The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
Week 7: Chapter 7 — The Place of Personal Discipline
Read Chapter 7 of The Pursuit of Holiness. Primary Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 1 Timothy 4:7–8.
Previewing Week 7 of The Pursuit of Holiness
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Bridges turns to the practical architecture of holiness — the habits and disciplines that create the conditions in which God's grace does its transforming work. These questions invite you to assess your own spiritual disciplines honestly.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Paul uses the athletic metaphors of running a race and boxing — disciplines requiring rigorous training and self-denial. How seriously do you take spiritual training compared to other forms of training or self-improvement in your life?
2.Bridges argues that spiritual disciplines are not a means of earning God's favor but of positioning ourselves to receive his grace. How does that framing change how you approach practices like prayer, Bible reading, and fasting?
3.What spiritual disciplines are currently most alive and fruitful in your life? What disciplines are most neglected, and what does their neglect cost you?
a.What obstacles most consistently prevent you from maintaining the disciplines you know are important?
b.Are those obstacles practical (time, structure), spiritual (prayerlessness, unbelief), or something else?