THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. There is no better time to SERVE than the present! Serving helps us grow in our faith, and it’s how we, as a church, bless our local and worldwide communities. We believe serving is important because God created, gifted, and called us to serve. Jesus modeled service for us, so you might say serving is core to being a Jesus-follower. Explore opportunities to serve at Ada Bible Church HERE.
GROUP VALUES. This month, our focus is on the theme of SHARING YOUR FAITH. Studies show that, sometimes, an invitation is all that is needed for a person to connect to a local church. Ask God to bring someone to mind who doesn’t know Jesus. Consider inviting that person to church with you this month. Share with your group and celebrate any progress!
GROW AS A LEADER. Alongside our new sermon series this month, we will have new episodes of the BEYOND THE WEEKEND PODCAST! Whether you’re looking to better understand the biblical context, enrich your engagement with the sermon or engage more deeply with God’s Word, the Beyond the Weekend Podcast helps strengthen the bridge between weekend services and everyday living. It is a great resource for small groups. Check it out HERE.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to week one of our sermon series, ENEMIES OF THE SOUL. This week, we explore the reality of spiritual warfare and specifically look at our first enemy—the devil.
ICEBREAKER
Think of a favorite movie or TV show with an iconic villain. What was unique about that villain? How did the heroes of that story overcome the villain?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read John 8:31-47 aloud.
What phrases or words stand out to you from the passage?
How does Jesus reveal about the devil’s character and methods in these verses?
Why do you think Jesus uses such strong language when speaking to the religious leaders?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer introduced our new series, ENEMIES OF THE SOUL, by examining how the devil tries to make following Jesus difficult. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
What are common ways our culture portrays or thinks about the devil? How does this differ from the biblical portrayal we heard in the sermon?
How does understanding that the devil’s desire is destruction and his primary strategy is deception affect our approach to spiritual warfare?
The apostle John wrote, “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). How does this reality affect how we understand the challenges we face in living out our faith?
Looking at Jesus’s example of responding to temptation in Luke 4, what role does Scripture play in helping us resist lies with truth?
Jesus says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Who has been a good example to you of someone who consistently resists the devil and chooses to believe God’s truth over lies? What about them inspires you?
God’s Word reveals his truth. What steps can you take to increase your Bible intake and better equip yourself with God’s truth in your daily life?
What are practical ways we can help each other identify and resist Satan’s lies? How can we encourage each other to believe God’s truth instead?
The Bible reveals that the devil is defeated through Jesus’s death and resurrection. How can you live in the victory Christ has already won over Satan rather than in defeat?
WRAP UP
As we begin the ENEMIES OF THE SOUL series, take a moment to reflect on what it means to be in a spiritual battle. What’s one key truth about God’s victory over the devil you want to hold onto this week?