The Armor of God

 

Study Guide for Week of January 16, 2021 

This Week's Scripture:  Ephesians 6:10-17

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: See a Victory  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Ten Minute Message Recap                                                                  

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• What would help you be strong in the Lord?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This study looks at the nature of the battle or struggle we as human beings are in. Many times we are unaware of the spiritual nature of the struggles we face. The goal is that we become aware of the spiritual battle we are in every day in our lives and families and church and community group.

God has given us resources to keep us strong in the spiritual battle. The focus is on the resources God has given us to be strong and stand firm in the struggles of life.

Break down each verse word by word so that everybody understands the armor in a practical way. 

We look at three aspects of living in victory:    

1. Have the Right Goal – Ephesians 6:10-13
2. Close the Doors of Your Life – God’s Inner Armor – Ephesians 6:14-15
3. Use the Armor God Provides – God’s Outer Armor – Ephesians 6:16-17

I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss

1. Have the Right Goal – Ephesians 6:10-13

• Key Concept: Walking or running, stumbling, or limping, it doesn't matter. Stand firm. Don’t quit. Finish the race.
• Key Verse: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 - I have finished the race. I have fought the good fight. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
• Community Group Application: Being part of a group of fellow believers is essential for you to stand firm.

2. Close the Doors of Your Life – God’s Inner Armor – Ephesians 6:14-15

• Key Concept: Satan looks for small areas in our lives to exploit.
• Key Verse: Ephesians 4:26-27 - “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
• Community Group Application: Having people in your life in a community group is key to identifying doors that need to be closed in your life.

3. Use the Armor God Provides - God’s Outer Armor – Ephesians 6:16-17

• Key Concept: God has given us everything we need for life and godliness to stand strong, but we must put on His armor.
• Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
• Community Group Application: When we gather with others and study the Bible we receive a word from God for our situations.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.