Before we get started, I need to apologize for the lack of discussion questions last week. Even though they were all typed up, I did not schedule them to be posted properly.
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Psalm 119:160 (ESV)
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
How do these verses define truth- and how is truth connected to God’s character?
Why does Satan hate the truth?
On Sunday, I made the case that Satan hates truth, because truth exposes him and because he is the father of lies. Jesus says it himself:
John 8:44 (NLT)
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
How do lies serve Satan’s purposes?
Genesis 3:1–5 (NLT)
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
What do you notice about how Satan used deception in the garden?
What patterns of deception do you see him still using today?
What happens when the truth is revealed?
Ephesians 5:11–14 (NLT)
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Why does exposure to light (truth) weaken the enemy’s power?
How have you personally seen truth break through deception or darkness?
John 8:31–32 (ESV)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
How does truth set us free?
What kind of freedom does Jesus promise here?
what are some lies people believe that keep them in bondage?
Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…
How do we “put on” the spiritual armor?
What does it mean to fasten on the belt of truth?
How does truth protect us in spiritual battle?
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NLT)
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
How can we recognize when we are believing lies instead of truth?
What does it look like to capture rebellious thoughts?
What are some warning signs that deception is creeping into your thinking?
Ephesians 4:15, 25 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ
… Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
How does truth build unity among believers?
How does speaking the truth in love strengthen relationships and protect the church from the enemy’s division?
James 1:22 (NLT)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
How can we practice truth daily in what we say and do?
What is the danger of knowing truth but not living it out?
What habits can help us live with integrity and honesty?