03/06/2011 :: Shawn Cossin
“Deception” Series :: For Further Consideration
Shawn showed us a claymore, a military weapon used positionally to protect a soldier from the enemy. He spoke about how the Army keeps it simple – stamped right on it are the instructions for directing it toward the enemy. How was the claymore and its positioning against our Enemy instructive for us as Christians?
Read Ephesians 6:10-13
As Christians, who is our struggle against?
As we struggle, what are we called to do?
What is the goal of the battle?
Shawn mentioned several times that “we need to understand (1) who the Enemy is, and (2) who we are in Christ, so we can know how to fight the battle.” Why are these two thoughts so important to understand?
Read Genesis 3:1-6
What does it say about the serpent (the Enemy)?
What did the serpent do to mess up the truth?
Why was his untruth so attractive to Eve, and eventually to Adam?
Take a closer look at his lie – how was his lie so close to the original truth?
Satan does NOT have control over our thoughts, but what he does is predict human behavior. As a result, he watches closely so he can plant an idea.
We watched a clip from the movie, “Inception,” where a guy named Cobb jumps into peoples’ dreams and attempts to plant ideas. Whether you’ve seen this movie or not, how was this thought relevant our talk about the Enemy’s deceptions?
Read John 8:44
What does this teach us about our Enemy?
He’s not just a simple liar. Additionally, what does John call him?
Shawn talked about the way Satan works…
First, he messes with us.
Then, he messes with our family and friends.
Next, he messes with our church relationships and connections.
Finally, he messes with everything he hasn’t yet touched so we end up ISOLATED.
“Isolation leads to vulnerability, and makes us susceptible to the Enemy’s temptation.”
BIG QUESTION :: If you were the Enemy, what idea would you plant in order to trip you up?
What has God given us to separate truth from error? His Word! Why is this so important?
Read Ephesians 6:10-13 again…
What is the emphasis of verse 13?
Here are some questions to consider and talk about before you pray as a group…
Where has Satan tended to come against you?
What are your most consistent areas of temptation?
What are you currently doing to avoid/overcome temptation?
How could the group pray for you to stay strong?
IN CLOSING :: Pray for each other and for our church, that we would stand strong against the Enemy, and accomplish everything Christ has called us to do through his strength and power.
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