New Age Spirituality - Message Study Questions
Part of What's the Difference?
January 29, 2023

What's the Difference Wide (3).png

New Age Spirituality - Message Study Questions

Message Summary

New Age is rooted in Easter Mysticism and incorporates pantheism, the worldview that god is everything and everything is god—it’s all one. New Agers believe God is an impersonal life-force, and each person has a sliver of god and can be sinless and control their own destiny. Their idea of heaven is being absorbed into the impersonal life-force through practices and includes reincarnation. They believe truth is relative, and all religions are equally valid and true. New Age occult practices include contacting spirits/dead, channeling, spirit energy in objects, crystals, tarot card reading, psychics, and astrology. New Age humanistic practices include: Self-sufficiency, Self-improvement and development of the “god element” within, creating positive energy, communing with nature and eastern style meditation and yoga. Eastern meditation involves emptying your mind to connect with the piece of divinity within yourself— your internal god.

New Age has become mainstream and has infected the Christian church. Six of ten Christians say they believe one or more of the tenants of New Age. How should Christians respond? First, worship God alone. Second, reject occult objects or practices and, if applicable, repent. Third, don’t buy into relativism. There is objective truth and you can know it. Fourth, acknowledge your sins daily and ask for and receive forgiveness through Jesus. And finally, read the Bible, understand your faith and be able to explain it to a friend.

  1. Can you share a New Age belief or practice that you’ve had in the past? How did you come to know it was actually wrong?

  2. Do all roads lead to heaven? Why or why not?

Consider This

Christianity is the opposite of New Age and believes there is only one eternal, personal and loving God, the Almighty who subsequently created the universe. God is infinitely loving and just. God’s holiness requires that He punish sin, embodied in human selfishness, pride, self-sufficiency and corrupt desires. Because God is infinite love, he desires a restored relationship with humankind. God solved that problem by sending his son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to earth to die on the cross, pay for our sins and purchase a place for us in heaven. This forgiveness and its attending eternal life are now offered to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.

  1. What is the difference between monotheism and pantheism? What are the implications of one worldview versus the other?

  2. Read Deuteronomy 18:9-14. Which of these practices to you think are most prevalent in our society today? What does God think of these practices?

  3. How can you know if something is true? (See John 8:31-32)

  4. What do you think is Satan’s main tactic to turn people away from God? (Consider 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 and Timothy 4:1-2)

  5. Do you think any part of New Age practices involves “sacrifices to idols”? What are the implications of this according to 1 Corinthians 10:20-22?

  6. Read 1 Peter 5:8. What is Satan’s goal?

  7. Look up the definition of Yoga. Why do you think it is antithetical to God?

  8. Rather than the emptying of one’s mind, Christian meditation focuses on God and/or scripture for illumination, instruction and understanding of God. What are the advantages of Christian meditation according to Psalm 1:1-3 and 119:27?

  9. Consider Jeremiah 17:9 and Mark 7:21-23. What’s wrong with the human heart? Why is the phrase “follow your heart” problematic?

  10. How can people find forgiveness of sins according to Hebrews 10:12-14, John 3:16 and 1 John 1:8-10?

Moving Forward – Application

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places”
(Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT2)

This week read Ephesians 6:10-19.

  1. What is the belt of truth and how can you put it on this week? (v 14)

  2. What is the breastplate of righteousness (v 14)? How can you put it in place this week?

  3. What kind of spiritual shoes should you wear? What does this mean and how can you apply it (v 15)?

  4. What is the shield of faith and what is it for? How can you put that to work this week (v 16)?

  5. What is the helmet of salvation? How can you make sure it is in place this week? What will it do for you (v 17)?

  6. Why is the word of God called the sword of the Spirit? How might you put that to work this week (v 17)?

  7. How should you pray and who should you pray for (v 18- 19)? Why?