“Second-hand spirituality”

SERMON Title: Second-hand spirituality
SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:11-16 NIV

Introduction

Good morning, church!
Let me start by asking you this: have you ever felt stuck in your walk with God? Maybe you’ve been showing up to church, reading your Bible, praying—checking all the boxes—but still feel like something is missing. Maybe you’ve felt spiritually dry, distant from God, as if you’re just going through the motions. I know I’ve been there, and I bet some of you have too.

This feeling can be frustrating. We read about this vibrant, life-giving relationship with God in scripture—a relationship full of joy, peace, and power. But when we look at our own lives, it sometimes feels like we’re living in the desert, longing for that refreshing rain we’ve read about. And here’s the thing: when that gap between what we know our relationship with God could be and what it actually is begins to widen, it’s easy to feel like it’s all our fault.

We start to think: Maybe I haven’t prayed enough. Maybe I’m not reading my Bible the right way. Maybe I just don’t have enough faith. And while spiritual discipline matters, what I want to talk about today goes deeper than that. For many of us, the problem isn’t just a lack of effort—it’s that we’re relying on something I call second-hand spirituality.

What Is Second-hand Spirituality?

Have you ever thought about the dangers of second-hand smoke? It’s deadly, right? Every year, thousands of people suffer the consequences of being around it. But let me tell you, there’s something even more harmful to your soul—second-hand spirituality.

Second-hand spirituality happens when we try to live off someone else’s connection to God instead of cultivating our own. Maybe it’s your pastor’s relationship with God, or the faith of your parents, or even the worship team’s passion for Jesus. We think, If I can just be around that energy, I’ll be fine. But it doesn’t work like that.

Let’s look at an example from scripture that illustrates this perfectly: Acts 19, starting in verse 11. Here, we see two very different examples of spirituality. On one hand, we have Paul—a man so connected to Jesus that God’s power flowed through him in incredible, miraculous ways. On the other hand, we meet a group called the Seven Sons of Sceva. They wanted the power of God without the relationship, and, well, things didn’t go so well for them.

Paul’s Power vs. The Seven Sons of Sceva

Here’s what’s happening in Acts 19: Paul is in Ephesus, and God is using him in extraordinary ways. Scripture says:

“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and the evil spirits left them” (Acts 19:11–12).

Think about that for a second. Paul didn’t even have to be in the room! People could take a piece of his clothing—just a handkerchief or an apron—and the sick were healed, demons were cast out. That’s the kind of power Paul carried, but it wasn’t magic—it was the overflow of his deep, personal relationship with Jesus.

But then we meet the Seven Sons of Sceva. These guys were Jewish exorcists, and they had a reputation for dabbling in all kinds of spiritual practices. When they saw the miracles happening through Paul, they thought, We can do that too! So they tried to use the name of Jesus—not out of faith, but like it was some kind of magic word. They said, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out” (v. 13).

Now, let’s pause there for a moment. Notice what they said: “the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” They didn’t know Jesus for themselves. They were trying to borrow Paul’s connection to God, and the results were disastrous. The demon replied, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (v. 15). And then, well, let’s just say it didn’t end well for them. Verse 16 says:

“Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.”

Church, do you see what happened here? They tried to rely on a second-hand relationship with Jesus, and it left them powerless and exposed.

Why We Fall into Second-hand Spirituality

So why does this happen? Why do so many of us settle for second-hand spirituality instead of pursuing a deep, personal relationship with God? Let me give you three reasons I see in my own life and in our culture today:

1. Distraction
   We live in a world that’s constantly pulling our attention in a million directions. Between our phones, work, family responsibilities, and endless notifications, we’re so busy that we rarely have time to just sit in God’s presence. And let’s be honest—how many of us pick up our phones to read the Bible, only to get distracted by emails or social media?

2. Being Unequipped
   Many of us simply don’t know how to connect with God on a personal level. Maybe no one ever taught you how to read the Bible in a way that speaks to your heart, or how to pray in a way that feels real. And because we don’t know where to start, it’s easy to just rely on others to “do the work” for us.

3. Busyness
   This might be the biggest obstacle of all. We’re so busy trying to do things for God—serving, volunteering, leading Bible studies—that we forget to just be with Him. And while it’s good to serve, we have to remember that God doesn’t just want our work; He wants our hearts.

The Good News: First-hand Spirituality Is Possible

Here’s the amazing thing about God: no matter how long you’ve been relying on second-hand spirituality, it’s never too late to change. At any moment, you can turn to Him and experience His presence firsthand. That’s the beauty of grace.

There’s no waiting period, no probation. God isn’t standing there with His arms crossed, saying, “You had your chance.” No, He’s waiting for you with open arms, ready to pour His love and power into your life.

But here’s the thing: God’s grace doesn’t just comfort us—it transforms us. It calls us into a deeper relationship, into discipleship. Dallas Willard once said,

“The greatest issue facing the world today… is whether those who are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples—students, apprentices, practitioners—of Jesus Christ.”

Reflection

My brothers and sisters, God’s grace is not just an open door to experience His love; it’s a call to let His love reshape us. Jesus is not waiting for us to prove ourselves or make up for lost time before we can finally come before him. Instead, He’s ready to meet us right where we are, and lead us into a vibrant, firsthand relationship with Him.

So today, let’s not just hear about His grace—let’s respond to it. Take a moment to examine your heart: Are you living off second-hand spirituality, or are you walking closely with Jesus, learning from Him daily?

For many of us, we grew up in a Christian family. Your parents might be elders and deacons, or maybe even pastors. And maybe you spent a lot of time in the church and you grew up in the church. You might know your bible fairly well and you might be involved with a lot of church ministry.

-        But is there any chance that you might be living off the spirituality of your family? Your parents, your husband, your wife, you brother or sister?

-        Are you walking your Christian walk in the name of Jesus that you personally know or is it in the name of Jesus that my parents and my family’s been following?

-        Could it be that you have been so well churched that you’re living in the illusion of having a first-hand spirituality?

If the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart through this message today, I encourage you to turn to God and get to know him in a deep, personal, and intimate way. Come into a genuine relationship with Jesus where you know Him and He knows you. Because God is not content with having a second-hand relationship with you. He wants to have a first-hand relationship with you. 

Many of us are and will be distracted, and many of us live busy lives. But just remember that at time of the day or night, we can call on Jesus. Because He is always waiting, listening to our call.

The beauty of the gospel is that it’s never too late to turn to Him. His arms are open wide, and His Spirit is ready to guide you into a life of deeper connection and purpose.

So as we take a moment in personal prayer and reflection, let’s ask God to awaken in us a desire for more of Him, to free us from distractions, and to empower us to live as His disciples—so that we may fully experience His grace and love first hand.