January - July 2024 Series
The Armor of God
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)
While remaining in the beauty of the gospel and our new life in Christ and walking daily as faith brings tangible actions to life, there remains one more objective for the Christian to pursue: standing firm. Our goal with the Armor of God series is to bring richness and depth to your understanding of each piece of armor included in Ephesians 6, equipping you with 28 key verses over the course of 7 months. Through an in-depth look at what the Bible says about truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God, we hope you will feel more confident and prepared to stand strong in your walk of faith.
Our first month together will be a summary of what the armor of God holds, memorizing Paul’s description in Ephesians 6:14-18; for the following six months, we will zoom in on each piece of armor, referencing verses from across the Old Testament and New. We hope that spending one month on each item will give us a strong understanding of the context of the resources we have as Christians in our ongoing battle against sin and darkness.
January 2024 - The Full Armor
Welcome to Introduction Month! What exactly does Ephesians say is the armor of God? This is the month to find out! These key verses will be the foundation on which we build the rest of our series.
February 2024 - The Belt of Truth
When we build our lives on what is true, we find greater flourishing. We will take a look at what the Bible has to say about the way of truth, the sanctifying nurture of truth, and how we ought to speak to one another in truth and love. The Belt of Truth, cinched securely around our waist, keeps us rooted in the promises and faithfulness of God.
March 2024 - The Breastplate of Righteousness
Being a follower of Christ involves the transformation of inward faith into outward actions, displaying the fruit of the spirit as it cultivates righteousness in our lives. Despite the challenges of our imperfections, pursuing righteousness is a journey worth taking. This month's goal is to help you embrace proactive obedience rooted in the enduring righteousness acquired through faith alone. We will put on the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect the heart's faithful intentions.
April 2024 - The Shoes of Peace
Because of the Good News of Christ’s payment of sin in our place, we have peace! Much like righteousness, seeing peace reach further into a world in disarray seems rare. This month’s goal is not to demand that the Christian never experience any doubt or uncertainty. Instead, we will be reminded of the peace of God through Jesus that we cling to, hopeful for the day when soul-level stillness will fall as freely and abundantly as rain from the sky. The Shoes of Peace are like sturdy boots, allowing believers to walk on burdensome or treacherous paths without fear, leaving the footprint of gospel peace wherever they tread.
May 2024 - The Shield of Faith
Now enters the one piece of armor with an added description: a shield to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. This month, we encourage each other forward into greater courage, living lives by faith in Jesus, taking hold of the promise of eternal life, knowing that our God can use even mustard-seed-sized trust in who He is for us. The Shield of Faith, sturdy and unyielding, stands against the lies of our enemy that fire upon us. Our faith stands the test of time, no matter the schemes that lie in wait.
June 2024 - The Helmet of Salvation
As the beauty of summer takes full effect, we examine a piece of armor that is free for the taking of all who will receive salvation. We will reflect on the assurance, knowledge, exclusivity, and power of Salvation. Salvation comes by faith in Jesus alone, not because of anything that we have done. The Helmet of Salvation gleams as a beacon of hope and guards the mind against doubt and fear. We hope this month is an encouraging time of remaining in the knowledge of the greatest gift we’ve ever received from our good God!
July 2024 - The Sword of the Spirit
As this series closes, we focus on the foundation behind the Bible Memory Project: God’s written word! Together, we’ll memorize verses that help us fall further in love with scripture. The direction it contains, the power it holds, how it stands the test of time, and the inspiration it gives. The word of God, which stands forever, is sharper than any two-edged sword, a light to our path, and teaches us wisdom and a heart of worship. We must take up the Sword of the Spirit to fight back the darkness surrounding us.
The phrase "stand firm" presents the idea that the Christian life is not a vacation but a battle.
By putting on the full armor of God – from the Helmet of Salvation that guards the mind to the sword of the Word of God that serves as a weapon against darkness – we clothe ourselves against every imaginable scheme our enemy may employ. We have been equipped with every resource necessary to stand strong in the face of temptation and walk in the goodness of the Gospel.