Week 1: Introduction — The Renovation God Intends

1.Willard opens by observing that many Christians live in a state of 'arrested spiritual development' — they have received Christ but show little evidence of ongoing transformation. How does that description land with you? Does it feel like a fair diagnosis of the church you know?

2.Willard defines spiritual formation as 'the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.' What surprises you about that definition? What does it include that you might not have expected?

3.He distinguishes sharply between 'trying to do right' and 'training to do right,' using the analogy of an athlete or musician who trains their body and mind so that excellent performance becomes natural. Why is this distinction so important for how we approach the Christian life?

4.Willard introduces the idea that human beings are composed of several interconnected dimensions — will, mind, body, emotions, social world, and soul. Why does it matter that transformation addresses all of these rather than just one (like behavior or belief)?

5.He coins the phrase 'vampire Christianity' to describe people who want the forgiveness and benefits of Christ's death but have no interest in actually living Christ's life. Is that a fair characterization? How widespread do you think this attitude is — and have you ever found traces of it in yourself?

6.Willard is careful to say that spiritual formation is not a self-improvement project we accomplish by discipline alone — it is a cooperative work between human effort and divine grace. How do you currently hold those two together? Which one do you tend to overemphasize?

7.The Introduction frames Jesus himself as the supreme example of a human being whose every dimension was fully formed and integrated. How does thinking of Jesus as a model of human flourishing — rather than primarily as a divine exception — change how you read the Gospels?

8.What is one assumption about the Christian life that you are bringing into this study that you are willing to hold loosely and let Willard challenge? Share it with your group.