We’ve been so busy getting ARMED and READY FOR BATTLE that we haven’t had many opportunities to keep you informed. So…let’s catch up a bit. Over the last three Sundays we’ve learned what it means to be right, ready, and resilient as we continue to fight our very real enemy. While learning those things, we’ve added three pieces to our armor arsenal- the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of readiness, and the shield of faith. Here’s what we’ve learned…
The breastplate of righteousness is a tricky one because we first have to understand what righteousness is. Simply put, righteousness is being right with God. It’s not about trying our best to do everything right all the time…or even part of the time. We are credited with righteousness because of what Jesus did for us and our relationship with Him. We can’t be righteous apart from Him anymore than we can have an egg for breakfast apart from a chicken first laying it. Once we’ve been credited with righteousness, God allows us to wear it like a breastplate to protect our hearts. We live out of our hearts so God’s concern for us guarding them from the enemy is pretty significant.
Next we put on the shoes of readiness (sometimes called the shoes of peace). As one who loves shoes, I grasp this concept pretty easily. To be ready to walk on the beach, I wear flip-flops. To be ready to walk up Kennesaw Mountain, I wear tennis shoes. To be ready to play in the snow, I wear boots. In many circumstances, my footwear can make or break me; I need to be ready with the right shoes for the situation. Our armor shoes are all about being ready to follow Jesus. We want to walk in peace because of the gospel we know and believe. Wearing the shoes of readiness- because of the gospel- means we can walk over and around the obstacles that Satan throws in our path without stumbling. If you’ve ever stepped on a Lego with bare feet, you know the REAL pain of not wearing shoes. Spiritually speaking, stepping on or stumbling over the landmines Satan throws out is equivalent to that…OUCH!!
This past Sunday we found out what it means to be resilient (strong) in our faith as we lift up the shield of faith. The shield is the only part of the armor we don’t wear, but instead have to hold. Soldiers that held these important- and large- shields in battle had work to do to get the shield ready for battle. Dipping the shield in water and/or rubbing oil on the shield kept it moist so the flaming arrows hurled at them would be extinguished. Think about the strength it took to hold up such a grand piece of armor during the battle. Just like those soldiers, we can’t wait until the battle ensues to get our shield ready. By that time, it’s too late. We have to be ready before it begins. We must “moisten” our faith by knowing and relying on the “living water,” we must flex and strengthen our faith muscles by studying God’s Word and spending time in His presence. Our eyes must continuously be on Jesus-the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
I’m so proud of how the kids are digging in to what God is teaching us about being ARMED and READY for battle. My encouragement to you as parents is to talk about these things as a family. You wouldn’t send your kids onto the football or soccer field unprepared or lacking the right equipment to protect them. The battle they face- that we all face- is much more substantial than any sport. Don’t send your kids into the battle without helping them get ARMED. In all this, don’t minimize our enemy, but instead maximize our God because He always wins!
Ephesians 6:14b-16: “Stand firm then…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.”
This Week’s Announcements:
1. This Sunday (October 25th), kids in 4k-5th grade will be engaged in outreach projects. The projects are geared toward serving, encouraging, and blessing our long-term missionaries. The outreach planning team is still in need of volunteers to help with the projects at both the 9am and 11am service. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Jennifer Dew at jennifer.dew@gmail.com or Christina Busey at christina@stonebridgemarietta.org
2. BRING YOUR BIBLE! I’ve challenged the elementary (1st-5th grade) children to bring their own Bible each week. As we ARM ourselves with God’s Truth, one of the most important tools will be God’s Word. If you’re unsure if your child has the Bible that is appropriate for his or her age/maturity/reading level, I’m happy to be a resource for you. Contact me and I can give you suggestions about good options for your age child. Contact me at penny@stonebridgemarietta.org
What God is Teaching Us:For Toddlers-3k:
Even our youngest are getting ARMED as they explore what coming to church is all about. They are learning that Church is God’s house, and about the things we do together in His house. They are learning that we play, pray, praise, and learn about the Bible. This week they continued to learn what it means to praise God. They enjoyed singing and using instruments!
Click the link to see the nursery lessons:
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For 4k-5th Grade:
We are continuing to get “ARMED” and ready for battle! This week’s lesson focused on the shield of faith. To see lessons for the last three weeks (breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, and shield of faith) for 4k/K, 1st&2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade small groups, click the appropriate link below.
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*Also- we are ARMING ourselves by learning a memory verse together each week.
This week’s Memory Verses:
For 2/3 year olds: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 3k preschool: “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 For 4k/K: “Every word of God is perfect. He is like a shield to those who trust in him. He keeps them safe.” Proverbs 30:5 (NIrV)For 1st-5th grade: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5
Amazing Things Kids Do and Say…
While encouraging the 4k/K kids to remember what we’ve been learning, I prompted them this way… “We’re getting… (armed)…AND… (ready for battle)!” The kids filled in the blanks easily, so I asked them to tell me about the battle we’re facing- specifically who we are battling. One little boy raised his hand and said, “satin.” I said, “Satan.” He said… “yeah- satin.” After a few times back and forth, I couldn’t get him to hear the difference. Maybe he’s had a traumatizing experience with shiny material I couldn’t understand; although, I know he hasn’t been a bridesmaid so I’m not sure what that could be.