Winning Personal Spiritual Conflicts

2 Corinthians 10: 1 – 6

Have you ever had something that was particularly difficult to get clean? How did you do it?

Compare and contrast how Paul comes across in his letters with how he does in person.
Why is there such a difference between the impacts of the two?
What does Paul identify as the primary problems with those who are his opponents?
What are some “standards of the world” that impact our thinking today?

What kind of terminology does Paul use to describe the debate he is having?
Why does Paul choose to use such militant verbiage?
Compare and contrast the arsenal that Paul uses (Eph 6:10 - 20) with those the world uses.
Why are Paul’s tools more effective in deconstructing mental fortresses?
What is the primary purpose of spiritual battle according to this passage?
Based on the context of this passage, how would you define what strongholds actually are?
How would you describe the impact that spiritual strongholds have on people’s lives?
How can a line of thinking be led captive? What does it mean for a thought to obey Christ?
What are some negative spiritual strongholds that you may have embedded in your life?
What can you do to allow God to lay siege to and conquer those strongholds in your mind?

Feeling Sorry -vs- Being Sorry

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2Corinthians 7: 8 - 13

When you are really sorry about something you have done to a friend or loved one, how do you go about expressing that sorrow?

Why was Paul feeling a tinge of regret concerning the severe letter he had sent?
What changes in this situation that causes Paul to put away those regrets?
Describe the way the Corinthians’ have responded to Paul’s confrontation of them.
Why did they react so positively to this harsh rebuke?
What were Paul’s motives in reproving them so severely?
Who is someone that out of your love for them you need to challenge their behavior?
How can you go about doing that and still keep a positive relationship with them?

Compare and contrast the ideas of Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.
Why is worldly sorrow to be considered deadly and dangerous?
How would you define the concept of repentance to a non-Christian friend?
How could you use this concept to encourage a fellow disciple towards growth?
Why is it so easy to be sorrowful about something and so difficult to be truly repentant?
What is something that you need to repent of before God tonight?
How can we as your spiritual family assist you in your process of repentance and surrender?

Selecting an Appropriate Spiritual Trainer

2Corinthians 6: 14 – 7:1

Who was the absolutely worst instructor you ever have had in any training situation? What was it that terribly annoyed you about this person?

The yoking of oxen or donkeys was common in the ancient world in order to pull carts, plows, or accomplish other basic tasks that were too difficult for a single animal. What are some contemporary examples of such teamwork in the workplace?

Yoking was often used as an illustration for being joined together under the teaching of a rabbi or other spiritual leader (Matthew 11:29), or being driven by a strong ruler. What are some situations in today’s world that this kind of spiritual partnering occurs?

How does Paul describe the deep incongruity between believers and unbelievers in their spiritual perspectives?

Why does Paul use such vivid and harsh rhetorical questions to drive his point home?

Why does Paul quote so many passages from the Old Testament concerning God’s relationship with his people?

Describe the kind of relationship that God desires to have with those committed to him.

Why is it so problematic for a Christian to be involved in pagan or non-Christian spirituality?

What are some ways that non-Christian spirituality or idolatry creeps into our lives today?

Based on what Paul is saying in this passage, give a description of an ideal Christian life.

What are some things in your life that need to change in order to better match that ideal?

If we really are incapable of making these changes on our own as the Scripture insist what process do we need to go through in order to better comply with these standards?

How does a person go about being separate from the world yet engaged evangelistically?