WELCOME ICEBREAKER

If you had to go to prison for one year what would be the hardest thing of that experience for you?

WORSHIP

Choose songs that focus on the freedom we have in Christ.

WORD

Read Psalm 91 and 124:7,8.

In these verses David compares his escape to that of a bird escaping a fowler.

• Who is the fowler?
• Who is the one being caught?
• Who sets us free?

1. The trapper must know the way of the victim.
2. The trap must be stronger than the victim.
3. Traps operate on the principle of deceit.

• Notice in Psalm 124:7 it states that our “soul” has escaped.  The area that Satan traps us is in the soulish realm – our mind, will and emotions.  What can we do to protect ourselves from being trapped here? What are the keys to avoiding being trapped?
  
  
• Why does David use a bird as an example instead of some other kind of an animal?
  
  
• If a person is trapped what should they do to get free?
  
  
• In Psalm 124:8 David said his help was in the name of the Lord.  See Romans 10:13, Acts 3:6, John 14:13, Mark 16:17, John 8:31-32.  How important is the name of Jesus Christ to you in living free from the hold of the enemy?

Review the following types of traps and as a group discuss an example for each one.

Traps of the evil one:

1. Trap of trauma. To set a trap in the path of the victim and give no warning.
2. Trap of tranquility. To bring about change so slowly the victim doesn’t realize they are being trapped or procrastinates their escape.
3. Traps of trends. To repeatedly deliver a message (a temptation) until the victim is familiar with it and is lulled into complacency.
4. Trap of tradition. To keep the victim blinded by a policy, habit, custom or culture that was passed down and holds them back from reaching their potential.
5. Trap of the treadmill. To trap the victim in a process or lifestyle that looks productive but in fact takes them nowhere and doesn’t let them out.
6. Trap of treasure. To appeal to the victim’s senses so strongly with material things they lose sight of reality.
7. Trap of transgression. To hold a victim in bondage by tormenting them with guilt and a sense or worthlessness over the past mistakes they have made.

WORK

Pray for those in your group that may feel trapped.

One of the keys to a good group is to continually share vision. This week share vision by talking about new people you could invite, group activities you can do, doing an activity with another home group, joining the Alpha Holy Spirit weekend on Oct 27, etc.