One person cannot fight a war. Christians are in the army of God. The battlefield is the world and the enemy is the fallen angel Satan and his dominions with their resultant problems of sin, evil, misery and a host of other evils. With so many battles to be fought, Christians must attack as the church, two or more gathered in Christ’s name.

No self-respecting believer in the palm-torn Christ would dream of entering heaven without battle scars. Following in Jesus’ footsteps leads to conflict with the forces of evil. Only short-sighted and careless Christians will go into battle alone.

The TOGETHERS OF BATTLE include:

Contend for the Faith Together [48]

Arm Yourselves [49]

Warn and Admonish One Another [50]

Battle Temptation Together [51]

Stand Up to the Devil at One Another’s Side [52]

Test the Spirits Together [53]

Together Hate Evil and Defeat It [54]

Die For One Another [55]

Rescue and Restore One Another [56]

Grace Church has readied itself for battle against Satan. Pastor Harold has taught them well from the pulpit that the devil has determined to rob God of His glory. The members of the church have decided together to go to battle against the evil one.

Abe Kingston, who attends Grace Church, works at a tire factory. At lunch he would eat with a friend who is deeply involved in a deceptive cult. Soon Abe began bringing some strange interpretations of biblical passages into his fourth grade Sunday School class. When one of the children mentioned these ideas to his parents, they contacted their small group leader who in turn talked to the elder in charge of church fellowship and community. Grace Church leaders handpicked a team of two men to meet with Abe and explain how Satan had deceived those in the cult to which his friend at work belonged. This kind of straying away from the truth and coming up with untrue interpretations and applications of Scripture is usually caught early in the small community groups of Grace, but Abe had been resistant to attending a small group. Now, seeing that he was very vulnerable to the teachings of cults and false religions, he has joined a small group and attends diligently. [48]

Abe's small group then made sure that he was fully armed for battle. They fastened around him the belt of truth by asking him to memorize critical doctrinal Bible passages. They would test him on these at their meetings. Since he was particularly vulnerable to accusations from the evil one that he was not good enough to share his faith with his work friend, the group placed on Abe the breastplate of righteousness. They taught him that it was Christ's righteousness, not his own goodness, that cleared the way for him to share the gospel. [49]

In another of Grace Church's small groups, Martha had decided to make a local bingo parlor her "witnessing territory". When the group discovered this, they asked her many questions and found out that she was at one time a compulsive gambler. The group stopped Satan in his tracks and warned Martha that she was playing with fire. Then they admonished her, and powerfully resisted the devil as a group on her behalf. She stopped playing bingo, but she has had many of her bingo friends over to her house for a Bible study. [50]

Terry Hampton shared with his small group that he was addicted to pornography. It took much courage to do this, but his wife threatened to leave him if he did not stop. Through tears, his wife Gloria told the group how humiliating it had been for her. Terry and Gloria's small group knew they had to fight this temptation together. They began by praying. Then they warned and admonished. Then they found out where Terry bought his pornography and went there with him and asked the owner not to sell to him. When the owner refused to help, the small group began to plan some negative publicity for the x-rated bookstore. [51]

Alice Barker ran into an old school friend last month. When she and the friend, Tamara, got together, she learned that her friend had become involved with witchcraft. Immediately she made more plans to meet with Tamara, but now she began to invite Joan, a woman from her small group. The two from Grace Church would face Satan together and attempt to free Tamara from her bondage. [52]

When Ira came into his small group one night with the praise that God was going to give him a Mercedes because he had "claimed it" in the name of Jesus, the group decided to ask many questions. After hearing Ira's thoughts, testing his heart, and praying, the small group decided that Ira was not listening to the Holy Spirit but to some other spirit that had to be ignored. [53]

Jean came to her group one night really angry about what was happening on the town's streets. Prostitution and drug sales were increasing. Soon all of her small group were concerned, for they all hated these sins. After much prayer and thought, this small group approached the larger fellowship to join them in their hatred of and battle against these two evils. In congregational fellowship, Grace Church regularly sends "patrols" to walk the target streets. Various groups go along these streets, talking to the prostitutes and those selling drugs. [54]

One evening, during her small group meeting, elderly Mrs. Jones mentioned that the building she was living in was roach infested and run down. The group learned that the landlord was a Mr. Smith. Mrs. Jones' small group leader took this concern to the meeting of small group leaders at Grace. All the small group leaders asked their groups if anyone knew Mr. Smith. It turned out that Gladys held a fairly responsible position with Smith, Inc. and received a very good salary. But her small group impressed upon her that she should talk to Mr. Smith, even though it would risk her employment. It was the right thing to do. Gladys laid her job on the line for Mrs. Jones and the other elderly tenants of the dilapidated building. [55] And Gladys got fired. Gladys then had a crisis of faith, doubting the Lord if she fell upon hard times for doing good. But her church in congregational fellowship and small groups prayed for her, shared their finances, and asked everyone they knew about possible jobs for Gladys. Soon Gladys recovered from her discouragement. Then the Lord gave her another job through the church's search efforts. [56]

**Phil 1:27-29**; Phil 4:3; Jude :3

Take a stand with others against the deceptions of Satan. Togther test questionable ideas against sound doctrine. Check lifestyles against doctrine. Argue the faith with opponents.

One of the ways Satan attacks the church is by distorting scriptural truths into false doctrines. Satan is more successful at deceiving individuals than groups. Most cults and false religions have been started by individuals deceived by Satan. Christians in church fellowship and small group community can more effectively guard against such deceptions.

God has given us the power of community to contend for the faith. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own work through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to make things clear to humans.

The second line of defense against error, and a very strong one indeed, is the small group community where individuals know one another well enough to speak up when they recognize biblical error. In small group community, Christians must hold questionable teachings up to the test of God's biblical revelation. The small group must also watch to see that lifestyles match doctrine. Caution must be taken, however, that the small group contends only for the basics of the faith and not minor points of doctrine about which there is disagreement among Christians. There is a big difference, for example, between believing that men can become gods (a New Age concept not taught in Scripture) and believing in different forms of baptism. Disagreement between evangelicals must not cause division. Christians should watch one another for apostasy and thus contend for the faith.

By teaching the Scriptures in sound doctrine the church assures that there will be a number of people who hold to the truth. The sermon, Sunday school, and other teaching experiences allow people to draw together and have an assurance of the basic beliefs of the Christian faith. This basic groundwork supplies the first line of defense against erroneous teachings they may pick up from other people.

1. Brainstorm the false teachings prevalent in today’s Christian culture? Does it make sense to expect success in standing up for the faith when we do not live it consistently? Pick three of the false teachings identified and decide together how a group of Christians would consistently live out the doctrine or teachings. Once your lives showed that you truly believed the faith in those three aspects, what would you say to those Christians who are not upholding the faith with true belief?

1. Each group member name one thing he or she believes to be true of the faith but has trouble living it. Then the group begin a process that will help that person become consistent with his or her belief.

Matt 16:18; Rom 13:12-14; 2 Cor 6:7; 2 Cor 10:4 **Eph 6:10-18**; 1 Peter 4:1

Take up spiritual weapons together, making sure that many offensive instruments of war are available. And put on the armor of God together.

As an army going out to battle at the gates of hell, Christians are to put on their armor and pick up their weapons together. We are to assure that fellow soldiers are protected and that weapons are prepared, not for retreat, but for the advance against evil. As good soldiers, we should admonish one another to practice using our weapons for the time when we will need them. In spiritual battle, a platoon of well-armed, well-trained and committed Christians will always be much more effective than a lone trooper.

As God goes into battle with his people, so his people together can go into battle with God. Therefore, God has given us resources in community to arm ourselves for battle. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own almighty power.

It is easier to see how we take up arms together, how we put on our armor, and how we wield our mighty sword when we think of the Christian small group that has determined to be obedient to God's expectations for Christians who live in biblical community. For example, the Shield of Faith is picked up by the Christian small group through honest conversations regarding the trustworthiness of God and the certainty of who He is and that He will do what He says He will do. For example, it is sometimes difficult for an individual to take up the Shield of Faith with an unwavering belief in God and His promises. However, when an individual is in doubt about those things of faith, the small group's faith as a whole will not waiver. The individual who has doubts will be protected by the group's continuing Shield of Faith.

As the Ephesian church was told to put on the full armor of God, so is each church to do the same. This is an act done together. Therefore, in larger gatherings of Christians, it is good that the assembly be reminded that they are -- all together --covered by Christ's righteousness. In this way the Breastplate of Righteousness is put on. If the assembly can see itself as dressed in Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14), then there will be a mental attitude of being clean and not wanting to get dirty again. Knowing that we are clothed in Christ's righteousness as our Breastplate, we will have confidence and courage to be able to stand against Satan's accusations. We will also be able to repudiate self-righteousness. Acting consistently with our armor, we will be righteous. Righteous behavior repels evil, disregards evil, and finds no attraction in evil.

In like manner, the congregation should together take up the Shield of Faith which quenches the fiery arrows of the devil. We keep our faith strong by being with others of similar certain belief in God. Christians are strengthened in their faith in congregational fellowship.

The whole church should also take up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Scripture is behind all that we do as Christians. It is the Bible that speaks to us about how we believe and how we relate to others. Taking up that Sword means not just knowing about it, but having it rule our lives in obedience to its commands.

1. The Ephesian church was to put on the armor of God. Go to Eph 6:10-18 and try to think of how your group together could put on each item of armor. Try to picture an army rather than a soldier.

2. 2 Corinthians 6:7 speaks of "weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left". Without using your Bibles, list as many weapons of righteousness as you can. Then go through the Scriptures, starting with 2 Cor 6:4-10, and list more weapons.

3. Together consider 2 Cor 10:4. Then go back to your list of weapons and try to identify the various strongholds each of the weapons of righteousness can demolish. Relating to Eph 6:11, try to see how your group can take your "stand against the devil’s schemes".

1. Tell each other how you think you rate on a scale from one to ten on the offensive weapons of (1) knowledge and use of the Scriptures, (2) prayer, (3) love.

Acts 20:30-31; Col 1:28; **Col 3:16**; 1 Thess 5:12-14; 2 Thess 3:15; Titus 3:10-11

Watch each other for the Evil One's attacks, especially from the blind side. Warn others of danger, even from themselves. Admonish one another toward diligent and stubborn resistance to evil.

In war the enemy can shoot from any side. Soldiers watch each other's flanks and warn one another of approaching danger. No single soldier can keep watch in every direction, and Satan will often attack on our blind side. Christians in community and fellowship are commanded by God to warn one another of danger and to admonish one another toward greater strength.

God often warns and admonishes his own people. Unfortunately, this sometimes takes a long time because of our reluctance and limited capacity to understand. But God is faithful and His warning and admonishing is patient and longsuffering. But God has also given us knowledge, wisdom, and patience in community to warn and admonish one another. Therefore, when a group of Christians warns and admonishes without unloving forcefulness, that group reflects back to God his own diligent concern and caring nature and way of warning and admonishing.

In any small group community there should be the kind of honesty that exposes the fact that most all of us fall into temptation and make wrong choices. As we honestly discuss things with one another in the small group, we open ourselves to the critical warnings and admonishments of those Christians who love us the most. Warnings should be done carefully, with love and humility. Warning should be very different from judging. The tone of voice makes a big difference. Warning does not so much say, "You are wrong!", as "I think it would be unwise in light of Scripture" or "I'm afraid for you if you take that approach."

In larger gatherings, Christians can warn and admonish one another in informal conversations. But this should be done rarely and carefully because such warnings to people we do not know extremely well can be easily perceived as attacks.

Admonishment in the larger congregation is accomplished more effectively during testimony times, when individuals tell others how God has rescued them from their own waywardness. Testimony is related to confessing sins, but it also serves as a warning to others. A courageous church could ask members to write how God has delivered them from their own poor judgment or bad decisions and then once a year publish a book of thankfulness for deliverance. It is important that the church find some way to warn and admonish it's members of the evils of materialism, living to please self rather than God, and a host of other traps of the devil.

1. Brainstorm the schemes of Satan other than temptation (we will get to that in a moment) to destroy Christians, writing down the list. Then go over the list and write down people’s names, including group members, who are particularly vulnerable to such attack. Put a check mark by any who are under such attack right now. Discuss how you might warn and admonish those with the check mark.

1. Using the groups help, each member decide on his or her own style of warning and admonishing others to fight the devil, keeping in mind who and how God created you to be.

Matt 6:13; Matt 26:40-41; **1 Cor 10:12-13**; Gal 6:1; 1 Thess 3:5; 1 Tim 6:8-10; Heb 4:14-16

Using the church-two or more standing together-fight off temptations before they become sins.

Each of us will more often yield to temptation if we are not closely woven into Christian small group community. Together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can fight off temptations and keep them from becoming sins. God designed Christians to be strong together. Satan's strategy, as implemented with Eve and down through the centuries, is to divide believers and offer them that which God does not want them to have. We must battle temptation together!

God not only protects us from temptation and during temptation, but He also provides a way out. Often the Lord does this through us and for that purpose God has given us spiritual power in community to battle temptation together. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his character of standing against temptation with his people.

The battle against temptation should become very real in the small community group where people learn what specifically tempts each member. Satan is the tempter, and he leaves none of us alone. The obedient small group will make certain that it is committed to help everyone win victories over whatever temptations plague them.

It is appropriate for the small group to ask each individual to tell the group a few things that are recurring temptations so that they can all enter into the battle against Satan, especially by sharing Scriptures which apply to the temptation (as Jesus applied Scripture to the desert temptations of Satan). It should always be made clear that sharing weaknesses is not an occasion for gossip, but a vital part of helping one another be better servants for God.

There are many dangerous sins encouraged by the world, our selfish natures, and certain merely cultural aspects of contemporary Christian practice. Temptation to these sins can be battled effectively by a congregation that is properly taught through sermons and Sunday school to resist them. Believers should let the Lord and the fellowship help them resist thinking that prosperity is a sign of godliness, becoming smug and proud about doctrine, looking with derision upon non-believers, withholding the tithe from the storehouse, putting on a show of worship while coming to church for reasons other than worshiping God, and many other insidious temptations.

1. Brainstorm the schemes of Satan to tempt Christians, writing down the list. Cover first the methods of temptation (stores, neighbor spouses of opposite sex away from home a lot, etc.). Then brainstorm a list of temptations. Then go over the latter list and write down people’s names, including group members, who are particularly vulnerable to such attack. Put a check mark by any who are under such attack right now. Write in the method of temptation. Discuss group members might help those with the check mark battle temptation.

1. Group members tell the group three temptations they face regularly and seek the group’s participation in battling these three temptations over the next six months.

2. Go around the group and identify for each group member those temptations each is really good at avoiding. Write this down as a sort of directory of who to call when tempted.

Matt 6:13; Mark 6:7; Luke 22:31; Rom 16:20; 2 Cor 2:11; Eph 4:26-27; **James 4:7**; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 5:18-20; Rev 2:24-25

Go against Satan with at least one other Christian by your side; the more soldiers you have, the merrier the rout.

It is best not to face the devil apart from other believers. Satan's strategy is to divide people and offer them something other than what God wants. God designed us to be strongest when we are together. When we ignore that truth, we become much more vulnerable to the devil's attacks. While Jesus, the Son of God, stood up alone to Satan successfully, Eve, the creature of God, did not. As Christians, we should make sure we are watched over closely by other Christians. The larger the Christian group that meets Satan in battle, the better. Biblically, we have few if any examples of Satan personally confronting a group of two or more Christians, possibly because of Jesus' promise to be with them. (Matt 18:20)

Fear of Satan is forbidden by Scripture. (Luke 12:4-5) However, hatred is the appropriate emotion toward the things of the devil (but not the deluded people ensnared by him).

God has given us wisdom and power in community to stand up to the devil at one another's side. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own repudiation and repulsion of the devil.

There are a few times in each Christian's life when we face intense evil. During those attacks, it is critical that we each are totally surrounded by protective small Christian community group. There we can safely pray, stand up to the devil with others and cast him out of the situation. Because Satan is behind all evil, casting him and his influence out of each other's problems is both appropriate and wise. And we should enjoy the conquest.

There is a mighty confrontation with Satan when a large group of Christians together confront evil. Under such circumstances, Christians must remember that Satan and his demons are the enemy, not the deluded human victims we have to confront face-to-face. We are instructed to stand up to the devil by each other's side. Sinful mankind is not the devil.

Since life on this Earth is spiritual warfare for Christians, we must not be addicted to safety. There will be casualties if we stand together against Satan. But imagine the victories for God and the benefits for the community if a church decided to patrol a dangerous housing project to ensure the safety of its residents, crowded around the busy streets on weekend nights to stop or impede prostitution, or patrolled downtown areas from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. when senior citizens might be attacked or robbed. These are just a few examples of ways that Satan's strongholds could be attacked by the church.

1. What is included in regularly standing up to the devil at one another’s side?

2. Why is it important not to fear Satan and his demons? How is it possible not to fear the devil?

3. Why is it important to stand up to the devil together rather than as individuals?

4. How can Christians regularly show disrespect (the opposite of worship which he desires) toward Satan?

5. What attitude should Christians have when Satan bothers or attacks them?

6. How should Christians "circle the wagons" when Satan attacks one of them? How will that help?

7. How important is it to show Satan than he cannot overpower us or one of our own?

8. How is obeying these Togethers of Scripture actually standing up against the devil? Go through the list and comment on a few of them.

1. Each member tell the group how gleefully (a ten on the scale) or fearfully (a one) they can go with others against the evil one. Help one another to raise the numbers on the one to ten scale.

2.. What needs to be done to be able to look forward to battle against Satan (spiritual warfare)? How can your group do this? Get started.

2 Cor 11:3-4; 1 Tim 4:1-2; **1 John 4:1-6**; Jude :17-19

Together test doctrines, revelations, spirits and ideologies with other Christians. Ferret out those thoughts and emotions that come from the dark angelic world.

Since Earth is the planet to which Satan and his demons have been exiled, it is only natural that it would be a place full of deceptions. God's answer to such confusion is for us to face it together. Christians working closely together can test spirits, ideologies, and theories. But we should all actively participate in the test, rather than just follow some leader who has tested the spirits alone.

God has given us knowledge, insight and wisdom in community to test the spirits together. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his perfect ability to know good spirits from evil spirits out of His pure and holy character.

When individuals talk about future plans or what they have learned from the Scriptures (including how they are interpreting Scripture), small community group members can discern whether that person is on-target with God or is following some evil spirit or philosophical idea opposed to God. This discernment is a task for the whole group, but its work is enhanced if any member has the spiritual gift of discernment.

Throughout history, whenever new doctrines appeared, large councils of Christians gathered to study the new teachings and produce written decisions regarding whether what was being taught was of God or not. These councils served to preserve our Christian faith.

In the same way, when new ideas or plans are advocated in the church, it is good for the congregation to pray and seek whether what is being proposed is of God or not. In our hurried world it is hard to take time for prayer and meditation, but for serious questions we must. Church leaders can pass out written explanations of the issue at hand for the members to pray about and examine in light of the Scriptures. Then, in an open meeting, people should be able to speak to the congregation about whether the concept is of God or not.

1. Tell one another is you believe in angels and spirits of darkness.

2. What do you all think it means to test the spirits? How do you do it?

3. How upset should you be when you perceive a spirit of darkness at work? Why might you need to be careful not to over-react emotionally? How do you keep the other person from feeling you are attacking him or her when you bring up the possibility of a demonic spirit’s influence in their thinking, behavior or situation?

1. During group meetings, group members should when appropriate pray silently asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what might be from the dark side when members are talking about their personal plans or beliefs. When, as should be happening all the time in an honest group, members are upset and expressing unbiblical thoughts and behaviors, pray and try to figure out what the message from a sin-contaminated world is behind the ungodly talk or behavior. That core belief that is not consistent with a biblical world view will be the stronghold of evil and should be corrected by the group.

2. Ask each other if anyone feels they are presently dealing with demonic spirits. If so, stand up to the devil with that person through prayer, confronting the spirits with Scripture, counsel, etc.

Ps 97:10; Amos 5:15; **Rom 12:9**; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 2:1

Search for and destroy wickedness. Fight at the gates of hell, not merely at the drawbridge of your own castle. Receive holy scars in battle.

Hating wickedness is something that Christians are commanded to do together. The more purely we love God the more fiercely we will be angry about evil. Christians are commanded not only to feel great disgust for anything contrary to God, but also to go out as an army and defeat it. Part of glorifying God is fighting at the gates of hell and defeating evil. It is the Christian's joy and purpose to go out and, in the likeness of our Savior, defeat evil regardless of the scars we receive.

Throughout the pages of the Old Testament we see how the Israelites strayed to idols and other gods and did not hate wickedness. The command to hate evil is to be taken seriously. It is not enough to learn what evil is. God commands that we attach an emotion - hatred. Feelings of apathy, helplessness and indifference are intolerable at the throne of God. His people, even when they might not be able to do much, are to hate anything that is abominable to the Lord.

God has given us sanctification in community to together hate evil and defeat it.. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his own victorious position against wickedness.

The obedient small group that wants to hate evil together can have a discussion about the things that are wrong in the world and then commit them to prayer. Expressions of how we hate sins with which individual members are struggling can have a powerful effect if offered without judgment of the sinner. (Example: "I hate the drinking and drunkenness that overtakes you. I hate drunkenness and the problems that alcohol consumption causes families, as well as the deaths and crippling that goes on by drunken drivers. I want you to stop drinking.")

Small groups can do much good by turning their hatred and disgust into prayer against Satan worship and witchcraft in their communities. Their hatred may also lead them to face-to-face confrontation with Satan worshipers, witches and warlocks. Fear of Satan is forbidden by Scripture. (Luke 12:4-5) However, hatred is the appropriate emotion toward the things of the devil (but not the deluded people ensnared by him).

There should be times in larger assemblies for mourning evil. The Israelites would not only mourn but groan and tear their clothes. There may be times when Christians should likewise be very upset about evil together in prayer and in testimony. (However, Christians must be admonished to not hate people or be angry at people, only at sin and wickedness.) Gentle correction in the assembly can be understood if the church leader doing it expresses how very hard it is for us to get used to hating evil, but not people. In a church that hates evil and tries to defeat it, there could even be prayer times where the focus is on telling God how sorry we are about our own sins and the various evils that surround us. Expressing to God our sadness that His world is being ruined and misused would also be an appropriate expression of our hatred of sin and evil.

1. What does it mean to hate evil? What is the difference between hatred and anger? How do you hate evil without being angry at people, letting the sun go down on your anger, or hating people?

2. In Old Testament days believers would put on quite a display when upset about sin and evil, donning sackcloth and throwing ashes. In this day and age and in this culture, what is the equivalent display of dismay over and hatred of sin and evil?

2. Brainstorm types of evil. Pick five of them and decide how to hate and detest them.

1. Each member tell the 5 evils she or he most hates. As each member does so, the group help her or him decide if it is God’s calling to specifically hate and fight against those things.

John 11:16; John 11:25-26; John 12:23-25; **John 15:13**; Rom 6:1-2; Rom 14:7-8; 2 Cor 5:15; Col 3:1-10

Lay your life on the line for other Christians. Risk reputation, financial security and anything necessary to help another Christian. Let go the idols of safety, comfort and pleasure.

Christians are to lay their lives on the line for one another continually. Rarely does this mean our blood, but often it means our reputation or financial security. It most assuredly means death to lifestyles of safety, comfort and pleasure.

God has given us a sense of eternal security in community that we might die for one another, denying ourselves and our freedoms in many ways. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his great selflessness in sacrificing his own Son for mankind — Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died for us sinners.

In the small community group, Christians can die for one another in the sense of risking intimacy and being vulnerable. Openly admitting sin, sharing doubts with one another, risking criticism, giving advice that may be unwanted or met with a defensive reaction, and taking the undeserved brunt of another's anger for the sake of healing are all examples of how we might die for one another in small group community.

There are many ways to die for one another. In our society, financial death is greatly feared. A congregation could die financially in the sense of putting every member's own financial security on the line during extremely hard times by asking people to give sacrificially for those who are unemployed. The church has largely abdicated this responsibility to the government, but Scripture makes it clear that the church should have a vital part in making certain that everyone's financial needs are met. The first century church was known by all because they liquidated assets whenever there was a critical need among the believers.

Churches could also die to self regarding comfort by not putting up such big, pleasant buildings. Instead, a church could go through the discomfort of crowding (as churches in the Third World do joyously) to make more funds available for missions. Christians in congregational fellowship could also die to pleasure by replacing some of their fun gatherings with acts of community service.

1. How do you feel, what do you think about **not** looking out for Number One (yourself) first?

2. Brainstorm the many ways Christians can die for one another without going to the grave.

1. Each member answer the following questions: On a scale of 1-10, how addicted to safety are you? To comfort? To pleasure? To privacy? The group should then, after everyone has answered, decide ways to increase those ratings and to overcome addictions to safety, comfort, pleasure and privacy.

2. Group members decide on how well they can kill their ego (false pride, need to always be right, etc.) for the sake of those closest to them. Then they should share their thoughts with the group and seek the group’s help.

Prov 24:11; Rom 15:31; 1 Thess 5:14; **James 5:19-20**; 1 John 5:16; Jude :22-23

Heal your wounded brothers and sisters in the Lord. Put them back on their feet and send them back into battle.

People get wounded in battle. It cannot be prevented and should be seen as a natural consequence of war. But nothing is worse than dying without battle scars. Having gone out to battle together, we are then to heal our wounded and put them back on their feet. If we do not, Satan will likely be able to take them completely out of the action of Christian service and dedication to the church.

There are even times when those who are battling evil will succumb to it. They will begin doing the very thing they were dead set against. (This especially happens when Christians serve alone.) When this happens, we are to rescue the fallen soldiers and work for their restoration.

Sometimes Christians get so hurt by one cause or another as to totally drop out of the faith altogether. Sometimes they still believe, but there is no visible sign that they are assertively serving the Lord.

God has graciously given us power and compassion in community to rescue and restore one another from evil. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him his healing nature, imitating our Savior, the Great Physician, and the Holy Spirit, our Counselor.

Nothing can restore an individual as well as friends can. In the close intimacy and caring of the small group, those who are tired, beaten up and wounded can be loved, encouraged, affirmed and counseled. Members of the small group can make daily telephone calls to check up on how the wounded person is doing. Expressions of caring and concern can be made at the same time. The small group can pray over the person, asking the Lord to fill that individual with strength, comfort and healing. If wounded individuals have doubts or resentments that God has not kept them from certain troubles, the small group can soothe those hurts and in time explain God's behavior as helpful.

The church that is in true spiritual battle for the Lord will have those in their midst who are called upon for duty beyond their energies. When these individuals become exhausted, the church should pool its resources to restore that individual. This could include locating a cabin for a week of relaxation, providing the equivalent of lost salary for a person to take time off without pay for rest, or asking for prayers of restoration from some of the church's senior citizens. These are just a few of the ways that the whole church can participate together to restore its wounded warriors.

1. What are some of the ways that Christians get wounded in service? (Examples: burnout, hurt feelings, etc.)

2. If not identified in the discussion of #1, how do Christians wound one another? (Examples: destructive competition, gossiping, jeolousy, etc.)

3. What are the various ways that a group of Christians can rescue a believer who has fallen away from the faith?

1. Does anyone in the group know of someone who has fallen away from the faith and is no longer walking with the Lord? The group should make a plan to rescue that person, if he or she is a close friend or relative of any one of the group members.

2. Has anyone in the group backed off from Christian service because of hurt feelings or any other cause? Restore that group member to full service over the next few weeks.