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NEW: Online Group Plan for Session 6
Date: August 30, 2020
We Stand Together in Spiritual Battle
The Point: We stand strong with God’s armor and the support of others.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
Monica Hines was driving with her family from eastern North Carolina to a medical appointment a couple hours away. But suddenly the family of six, including several young children, found themselves stranded on the highway. “The car started just going sideways. We pulled over and the tire was busted,” Hines explained.
They were stranded until Master Trooper Colby Pridgen, a NC state trooper, stopped to help them find a tire. But the family did not have the money needed to replace the bad tire. Pridgen stepped in and paid for not just one new tire, but four new tires for the car, along with lunch for the hungry children, and a tank of gas. “I couldn’t let them ride all the way back to Jacksonville with their kids on tires like that,” Pridgen said.
“This was a real bad day for us, but on this day God sent us an angel,” Hines wrote in a Facebook post.
Say: Monica Hines explained in her Facebook post that Trooper Pridgen’s kind and generous actions brought them hope and showed them there are good people in this world. Then call attention to Question #1 (When have you been surprised by something totally unexpected?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
Get Into the Study [Additional Option for Adult Leader Guide]
In advance, play a video clip of someone being surprised. Then ask Question #1.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to supplement Question #4.
Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas opened their first Prestonwood Pregnancy Center in 1991. They wanted to provide a way to let people know their options when an unplanned pregnancy occurred. They recently opened their second Pregnancy Center location. And they strategically chose the location for the new center – across the street from a Planned Parenthood abortion facility. The Prestonwood Pregnancy Center director Leanne Jamieson, explained their decision to locate across from Planned Parenthood.
“I really believe that most people seeking an abortion are doing it for some very fundamental reasons,” Jamieson said. “Often there’s a great deal of fear surrounding their pregnancy and because of that fear they’re really looking for some sort of answer, we might say hope. Hope that pregnancy does not have to change their life in what they view to be a disastrous way. We’re there because we want to provide them true choice. We want to be a light in what is often a very dark situation. In my experience, Jesus shines the brightest when the situation is the darkest. We thought, ‘Let’s position ourselves so those who are heading toward the abortion facility might see us and might give them pause and might end up coming to us instead of them.’”
In 2019, Jamieson reported, the Prestonwood Pregnancy Center saw over 12,500 clients. “Planned Parenthood is not the enemy; we know who the real enemy is,” Jamieson said. “Planned Parenthood is staffed by people that need the love and grace of our Lord and Savior as much as clients walking through our door do. But we are moving in because that is a place where the enemy has positioned himself and we want to say we can serve them (clients), and that they have more options beyond just abortion.”
Say: Leanne Jamieson acknowledges that in carrying out the work of their pregnancy center, they are in a battle – and they know the enemy is Satan. Then call attention to Question #4 (What are some practical ways we can prepare for spiritual battle?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
— Donna McKinney wrote this Leader Extra. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- When have you felt like you were in a battle?
- What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “spiritual warfare”?
- How have you depended on God for strength recently?
Ephesians 6:10-13
- Where do you see spiritual battles raging in the world today?
- What have you learned about the devils’ schemes?
- What have you been taught about the armor of God?
Ephesians 6:14-17
- What are some habits or disciplines that help us take up God’s armor?
- What steps can we take to equip ourselves with this armor?
- What do these verses teach us about preparing for spiritual battle?
Ephesians 6:18-20
- How have you seen our group make a difference in a spiritual battle?
- Why is prayer an important tool in spiritual battle?
- When have you seen prayer at work in the midst of a spiritual battle?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Why Would You Knowingly Step Into Danger?
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
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Help! I can’t find the extra helps for the new fall materials.
Bookmark http://www.BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra. All sessions can be accessed there.
I am a faithful user of the helps you provide on line. My question is “How can I get the lesson helps for the period of Sep.6 thru Nov. 22”.Because of the Pandemic, we did not have services during this period. Any thing you can do will be greatly appreciated. I am associated with Philadelphia Baptist Church of Greensboro NC
I assume you’re asking for the online free helps at EXTRA. Bookmark https://biblestudiesforlife.com/leader-extras-adults/. The supplemental session helps are uploaded two weeks prior to the Sunday most churches use it. These are only supplements to the more more complete and comprehensive Leader Guide.
Since the beginning of the Covid Pandemic I have taught my Sunday School class via Zoom. Having the Leaders Extra Ideas along with your podcast has been a Godsend. Thank you Lynn, Chris and all involved who make these resources available.
Thanks for the encouraging words!