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LATER ELEMENTARY TEACHER GUIDE (4-5)ARMOR OF GODBe on the DefenseGRAD 204, Lesson 7August 7, 2022Disciple’s Pathway: A Legacy Builder

ARMOR OF GODBe on the DefenseLater Elementary Teacher Guide (4-5)Session Title: Be on the DefenseBible Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20Take Away: The Lord provides believers with armor and weapons so they can stand strong.Lesson Key Verse: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor ofGod, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh andblood, 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that youmay be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13August Family Memory Verse: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may seeyour good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16THINKMaterials: cardstock; scissors; tape; blank paper; painter’s tapePreparation: wad up paper to make “weapons”; use painter’s tape to make a line down the middle of the room(This line will separate the floor into two battlefields.)Note: If you have access to small balls, you may use them in the game instead of paper wads.Make a ShieldDistribute cardstock to students. Allow them to draw a shield and cut it out. Use a piece of scrap paper tomake a handle for the back of the shield by taping two ends of the strip to the back of the shield. Allow roomfor the student to slide his/her hand between the strip and the shield.Ball BattleForm two teams. Have students bring the shield they made to the “battlefield.” Have teams stand on oppositesides of the painter’s tape line. Throw the paper wads onto the floor, making sure the balls are on both sidesof the battlefield. Give the following rules of the game: The object is to move any "balls" from your side of the battlefield to the other team's side. You must stay on your side of the battlefield and not cross the centerline. You may use your shield to protect you. If you get hit with a ball, you must sit out. You must stop when the leader calls out, "STOP!"After saying, "GO," give the children a few minutes then yell "STOP!" Count the number of "balls" on each sideand pronounce the winning team of that round. Then have everyone return to the "READY" position, and playanother round, if time permits.

Say: This game is like the spiritual battle or war that we face every day.What! You don’t know what I’m talking about? You think that kids don’t go to war!The Bible tells us that all Christians, whether they are young or old, strong or weak, ready or not, arereal soldiers and will do battle in God’s army against God’s enemy.You don’t need to be afraid, though. Even though the battle is spiritual and our enemy is invisible, ourarmor and weapons are real.Let’s examine our orders, receive a briefing on the enemy, and hear a rundown of the armor we can useto defend ourselves in this spiritual battle.All this will help us to stand strong.READMaterials: BiblesStudy the Bible: Ephesians 6:10-12Read Ephesians 6:10-12Say: First, let’s examine our orders. These verses tell us what we are to do. What is it?” (Children should beguided to answer these three instructions. Give them the additional information provided.) Verse 10 tells us to be strong in the Lord. To be strong and courageous is a common command fromGod. But this strength does not come from us. It comes from God. We are to be strong in the Lord.We will see how to do that when we discuss our equipment in a minute.Verse 11 tells us to put on the whole armor of God. No soldier goes into battle without equipmentdesigned to defeat the opponent! We will look carefully at this equipment and learn how to use it.Verse 11 tells us to stand against the schemes of the devil. The devil is the enemy. We need to learnmore about our enemy.Let’s look to our commander’s instructions (God’s Word) for information about our enemy. The devil’s origin is not clearly stated in Scripture, but we can learn from several Bible passages (Isaiah14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-15) that the devil was an angel created by God. In fact, he was perhaps themost beautiful angels.He was jealous of God, and in his pride he led a rebellion against God to take his place. That rebellionfailed and he was sent out of heaven and not allowed back in.Other angels who had joined in the rebellion were banished from heaven with him and becamedemons.Satan hates God. He is still trying to take God’s place and will never give up. He loves it when peoplesin because they are following his ways instead of God’s ways.Now we will look at some Bible verses to find out what Satan’s tactics are to get us to sin.Assign children to read these verses and see if they can identify Satan’s tactics. Make a list on the white board.

John 8:44 – He lies. 2 Corinthians 11:14 – He disguises himself as an angel of light. This means that his lies and deceptionsseem good, but it is really just a trick. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – (note: Satan is the “god of this world”) – Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers tokeep them from understanding the gospel. 1 Peter 5:8 – He prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Zechariah 3:1-2 – He accuses Christians before God.There is good news, though. Let’s read some more about Satan’s limitations and his ultimate end. 1 John 4:4 – God is stronger. The weakest person is stronger than Satan if he/she has Jesus inside ofthem. Revelation 20:10 – He will one day be thrown into a lake of fire and tormented forever and ever.Personal questions for the students to consider: When has Satan whispered evil ideas or lies about God to you? Have you recognized Satan as the liar and enemy of God? How have you seen the attacks of Satan in your life?UNCOVERMaterials: Roll of tinfoil; Memory Verse Poster – Ephesians 6:10-13We’ve received our orders. We know our enemy. We need to put on our armor! Today, we will be finding thepieces of armor that are our defensive tools.Ask: Who can explain what “defense” means? (the act of defending from or resisting attack)Be looking for FOUR defensive tools God has given us as we read this passage.As you discuss each piece of armor, “make” that armor out of tinfoil for the helper or one of the children tomodel. If this activity will make your class too silly, save it for the end and group the children into teams to“put on the armor.”Read Ephesians 6:13-17Discuss the four defensive armors:The Belt of TruthThe first piece of armor a soldier would put on was a belt. This would hold the clothes together and wouldserve as a place to attach his armor and his weapon to. What is truth? Where do we find truth? Look at John17:17. God’s Word is truth! The Bible tells us the truth about who God is, who we are, and who we becomewhen we receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ.Ask: What truths about God do you know? How can you learn more?

The Breastplate of RighteousnessAsk: Do you know what righteousness means? (It means “right relationships.”)Our relationship with God has been spoiled by sin. When we try to do righteous acts, it’s like we put on old,dirty laundry. (Isaiah 64:6) Dirty laundry is not going to protect you in battle! But when we have faith in Jesus,we receive His righteousness. The breastplate of righteousness covers your sinful heart signifying that youhave been forgiven. You have the power to stand strong and firm because you are forgiven and righteousbefore God.Ask: Do you have a right relationship with God?The Shield of FaithSoldiers wear a lot of armor, don’t they? It doesn’t seem like there is any weakness in all that metal, but theywill need to carry a shield. No matter how well protected a warrior may seem, there is always a weaknesssomewhere. All the enemy has to do is find the weakness and they will be able to take the soldier down.That’s why warriors have shields. Our faith should leave no part of us exposed to attack. It can even jointogether with the faith of others to make a united wall of defense. It also deflects the enemy’s flaming arrows.Satan’s arrows may be suggestions of doubt concerning God’s love for you. Or doubt about whether God canreally forgive your sins. The arrows may be suggestions that you are being treated unfairly by others or thatpeople will make fun of you for obeying God.When you take up the shield of faith you believe that God will not let you down. You are saying that youbelieve that God’s way is the best way and that He will work out this circumstance for your good. This faith islike a complete shield around you.The Helmet of SalvationSalvation is represented as a helmet because it protects our thinking. We are confident that we will spendforever in heaven because God has saved us through Jesus Christ. Sometimes when we sin, Satan tries toconvince us that God will no longer love us and that we are no longer saved. We learned earlier about Satan’stactic to accuse of sinning before God. Although Satan may be right about accusing us of sinning, Jesus diedto forgive us of these sins, allowing us to be righteous. Satan’s accusations are pointless!Conclude: These are the four pieces of armor that God gave us to protect us from the attacks of the evil one.Ask: How do you think you put on the armor? Are these physical things we do? (No. These are spiritualthings. Christians study God’s Word so they know the truth. They pray and ask God to help them keep theirarmor on and protect them. When attacked, they call on God to help them defend themselves from the attack.Lord, help me remember the truth; help me remember You have made me righteous; help me have faith; help meknow my salvation is secure in You, etc.)EMBARKDismiss students with these final thoughts: There is a real enemy in our world whose name is Satan. God is stronger than our enemy. Satan will try to attack you, but God has provided you with defensive protection. To fight without the defensive armor that God has given you is as foolish as a soldier going to thebattlefield dressed in plain clothes. Put on your armor every day!

Ask: Have you put on the armor of God? Do you need to know more about becoming righteous? Or aboutgetting that helmet of salvation? Make sure that you talk to me before leaving or talk to your parents today ifyou have questions about this.Pray for your class. Thank God for providing this armor so that we can stand strong against the devil.Weekly Challenge:Read Ephesians 6:10-20. Are you training to use your armor? When are you setting aside time every day tostudy God’s truths? If you are not, make a plan to do so. Share your plan with your parents or a Christianfriend so they can help keep you accountable. Pray, thanking God for giving us armor to protect us.MISSIONS MOMENTPlease visit the Missions Map either in your classroom or at your campus. While there, please pray forthe Hays Family in Africa. Michael, Kathryn, Hudson, Layla, and Ford Hays are reaching the Zephyr peoplewith the Gospel through their work in Africa.Please pray that God would strengthen and protect Christians who are being persecuted. the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be shared with the Zephyr people and their churches would grow. God would continue to bless the Hays family and keep them safe.“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and ofthe Holy Spirit ” Matthew 28:19

ARMOR OF GOD Be on the Defense Later Elementary Teacher Guide (4-5) Session Title: Be on the Defense Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:10-20 Take Away: The Lord provides believers with armor and weapons so they can stand strong. Lesson Key Verse: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of