Weapons of war

CELL MATTERS

Ephesians 6:10-18 “War”

The breastplate of righteousness

OPENING QUESTION:

1. Talk about one of the most embarrassing moments of your life. 

DIGGING DEEPER:

1. READ Ephesians 6:10-18.
2. Tonight our focus is on the breastplate of righteousness from verse 14.
3. Ask someone to read Proverbs 4:23.  Why is guarding our heart so important?  What does this text mean when it says that our heart is the “wellspring” of life?
4. Let’s go back to Ephesians.  What is righteousness? (see I John 3:7)
5. How does righteousness guard our heart?
6. We learned Sunday about shame and how this is a favorite tool of Satan to trip us up.  If he can get us to doubt our faith, he can get us to abandon it.  Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?  Why not?

GETTING CLOSER:

1. Jesus said that “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)  If my heart is filled with shame, how will that impact the way I talk and act? 
2. Talk about an instance in your own life recently when you felt ashamed of something you said or did.  How did that shame affect your heart?
3. How would righteousness have helped you avoid that shame? 
4. How does righteousness help you to overcome the shame?

PRAYER:

1. Let’s pray for one another.  This may be a good night to invite people to sit in the “hot seat” and receive prayer from the whole group.  Do this especially if someone in your group has shared a fresh story about shame in their life.  Jesus can heal them of that shame as your group prays! (wouldn’t that be cool?)

PLANNING:

1.  Christmas in April is coming up.  This is a great activity to do together as a Life Group.  See if your group would sign up together and participate in this special day.