Demon that Spoke the Truth

Pray

Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.

Review

Each week you’ll spend some time reviewing the previous week’s lesson. Did anything happen last week that brought the lesson to mind, and what did you learn from it?

Watch

Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.

Read: Acts 16:13-18. 

1. One person will first read the scripture selection in the King James Version.
2. Next, another person will read the same passages in a modern language or amplified version for more clarity such as the New Living Translation (NLT), Message Bible (MSG), New English Translation (NET), Amplified Bible (AMP), etc. We recommend using the YouVersion Bible app.

Retell

1. One person will begin retelling the scripture passage in their own words (a new person to start each week is great!) Then…
2. As a group, work together to fill in gaps and build the story. This will help us internalize and own it. Be sure everyone participates.

Discuss

Together, share around the group how the topic and scripture setting applies to your life personally. Here are some thoughts to consider for discussion… don’t let the discussion stop here, though… what questions can you ask that will help uncover God’s message?

📚Knowledge, 💡Understanding and ⚡️Wisdom

In the city of Thyatira

1. 📚Why was Paul in the city? What was he doing?
2. 📚How did Paul meet Lydia?
3. 💡Was Lydia a faithful person? Why would she need to be Baptized then?
4. 💡Do we ever have enough of God in this life? Why not?
5. ⚡️Why would Lydia want Paul and the others to stay? What was her motive?
6. ⚡️Was Lydia’s use of hospitality wise? Why?

Constrained to minister.

1. 📚What was Paul doing each day?
2. 📚Who was the girl that kept declaring Paul a servant of God?
3. 📚Was the words the girl said true?
4. 💡What was the motive of the spirit in the girl?
5. ⚡️How was this a clever plan of the spirit of divination?

Speaking truth.

1. 📚Why would Paul cast the spirit out of the girl?
2. 📚Why is the motive of a truth speaker important to preaching the Gospel?
3. 💡Why do some speak the truth for an evil purpose?
4. 💡How do you think God feels about truth used for evil?
5. ⚡️Why is it easy to say “well it’s the truth” when using truth as a weapon? 

Guard your hearts.

1. 💡How do we guard our hearts against using truth the wrong way?
2. 💡What was the tell tale sign of Lydia’s wisdom?
3. ⚡️How does practicing hospitality avoid using truth for evil?
4. ⚡️Why is it hard for a heart focused on showing kindness to use truth to hurt?
5. ⚡️How can we practice the wisdom of hospitality instead of the evil wisdom of brutal truth?

Next Week…

 End of Semester Party