The Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley
Week 20: Chapter 19 — Why Change Is So Hard
Read Chapter 19 of The Man in the Mirror. Key passages: Romans 7:21–25; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24.
Previewing Week 20 of The Man in the Mirror
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 22-week guide when you’re ready.
Morley gives honest, pastoral attention to a question every man in this study has probably already felt: if I know what needs to change, and I want to change, why is it still so hard?
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Morley writes that the primary reason change is hard is not weakness of will but the deep rootedness of sinful patterns — habits of thought, feeling, and behavior that have been formed over decades. Can you name one pattern in your life that has proven stubbornly resistant to change? How long have you been aware of it?
2.Paul's cry in Romans 7:24 — 'Who will rescue me from this body of death?' — is one of the most honest passages in Scripture about the experience of moral struggle. Does your spiritual life feel more like Romans 7 or Romans 8 right now, and what accounts for the difference?
3.Morley discusses the role of ingrained thinking patterns — what he sometimes calls 'mental ruts' — in perpetuating sinful behavior. What false beliefs about yourself, God, or others are feeding the patterns you most want to break?
a.About yourself: 'I am ___'?
b.About God: 'God is ___'?
c.About others: 'People always ___'?