This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - Are Demons Real, and Should I Be Afraid of Them?” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Supernatural: Week 3
"Know Your Enemy, Trust Your King"
Small Group Discussion Guide
Series Context: This is Week 3 of the Supernatural series. Week 1 introduced spiritual warfare and the reality that we fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons. Week 2 explored walking daily with the Holy Spirit. This week's message focused on demons — what they are, what they do, and the authority believers have over them in Jesus' name. Note: If some group members missed previous weeks, a brief recap is built into the icebreaker and overview below.
📋 LEADER OVERVIEW
For the Facilitator: This guide is designed for 60–90 minutes. You don't need to cover every question — choose the ones that best fit your group. Questions are organized from lighter to deeper, so feel free to skip ahead or slow down based on the energy in the room. Some topics in this guide (spiritual attack, fear, mental health, family struggles) may surface real pain for group members. Create a safe, grace-filled space. You don't need to have all the answers — your job is to help people talk honestly and point them toward Jesus.
Sensitive Topic Note: Demons and spiritual warfare can feel unfamiliar or even frightening to some people, and overly familiar or even sensationalized to others. Aim for the middle ground the sermon modeled: biblically grounded, practically honest, and anchored in the victory of Jesus rather than fear of darkness.
🎯 SERMON OVERVIEW
(Read aloud or paraphrase to open your time together — 2 minutes)
This week's message tackled one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian life: demons and the forces of darkness. Rather than dismissing the topic or sensationalizing it, the sermon gave us a biblical picture of what demons are (fallen angels), what they do (deceive, accuse, blind, tempt, and oppress), and — most importantly — the authority every believer has over them through Jesus Christ. The central call of the message was this: Submit to God. Resist the devil. And he will flee. The church is not called to live on the defensive, afraid of the darkness — but to go on the offensive, fighting for people in the name that is above every name.
🧊 ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Choose ONE of the following to open your time:
Option A (lighter, fun):
"If you could have one superpower to use only for good, what would it be and why?"
Option B (more reflective):
"What's one thing from Sunday's message that surprised you, stuck with you, or made you think? It doesn't have to be something you fully understood — just something that landed."
[Leader Tip] The icebreaker is about warming up the room, not getting the "right" answer. Both options work well. Option A is great for groups that are newer or need a lighter on-ramp. Option B works well for groups that are comfortable diving in quickly. Either way, keep this section moving — save the depth for the discussion questions.
📖 SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Have someone read each passage aloud. You may want to assign these in advance so readers feel prepared.
Passage 1 — The Authority of Jesus Over Darkness
"Suddenly, a man in their synagogue who had an impure spirit cried out, 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!' 'Be quiet!' said Jesus sternly. 'Come out of him!' The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.'" — Mark 1:23–27 (NIV)
Passage 2 — The Enemy's Mission and Jesus' Response
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." — John 10:10 (NIV)
Passage 3 — The Key Command
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." — James 4:7 (NIV)
Passage 4 — The Foundation of Our Victory
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." — 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
Passage 5 — More Than Conquerors
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:38–39 (NIV)
💬 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes total)
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are grouped by theme and build in depth. Don't feel pressure to cover them all — a great conversation on two or three questions is better than rushing through ten.
THEME 1: Understanding the Spiritual Reality
(Observational — 8–10 minutes)
1. What was your reaction to this week's topic — demons and spiritual warfare? Did it feel familiar, uncomfortable, surprising, or something else? What shaped that reaction for you?
[Leader Tip] This question surfaces where people are starting from. Some will be skeptical, some will be scared, and some will have had real personal experiences. All of those starting points are valid. Affirm the honesty and remind the group that the goal isn't to sensationalize the topic but to understand what the Bible actually says.
2. In Mark 1, the demon-possessed man showed up in a synagogue — a place of worship — while Jesus was teaching. What does that tell us about when and where spiritual opposition tends to show up in our lives?
Follow-up if discussion stalls: "The pastor mentioned that the devil often attacks most those who are doing the work and will of God. Have you ever noticed that opposition seems to increase when you're moving forward spiritually? What did that look like?"
THEME 2: What Demons Actually Do
(Interpretive — 8–10 minutes)
3. The sermon described several tactics the enemy uses against us: deception, accusation, blinding unbelievers, temptation, oppression, and influencing people and systems. Which of these do you think is most active in our culture today — and why?
4. The pastor pointed out that the enemy knows our vulnerabilities and targets them. Without going into more detail than you're comfortable sharing, what kinds of lies or accusations do you think are most common — the ones people tend to believe about themselves or about God?
[Leader Tip] This question can go deep quickly. Be ready to share something from your own experience to model vulnerability. If someone shares something heavy, acknowledge it before moving on — don't rush past real moments of honesty. Remind the group that these lies are exactly what the enemy wants us to believe, and that's why naming them matters.
THEME 3: The Danger of Mixing Spiritualities
(Interpretive/Application — 5–8 minutes)
5. The message addressed how modern culture blends spirituality with things like horoscopes, tarot cards, manifesting, and other practices. Why do you think these things are appealing — even to people who consider themselves Christians? What's the underlying need they're trying to meet?
Key Scripture referenced: Deuteronomy 18:10–12 — "Let no one be found among you who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft or casts spells, or who is a medium or a spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord."
[Leader Tip] Handle this with grace — some group members may have dabbled in these things before or even after becoming Christians. The goal isn't condemnation but clarity. Frame it around the question: "What does God offer that these things are a counterfeit of?" (Guidance, peace, knowledge of the future, connection to something beyond ourselves — all of which God provides through his Spirit and his Word.)
THEME 4: Submit to God, Resist the Devil
(Interpretive/Application — 8–10 minutes)
6. James 4:7 gives us a two-part command: Submit to God and then resist the devil. The pastor emphasized that order matters. Why do you think submission to God has to come first? What happens when we try to resist the enemy without being submitted to God?
7. The Greek word for "submit" in James 4:7 is a military term meaning to place yourself under someone's authority. What does it look like practically — in everyday life — to place yourself under the authority of Jesus? What does that submission actually involve?
Follow-up: "The pastor said, 'You can't resist the devil when you're still resisting God.' Is there any area of your life where you sense God asking for surrender that you've been holding back? You don't have to name it specifically — but is there a category?"
[Leader Tip] This is one of the most important questions in the guide. Give it time. If the group is quiet, share your own honest answer first. The goal is to help people identify where submission is incomplete so they can move toward genuine resistance.
THEME 5: Living on Offense, Not Defense
(Application — 8–10 minutes)
8. The pastor shared personally that during a season of severe spiritual attack, he found himself living in fear — playing defense instead of faith. He said, "I found my fight again." What does it look like to go from spiritual defense to spiritual offense in someone's daily life? What has that looked like for you?
9. The message ended with a strong call: the church isn't just fighting for ourselves — we're fighting for people we love who are under attack. Who in your life is in a battle right now — a marriage, a child, a friend, a parent — and how might you fight for them differently this week?
[Leader Tip] This question often surfaces real, heavy situations. Let people share. If someone mentions a serious crisis (mental health, suicidal thoughts, etc.), don't rush to fix it — acknowledge it, pray for it, and follow up privately after the group. Make sure your group knows the church has pastoral resources available.
🪞 PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are designed for more personal reflection. You can invite people to share their answers, or give a few minutes of quiet reflection first before discussing. Some groups may want to journal responses.
1. On a scale of 1–10, how much of your daily life is shaped by an awareness of spiritual reality — the battle happening around you? What would it look like to live with a slightly higher awareness without becoming fearful or obsessed?
2. The pastor described the enemy's tactics as trying to make us feel worthless, hopeless, unloved, and defeated. Are any of those voices active in your life right now? What's one specific truth from Scripture you could use to counter that lie this week?
Suggested truths to offer the group:
- "You are from God and have overcome" (1 John 4:4)
- "Nothing can separate you from the love of God" (Romans 8:38–39)
- "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7)
3. The sermon described the church as called to "charge the gates of hell with Bibles raised high" — not playing it safe, but actively fighting for people who are far from God. What's one person in your life who is far from God, and what's one specific way you could fight for them this week — through prayer, a conversation, or an invitation?
4. Is there an area of your life where you've been living on defense — afraid, retreating, believing lies — that you want to bring before God this week and surrender? What would it mean to "find your fight again" in that area?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following to put the message into practice:
🔴 START HERE — Every morning this week, begin your day by praying James 4:7 out loud: "I submit to you, God. I resist the enemy. He must flee from me." Notice what shifts in your awareness and your day.
🟡 GO DEEPER — Identify one lie the enemy has been whispering to you — about yourself, your situation, or God. Write it down, then write a Scripture truth beside it. Pray that truth over yourself daily.
🟢 FIGHT FOR SOMEONE — Choose one person in your life who is in a spiritual battle. Commit to praying for them by name every day this week. Consider reaching out to let them know you're praying.
🔵 COMMUNITY STEP — If you haven't yet, join the 30-Day Bible Reading Challenge through the YouVersion Bible App. Select Life Church as your location and read alongside your church family. (God speaks through his Word — create the space to hear him.)
🙏 PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested areas to cover — you can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead.
Pray Together For:
Surrender — Areas where group members are still resisting God's authority; pray for the courage to fully submit.
Spiritual battles — Specific situations shared during discussion — marriages, children, mental health, relationships, finances. Name them and pray with authority.
People far from God — Those in your lives who are spiritually blind; pray that the Holy Spirit would break through the enemy's deception.
Finding your fight — Anyone who has been living in fear or on defense; pray for renewed courage, clarity, and spiritual boldness.
The church — That your church community would go on offense together, confronting darkness with light and fighting for people rather than against them.
Suggested closing prayer or read together:
"Lord, we submit to you. You are our King, our Commander, our Lord. We place ourselves under your authority. We resist every lie, every accusation, every fear the enemy has thrown at us. We declare that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Give us eyes to see the battle around us, courage to fight for the people we love, and faith to believe that in your name, darkness must flee. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Amen."
🔍 OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups wanting to go further — 15–20 additional minutes)
Bonus Question 1 — The Nature of Demonic Power:
The sermon mentioned that demons are powerful but not omnipresent (not everywhere), not omniscient (not all-knowing), and not omnipotent (not all-powerful). How does understanding the limits of demonic power change the way you think about spiritual attack? How does it change the way you pray?
Bonus Question 2 — Strongholds and Renewing the Mind:
Read 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 together: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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."
What is a "stronghold"? What does it look like to "take a thought captive"? How is this a spiritual battle — and how does it connect to what Paul says in Romans 12:2 about renewing the mind?
Bonus Question 3 — Colossians 2:14–15 and the Cross:
Read Colossians 2:14–15: "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
The sermon said the enemy is "already defeated." If that's true, why does spiritual warfare still feel so real and hard? What does it mean to fight a battle that's already been won — and how does that shape the way we engage?
📚 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY
For individuals or groups who want to keep exploring this week:
| Topic | Passage |
|---|---|
| The origin of Satan's fall | Isaiah 14:12–15; Revelation 12:7–9 |
| Jesus' authority over demons | Luke 10:17–20 |
| The armor of God | Ephesians 6:10–18 |
| God has not given us fear | 2 Timothy 1:7 |
| Taking thoughts captive | 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 |
| Renewing the mind | Romans 12:1–2 |
| Warning about occult practices | Deuteronomy 18:9–13 |
| The enemy's ultimate defeat | Revelation 20:10 |
📝 LEADER CHECKLIST
Before your group meets, make sure you've:
- Read through the full guide and chosen your questions
- Read or reviewed the key Scripture passages
- Prayed for your group members by name
- Identified which questions feel most relevant to your group's current season
- Thought through your own honest answer to at least 2–3 questions
- Noted any group members who may be in a particularly hard season and may need extra care
- Prepared a brief, personal story or moment of vulnerability to share if discussion stalls
- Familiarized yourself with church resources for anyone who may need pastoral support
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." — James 4:7
This guide was prepared for Life Church Small Groups | Supernatural Series, Week 3 Questions? Contact your campus small groups coordinator.