How to Live in Victory: Understanding Your Battle

 

Study Guide for Week of January 9, 2021 

This Week Reading:  2 Kings 6:1-24 and Ephesians 6:10-13

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use See a Victory  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D.    Ten Minute Message Recap                                                                  

       

E. Weekly Resources and Upcoming Events:     Crossroads Web Site        

F. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): Why is it hard to change habits that are wrong?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study looks at the nature of the battle or struggle we as human beings are in. Many times we are unaware of the spiritual nature of the struggles we face. The goal is that we become aware of the spiritual battle we are in evry day in our lives and families and church and community group.

We will first study together the story in 2 Kings 6:1-24. This gives us an example of the spiritual dimensions to any battle we face. 

next we will look over Ephesisan 6:10-13. these verses give us basic principles concerning our spiritual battle. break these verses down word or phrase by phrase.

The are 3 keys to understanding the battle we are in

Key One: Remember Your Position of Strength – 2 Kings 6:1-24

Key Two: Understand that You Have an Enemy – Ephesians 6 verses 10-12   

Key Three: Remember God Has the Resources You Need for Victory – verse 13

I. Verse Outline: Some Key Points to Discuss - Key Charachteristics of Believing

       I.        I.               Remember Your Position of Strength – 2 Kings 6:1-24

Key Concept: To live a life of victory you must power up in the Lord 

 

Key Verse: Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 

 

Community Group Application: Maintaining your connection to God’s power through personal prayer, gathering together in church and in a group is key to winning the battles of life.  

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       I.      II. Key Two: Understand that You Have an Enemy – Ephesians 6:10-12 

 

Key Concept: The unseen spiritual battle must be recognized and won spiritually. 

Key Verse: Job 1:11-12 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 

 

Community Group Application: We become aware of the spiritual realm by studying God’s word with others in a community group.

Fi      III.  Key Three: Remember God Has the Resources You Need for Victory – verse 13  

 

Key Concept: Be alert and be prepared before the attack comes  

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 6:16-17 Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

 

Community Group Application: As we learn to use our spiritual armor and pray for each other we live in victory  

     II.    I. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you - catches your attention?
5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

J. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
K. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

       1. Pray for your group to multiply.

       2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually               

       3.Pray for the needs of the members of the group. .

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.