Week 1: Introduction — Invitation to a Changed Life

1.Ortberg opens with a vision of what it might look like to be genuinely transformed — not just to behave differently, but to actually become different. How would you describe, in your own words, the 'life you've always wanted'? What images or longings come to mind?

2.Ortberg distinguishes between 'trying' and 'training' as two very different approaches to spiritual growth. In your own life, which approach have you most often used? What has that looked like in practice?

3.He uses the illustration of a person trying to run a marathon without training — straining on race day but never building capacity beforehand. Where else in life do you see this same pattern of trying without training? Have you seen it in your spiritual life?

4.Ortberg is honest that many Christians are 'not growing' and that this is often unaddressed in church culture. Why do you think the topic of genuine spiritual transformation is sometimes avoided or minimized in Christian communities?

5.The book is oriented from the start around the person of Jesus — not around rules or techniques. Why does it matter that the goal of spiritual disciplines is Christlikeness rather than self-improvement? What changes when the focus shifts to Jesus?

6.Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 is to come to him and find rest, to 'learn from him.' How does that image of learning from Jesus — as a student learns from a master — shape the way you think about disciplines like prayer, solitude, or service?

7.What do you hope to gain — personally, not just intellectually — from working through this book? Share honestly, even if your hope feels modest or tentative.