CELL MATTERS Ephesians 6:10-18 “War” The Shield of Faith OPENING QUESTION: 1. Talk about some of the many different fears that people have identified. (ie.-aracnophobia; germophobia;etc.) See how many of the “phobias” your group can name. (Make a game out of it, have fun!) 2. Why do you think that people fear one thing but not something else? Like, for example, what causes a person to fear spiders, but not bridges? DIGGING DEEPER: 1. READ Deuteronomy 1:19-36. (for your own background, you can read Numbers 13-14 to get more on the spies’ mission) 2. Tonight our focus is on overcoming fear. In this scripture which we just read Moses recalled for the people the devastating story of when they let fear get the best of them. 3. In verse 21 is God giving them an offer they can’t refuse, or one they can? 4. Was their strategy in verse 22 born out of fear or out of faith? 5. In verses 26-28, what reasons did the Israelites cite for why they could not take the land? 6. According to verse 29, what was the real issue? 7. What argument does Moses give in verses 30-31 for why they should have been able to trust God? 8. Do you think God’s punishment was fair? Why or why not? 9. What was different about Caleb and Joshua? GETTING CLOSER: 1. In what ways have you seen God work in your own life in the past? 2. How does this help you to overcome present fears? 3. Have you ever used “spies” to delay something that God has told you to do? How so? 4. Are you a cautious person or an impulsive person? Why? 5. Is there any specific fear that you currently struggle with? How can we help you overcome it? 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 fear in their life. Jesus can infuse them with courage as your group prays! (wouldn’t that be cool?) PLANNING: 1. What can your group do this week to invite friends to join you?
Doug Rowse, 4/17/2009
