Spring 2009, Week 1 – Small Group Questions

The sermon for this week from the series “Strong: Putting on the Full Armor of God” is titled “Stand Strong“.

START IT – Connecting with each other

• What were some of your (or your kids) favorite dress-up costumes?  Why those?

STUDY IT – Ephesians 6:10-20

• Read Ephesians 6:10-13 out loud.  What stands out for you in this passage?  What questions do you have?
• Where do you see the devil’s schemes being played out in the world today?
• Read v. 12.  What do you make of this verse?
• Read Ephesians 6:14-20 out loud.  What makes up the “armor of God”?  Which parts are defensive?  Offensive?
• In what ways does the armor enable us to stand against evil?  What piece of armor do you need the most in your life right now?
• What have you been struggling against lately?  How does this passage help equip you?

LIVE IT – Applying the truth of Scripture to life

• If you had to compare your spiritual armor to this list, where are you strong?  Weak?
• What evidence do you see of the “devil’s schemes” in your life?  Your church?  Your community?  Your nation?  The world?
• What would it mean for you “to stand” in these particular areas of life?

PRAY IT

• Application:  Choose one piece of armor from this passage that you especially need in your life right now.  As you begin your prayer time, go around the circle and have each person simply say, “Lord, I put on _________________,” naming the armor that you need to put on at this time.
• Joys and Challenges:  What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
• Here at Northminster: Pray for all of the small groups, that God would reveal himself in new ways to every person who is in a group.
• Beyond Northminster: Pray for the swine flu outbreak.  Pray for the thousands in Mexico who have it and for the families of those who’ve died.  Ask God to be with those in the U.S. who have it and ask him to keep it from spreading.