What is SOAP?

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

Week of August 9th
Side with Hell or Fight with Heaven

OVERVIEW

We are in a message series designed to help us examine whether we are merely "Christians" by indentity alone or are we actually becoming Christlike? This Sunday we examined the thought, "Fakers side with hell. Followers fight with Heaven."

Jesus never invited people to simply identify as Christians; He invited them to become disciples. His call is costly: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. True discipleship is marked by surrender, sacrifice, and obedience, not merely belief or religious appearance.

KEY POINTS

This Sunday we wrapped up the series with week 7 of "Christian" or Christlike? and we were reminded that following Jesus means recognizing we are in a spiritual battle. Every person is standing on one side or the other, there is no neutral ground. Jesus teaches that His followers are called to fight differently than the world. We do not respond with fear, hatred, or violence, but with truth, love, obedience, and the hope of the Gospel. The Kingdom of God advances not through human power, but through the victory that Jesus has already won on the cross.

Using Matthew 16 and 2 Corinthians 10, this SOAP challenges believers to examine whether they are truly following Jesus or simply agreeing with Him when it is convenient. Like Peter, it is possible to believe the right things about Jesus while resisting His way of life. True followers deny themselves, take up their cross, tear down lies with God's truth, overcome fear with love, and respond to evil with good. Because Jesus is King and His Kingdom cannot be stopped, we are invited to stand with Him and fight like heaven every day. 

SCRIPTURE

As we read aloud through these verses, let's pause, reflect, and listen for what Holy Spirit might be saying to you through the Word of God.

Key scriptures from the series. 

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world... They have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Additional Scriptures

  • Matthew 10:16
  • Matthew 12:30
  • Matthew 16:15-25

OBSERVATION

Jesus never promised His followers an easy life, but He did promise victory through Him. The battle we face is not primarily against people but against the lies, fear, sin, and spiritual darkness that seek to pull us away from God's truth. Peter's story reminds us that even sincere believers can end up opposing God's purposes when they rely on human thinking instead of God's perspective. Jesus calls His followers to stand behind Him, not to lead Him, and to fight using heavenly weapons: truth, love, obedience, prayer, and the Gospel. His Kingdom is advancing, and nothing can stop it.

Here are four discussion questions drawn directly from the message that encourage both biblical reflection and personal application:

Q1. - Jesus said, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). How does your answer to that question shape the way you live each day? Are there areas where your actions don't yet align with your confession?

Q2. - The message said, "Fakers side with hell. Followers fight like heaven." What does "fighting like heaven" practically look like in your workplace, school, home, or relationships?

Q3. - According to 2 Corinthians 10, our battle is against lies and strongholds, not people. What lie do you most need to tear down with God's truth, and how can Scripture help you replace it?

Q4. - Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. What fear, comfort, or personal agenda might be preventing you from fully following Jesus, and what step of obedience is He inviting you to take this week?

APPLICATION

Every day we are faced with a choice: will we react like the world or respond like Jesus? The enemy often begins with a lie that produces fear, leading us toward anger, division, or compromise. Ask God to reveal any lie you have believed about Him, yourself, or others. Replace those lies with the truth of Scripture. Instead of seeing people as your enemy, remember that Christ calls you to love people while standing firmly against the spiritual forces that deceive them. This week, intentionally respond to fear with faith, hatred with love, and evil with goodness, trusting that Jesus has already secured the victory.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that I do not fight alone. Thank You that Jesus has already won the victory through His death and resurrection. Help me to recognize the spiritual battle around me without becoming fearful or discouraged. Reveal every lie I have believed and replace it with the truth of Your Word. Teach me to fight like heaven, with love instead of hatred, truth instead of deception, and faith instead of fear. Give me the courage to deny myself, follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and stand firm even when following You is difficult. May my life point others to Your Kingdom and reflect the victory of Christ in everything I do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

WHAT NEXT? SERVE ON A TEAM
Next Steps

Our heart for you in taking a "Next Step" is to help you grow in becoming more and more like Jesus.

  • Invite. Everyone is only one invitation away from coming to church with you. We are here to reach 1% of our city. Take a step, be bold, bring someone to church with you Sunday.
  • Invest. Investing financially at BeLoved helps us to stay on mission. You can find the best way to give at belovedchurch.ca/give Take a step, start your faithful practice of tithes and offering.
  • Discover. Embark on the journey at belovedchurch.ca/grow Take a step and invest into your discipleship journey at BeLoved.
  • Serve. Jesus came to serve rather than to be served. Love on others like Jesus by jumping on a team and serving on the weekend at BeLoved. Help move God's great Church forward.
  • Get baptized. Congratulations! Take a step to "Go ALL IN for Jesus." Register online at belovedchurch.ca/baptism