Disciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent Hughes
Week 2: Chapter 1 — Discipline of Purity
Read Chapter 1 of Disciplines of a Godly Man. Primary Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:2; Matthew 5:8; Job 31:1.
Previewing Week 2 of Disciplines of a Godly Man
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 20-week guide when you’re ready.
Hughes identifies sexual purity as the foundational discipline for a godly man — not because it is the most important virtue, but because its absence undermines every other area of life. Come to this discussion willing to be honest about the battle.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Hughes references Job's covenant with his eyes (Job 31:1) as a model for proactive purity. What does it mean to make a "covenant" with your eyes rather than simply trying harder in the moment of temptation? What is the practical difference?
2.Hughes is frank about the pervasiveness of sexual imagery in contemporary culture and how it shapes a man's interior life without his even noticing. Where do you see this shaping happening in your own daily environment — and have you taken it seriously enough?
3.Hughes describes how impurity is not just a physical act but begins with the imagination and the thought life. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that lust in the heart is adultery. How does locating the sin in the heart — rather than just in behavior — change the way we fight it?