The Unseen World
Message Listening Guide
Guiding Question: What if that sense that there is something more to the world is right? What do we do with that?
Ancient Astrology (Matthew 2:1–12)
The magi looked to natural signs for spiritual meaning. When they saw the star, they understood it as a sign that the King had been born. Christianity, rightly understood, is not anti-spirituality; it is pro–Jesus-centered spirituality.
The Spirituality of Today
Spirituality today is often marked by curiosity, openness, and a desire for meaning, guidance, and healing.
- Hidden knowledge: Looking to astrology, tarot, horoscopes, or mediums for insight, direction, or access to knowledge beyond ordinary experience.
- Contact with the dead: Interest in ghosts, séances, or mediums as a way of seeking comfort, closure, or connection with loved ones who have died.
- Wicca and witchcraft: Some pursue these as paths to protection, manifestation, or spiritual influence.
The Spirituality of Scripture (Ephesians 6:10–20)
- Naturalism says the physical world is all there is, so spirituality is either therapy or fantasy.
- Culture says the spiritual world is real, spiritual practices work, and anything you are comfortable with is fair game.
- Christianity says the spiritual world is real, but spiritual power is not neutral: true spirituality is communion with God through Jesus, while counterfeit spirituality opens us to deception and harm.
The Point: What our culture treats like a playground, Scripture treats like a battlefield.
Application: Practice a Jesus-Centered Spirituality
- Silence and solitude: Step away from noise and distraction to be alone with God (Psalm 46:10).
- Postured prayer: Use your body to express surrender, dependence, and openness to God (Psalm 95:6).
- Meditation on Christ and Scripture: Fix your mind on Jesus and fill your heart with God’s Word (Psalm 1:1–3).
Connection Group Conversation Guide
Get-to-Know-You Question: Share your name with the group and the answer to the question: If your house had one secret room, what would you want it to contain?
Pray: Update prayer requests and open your time together in prayer.
Review: Sunday’s message explored the idea that the unseen world is real and that our spiritual openness and curiosity is not necessarily foolish. Drawing on the example of the magi in Matthew 2, we saw that Christianity is not anti-spirituality, but calls us to a Jesus-centered spirituality. The message also contrasted our culture’s casual approach to spirituality with Scripture’s warning that the spiritual realm is a battlefield, not a playground.
Opening Question: Among your friends and family, how would you rate their interest and openness to spiritual things such as tarot, astrology, ghosts, mediums, etc.?
Discuss: What do you think makes hidden knowledge or spiritual guidance feel attractive to people?
Read: Have someone read Ephesians 6:10–20 aloud to the group.
Discuss: If Paul were writing today, do you think he would focus more on defensive body armor like kevlar, or offensive weapons like firearms?
Discuss: If Christian spirituality gives us access to the God of all power, why does prayer so often feel less compelling to us than other, lesser spiritual alternatives?
Discuss: Do you think there could be modern-day magi? People who are drawn to Jesus through non-Christian spiritual practices? Why or why not?
Discuss: Much of non-Christian spirituality is aimed at gaining information or control, whereas much of Christian spirituality is aimed at connection with God and surrender. Do you agree with this distinction, or would you put it a different way?
Discuss: Which part of the application feels most needed in your life right now: 1) silence and solitude, 2) postured prayer, or 3) meditation on Christ and Scripture?
Discuss: When you feel anxious, distracted, or spiritually dry, which of these practices tends to get neglected first?
Pray: Close in prayer, asking God to help us grow in true, Jesus-centered spirituality.