Use the helmet and the sword
key words
biblical reference
Ephesians 6:17 and Acts 8:26-40
lesson objective
To help the preadolescents understand that we can find answers, especially about salvation, in the Word of God and then tell others
memory verse
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
In the world we live in, preadolescents often receive the message that the truth is relative or not absolute at best, but is what we want it to be. It becomes what is true in a given situation. It is a very common way of trying to solve the situations they face. What preadolescents need to know is that the truth is not relative to us. The truth is defined by God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and everything in it.
So, if God is the one who defines the truth for us, where can we find that truth? The answer is in his Word. We find the truth in the Bible for an honest and dignified life. The Word of God is the map that we must follow. We learn from the Bible what it is to love and serve, who Christ is, how we can be his followers, and what God expects of us. When teaching this lesson, use the Bible and encourage students to use it frequently. This will provide them with a road map that they can follow for the rest of their lives to find the truth.
biblical commentary
Salvation is a gift from God. It is a gift that we, as Christians, should share with others and not keep it just for ourselves. Sometimes this call to share can seem overwhelming. We can feel that task is impossible. When we feel incapable or overwhelmed, we need to stop, step back, take a breath, and stop depending on ourselves. We need to remember that it is not only up to us, that we’re not alone.
When we live equipped with all the armor of God, we’re surrounded, full of and trained with the power of the Holy Spirit. When doubts appear, we can wear the helmet of salvation to protect ourselves from them. Remember that God is working around us every day, not just on the defensive, but also on the offensive. We must lean on the Word of God and pray. Then let God enable us to testify and prepare the people who will accept the message. It is as simple as that!
Like Philip, we can be obedient and talk about salvation, even when something unexpected happens. Philip did not plan to end up on a road in the middle of the desert talking to an Ethiopian government official, but that happened. His obedience gave this man, this seeker of truth, the help to understand what he needed. His next step was that of the spiritual pilgrimage or journey; he needed to receive salvation.
What was the result? The Ethiopian returned home rejoicing in his new faith. He understood the Scriptures better, understood that the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy is Jesus Christ, and he changed his world (Ethiopia) for Christ.
What can we learn from this story? First, that God only requires obedience to answer his call. He prepares the ground. He makes the plans. We just have to answer and follow him.
Second. When he asks us to go, we must go, search and find people in their place of need. We need to listen to what they’re asking. Then we need to ask God how he wants to use us to meet this need. Going is the answer to a confused and suffering world. Our task is to go to this world.
Finally, when we obey, when we go, when we speak, he is present. The Lord will open the doors and change lives. We can trust and obey God, because we know that he is working in our lives and those of the ones we meet on our spiritual journey.
introduce the lesson
Pass out Student Activity Sheet #407-A (Where are you looking for answers?). Ask the students to circle where they seek help or answers from when they need them, and then rank them from 1-10.
Ask them this question at the bottom of their activity sheet: “Is there something or someone else you turn to for answers?” (Students’ responses will be different.) Tell the students: “There’s a place where we can all go and always find answers. Let’s see what the Bible teaches us about this.”
Important words
As in the previous sessions, write on poster board the important words and their meaning and place them on the mural and make reference to them every time you mention them during the lessons. Make another set of cards to place in the bag or large envelope and then use them to learn, playing with the students. You can use the game activity from the last session if you wish: sit in a circle and take out the cards and use the explanations of the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.
Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17): This piece of God’s armor helps us choose salvation. God works with us to do what is good and right. It helps us live each day for him, and supports us so that we can choose what he wants for us.
Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17): This part of God’s armor (The Word of God) gives us wisdom on how to deal with the difficulties of life and defend ourselves against the attacks of the devil. It helps us depend upon the strength God gives us when facing difficulties. When we read his Word and pray, he is with us at all times and in any place. We’re never alone or defenseless!
teach the lesson
An Ethiopian seeks the truth
Before the following activity, pass out Student Activity Sheet #407-B and #407-C. Assign the different characters to various students. Have them be read the story to the group. Be sure to allow time for the students to practice reading the story before reading it to the whole group. (The readers may need to meet at the end of the previous session or immediately before this session.)
Divide the students into two groups. Tell them that each group must be prepared to form three questions. Assign one group to ask questions about Philip and assign the other group to ask questions about the Ethiopian.
Carefully read Acts 8:26-40 to the groups. Or, you can have the students assist with the story in the form a drama. If you do the drama you will need four characters: Philip, the Ethiopian, a narrator and a voice (of an angel of the Lord or the Holy Spirit). Possible props include: costumes for Philip and the Ethiopian, a scroll and two chairs. The scrip is available in the student activity handouts. The Bible story is based on Acts 8:26-40.
Then tell them that one member of the first group will present its first question to the other group to answer. For example: “God told Philip to go to the Ethiopian and tell him about Jesus. What happened when Philip obeyed?” Thereafter one member of the second group will ask its first question about the Ethiopian. This process will continue until each group has asked and answered three questions.
Allow time to read Acts 8:26-40 again if necessary. If there enough Bibles, let the groups to refer to Acts 8:26-40 as they prepare the questions. The groups may need several minutes to form their questions. After each group has formed three questions, have someone ask the first question to the other group, who will answer, and vice versa. This process will continue until each group has asked and answered three questions. Add your perspective to those of the preadolescents.
Add: “God calls his followers, even today, to go and tell others about Jesus. As Christians we should talk to others about our Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
connect the lesson
The truth in the Word of God
Hand out Student Activity Sheet #407-D (You can find the truth in the Word of God). Divide into three groups. Assign the letters A, B, or C to each group. Ask them to read, think, and answer the questions about their passages as indicated on the activity sheet. When the groups are finished, have them give group reports on their passages and answers, and then discuss as a group.
Point out: “You get to choose. You can live in a right relationship with God. You can love and serve Jesus. You can decide to follow and go to Jesus for the answers.” Allow students to make a commitment to the Lord. A few minutes of silence will be useful to complete the spaces provided in “My Promise.”
Encourage them: Once you decide to live for Jesus, you can go tell others, as Philip did with the Ethiopian.
practice the memory verse
Divide into two groups. Give each of them a blank sheet of paper and pencils. All together review the text several times. At the end, have each student write a word from the verse in the correct order and the biblical reference at the end. The team that finishes first and without errors will be the winner.
wrap-up
Pray
Sing an appropriate chorus or song. Then pray for the evangelists and missionaries who fulfill the task of preaching and teaching others, as Philip did. If you have the opportunity, ask the Lord to guide you to make an invitation to the preadolescents who wish to serve God in special ministries, such as being teachers, evangelists, missionaries or pastors.
Encourage
Encourage the group to continue seeking God’s will for their lives. They can start serving the Lord now by telling others about Jesus and the salvation that only he can give.
Invite
Tell the students something interesting about the next session to encourage them to attend. Encourage them to invite others.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™