This past Sunday, Pastor Matt preached on Scripture's teaching on demons and Satan from Acts 16. Listen to that sermon here. Here are some of the other passages that speak of demons and Satan which Matt referenced:

Ephesians 6:12 - For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Genesis 3:1 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Revelation 12:17 - Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

1 Timothy 4:1–3 - 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Galatians 1:8 - But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Galatians 4:8–9 - 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Zechariah 3:1 - Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 Corinthians 11:14 - And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Colossians 2:13–15 - 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Mark 9:29 - And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

1 John 4:1-3 - 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 Ephesians 6:10–18 - 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

We believe in discipleship! We believe every Christian ought to seek to grow in Christ! But why do churches like this do that? Why do we believe this?

Here are 26 biblical reasons why we value discipleship:

1. That Christ be formed in us (Gal 4:19)
2. Be transformed into the glory of the LORD (2 Cor 3:18)
3. To follow the Spirit by killing sin and producing the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
4. To put on Christ and to live out of our identity in Christ (Colossians 3:1-17).
5. To Love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Luke 10:27)
6. To put on the armor of Christ: to stand against the scenes of Satan (Ephesians 6:10-20)
7. To be salt and light (Matthew 5:17-20)
8. To persevere that we might get our full reward (Hebrews 10:35-36).
9. To be mature that we might no longer be tossed to and fro (Ephesians 4:16-20).
10. To be wise (Proverbs 1:7)
11. To grow up like a strong tree and produce fruit in due time (Psalms 1)
12. To suffer well (Hebrews 10:24-25)
13. To be transformed (Romans 12:1-2)
14. That we might not doubt (James 1:5-8)
15. To show that our faith is genuine (James 2:14-26)
16. To be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16)
17. That we might not shrink on the day of the Lord’s coming (1 John 2:28-29)
18. To enjoy God the Father (1 John 3:9-10)
19. That our lives will have something of lasting, eternal value (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)
20. That we might preserve God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
21. To have a clear conscience (2 Timothy 1:3)
22. To know that we know God (1 John 2:3-4)
23. To enjoy the fellowship of the people of God (Psalms 133)
24. To have life rather than death (Romans 6:20-23)
25. To escape the slavery of sin (Romans 6:23)
26. To bring about the obedience of the gospel (Romans 10:16)