Potter’s Workshop: The Armor of God
Written by Janice Roy-Wismath, Surrey, B.C. Canada, November, 2003

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-18

Memory Verse: Ephesians 6: 10 & 11

Concepts:
* We fight a different kind of battle today than David did - it is a spiritual battle against evil.
* The devil battles with the church of Jesus Christ (us).
* Faith in God shields us from what the devil sends our way to hurt us.
* God provides us with a whole spiritual wardrobe - we just have to put it on!

Objectives:
1) Children will learn what the spiritual wardrobe God has given Christians is like.
2) Children will learn that the battle ready stance of the Christian is on their knees.
3) Children will discuss what sort of flaming arrows the devil sends to children.
4) Children will make a symbol of the Shield of Faith to take home as a reminder of the Armor of God.

Procedure:
1) Welcome children and introduce yourself to any new children welcoming them especially. Go around the room with introductions if anyone is new.
2) Locate in children’s Bible’s Ephesians 6:13 - 18 and read about the spiritual wardrobe that God has given all Christians:

14 belt of truth
godliness on your chest (or breastplate)
15 good news of peace shoes
16 shield of faith
17 helmet of salvation
sword of the Holy Spirit & God’s word

Leave their Bibles open after reading for the below discussions:
Discuss briefly each item and how it is a word picture of our body being covered or guarded by God.
3) Let each child label Christian the soldier handout with the above wardrobe items.
4) Ask children to stand up and mime what you ask them to do.
* How do soldiers ready for battle stand? Show me
* How did David stand in front of Goliath? Show me
* How does a Christian with God’s armor stand? Show me
Read Ephesians 6:18 to the children to remind them that praying at all times comes right after the verse about putting on God’s armor.
* Now how do they think a Christian with God’s armor might stand? (children may kneel to mime praying or put hands together or whisper a prayer)
5) Flaming arrows burn, hurt and kill. What flaming arrows can the devil send to children? Discuss. i.e. street drugs, children thinking no one loves them or that they are ugly (lies), temptations to break God’s commandments, etc…)

Now let’s make a shield to remind us of the spiritual wardrobe God has given all Christians. Show the children the sample of the shield of faith

6) Pass out the precut cardboard shield’s. Using markers and glitter glue have the children make their own shield of faith. Have them image what there’s must look like. There will be photocopies of various crosses, emblems, lion & lamb (peace) which the children may choose to cut and paste and colour on their shield. Or they may just draw free hand and colour etc.
7) When they have completed colouring their shield have them glue on the label Shield of Faith on the front and Ephesians 6: 14 -18 on the back.
8) Thread elastics through the two wholes in the centre of the shields to make the shield’s handle.

Memory Verse:
Review Ephesians 6:10 & 11 holding up the shields as you say “Put on all of God’s armor”. The verse will be posted on the back wall of the workshop.

Closing:
Ask the children to once again take the stance of a Christian ready for battle, knelling, hands folded or face up lifted. Shepherds should choose a stance too.
Heavenly Father, thank you that you have outfitted us in perfect safety for any spiritual battle that might come our way. Thank you that we can stand firm. Help us to remember this whenever we look at our shields this week.

Have any children who want to pray for the 32 children who received our Operation Christmas Child Boxes. Pray for the children’s, families and country, that they will turn to God and grow in the His grace…

Teacher Preparation:
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and become familiar with the 7 items in the armor of God.

Exchange Volunteer modified title of post for clarity and improved lesson readability.

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