From Complacency
4/23/2023
Civil rights leader and Baptist preacher Benjamin Mays said, “The tragedy of life is often not in our failure, but rather in our complacency; not in our doing too much, but rather in our doing too little; not in our living above our ability, but rather in our living below our capacities.” Jesus warned His disciples against complacency, saying, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Join us for the conclusion of Risen! where we will see how the resurrection calls us out of our complacency.
Passage
Luke 24:36-53
How to Overcome Spiritual Complacency
Stop divorcing the __________________ from the ________________.
Stop detaching what God has ________ from what God is __________.
Stop delaying __________________ to the Holy Spirit.
Small Group Questions
Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.
HANGOUT
Busyness can be a cover for spiritual complacency. How is the pace of your life affecting your spiritual well-being? What do you do to avoid becoming spiritually complacent? What might help you overcome spiritual complacency?
Today we will explore the story of Samson (Judges 13-16) to understand the causes and effects of spiritual complacency.
HEAR
Read Judges 13:2-5 & 24-25
- What does the angel say this baby will do? Will the baby complete this assignment? Why or why not? What directions does the angel give this mother?
- What does it mean that “the Spirit of the Lord began to stir” Samson? Have you ever felt the Spirit stirring you? Did you respond? If so, how?
- How does this passage compare with the description of the angel’s appearance to Mary in Luke 1?
Read Judges 14:1-4
- Based on this passage, what is your impression of Samson and his relationship with his parents? How might the circumstances surrounding Samson’s birth have contributed to the nature of this relationship?
- Read Deuteronomy 7:1-4. What does this passage tell you about Samson, his parents, and his desire to marry a Philistine? How do you understand Judges 14:4 considering God’s command in Deuteronomy 7:1-4?
- How might entitlement lead someone to become spiritually complacent?
Read Judges 16:1-9
- Based on what we’ve read about Samson, what is his greatest weakness? How are his enemies able to leverage this weakness?
- Read Judges 16:10-22. What role did Samson’s spiritual complacency play in his relationship with Delilah? What was the result?
- Read Judges 16:23-31. Did God cause, allow, or use Samson’s complacency? Do you believe God can use even our sins to accomplish His purposes? Why or why not?
HUDDLE
In what ways has your spiritual complacency affected you? What are you doing to overcome spiritual complacency? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray together.
Daily Readings
As you follow this week’s Bible reading plan, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal how you have become spiritually complacent. Ask God to forgive you and for His power to raise you from your complacency.
- Day 1: Deuteronomy 4
- Day 2: Judges 13
- Day 3: Judges 14
- Day 4: Judges 15
- Day 5: Judges 16
- Day 6: Luke 12
- Day 7: Amos 6
Think Deeper
- On a scale of one to ten, how spiritually complacent are you?
- What contributes to your spiritual complacency?
- What can you do this week to rise from spiritual complacency?
Suggested Resources
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter Scazzero
Invitation to a Journey, by Robert M. Mulholland, Jr
Don’t Waste Your Life, by John Piper
Check out these and other suggested books at https://bit.ly/AspireSMB