03/10/24 Spirit World: What are Angels?

OPENING QUESTION
Would you rather have physical wings so you can fly or be invisible like a spirit?

We're discussing a sermon series from church called "Spirit World." This last Sunday, Pastor Jim answered the question, "What Angels?"

​​DISCUSSION

1. What are some books you've read and shows or movies you've watched that had angels in them?
2. How are angels portrayed in pop culture and what are some misconceptions people have about angels?
3. Angels are spiritual beings created by God to worship and serve God. Read the following verses.
   1. Hebrews 1:6-7
      6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.​
      1. The ancient Jewish writers thought of angels as being made of fire. How does that make sense?
      2. Why is it significant to understand that angels serve God?
   2. Psalm 148:2,5
      2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
      5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created
      Revelation 5:12
      12 In a loud voice [the angels] were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
      1. Why is it significant to understand that angels were created?
      2. Why is it significant to understand that angels worship God?
4. Angels are many.
   
   1. Revelation 5:11
      Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
      Hebrews 12:22
      But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly.
      
      1. ​What difference does it make to know that there are multitudes of angels?
         
5. Angels are mighty.
   
   1. Psalm 103:20
      Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
      2 Kings 19:35
      That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.
      1 Chronicles 21:15
      And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.
      
      1. What do these verses indicate about the strength and power of angels?
      2. How would you feel if you were to encountered an angel?
   2. 2 Peter 2:11
      10 ... Bold, arrogant people! They [false teachers] are not afraid to slander the glorious ones; 11 however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.
      
      1. ​Recalling from Sunday's message, why does Peter mention the false teachers?
         
      2. What difference is Peter highlighting between the false teachers and the angels?
6. Angels are messengers.
   1. Luke 1:19 is one example of many throughout the Bible.
      The angel said to [Zechariah], “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.”
      The modern English word “angel” is a translation of the biblical Greek word ἄγγελος (agg´-el-os) and the biblical Hebrew word מַֽלְאָךְ  (mal-awk). Both mean messenger, conveyor of news, or ambassador.
      
      1. What are some other instances in the Bible that you can recall where an angel was sent as a messenger of God?
7. Angels are ministering to us.
   
   1. Acts 5:19-20
      19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought [the Apostles] out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
      Acts 12:7
      Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists [while he was sleeping between two soldiers].
      Hebrews 1:14
      Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
      Matthew 18:10
      [Jesus said] “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 
      Psalm 34:7
      The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
      Psalm 91:11-13
      11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
      
      1. In these passages, how do you see angels ministering to people and for what purposes?
         
      2. Do you think angels minister to people today?
         
8. Read 2 Kings 6:15-17.
   
   1. What are the key statements we see in this passage?
      
   2. How can we apply this to ourselves today?
      

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, thank God for his angels. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.