Lessons from Spiritual Discipline

Small Group Guide: Essential Disciplines for Spiritual Growth
Based on "Spiritual Boot Camp" Series
Opening Prayer & Icebreaker (10 minutes)
Icebreaker Question: Share one area of your life where you've seen significant growth in the past year. What helped you grow in that area?
Key Takeaways from the Sermon (Review these together)

1. Stay Connected to Your Church Family - Isolation leads to spiritual death; we need each other to stay strong
2. Change Begins with You - Transformation starts in your own household before spreading to others
3. Spiritual Training Requires Effort - Like physical training, godliness requires intentional practice and discipline
4. Plateau Breakthrough - Using what you already know only gets you so far; growth requires learning new principles
5. Foundation Matters - Faith, hope, and love are the essential virtues of Christian life
6. Practice Makes Progress - Being a "doer" of the Word, not just a hearer, is what creates lasting change

Discussion Questions
Section 1: Connection & Community (15 minutes)
Read: Hebrews 10:24-25

1. The pastor used the illustration of goats staying together as a herd. When have you experienced the benefit of staying connected to your church family during a difficult time?
2. What are some practical ways we can "stir up one another to love and good works" this week?
3. Are there areas where you've isolated yourself? What's one step you could take to reconnect?

Section 2: Personal Responsibility (15 minutes)
Read: 1 Peter 4:17-18

4. The sermon emphasized that "judgment begins at the house of God." What does it mean that change must start with us individually?
5. The pastor said, "I'm not responsible for what you do, but I am responsible for how I react to it." Share a time when you struggled with this principle. How did you (or could you) respond differently?
6. How do we balance working on ourselves while still being part of a community?

Section 3: Training & Discipline (15 minutes)
Read: 1 Timothy 4:7-8 and Hebrews 5:14

7. The chess illustration showed that using only base knowledge leads to a plateau. Where do you feel "plateaued" in your spiritual life right now?
8. What's the difference between going to church and having a personal relationship with God? How would you describe your current relationship?
9. The sermon mentioned "no pain, no gain." What spiritual discipline feels most uncomfortable or challenging to you? Why?

Section 4: Foundational Virtues (15 minutes)
Read: 1 Corinthians 13:13

10. Faith, Hope, and Love are the three foundational virtues. Which one do you need to focus on most this year? Why?
    • Faith = Trusting God and His promises
    • Hope = Confident expectation of God's future fulfillment
    • Love = Sacrificial devotion to God and others
11. The pastor shared that hope is "100% expectation of God's promises." How is this different from wishful thinking? Share an example from your life.
12. "If I love you, I won't hurt you." How does focusing on love change the way we interact with difficult people?

Section 5: Moral & Character Virtues (15 minutes)
Review the virtues mentioned:

• Moral Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude
• Relational Virtues: Humility, Gentleness, Patience, Kindness, Forgiveness, Gratitude
• Character Virtues: Honesty, Faithfulness, Diligence, Contentment, Obedience, Reverence

13. Which virtue from this list do you struggle with most? Be honest with the group.
14. The pastor said we can't just work on one area—we need to "work out the whole body." How does weakness in one virtue affect the others?
15. Share one practical way you can exercise one of these virtues this week.

Section 6: Being Doers (10 minutes)
Read: James 1:22-25

16. "Are you doing something, or are you just holding down a chair?" How would you honestly answer this question about your Christian walk?
17. What's one specific action you can take this week to be a "doer" and not just a "hearer"?

Self-Analysis & Reflection (10 minutes)
The pastor ended with these challenging questions. Take time for personal reflection, then share if comfortable:

• What have I done for Christ?
• How have I reproduced myself spiritually?
• Have I led anyone to the Lord?
• Have I served others in their time of need?
• Do I know enough Scripture to help someone else?
• What areas of weakness do I need to address?

Silent Reflection: Take 2-3 minutes of silence for each person to identify one specific area they need to work on.
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge (Choose at least one):

1. Daily Discipline: Commit to reading Scripture every morning before checking your phone or social media
2. Virtue Focus: Pick ONE virtue you struggle with and intentionally practice it daily (e.g., patience in traffic, kindness to a difficult coworker)
3. Connection: Reach out to someone in the church family you haven't connected with recently
4. Self-Evaluation: Spend 30 minutes in honest prayer asking God to reveal areas where you've plateaued
5. Accountability: Ask one person in this group to check in with you this week about your commitment

Monthly Goal:
Identify one major area of spiritual weakness and develop a 30-day plan to address it through:

• Scripture study on that topic
• Prayer and fasting
• Accountability with this group
• Practical daily application

Accountability Partners
Pair up with someone in the group to check in with during the week:

• Share your specific commitment
• Exchange contact information
• Set a specific day/time to follow up

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Based on 3 John 1:2: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."
Prayer Focus:

• Pray for each person's specific area of growth
• Ask God for strength to move beyond plateaus
• Pray for the discipline to be "doers" of the Word
• Ask for grace to stay connected as a church family
• Pray for breakthrough in areas of bondage

Before Next Week

• Review your commitment daily
• Journal about your progress and struggles
• Prepare to share one victory or lesson learned with the group
• Read ahead for next week's topic: Fasting (prepare questions)

Leader Notes

• Create a safe space for honest sharing
• Don't let anyone dominate the conversation
• Be prepared to share your own struggles and growth areas
• Follow up with anyone who seems discouraged
• Celebrate small victories
• Remember: "We grow together" - emphasize community throughout

"Do you know trying to help you is a selfish endeavor? The better you do and the more you succeed in life, the better I do." - Pastor Charlie