The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
Week 3: Chapter 2 — Salvation Is a Life
Read Chapter 2 of The Spirit of the Disciplines. Key Scripture: John 17:3; Philippians 2:12–13.
Previewing Week 3 of The Spirit of the Disciplines
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 12-week guide when you’re ready.
Willard presses deeper into what salvation actually means, arguing that eternal life is not a future destination but a present quality of existence — knowing God now, in this body, in this life.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Willard defines eternal life using Jesus' own words in John 17:3: 'This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.' How does this definition differ from the way 'eternal life' is commonly understood in popular Christianity?
2.The chapter argues that salvation is not simply the forgiveness of sins that gets us into heaven, but the beginning of a new quality of life — a life 'from above' — that can be entered and grown in now. Does this shift feel like good news to you, or does it feel demanding? Why?
3.Willard contends that much of Christian practice treats the body as spiritually irrelevant or even as an obstacle to holiness. What are the consequences, in his view, of ignoring the body in spiritual formation?
a.Can you think of examples from your own tradition or experience where the body was treated as spiritually unimportant?
b.What spiritual disciplines directly engage the body, and how might they reshape the body's habits and desires?