YouTube Discussions

Chatting with the Devil

May 8, 2015

Main Point: The Devil will do anything in his power to divide the Church against itself. We must not give him any opportunity to use us against one another.

The Discussion Starter:
In this funny little clip, Pastor Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch sits down with, umm, Satan. Okay, it’s just a guy dressed up like the devil, but the point comes across loud and clear: the devil hates those who are in the church and will do anything within his power to divide and separate those who love Jesus.

There are several different topics that are addressed in this video (which is actually a series hosted by this pastor). However, the overarching theme is that the devil’s task is to divide the church against itself…and he’s willing to use religious ideas and tools to accomplish his awful task.

Everyone can learn something from this short little clip because it speaks to some of our greatest weaknesses. Prepare your students to laugh…and learn!

The Video Clip:
The clip for this discussion can be found online at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vKYZ0u_PxE

Transitional Statement:
Wow! Based on that funny little clip, it sounds like one of the devil’s best tools to use against us is, well, us! Think back on what you saw and heard for a moment: the devil talked about his ability to highlight different opinions, different translations of the Bible, different ideas, different beliefs, and more. Essentially, the devil admitted that he would use whatever he could to divide the church, or in our case, a youth ministry. There is nothing new about the devil’s tactics, so our strategy for overcoming his tactics need not be new, either. In fact, we’re going to look at a 2,000 year old strategy for defeating the devil’s attacks in our small groups. Let’s break out into our groups now, and then regroup for a final word in a little while.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and something we found humorous about that clip.

ASK A FEW: OK, it was a funny clip we just watched, but it had a serious message, too. How would you describe the conversation you just heard?

ASK A FEW: What were some of the ways the devil said he divided the church?

ASK A FEW: Which of those divisions, in your opinion, is the most destructive tool? Why?

ASK A FEW: If you had to describe the devil to someone, how would you do it?

ASK A FEW: What do you think the devil’s strategy is for OUR youth ministry?

Read the following passage:

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

ASK A FEW: What does the Apostle Paul tell us to do in this passage with regards to the devil? What does that mean? (Leaders – Paul writes that we should not give the devil a foothold. That means, we shouldn’t give him anything to hold onto that he could use against us.)

ASK A FEW: What are some ways that Christians “give the devil a foothold”? Can you list some examples?

ASK A FEW: Let me ask a more pointed question: are we (as a youth ministry) giving the devil a foothold? If so, how?

ASK A FEW: I’m going to make a statement and you tell me if you agree with it or not, and why. Here goes: “One of the best tools the devil uses against Christians is other Christians.” Go!

ASK A FEW: What are some of the things Paul gives us to DO? What are some things he tells us to AVOID?

ASK A FEW: How would our lives be different if we actually did the things Paul said to do and avoided the things Paul said to avoid?

ASK A FEW: The video we saw was all about how the devil tries to divide us as Christians. What are some ways you’ve seen the devil divide our youth ministry?

ASK A FEW: How can that division be stopped? What advice would Paul give us from this passage?

AROUND THE CIRCLE: Look back over the passage. Paul tells us to do a lot and avoid a lot. What’s ONE THING you can work on in the coming week to make our youth ministry stronger and more godly?

Wrap Up:
You saw the clip. The devil uses a difference of opinions on alcohol, politics, Bible translations, music, worship, doctrine, entertainment, opinions, and denominations to keep the church divided and weak. It’s sad, but it seems like one of the greatest tools the devil uses against us…is us!

I want to be clear about something. The video clip we watched was simply a humorous way to think about the devil and his tactics, but there’s nothing funny about a liar, a murderer, and a thief…which is what the Bible calls the devil. He hates you and me, deeply, and will do anything within his power to hurt us and keep us from God and one another. So, just because the clip showed him wearing a funny little jumpsuit doesn’t mean that the devil can be dismissed with a laugh.

You should take the devil very seriously. He takes you seriously.

But the facts were laid out for you in the clip. The devil wants us to hate one another and be divided against each other. That’s one of his greatest strategies of attack. Divide and conquer.

We have to make sure he doesn’t divide us. One of the best ways of avoiding that fate is to never give the devil the opportunity to attack us. If we never give him a place to stand, a foothold, he cannot attack us. The best way to do that is to live our new lives like Jesus!

There were many ideas shared in our small group discussions about which one of those practices we want to pick and put into place in our lives this week. If we actually takes God’s Word seriously, and live our lives based on this passage, our families will change, our church and youth ministry will change, and even our community will change! How can it not!?

So, before we leave in a moment, I want us to pray. Let’s break up into groups and pray for one another. Let’s ask God to help our brothers and sisters live like He wants us to live. Let’s ask God for strength and wisdom when it comes to ignoring the devil. And let’s ask God to give us the chance to make Him happy through our lives.

Close in Prayer

Written by David R Smith