Icebreaker

When it is your turn, tell the group one thing about yourself that is true and one thing that is untrue (this is your lie). Give each a chance to guess the lie.

Introduction

The Devil attacks us with lies. Pastor Mike identified 6 common lies we face in our daily lives with God’s responses to them. Pastor Mike is using the principle in Ephesians 4:11-15 to equip God’s people for works of service by challenging the lies in our culture that we may not be “infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14) So that we may become mature.

Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 4:11-15 “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. by Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Emphasis is bolded. Let’s discuss and discern God’s truths to these lies.

LIE:  American  Dream (we know we should build a comfortable life and don’t think about the supernatural)

TRUTH: God  Exists (Romans 1:18-23)

  • What is your view of the American Dream?

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”

Romans 1:21

  • How has our culture moved away from God’s wisdom and plan and created its own gods?
  • How can we put God back into the culture?

LIE: Faith  Journal (we know that what you believe is ok for you and the Bible is irrelevant)

TRUTH: Holy  Bible (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

  • What is the difference between absolute (2 Timothy 3:12-17) versus relative truths?
  • Why is relative truth so detrimental to our faith?
  • How can we live by absolute truth?

LIE:  Warm  Future (we know babies get to heaven and Jesus was just a good teacher)

TRUTH: One  Way (John 14:1-6)

  • Why does society believe that there are many ways to heaven?
  • What did Jesus declare in John 14:1-6?
  • How did you decide that Jesus is the only way?

LIE:  Church  Hypocrites (we know those church people are phony and you don’t really need church)

TRUTH: Circle  Up (Hebrews 10:23-25)

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Hebrews 10:23–25

  • Why is a true Christ-centered community (Hebrews 10:23-25) authentic rather than “phony” as the critics claim?
  • What are the critical ingredients in a Christ-centered community aka circle groups (Acts 2:42)?
  • How can we help everyone else connect into a circle group?

LIE:  Religious  Crutch (we know religion is for the weak and you shouldn’t talk about your beliefs)

TRUTH: Resurrection  Power (Philippians 3:10-12)

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. “

Philippians 3:10–12 

  • Why is it that our reliance on the power of His resurrection is no crutch?
  • How do you deal with sharing your faith in your daily life when others may feel uncomfortable with it?

In the context of spiritual warfare, the enemy attacks us with lies. But God has provided His Word to equip us so that we are not deceived.