LEADER S GUIDE BIG PICTURE: ARMOUR OF GOD BIG IDEA: STAND FIRM BIG POINT: I CAN STAND FIRM ON GOD S WORD

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1 LEADER S GUIDE BIG PICTURE: ARMOUR OF GOD BIG IDEA: STAND FIRM BIG POINT: I CAN STAND FIRM ON GOD S WORD BIG WORD: LET THE LORD MAKE YOU STRONG. DEPEND ON HIS MIGHTY POWER. PUT ON ALL OF GOD S ARMOUR. THEN YOU CAN REMAIN STRONG AGAINST THE DEVIL S EVIL PLANS. EPHESIANS 6:10-11 (NIRV) USER AGREEMENT Upon purchase of this resource, Hillsong Kids BIG gladly grants the buyer (The Licensee) or the organisation they represent, a free and non-exclusive license to tailor Hillsong Kids BIG print materials to fit their unique leadership requirements. However, it is prohibited to make changes to doctrine, scripture references, biblical principles and concepts presented. Please see doctrinal guidelines we have expressed in our What We Believe statement. These resources are intended to be printed for use only by the buyer or the organisation they represent and may not be electronically transferred to or duplicated by others. Any unauthorised reproduction of this material or incorporation into a new work is a direct violation of copyright laws. Hillsong Church. All rights reserved. DOCUMENT PURPOSE This document is the Leader s Guide for BIG Picture ARMOUR OF GOD. It contains a summary of the BIG Message LIVE. The BIG Life with Jesus User Guide document contains all the service element information, including the large group segment of your service. Make sure you read through and prayerfully study this material prior to your service to be fully prepared to minister to your children.

2 Learning Outcomes At the conclusion of this lesson children will: Know that we can stand firm on God s word. Learn that God s armour helps us live our life with Jesus. Discover the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit in the armour of God. BIG POINT: I CAN STAND FIRM ON GOD'S WORD BIG WORD: LET THE LORD MAKE YOU STRONG. DEPEND ON HIS MIGHTY POWER. PUT ON ALL OF GOD S ARMOUR. THEN YOU CAN REMAIN STRONG AGAINST THE DEVIL S EVIL PLANS. EPHESIANS 6:10-11 (NIRV) BIG MESSAGE LIVE OUTLINE DOCUMENT PURPOSE Use this outline to construct a message that works for you and your children s ministry. INTRO Make a helmet ring toss game using a helmet, cardboard tube and gaff tape. Cut slits into the ends of the cardboard tube, press the tube onto a helmet and use gaff tape to attach it. Cut the top ends of the cardboard tube into pointy sword shape. Take some paper plates and cut out the inner circle to make rings for your ring toss game. (If you can make a few sets of helmet ring toss, you can play multiple pairs against each other at the same time.) We ve been learning all about the armour of God. Ephesians 6:11-12 (NIV) Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Today we ll look at the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Here I ve combined this helmet and this cardboard sword so we can see if there s any warriors who can stand firm. (Invite two players to join you on stage to play the helmet ring toss game.) One player wears the helmet and must stand firm, feet apart. As the rings are thrown to them, they must attempt to catch them on their helmet sword, while standing firm without moving their feet. (If you have time invite a few other pairs to play. The pair that can catch the most rings are the winners.) The helmet of salvation in the armour of God is more than a brightly coloured bike helmet and the sword of the Spirit is more than a cardboard tube. God gives us armour so we can stand strong in our life with Jesus. God s armour isn t for the outside like a bike helmet, it is armour that protects us on the inside, so we can be ready to face battles in the unseen. The player catching the rings in today s game had to stand firm. In our life with Jesus we can stand firm on God s Word! Scripture References: Psalm 18:2 1 Corinthians 15: Corinthians 10:4 1 Thessalonians 5: Timothy 3:16-17 Ephesians 1:3-23 Hebrews 4:12 1 Peter 1:13 Helmet, cardboard tube, gaff tape, paper plates, scissors.

3 STORYTELLING After Jesus returned to be with His Father in heaven, the message of the gospel was spread throughout the world by His disciples and by new believers that began to follow Jesus. Paul started off hating Jesus followers, but he radically found salvation in Jesus and became one of the most famous Jesus followers of them all. Paul became a missionary who travelled great distances to share the gospel. Paul helped to plant churches in towns and countries all over the place. One of these places was called Ephesus. (Show screen image 1) Paul wrote letters to the church in Ephesus to encourage them; How amazing is God? What a blessing God is! You know, before he laid the foundations of the earth, He had us in mind you and me. Through Jesus we have been adopted into the family of God. He wanted us to be a part of his family from the beginning of time. (Show screen image 2) Paul taught the new believers all about Jesus and how He saves us from sin. Because of Jesus death on the cross, you and I are free people, continued Paul. We are free from all the punishment for our sins. We re not just making it across the line, Jesus made sure we are abundantly free from the weight and consequences of sin. He thought of everything, made sure the payment was paid in full. I want you to know wrote Paul. It is in Christ, that we find out who we are and what we are living for and that as a Christ follower, you are marked by the Holy Spirit. What a great salvation! (Show screen image 3) Paul wanted the people of the Ephesian church to know that their salvation through Jesus is what would keep them on track. When I heard of the solid trust you have in Jesus and the way you have loved all the followers of Jesus, I couldn t help but thank God for you! I prayed that He would keep your eyes focused and clear so that you can see exactly what it is He s calling you to. All of this salvation is in Christ. God raised him from death and set Him on a throne in heaven. He reigns over the whole universe. He is in charge of it all and has the final word on everything. (Show screen image 4) Paul finishes his letter to the Ephesians telling them about the armour of God in Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIRV), Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power. Put on all of God s armor. Then you can remain strong against the devil s evil plans. This letter written by Paul is just as important to you and me today! The helmet of salvation is the last piece of armour that Paul talks about. He s saying let God s saving power be like a helmet. The understanding that we are saved through Jesus gives us the right perspective to be able to protect our hearts and minds from the lies of the enemy. Put on your helmet of salvation and remember what Jesus has done for you. It is through Jesus we can stand firm on God s Word. God gives us armour so we can stand strong in our life with Jesus. Reminder: This is a great time to play the Big Story video to your group. We find it breaks up your Big Message Live really well and keeps the children focused. Story screen images supplied with print material files.

4 OBJECT LESSON Pool Noodle Battle Set the podiums/step stools just over one pool noodle width apart and invite two players to be today s pool noodle warriors. Give them these instructions: The goal is to use your pool noodle to knock your opponent off their podium whilst standing firm on your own. The winner of each round can remain on their podium and face a new competitor. These pool noodle warriors had to stand firm as their opponents tried to knock them down. In life the enemy will try to knock you down and take you out, but we can stand firm on God s Word! In the armour God gives us, He gives us a sword. This sword represents God s Word. Ephesians 6:17 (NIV) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. When attack comes we can stand firm on God s Word. God s Word is a solid foundation, a sure footing and a safe place. God s armour isn t just defensive, protecting us from attack, we ve been given a sword so we can fight back! This sword is God s Word. With God s Word we can fight the lies of the enemy. Before Jesus began his ministry, He was led into the wilderness where the devil tempted Him, If you re really the son of God, turn these stones into bread. Jesus fought back with the sword of God s Word in Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. With every attack from the enemy, Jesus used God s Word to cut down the lie. Put on God s Armour, stand firm and raise your sword, with the Word of God you can win the battle. I can stand firm on God s Word. 2 pool noodles, 2 small podiums no higher than 15-20cm /5-7 inches in height (e.g. a children s plastic step stool) POINTS 1. Stand Firm. Have you ever visited Sydney, Australia? It is amazing! There s sunshine, surfing and sand. What a dream! The city is set on a beautiful harbour. To get around the city people often catch ferries. These boats carry passengers from one side of the harbour to the other. The ferries go underneath the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and sail past the iconic Sydney Opera House. When the waves are big, especially on the ferry to Manly beach, you have to be careful how you stand. If you re not standing firm, you ll fall over! You need to set your feet apart, bend your knees, and be ready when the waves bob the boat up and down. Where are you standing in life? Are you standing on firm ground, steady and ready for when waves in life come? 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (NIV) Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. We can stand firm on God s Word. God s Word is a sure foundation and a solid rock. Psalm 18:2 (NIV) The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. No matter what comes against us, we can stand firm on God s Word.

5 2. Sword of the Spirit. God s armour helps us live our life with Jesus. Think about the different pieces of armour. There s a belt, breastplate, shield, shoes, helmet and sword. Of all those pieces of armour that a warrior puts on before a battle, all of them are for defence to protect him, except the sword. The sword is the only weapon, the only thing that is used in an attack. The sword is the sword of the Spirit. God s Spirit fights for us. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. The Word of God is our attack, it s our weapon. It s sharp, it s precise and gets right to the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. Before Jesus called the first disciples, He faced the devil in the wilderness. There He was tempted and each time it was scripture that He used to cut through the enemy s attack. We have the same weapon in our hands today, the Bible. God s Word cuts through any temptation or lie of the enemy. A sword is like a big sharp knife. A soldier might use his sword for more than just attacking his opponent. It could be used for cooking, splitting wood or cutting ropes that have his bound. God s Word is a useful tool in all parts of our life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We don t have to wait until a battle to use our sword. God s Word builds us up, teaches us, transforms us and sets us free. 3. Helmet of salvation. A soldier would never enter a battle without a helmet. A helmet protects the head and in some Roman soldier s armour, it even protects the face and ears. The armour of God described in Ephesians calls it the helmet of salvation. In your head is a squishy blob, your brain. The brain is the control centre of everything your body does. It sends messages to all the other parts of the body, keeping everything working together as it should. Jesus saved us from sin. This salvation is the control centre of our life. From this all the parts of our life are outworked. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 (NIRV) Let us put on the hope of salvation like a helmet. God didn t choose us to receive his anger. He chose us to receive salvation because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done. Jesus died for us. So encourage one another with the hope you have. Build each other up. Our thinking makes a big difference in a battle. With bad thinking, the enemy might overcome us. We can prepare our minds for battle. Fill your mind with God s Word. Then you can stand firm against any attack. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I can stand firm on God s Word.