Live Not By Lies

Mark Batterson
Oct 1, 2021
2 min read

https://vimeo.com/476130253

SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE HEAVEN ON EARTH

Heaven on Earth: Live Not By Lies

November 7th & 8th

Speaker: Dr. Mark Batterson

Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-20

Series Overview

Our identity,ourauthority isanchoredinadimensionof realitycalledheaven. It isthe

domainofGod’sdominion—perfectharmony,trueidentity, fullauthority.Everyblessing

isours intheheavenlyrealm(Ephesians1:3).Heavenisinvadingearthrighthere, right

now.How?WithasupernaturaldemonstrationofGod’sloveandpowerandwisdom.As

citizensof heaven,werepresent theheavenly realm. Thegoal?Onearth, as it is in

heaven.

Series Discussion Questions

How did you witness heaven invading earth this week?

Message Overview

It takesmoral couragetoSTANDAGAINSTwhat isWRONGandSTANDFORwhat is

RIGHT. It takesmoral couragetoSPEAKTRUTHTOPOWER, toSPEAKTHETRUTHIN

LOVE.Livingnotbyliesisrefusingtobowtocultural idolsorideologiesiftheydon’tpass

the TRUTH TEST. It’s living according to your biblical convictions even if it’s

COUNTERCULTURE. It’sRISKINGYOURREPUTATIONforwhatyouknowisGOODand

RIGHT and TRUE. It’s DISAGREEING FREELY yet LOVING REGARDLESS. It’s a

conscience taken captive by the Word of God and Spirit of God.

SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE HEAVEN ON EARTH

Message-Specific Discussion Questions

ReadEphesians5:10.Whoareyou trying toplease in thisworld?Whoareyoumost

afraidof offending?Despite those things, howareyouaimingforwhat istheMOST

ACCEPTABLE to God?

It is important toexaminehowwethinkandhowwetalk. It isalsoimportant tosurvey

thewayweactuponsituations.Thereisafamoussaying: “Actionsspeak louder than

words.” Howareyouallowingyouractions tobe louder thanyour thoughtsand

voice?

ReadIThessalonians5:15-17: “Bejoyful always,praycontinually, andgivethanks inall

circumstancesfor thisisGod’swill foryouinChristJesus.” Haveyoueverquestioned

thewillofGodduringaseasonofyour life?Howcouldpracticingthese3principles

help you understand God’s will?

ReadEphesians5:18. Paul urges followersof Jesus tobe“filledwiththeHolySpirit.”

What does it look like to make room for more of the Holy Spirit within your life?

Weweredestinedtobehereandnowduringthishistoricalseason. Howcanyoustand

in the gap as a peacemaker this week?

Practical Application

□PastorMarktalksaboutknowingour tendencies, andknowingourweaknesses.

Take some time this week to take a free Enneagram assessment.

https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

□PastorMarkpresentsaMulticulturalVisionforNationalCommunityChurch.Spend

some time reviewing the document found at NCC.re/reconcile.

□FindadailyrhythmofconnectingwithGodandwithoneanotherbycommittingto

NCCDaily, anewfive-minuteaudiopodcast tohelpyouwalkverse-by-verse

throughthebookofEphesians. Inviteafewotherstodosowithyou,connecting

throughout theweekviaMarcoPolooragrouptext,ormeetingtogetheronlinein

person to discuss and debrief what you’re learning.  

□Climbthestairs tothe UpperZoomeachTuesday,Wednesday,andThursdayat

7:14am. Joinusaswestartourdays inHispresencetogether, listeningintently,

and responding in prayer. Register at ncc.re/UpperZoom.

It takes moral courage to STAND AGAINST what is WRONG and STAND FOR what is RIGHT. It takes moral courage to SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER, to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. Living not by lies is refusing to bow to cultural idols or ideologies if they don’t pass the TRUTH TEST. It’s living according to your biblical convictions even if it’s COUNTERCULTURE. It’s RISKING YOUR REPUTATION for what you know is GOOD and RIGHT and TRUE. It’s DISAGREEING FREELY yet LOVING REGARDLESS. It’s a conscience taken captive by the Word of God and Spirit of God.