Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
Week 12: Chapters 23–24 and Conclusion — The Surrendered Life
Read Chapters 23–24 and the Conclusion of Passion and Purity. Primary Scripture: Luke 9:23–24; John 12:24–25.
Previewing Week 12 of Passion and Purity
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Elliot closes the book where she began — with the cross-shaped logic of the kingdom: whoever loses their life will find it. This is not just a word about romance; it is a word about everything.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.How does Elliot bring together the various threads of the book in these final chapters? What does she say is the unifying theme beneath all of the specific counsel she has given?
2.The image of a grain of wheat "falling into the ground and dying" (John 12:24) is central to her conclusion. How does she apply that image to the experience of surrendering romantic desire? What must die, and what rises up in its place?
3.Elliot reflects on Jim's death and her own life of loss and remarriage. She does not present herself as someone who suffered perfectly or who always trusted gracefully. What does the honesty of her conclusion add to the credibility of her counsel throughout the book?