The Restrainer and the Battle for Truth

Sermon Discussion Questions: January 25, 2026 The Restrainer and the Battle for Truth Call to Worship: Psalm 37:10-17 1. Where is the promise in verse 11 repeated in the New Testament? 2. Verse 15a Their sword shall enter their own heart. a. What is meant by this? b. Where else in scripture do we see this warning? c. Give a scriptural, historical, or personal example of this taking place. Sermon: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12 I. God is Restraining Evil – Verses 6-7 1. Verse 6 implies that the Thessalonians knew what was restraining evil. What do you believe is the restraint? 2. Give an example of: a. A core doctrine on which Christians must agree. b. A secondary doctrine on which agreement among Christians is not critical. 3. Ultimately, it is God that restrains evil. State at least three ways in which He does it. II. The Appearance and Destruction of the Lawless One – Verse 8 4. The breath of God's mouth brings Adam to life Genesis 2:7. In this verse, God's breath kills the lawless one. Reconcile these two verses or explain why they are contradictory. 5. Why will God, who is altogether good, remove the restraint upon evil? 6. There have been many historical incidents, such as the Holocaust, or the Holodomor, or the Great Leap Forward, in which large populations experienced unremitting persecution. How might they might have known that the Great Tribulation had not started? III. Strong Delusions – Verses 9-12 7. How do we reconcile our belief in an absolutely good and holy God with God sending a delusion? (Verse 11) 8. Verse 12 mentions the pleasure in unrighteousness. Why do we, as devout Christians, fully persuaded that God is the source of all joy, peace, and wholesome pleasures, still take pleasure in unrighteousness? 9. What is the critical difference in the way that Christians and unbelievers take pleasure in unrighteousness? Prayer Points: • Pray for Discernment: Ask the Holy Spirit to sharpen your ability to distinguish between the “false signs” of the world and the narrow path of the Gospel. a. Share a time when the Holy Spirit gave you discernment when many people were being deceived. • Pray for the Love of Truth: Ask God to deepen your affection for His Word. a. If you share the gospel with people who are already saved, are you wasting your and their time? • Pray for Godly Restraint: Thank God for His providential hand that restrains evil in the world today, and pray that His Church would be a bold witness for truth while the light remains. a. Share whether you pray regularly for any persecuted group. b. AI Question 🤖: What must one love and believe in to remain undeceived by the convincing signs and wonders which will be done in the end times?