplines help us live more intentionally and purposefully?
How can we make prayer a more regular and meaningful part of our lives? What are some different types of prayer, and how can we practice them effectively?
How can we make Bible study a more regular and meaningful part of our lives? What are some different Bible study methods, and how can we choose the best method for us?
How can we use our gifts and talents to serve others? What are some different ways that we can serve others in our church and community? How does service help us to grow in our faith and relationship with God?
How can we create a realistic and sustainable spiritual discipline plan? How can we measure the effectiveness of our spiritual disciplines?

Take one thing home with you:

Living missonally as a spiritual discipline.

God intends for His blessings to spill over and positively influence the people around us. We are to be salt and light in our world. He has placed us in work environments, neighborhoods, schools, and social groups so that we can be a blessing to the people in those groups. “Living missionally” is the spiritual practice of reminding ourselves of this and seeking to reach out and bring blessings whenever and wherever we can.

It might be tempting to dismiss this practice as “too extroverted” for introverts or “too hard” for those who’ve grown up in church contexts and only seem to have “church friends.” If we feel discouraged about this habit, we will very likely be surprised at the change that will take place in our lives once we start making this a matter of prayer and start intentionally seeking out opportunities to bless and include people.