1. The message reminds us that God does not lose battles. In 1 Samuel 5, it looked like the Philistines had won by capturing the ark, but when God’s presence entered the temple, the idol had to fall. What looked like a loss was actually God showing His power.

Read 1 Samuel 5:1–5

What is one area in your life that feels out of control or like a loss right now? How does this story encourage you to trust that God is still at work in that situation?

2. We talked about how God is not just trying to fix behavior, He is transforming our lives from the inside out. Ephesians shows us that Jesus is actively cleansing and shaping us so we can live whole and healthy lives. This connects to the idea that we should not keep picking back up the patterns God is trying to remove.

Read Ephesians 5:25–28

Is there a pattern, habit, or mindset in your life that you feel God is trying to change? What is one simple step you can take this week to not pick it back up again?

3. The message reminds us that God has authority over everything. In Matthew, Jesus shows that before anything can be taken back, the strong man has to be tied up. This points to the reality that God is powerful enough to break anything that has been holding us back.

Read Matthew 12:29

What is something in your life that has felt strong or hard to overcome? How does knowing that God has authority over it change the way you face it this week?