by Louie Giglio
Study Guide Pages 103-112
Chapters 9-10 of the book
Why Has God set a table in the presence of your enemies?
Christianity is not exclusively suited for sequestered moments between us and God. Its a relationship in the midst of the frey...
Put "being radiant on our "to-do" list EVERY DAY! Live like there is joy in our hearts!
The table is set in the middle of our enemies so we can respond to the invitation to linger with the Savior.
Why does God set a table for us in the presence of our enemies?
We can know God is enough.
Our enemies can see that God is enough
So that we can let our cup overflow.
When we focus on God, people will notice there is something different about us.
Discussion Questions:
When have you experienced God's presence unexpectedly in teh midst of a difficult time? How did your awareness of His presence affect your response to the situation?
What is the difference between knowing about God and knowing Him on a personal basis? What are some ways that you seek to better know God personally?
Why is lingering so counterintuitive in today's world? what would it look like to you to "linger"in God's presence? What obstacles would you have to overcome to do this?
How would you summarize the reason why God puts the table in the presence of your enemies? How does the location of this table impact your life and lives of others?
David wrote, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me: he delivered me from all my fears'' (Psalm 34:4). What is the impact on others when they witness God showing up in this manner and delivering you from all your fears?
David continued, "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame" (Psalm 34:5) How are you staying focused on the KING at your table regardless of what is happening around you in your world?
On a daily basis, how often are you aware of feeling guilt or shame for something that you have already confessed to God and know that he has forgiven? How do you handle these lingering feelings of condemnation that the enemy uses against you?
When have you recently struggled to forgive someone else for their offense against you? How have you seen the enemy use this tactic to try to get a seat at your table?
James writes, "Confess your sins to each other and pray each other so that you may be healed" (5:16). When have you witnessed the benefits of doing this in your life?
Find a prayer partner:
Someone you can confess your sins to and trust that they will pray for you and not judge. Be honest, listen to the other person, and keep everything shared confidential. If this feels too great a step at the moment, then pray these words from David:
"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
According to the psalmist, what is the source of God's mercy?
What does the psalmist confess about himself adn God's verdict of his sins?
What does it mean to be restored to the joy of your salvation?
"He leads me beside quite waters, he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23:2-3)
The pathway to freedom from both guilt adn shame is found in teh story of grace. This pathway is open to all people in the covering of grace. Grace isn't some etheral, flimsy milquetoast kind of thing. Grace has GRIT, BACKBONE, and MUSCLE! Grace is the left hook that destroys the power of sin!
Shame is a powerfully destructive force.
God created a rescue plan! Thanks to teh work of Jesus on the corss, you can be free from shame. Don't let the truth pass you by. Shame does not need to be a part of your story.
How would you describe God's grace at work in your life?
What wee teh consequences of Adam and Eve's sin that we still experience today?
How can you remind yourself this week that your past doess not define you?
For May 11: Read Chapters 9-10
Guilt: "The position of being accountable for sins and shortcomings. A legal term that points to remorse. Within a framework of spiritual justice, you must take responsibility for the choices you make when those choices fall short of God's standard." (Giglio,140)
Shame: "...the feeling of being defined by your sin and shortcomings. Shame acknowledges guilt, yet it intertwines the sin with your identity...when you experience shame, you take the sin upon yourself. You say, 'I am something wrong' or 'I am bad.'" (Giglio, 140)
"...in a legal and social framework, there may need to be restitution made or apologies given or time served or fines paid or justice restored--and these can be part of the solution...Yet the ultimate solution is always the grace of God."
Grace: According to Webster's Dictionary, God's Grace is "1. a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, b: a virtue coming from God, c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance."
Grace destroys the power of sin.
"The enemy wants to define you by your scars. But Jesus wants to define you by His scars. The grace of Jesus Christ removes your old identity and replaces it with a brand-new identity You are a son or daughter of God. You are a child of the King. You are written into God's will. You are a beneficiary of the lavish love of God, which has changed you from failure to family. Grace not only cancels guilt and shame--grace also redefines you. You are a beloved family member of God, and because of that you are given a seat at the table with Almighty GOD." (Louie Giglio, Study Guide pg. 85)
Read James 5:13-16
"Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pay over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
What are the benefits of being in a community with other members of God's family?
Why does James instruct you to confess your sins to others?
Based on what you've covered in this study so far, why do you think confessing your sins to another person stops the enemy's attacks against you?
Discussion Questions/Topics:
How you you describe your personal path to victory ov er the enemy based on what you have learend so far with your group and the study of this book?
What are some ways you can speak God's truth into other people's lives who may be struggling with giving the enemy a seat at their table?
How are you making sure the enemy knows that he is unwelcome at your table?
How has the enemy tried to convince you that you are operating from a place of defeat?
How do you typically respond when you are faced with an overwhelming situation?
How can you remind yourself this week to operate out of God's strength rather than your own?
My Victory Speech
The battle was fierce, and the enemy often tried to take me down by claiming this about me:
For a while, I felt like I was losing the battle because:
But then I remembered this truth about who God says I am:
I focused on this truth and put on the armor of God each day by:
Now, the enemy has been defeated, and I live in the freedom that Jesus secured for me. Among the many blessings I experience now that the battle is won, I particularly enjoy:
In conclusion, I would like to say, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen(Ephesians 3:20-21)
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What is the remedy for anxiety? How does praying, giving thanks, and presenting your requests to God compel you to quit worrying?
When have you most recently experienced the "peace of God which transcends all understanding (verse 7)? How does God's supernatural peace naturally repel the enemy and keep him from getting a place at your table?
Take each trait and try to think of a specific way you have witnessed or experienced God based on that quality
Video Outline:
I. God's word tells us that our thoughts dictate the kind of people we become (see Proverbs 23:7) We can't harbor thoughts that are against God's will and expect to live a righteous life.
II. The outcome God has planned for us is victory. The enemy has a different plan.
III. God hs given us victory through Jesus Christ.
IV. Even though we have victory, we still fight the battle. We are fighting from a place of victory.
V. We still fight the battle, but we do so in the knowledge that God has already won.
VI. Winning the battle of our mind begins with uniting with Jesus.
VII. We need to be in God's word daily, we need to memorize God's word daily. Scripture is our ammunition in this battle!
Monday- Isaiah 43:1 "My God knows my name."
Tuesday-Deuteronomy 31:8 "My God goes before me."
Wednesday-Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Thursday- Romans 8:18 "My present sufferings pale in comparison to the future glory that God has stored up for me in my life."
Friday- Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against me will prosper."
Saturday- Romans 8:16 "I am a child of God"
Sunday- Ephesians 1:19-20 "The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me!"
VIII. Allow the way that God sees you to inform how you see yourself. For how you see yourself will inform you live and win the battle for your mind. THIS is the path to victory!
Discussion Questions:
"For as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7) What is the connection between your thoughts and your actions? How have you seen the truth of this verse play out in your life or the life of someone close to you?
Share a time in your life that you realized you had to make drastic changes to pursue the plans that God had for you. What factors caused you to come to this realization?
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57), What does it mean to fight the enemy from a place of victory? How does this change your mindset regarding the spiritual battles you face?
God had promised to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites, However, when Moses sent twelve men to explore the land, ten came back with this report: "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we look the same to them." (Numbers13:33). What conclusions were they making about t their situation that was not correct?
Think about how your life has changed since you accepted Jesus as your Good Shepherd. What are some ways that you are now "joined" with Christ in His death and resurrection?
What are some of the daily rhythms you have developed to remind yourself that your story is one of victory? What Bible verse or passage of Scripture do you rely on the most often to remind yourself of God's truth in the face of the devil's deceptions?
Respond:
What are your most significant takeaway from this session?
Pray:
Thank God for providing you with the spiritual resources that you need to defeat the enemy's assaults. Praise him Ask him to continually make you aware that you are operating from a place of victory rather than defeat. Pray that HE will guide you on how to counter any lies the enemy tries to plant I your mind.
"Winning the battle for your mind requires you to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. When a thought is obedient to Christ, it either aligns with Him or is rejected by Him and by God's teaching found in scripture. If a thought is not taken captive by you in Jesus' name, that thought will take you captive. You will bind the thought, or the thought will, in time, bind you. So, use the name of Jesus with authority. Bind the thoughts that don't come from God and that don't match the Word of God. "
-Louie Giglio, from chapter 7 of Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table
Discussion Focus Questions
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 Underline or circle each piece of spiritual armor that Paul lists in these verses.
How does Paul describe the battle that is taking place for your heart and mind?
What does it mean to "Put On" the Armor of God?
Consider Each Piece of YOUR Armor:
The Belt of Truth
The Breastplate of Righteousness
The Shoes of Readiness
The Shield of Faith
The Helmet of Salvation
The Sword of the Spirit
Prayer
Which piece of armor do you need most in your life right now? Why?
God's Word tells us that our thoughts dictate the kind of people we become (see Proverbs 23:7). We can't harbor thoughts that are against God's will and expect to live a righteous life. Giving shelter and sustenance to such thoughts will lead to a different outcome.
"You were created in the image of God. You were called to greatness. You are God's child and He wants to set you free from anything that's holding you back. God wants you to live in the fullest potential that He has for your life. It's time you got serious about victory now that God has given you the opportunity to ask, 'How is the opposition coming against me? what is the enemy doing to me? What adjustments can be made?' You can win the battle for your mind."
-Louie Giglio, from chapter 5 of Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table
Mistakes are opportunities to correct your course so you can reach your goal.
Share: Take some time to share at least one key takeaway or insight you had from this week's personal studies. Then, to get things started, discuss one of the following questions:
What is an activity or pursuit in your life that has required you to make course corrections? How did you put these changes in place?
or
How easy or hard is it for you to change your plans? Is this relatively easy for you to do or do you trouble adapting one your plans are in place?
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
What does Paul recommend for winning the battle over our minds?
New International Version
"3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete."
What does it mean to "live in the world" but to not "wage war as the world does"?
What are some of the weapons that Paul says are available to us to use in the fight?
What comes to mind when you consider taking every thought captive in order to make it obedient to Christ? How have you attempted to do this in your life?
What happens in the battlefield of our minds translates into our actions, decisions, and behaviors, which write the story of who we are. We might not have the power to change our circumstances or have control over our situation. But we have the power to change our minds.
There are four key strategies to winning the battle for our mind.
When a thought enters our minds, we have to identify that thought and restrict access if necessary. We must restrict access to thoughts that are not from God. We must make sure the thought is congruent with God's Word. This means being immersed in God's Word, living in the Power of HIS spirit., and surrounded by people who are the same.
We must speak to that thought in Jesus' name. We exercise our right as a son or a daughter of God to bind away any thought that is from the enemy in Jesus' name. We either bind the thought or the thought ends up binding us!
We must claim the truth. Jesus taught us that we must know the Word of God so that we can combat the enemy's attempts to twist the truth. We have to know the truth so that we come against the enemy with the truth.
We must walk in the truth. It's not just about knowing God's word but actually living out God's word.
Discussion:
Why is it so critical to win the battle over your thoughts? How do you respond to the idea that regardless of what happened in your past, you have the ability to make adjustments that will help you secure victory with Jesus?
When a thought enters your mind, you first have to identify that thought to see if it is coming from the enemy or God. How successful have you been when it comes to identifying those thoughts that are from the enemy?
What strategies did satan use against Adam and Eve to convince them to sin? How does he use those same tactics today to exploit any "cracks" in your life that he can?
When you identify a thought that is from the enemy, how do you bind it in Jesus' name? What does this look like in actual practice in your life?
What strategies did Jesus employ to fight against the enemy in the wilderness? What does this reveal about the importance of knowing God's word?
What strategies have you found to be effective when it comes to living out the truth of God's word? How has this helped you to win the battle for your mind?
Discussion:
What key truths and biblical concepts have especially stood out to you as you seek to remove the enemy's presence at your table?
What is the greatest challenge in your life when it comes to refusing to give the enemy a seat at your table? Why is that?
How has the group experience enriched this study? Does it help knowing that others are wrestling with similar issues and snares from the enemy as you are? Why or why not?
Which thoughts and feelings do you struggle with most? How does teh enemy use them against you?
Which truth or passage of scripture resonates most with where you are right now? What would change if you believed the truth and acted on it rather than the devil's lies?
What other lies from the enemy have you bought into? What passage of scripture could you use to combat that lie?
How does Paul view the battle that you face against teh enemy of your soul? What does it mean for you that God has the upper hand in whatever confrontation comes your way?
What was God willing to give up to have a relationship wtih you? What does this say about the lengths that He will go to protect you?
What ability does the enemy have to separate you from God's love? What does this say abou the victory that you ahve secured in Christ?
What image comes into your mind when you picture Jesus as a Good Shepherd?
How has your Good Shepherd pulled you to safety in teh past and protected you?
What do you do throughout your day to stay focused on your Good Shepherd?
Discussion:
Read Luke 4:1-13
What surprises you most about the interaction between Jesus and Satan? Why?
What tactics did Satan try to use against Jesus? Why do you think he chose this approach?
How did Jesus respond to each of Satan's temptations? What is the implication for you?
Discuss:
What are ways you have experienced the enemy inviting himself to sit at your table? what are some of the lies he has tried to plant in your thinking to undermine your faith, joy, and peace?
How often do you compare yourself or aspects of your life to that of other people? Are there things you tend to compare more than others? What is the cumulative impact of thinking the "grass is always greener on the other side?"
When have you felt powerless in trying to make certain changes in your life? How has the enemy used your attempts and failures to get in your head and make you feel will never change? how does such negativity affect your identity and self-worth?
What are some areas in your life where you feel that you are not good enough or don't measure up to expectations? How do these represent lies from the enemy?
Can you think of a time in your life when it seemed like people were against you? Did this prove to be the reality of the situation? What did you learn as a result?
Which of the enemy's tactics tends to trip you the most? Knowing that you know this may be a particular area of vulnerability for you, how can you better prepare and defend yourself against the devil's relentless assault?
Discussion:
Compare the King James Version and The Message version of Psalm 23
Underline key words an dphrases you want to compare
Which particular word choices, phrases, and descriptions did you underline in each translation? Why di dyou select those parts of the passage?
What stood out to you the most about the different ways these translations express the same ideas? Why did those items stand out to you?
Which version resonates with you more at this point in your life? Why?
What are some key words and phrases that have continued to stand out to you from Psalm 23? Why have those especially continued to resonate with you?
When have you experienced a situation in which you became aware of the enemy's presence at your "table"? How did you handle it?
How do you wish you had handled this situation? what would you do differently if you were able to do it over again?
John 10:3-4
"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
How well do you know your Good Shepherd's voice? How do you recognize it when you hear it?
What are the most common obstacles you encounter to spending more time wtih your Good Shepherd in "green pastures" adn resting "beside quiet waters"? If you don't allow yourself to be still, what steps can you take to change that?
When have you experienced the kind of soul rest and spiritual refreshment that David describes in Psalm 23? What impact did these experiences have on your life?
Even though _________, I will ________. God is with me.
Louie Giglio digs into this deep in chapter 2. Even though I walk through the darkest valley...Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. God is with us.
LIFE is HARD! I have been guilty of asking "WHY" why am I going through this? Giglio suggest instead we say, Lord, you know I am going though this, it is hard...THANK YOU for being wtih me, through it. It's difficult to not be afraid of the hard times, but if we focus on the FACT that God is with us, we can let go of the fear. Evil can never take our soul. Even if we die, we should not fear evil.
Think about the darkest valley that you are facing now. What is your prayerto God as you walk through this valley?
How does it help to know that your Good Shepherd hs primised to always be with you?
On average, how many texts do you send or respond to each day? Is texting more of a convenience for you or an intrusion?
Or Have you found yourself in a situation like the one described in the opening story? If so, how did you react? What was the result of your actions?
What image or description stands out the most to you in this psalm? Why?
Did you grow up hearing this psalm or perhaps memorize it when you were young? What personal associations do you have with this passage?
What is it about Psalm 23 that people find so comforting and reassuring? how did it make you feel when you heard it just now?
According to Psalm 23, what are the attributes of your Good Shepherd? What does he promise to provide? How have you seen these traits in the way that Jesus leads you?
How do you feel about being compared to sheep in this psalm (see also Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7; 1 Peter 2:25)? In what ways does this comparison ring true based on your life experience? In what ways do you struggle to accept this comparison?
What are some of the "bad" shepherds in your life? Why is it often so tempting to follow after them? In what ways are you tempted to be your own shepherd?
David didn't always get what he wanted every day of his life. But he never lacked what he needed any day of his life. How would you define the difference between the two?
How does your Good Shepherd make you lie down in green pastures? what does this look like in your life? are you allowing HIM to lead you in this area?
What comes to mind when you imagine the Good Shepherd preparing a table for you in the presence of your enemies? What does your "battlefield" look like at the moment? Why is it important that your enemies are present but not invited to sit at your table?
The kitchen table...that is where my family gathers. My mom had her own special seat at her table, no one else sat there. It was her seat. My brothers and I gathered around her. Family, friends, everyone loved to sit around that table and talk, laugh, eat...when my mom passed we still gathered there and cried.
What are the tables that you remember? Why are they important to you? Who sat there with you?
Have you ever had to sit down with people you didn't like or people you knew were your adversary, your enemy? How did that feel?
The table is an important symbol in the Bible. Lisa Scheffler, on the website, https://cfhome.org/, says this: "The table is a symbol of family, community, and faithful presence. It’s a symbol of our deep desire to be known and be loved. It’s a symbol that we see throughout Scripture as a place where God dwells with and provides for his people. God sets a table for us and joins us around it."
A Google search of the spiritual meaning of table in the bible shows the following:
"A place of presence: God is present with his people and people are present with one another"
"A place of peace: A place of harmony, love, good-will, and reconciliation"
"A place for examination of self: The Lord calls us to the table as His disciples"
"A means of gathering together: The table was a means of gathering together in the early church"
"A symbol of ministering to needs: The table can symbolize ministering to needs"
"A symbol of building up the church: The table can symbolize building up the church"
"A symbol of sharing His truth: The table can symbolize sharing His truth"
"A symbol of the Gospel message: The table can symbolize the Gospel message"
In Psalm 23, David says that the Lord prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies, but those enemies are not invited to the table. God does not invite our enemies to the table. David does not invite the enemy to the table...why do we?
When do you invite the enemy to the table? Why do you think we do that? How do we let go and sit down with God?
Today we are watching the video to kick off our book study.