Hello! Here is the next in the "Armour of God" series - The Shield of Faith. This is our defense against the attack of the enemy. Teaching our kids faith is one of the most important tasks we have as parents. Faith is what they will take with them and the stronger their faith is, the better they will withstand when the enemy tries to deceive them. As you do these studies as a family, and especially this one, remember that our kids will learn more when we are open and honest in our faith and our times of doubt. As they see us wrestling with our faith, they will learn how to do the same. So be vulnerable! We do not have to present a perfect, "I have this all figured out" approach. If they feel like faith is about being perfect and having it all figured out, they will feel like they may not ever be able to achieve that. So show them your bumps and your bruises!
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Overarching Verse - This is the verse to memorize during this entire series. Take it in small chunks along the way to memorize. For the younger ones, focus on the first verse or two.
Ephesians 6:11-17 - Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities,against the powersof this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvationand the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God.
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Song
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Illustration
For Kids:
For the Family:
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Read
Ephesians 6:11-16, Hebrews 11, 1 John 5:4-5
This is the fourth piece of armor we are looking at and there are a few more to come. When we think about armor, how heavy it is, how much of the body it covers, we might think why would a soldier need to also carry a shield? No matter how protected a soldier is, there are still weak spots. They are still susceptible, or they still have the potential to get hit by the enemy. When we are believers in Jesus, and we are walking by faith, putting on the armor of God each day, we are still open to the attacks from the enemy. We need our shield. If the enemy finds our weak points, just like a soldier, that attack can take us down.
Just like the sword, the shield is something that is moveable. It is something that we control, moving it to deflect those attacks coming at us. Faith helps covers us and our areas of sin or the questions that we don't always have the exact answers for. In Hebrews 11 we read about some of the great faith giants in the Bible. People, like me and you, who went through difficult situations or circumstances and got through it with faith. One of the examples was Abraham. Abraham and Sarah wanted a child more than anything. God promised them he would give them descendants as many as the dust of the earth, if one could count each particle of dust (Gen. 13:14-17). But Abraham and Sarah were old, even so, they trusted God. After they had Isaac, the Lord instructs Abraham to go to the mountain top and sacrifice his son. Imagine being given the thing you have been desperately hoping for, and then you are asked to give it back. How would you feel?
Abraham had faith in the Lord, knowing He was in control. Abraham got so far as to put Isaac on the altar and lift his sword. In that moment God produced a ram to be sacraficed in Isaac's place. Abraham showed his faith in God, because he knew that God was always faithful! Faith isn't just about our faith in God, but knowing that God will always be faithful to us. You see, it doesn't matter how far we stray from God, He is always faithful to us, waiting for us to return to him. It doesn't matter what the attack of the enemy is, we can trust that God will protect us!
Abraham showed his faith in a big and mighty way. God may not ask us to show our faith in such a dramatic way, but let's consider the video of Rhonwhyn Kendrick. She wrote on a post-it note her desire for a golf cart. She needed it so she could get work done around her yard without putting herself in danger of getting hurt, so that she could continue to remain strong and healthy to take care of her ailing husband. We might think of that as a small thing, asking for a birthday gift and getting it. But let's think about what she asked for, not just a golf cart but one that ran well and was bright and she would love driving. She listed a few descriptors. Her family could have gotten her a used one that had seen better days, but they got her one that checked every box of Rhonwyn's request. She hadn't told anyone her request. God wants to answer our prayers. He wants us to come in faith, expecting that He will answer. She needed a cart, she wanted her cart to have certain attributes. God gave her what she needed AND what she wanted. He wants to lavish us, his children. Just like with Abraham, He said I won't just give you one descendant, but I will give you as many as there are particles of dust.
1 John 5:4-5 tells us that with faith we can win against sin. Satan tries everything he can to cause us to sin in our thoughts, our actions, and our attitudes. When he finds our weak spot, you will find that he keeps trying to attack that spot. Maybe it is in our attitudes and words with your parents or teachers. Maybe it is your actions with your siblings, fighting and arguing. Maybe it is your language or the things you watch. All these things can be ways you are sinning against God. You might be feeling that there isn't a way for you to change those ways. But God's word says that we can WIN, with faith in God, we CAN WIN! How will you fight this battle? How might you use your shield today?
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Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think God uses the shield to represent faith?
2. Rhonwyn shared how she observed her mom crying out to God and showing her faith in him when she was a child. How have you observed your parents being faithful to God?
3. Tell of a time when you were faithful, even though it was a difficult situation.
4. Think of your weak spot that you know Satan will try to attack. How might you use your shield of faith to block that attack? (If you can't think of anything, take some time to brainstorm as a family)
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Prayer
As you go to prayer as a family, take this time to think about where you are at. Are you experiencing attacks in the same area of your life? Take this time now to bring it to the Lord, remembering that He is faithful. We may not have the strength to fight that battle or use our shield, but when we put our faith, even faith as small as a mustard seed (Matt. 17:20), in the Lord, HE IS FAITHFUL! He fights for us! Our faith can be strengthed, ask God to help you in your faith, to grow more like Him each day. You might even want to pray for each other. If you answered the questions above, take time to pray for those areas your family is struggling with.
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Thank you for using this resource. I hope that you have found it helpful as you incorporate Family Worship Time in your home. Please leave a note if this has been helpful to you, or you have comments that might be helpful for anyone else who might use this resource. I'd love to hear how you implement these in your home.
God Bless!
Rachel
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