The Authority of Scripture

With the focus on prayer this week, the word section of home group can act to remind us of the authority we have when we pray the word! I'm going to try and make sure that we leave plenty of time for praying at home group this week. (You might want to give some prior consideration to how God wants the group to pray..)

Read together:
Matt. 4:1 ¶ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
Matt. 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matt. 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Matt. 4:4 ¶ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matt. 4:5 ¶ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
Matt. 4:6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Matt. 4:7 ¶ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matt. 4:8 ¶ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
Matt. 4:9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Matt. 4:10 ¶ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Matt. 4:11 ¶ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Q.s for discussion.

How does Jesus use the word to exercise authority in overcoming the devil in Matthew 4?
Sunday's preacher, Matt Frost, described three ways that the Word has authority for us:
1. resist the devil
2. pray the promises
3. do what it tells us

(maybe in smaller groups?)
How are we doing at these three things?
What would be the growth area for us?
Are there specific areas of your life where you know you need to overcome the devil?
How might the group work to help you grow in authority?

Robin Plummer, 07/07/2009