Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Week 3: Chapter 2 — Know Yourself That You May Know God
Read Chapter 2 of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. Key reference: Psalm 139
Previewing Week 3 of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 11-week guide when you’re ready.
Scazzero draws on the ancient wisdom of John Calvin — that knowledge of God and knowledge of self are inseparably linked — and shows us what that means for our emotional and spiritual lives today.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Scazzero opens with Calvin's famous observation that knowledge of God and knowledge of self are intertwined. In your own experience, do you tend to pursue one more than the other? How have you thought about "knowing yourself" in spiritual terms?
2.He makes the case that ignoring or suppressing our emotions is not holiness — it is actually a barrier to knowing God. How does that reframe the way you've been taught to handle difficult emotions like anger, fear, or grief?
3.Scazzero uses Psalm 139 as a foundation, noting that God knows us fully — our sitting and rising, our thoughts, the words before they reach our lips. What does it mean practically to allow yourself to be that known — by God and by trusted others?
a.What parts of yourself have you most tried to keep hidden from God, even unconsciously?
b.What would it feel like to bring those parts into prayer rather than pushing them away?