Recap:
Man, I’ve been waiting to get back in the pulpit! It’s been a while, and I told the team this morning, if you thought Pastor Bo went long last week… don’t worry, I’m not going that long. (Maybe.)
But seriously, how many of you appreciated Pastor Bo’s message last Sunday? So powerful. If you missed it, go check it out on our YouTube channel. He preached for a full hour, and you all stayed with him the whole time! I love that.
Alright, today we’re continuing our summer series, The Invisible War. And here’s what I want to unpack: you are in a battle, a spiritual one, and some of you don’t even realize it’s happening. It’s invisible, but it’s real. And by the end of this series, my prayer is that your eyes will be opened. You’ll begin to see the war around you, the enemy against you, and the power within you.
Let me start right here: God has a specific purpose for your life. That’s not just a motivational Christian cliché, it’s biblical truth. You were not an accident. You were created with intention, with calling, with power.
Ephesians 2:10 , “We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. But the enemy of your soul, Satan, wants to steal, kill, and destroy that potential. He’s not passive. He’s strategic. And one of his most effective weapons? Distraction.
Let’s talk about David. You know his story, young shepherd, giant slayer, king of Israel. God used him in mighty ways. But in 2 Samuel 11:1, after a string of victories, David makes one small choice that leads to disaster.
“But David remained in Jerusalem…”
When kings went off to war, David stayed home. He got comfortable. He let his guard down. And that’s when temptation crept in.
Distraction is dangerous, and we’re living in one of the most distracted generations in history. You feel it, don’t you? The constant buzz. The urge to check. The scroll. The scroll. The scroll.
The average person checks their phone 205 times a day, once every 4 minutes and 43 seconds.
Some of you are above average. You’re picking it up every 3 minutes.
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. You’re at dinner, your kids are talking, and you’re not really listening… you’re staring at a glowing screen. Your spouse is trying to connect, and you’re “just checking something real quick.” Before you know it, you’re physically present but completely disengaged.
And here’s the danger: Distraction doesn’t just steal your focus, it pulls you from your purpose.
You stop “going to war.” You stop stepping into your calling. You lose sight of your direction.
Like Alice in Wonderland asking the Cheshire Cat which way to go. He says, “Well, that depends on where you want to get to.” And Alice says, “I don’t much care where.”
The Cat replies, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
That’s what distraction does. It erodes your direction. You end up drifting instead of living with purpose.
And the enemy loves that. As C.S. Lewis writes in The Screwtape Letters:
“The safest road to hell is the gradual one, the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Satan’s strategy is subtle. He’s not showing up with red horns, he’s whispering through comfort, through scrolling, through busyness, through distraction.
1 Peter 5:8 , “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
And here’s the three-part strategy we’re going to talk about in this series:
- Distract your focus
- Derail your purpose
- Destroy your calling
We only got through one of those today, and that’s okay. Because it’s a big one. Distraction is the starting point of destruction.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world… They have divine power to demolish strongholds… and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
For some of you, your phone is a stronghold. And it’s time to take that thought captive. It’s time to stop letting a device direct your destiny.
Right now, hold up your phone. Yeah, you’ve already checked it during this message anyway. Let’s just pray together.
God, help us. Help us to break free from the distractions that keep us from your purpose. We don’t want to miss out on the life you’ve called us to live. Give us power, resurrection power, to put the phone down, to be present, to live with purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And listen, I’m not just preaching to you, I’ve been there too. A while ago, I realized I had a problem. I was addicted to Google News. Morning, noon, and night, scrolling headlines, getting anxious, letting the chaos of the world get into my soul. But God helped me break that cycle. And He can do the same for you.
Let’s be a church that’s rooted, focused, and awake. Let’s be people who say no to distraction and yes to God’s purpose.
We’ll dive into the next steps next week, but for now, go into this week alert, aware, and aligned with what God has for you.
Amen? Amen.
Group Questions:
Icebreakers
- Phone Confessions:
How many times do you think you check your phone each day? Be honest! - Distraction Bingo:
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve been distracted by lately?
Discussion Questions
- Invisible War Awareness
“You are in a battle, a spiritual one… and some of you don’t even realize it’s happening.”- How have you seen or felt this invisible war in your life?
- Why do you think it’s so easy to ignore the spiritual battle happening around us?
- Purpose vs. Distraction
Ephesians 2:10 – “We are God’s masterpiece…”- What are some things you believe God has called you to do that distractions might be pulling you away from?
- How does knowing you’re a masterpiece with a mission help reframe how you live?
- The Danger of Comfort
“But David remained in Jerusalem…” (2 Samuel 11:1)- Why do you think comfort is such a powerful trap for believers?
- What does it look like in your life to “stay home when kings go off to war”?
- Digital Distractions
“Distraction doesn’t just steal your focus, it pulls you from your purpose.”- What role does your phone or technology play in your spiritual life—good and bad?
- Have you noticed how distraction changes your relationships—with God or others?
- Satan’s Strategy
“Distract your focus, derail your purpose, destroy your calling.”- Can you identify a time when a small distraction led to a bigger drift?
- How can we fight back against this three-part strategy?
- Spiritual Weapons
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – “Take every thought captive…”- What practical ways can you take your thoughts captive and stay focused?
- How might you replace distractions with disciplines that build you up?
Closing Reflection & Prayer
- What is one word or phrase that stood out to you tonight?
- What’s one way you want to live more on-purpose this week?