Freedom in Christ Course
Discussion questions for Session 5 The battle of our minds

Pause for thought or breakout room 1 

1. Does the devil seem more of less powerful than you had imagined? In what ways?
   
   
2. Not every thought that come into my head is my own. For example the thoughts "I am useless" or "I am dirty". What do you think about this.
   
   
3. Looking back, can you identify occasions when a thought you have had may well have been from the enemy? Are those thoughts always completely false?
   
   

Pause for thought or breakout room 2 

1. If you are deceived, by definition you don't know it. What are some of the ways that you might become aware of deception in your life?
   
   
2. What practical steps can you take to "take every thought captive" to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)?
   
   
3. If we have given the enemy a foothold through sin, how can we take that foothold away according to James 4:7?
   
   

Reflection 

1. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; The One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them (1 John 5:18). Spend a few minutes as a group discussing this powerful truth and how it applies to your daily life.
   
   
2. Read Ephesians 6:10-18, pausing after each element of the armor of God to pray. As you pray, visualize yourself putting on - or having on - each piece of the armor and commit yourself to what it represents.
   For example:
   "I put on the belt of truth. I commit myself to believe the truth, speak only the truth, and live according to the truth", or
   "I thank You that Jesus has made me righteous and that the breastplate of righteousness covers my heart".