First Baptist Church . 3 Hedge Street . Simpsonville, SC 29681 . phone: (864) 967-8591 . Class Location: Main 210
Our Prayer
Our Prayer
Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You and that my sins separate me from You. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to You for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, that He was raised from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become my Savior and the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to convict me when I sin. I pledge to grow in grace and knowledge of You. My greatest purpose in life is to follow Your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Series: The Fight of Your Life - A Study of Ephesians
Sermon Recap
Ephesians 6:17 teaches that the helmet of
salvation protects believers in spiritual warfare by guarding their minds with
the assurance of the gospel. The enemy attacks through doubt, condemnation, and
discouragement, but salvation is accomplished by Christ’s work on the cross and
secured by Christ’s sovereignty. Because believers belong to Jesus and are held
securely in His hand, they can stand firm with confidence and hope.
Ephesians 6:17
The Whole Armor of God
“and take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit which is the word of God,”
Why do you
think the enemy often attacks believers through doubt and discouragement?
What does the
“helmet of salvation” protect spiritually?
How does
knowing that salvation is secured by Christ change the way believers face
spiritual battles?
Why is
assurance important for spiritual endurance and confidence?
What are some
practical ways believers can “put on” the helmet of salvation daily?
Closing Thoughts
Ephesians 6 reminds believers that spiritual
warfare often targets the mind through fear, doubt, and discouragement. As a
group, we strengthen one another by continually pointing each other back to the
gospel and reminding one another of Christ’s finished work. A church grounded
in the security of salvation becomes a people marked by confidence, hope,
endurance, and courage in the middle of spiritual battle.
Series: The Fight of Your Life - A Study of Ephesians
Sermon Recap
Ephesians 6:16 teaches that believers must
actively take up the shield of faith in the middle of spiritual warfare. The
enemy attacks through lies, fear, accusation, temptation, and doubt, seeking to
weaken trust in God. But faith protects believers by anchoring them in the
truth of who God is and what He has said. The shield of faith is not the
absence of fear — it is choosing to trust God when fear shows up.
Ephesians 6:16
The Whole Armor of God
“In all circumstances take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
Why do you think Paul describes spiritual
attacks as “flaming arrows”?
What are some common lies or fears believers
face today?
How is biblical faith different from positive thinking?
What does it look like practically to “raise
the shield” during spiritual attack?
Why is it important that believers stand
together in faith rather than fight alone?
Closing Thought
Ephesians 6 reminds believers that the
Christian life is lived in the middle of a real spiritual battle, and the enemy
constantly seeks to weaken trust in God. As a group, we strengthen one another
by speaking truth, praying together, encouraging perseverance, and reminding
each other of God’s promises. Just as Roman soldiers locked shields together
for protection, the church stands stronger when believers help one another
trust God in difficult seasons.
END
Teacher Notes:
Click Play to Watch
A Biblical faith is not only a saving faith –
it’s an active faith too – especially in Spiritual Warfare?
Saving Faith
This is the faith by which we come to Christ
for salvation.
Living (or Active) Faith
This is the daily trust that relies on God's
promises in the middle
of life's battles.
The shield isn't merely having faith; it's
using faith.
Series: The Fight of Your Life - A Study of Ephesians
Sermon Recap
Ephesians 6:14–15 teaches that the gospel of
peace gives believers both stability and readiness. Through Jesus, we have
peace with God, and that peace guards our lives amid spiritual battle. The
gospel gives us a firm footing so we can stand confidently in Christ, and it
also sends us out to share the message of reconciliation with others. Those who
are made ready by the gospel are also made ready for the gospel.
Ephesians 6:14-15
The Whole Armor of God
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Why do you think Paul connects the gospel of
peace with readiness and stability instead of comfort and security?
How does knowing you have peace with God
change the way you face fear or uncertainty?
What are some ways the enemy attacks
believers through anxiety, fear, or instability?
Why is the gospel meant to both stabilize
believers and send them outward?
What does it look like practically to carry
the “gospel of peace” into everyday life?
Closing Thoughts
Ephesians 6 reminds believers that the gospel
provides stability in spiritual battle and fosters readiness for mission. As a
group, we encourage one another to stand confidently in Christ during difficult
seasons while also helping one another move toward people who need hope and
reconciliation. A church grounded in the peace of God becomes a church prepared
to bring that peace into a restless and anxious world.
You did so well last week with questions
about America
… here are a couple more?
Desmond Doss had already rescued over 70
wounded soldiers, and with each rescue, he prayed, "Lord, please help me
get one more," and then he goes back for two more.
As you watch, ask yourself: What gives a
person the courage to keep moving forward when everyone
else is retreating?
Click Play to Watch
Most people think peace means the absence of
conflict.
Desmond Doss reminds us that's not true.
He experienced incredible peace in the middle
of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
Every one of us is standing on something.
For Desmond Doss, it was his faith in God.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that Christians
are to have their feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the
gospel of peace.
Peace is first vertical before it is
horizontal.
Most spiritual battles happen in ordinary
places — in our homes, our workplaces, our schools, our relationships, and even
in our own minds and hearts. Every day we face temptations to fear instead of
trust, to compromise instead of obeying, to hate instead of forgive, and to
believe lies instead of God's truth.
Ephesians 6:14-15
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth
buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and
with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Isn't that an interesting phrase?
Paul doesn't tell us to put on the gospel of
power or the gospel of victory.
He says our feet are fitted with the gospel
of peace.
The Christian life isn't about never being
attacked. It's about refusing to be moved. Psalm 40 says, "He set my feet
upon a rock.“
Everyone experiences pressure. The question
isn't whether we'll be tested. The question is what are we standing on.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Satan loves chaos.
God gives peace.
One of Satan's greatest weapons is fear.
One of God's greatest gifts is peace.
Isaiah 52:7 says, "How beautiful are the
feet of those who bring good news..."
