Ben Phebus // Rockford Campus // September 22, 2024

 

Storytellers: The Power of Christ Over the Supernatural

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

 

REMINDERS

GROUPS SUMMIT (Sun. Sept 29, 5:45-7pm – Rockford Campus Auditorium)

Join us at the Groups Summit this Sunday, September 29th, for an evening of fellowship and fun as we circle up around our value of RELATE. We will be hearing stories and teaching about why Groups matter so much to Magnify Church—past, present, and future. All groups should plan to attend, as well as anyone who is interested in joining a group or who wants to learn about groups at Magnify.

We’ll be hosting a social time between 5:30-6pm with hors d’oeuvre and small desserts. Programming starts promptly at 6pm. You can find more information on the events section of the website.

NOTE: Group leaders can register themselves and send Trent or Kim Fernando a note on how many people from their group plan to attend.

 

LEADER DEVELOPMENT CLASS (Sun. Oct 6, 6–7pm – Rockford Campus Room 300)

We’re relaunching our LDC this fall! Come join fellow group leaders from various ministries to both get sharper and help sharpen others in faith. Whether you’ve led a group for 20 years or you’re just getting started, this class is open to all leaders young and old. No RSVP necessary.

New Leaders: Please plan to attend 8 of these classes over the course of Oct. 2024 through April 2025.

Veteran Leaders: Please plan to attend 4 of these classes between Oct. 2024 through April 2025.

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

Ben told a story of being in a middle school basketball tournament. He was not great at basketball, but his team won because of the strength and skill of another player. Have you ever succeeded at something because of the strength and skill of another person who helped you?

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 8:26–39 | The Power of Christ Over the Supernatural

Note: If you are meeting as a group, we encourage you to read the entire text together out loud.

 

SPIRITUAL FORCES IN THE UNSEEN PLACES

This week’s passage focuses on Jesus’ interactions with a man who had been possessed by many demons. While it’s not pleasant to think about darkness and the spiritual forces behind it, the Bible teaches that this is a daily reality that followers of Jesus must be aware of.

As we walk through this week’s sermon discussion guide, we’ll consider what this account teaches us about the reality of spiritual forces of evil and also about the magnitude of Christ’s power over these forces.

Ultimately we’ll rejoice that those of us who are in Christ will share in His victory over evil.

 

A BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

C.S. Lewis wrote, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors.”

Read the following passages. Take a moment after each line to discuss what Scripture tells us is true about the devil and his demons:

• Isaiah 14:12-15 and Luke 10:18: What do these verses tell us about spiritual forces of evil? Where did they come from?
• 2 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; and John 8:44: What do these verses tell us about the devil’s influence on the world today?
• Matthew 25:41 and Jude 6: What does this tell us about Christ’s power over evil? What does it tell us about His plans to conquer evil once and for all?
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and 1 John 4:4: What does this tell us about those who are in Christ?

 

A DAILY REALITY

In his sermon, Ben pointed out that Jesus went from a storm on the sea to a spiritual battle on land. He reminded us that followers of Christ live in a daily battle that rages behind the scenes for the souls of man.

Read Ephesians 6:10-20.

• Do you live with a daily awareness of the spiritual battle between good and evil?
• How does Paul tell us that we are to be equipped for this battle? What is the significance of this, and whose strength do we rely on?

 

TRUE POWER

When Jesus asked the man’s name, the Bible tells us that the man answered “‘Legion,’ for many demons had entered him.” (Luke 8:30). A legion was a Roman military term for a group of six thousand soldiers, so this name tells us that the man was completely oppressed.

Yet even though there were thousands of demons, and only one Jesus, they cowered before Him. Consider what this says about Christ’s power and authority even over the spiritual forces of darkness that oppose Him.

QUESTIONS:

• Looking back at the text, what kinds of words and phrases are used to describe how the demons responded when they saw Jesus get out of the boat? Which of these phrases is repeated in verses 28, 31, and 32?
• What does this tell us about their relationship to Jesus?

Billy Graham wrote, “Satan may appear to be winning the war because sometimes he wins important battles, but the final outcome is certain. One day he will be defeated and stripped of his powers eternally. God will shatter the powers of darkness.”

QUESTIONS:

• Do you live with a daily awareness of Christ’s power over all things in your life and in the world, both seen and unseen?
• How does this or could this change your outlook on world events or difficult circumstances? Does this cause you to feel hope even in times of despair?

TRUTH VS. LIES

In the sermon we considered that one of the devil’s primary goals is to bring chaos, disorder, and division—often through distorting truth or spreading lies.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:3.

Then read Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptations in Matthew 4:1-4.

• Why do you think Jesus responded to Satan in this way and what did He mean by it?
• What is the significance of this for us as His followers today?

Revisit 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

• What must we as followers of Christ fill up on in order to be able to take every thought captive to Christ so that our thoughts are not led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ?

 

LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN

In the sermon, Ben reminded us that we live in between the moment of redemption and the moment of restoration. Because of this, we will experience the brokenness and chaos of the world. But a day is coming when Christ will conquer evil once and for all, and all who are in Christ will share in His victory.

Read 2 Peter 3:8 and Matthew 28:16-20.

• What is the purpose of this in-between moment?
• What are we called to do in this time?

Read Revelation 12:11.

• How is it that those who are in Christ will ultimately conquer evil and share in His victory?

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Our next steps as a church this week are to:

• Take time to reflect on the ways you’ve seen Jesus’ power and goodness played out in your life.
• Thank Him and share that good news with others.

 

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” – Hebrews 13:20-21

Take some time to still your hearts before God.

• Pray that God would give each of you a right view of the spiritual realities at work in the world and equip each of you with His spiritual armor to withstand any lies and temptations that come your way.
• Pray that you will draw near to God in His Word and receive that gift of daily bread.
• Rejoice that Christ has authority over everything in the seen and unseen world, and that all who are in Christ will share in His victory.
• Pray for courage and obedience to use the time well to share Christ with the people in your lives.
• Pray for anything else that comes to mind as you read through the sermon discussion guide and think back to Ben’s teaching on Sunday.