Week 1: Introduction — Desire as the Starting Point

1.Barton opens by describing a kind of spiritual exhaustion — a sense of going through religious motions without experiencing real transformation. How honestly does that description land for you right now? What brought you to this book or this group?

2.She draws on the image of Jacob wrestling with God at the Jabbok river (Genesis 32) as a picture of honest, desperate spiritual desire. What do you think it means to 'wrestle' with God rather than simply performing religious duty? Have you ever had a moment that felt more like wrestling than routine?

3.Barton distinguishes between wanting the benefits of spiritual growth and actually wanting God himself. Be honest: when you imagine being more 'spiritually mature,' what are you really hoping for — peace, better relationships, relief from anxiety, or something else? Is there anything wrong with those motivations?

4.The introduction frames spiritual disciplines not as techniques for self-improvement but as 'the means of grace' — conditions we create so that God can work. How is this different from the way you may have previously thought about practices like prayer, Bible reading, or fasting?

5.Barton says that transformation begins with desire — specifically, noticing and naming the deepest longing of your heart. What is your deepest longing right now? Try to name it as concretely as you can, moving beneath vague answers like 'I want to be closer to God.'

6.The concept of a 'rule of life' — a structured, intentional rhythm of spiritual practices — comes from the Benedictine monastic tradition. Does the idea of building a personal rule of life feel freeing, intimidating, or legalistic to you? What shapes that reaction?

7.How does rooting spiritual discipline in desire rather than obligation connect to the gospel's vision of a God who draws us to himself with love rather than demanding performance?