Children’s Group Planning – Armour of God

Session 1

Introduction: Armour of God

Story: In biblical times soldiers would wear very heavy armour.  In fact, when David went to fight the giant Goliath he couldn't wear the armour because it was too heavy.  These days, soldiers don't wear armour, but the Bible tells us that there is army for us as Christians

Ephesians 6:10-18Put on the whole armour of God to help you.

First put on the belt of truth and then the breastplate of righteousness;

Your feet should be ready – like putting on your shoes – to share the gospel of peace;

You need a shield - the shield of faith – to protect you. Don’t forget something for your head – the helmet of salvation.

Finally God gives us a weapon which is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Then, when we have our armour on, we are ready to pray.

Game: Choose children to help place the right object in the right place in order if possible

Craft:

Colour and cut all the individual elements out and attach them to string

Then fit them onto the Bible verse below

Put on the full armour of GodEphesians 6:10-

18

Have a large person drawn out on paper

Label and/or colour each part in as you complete the lesson

Session 2

Introduction: Belt of truth

Story: John 14:6 Jesus says I am the way, the truth and the life

Jesus said to them, "I am going to prepare a place for you and when everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me. You know the way to where I am going."

One of the disciples whose name was Thomas answered Jesus, "No, we don't, Lord. We don't even know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Another disciple named Philip joined in, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."

"Philip," Jesus answered, "Have you been with me all this time and you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show you the Father? Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Anyone who believes in me will do the same things I have done."

That was all the disciples needed to know to get them on the right path to the Father

Game: Have lots and lots of pieces of paper and then wander around the room pretending to drop them – explain to the children that you need their help – how can you keep all your bits of paper together?

Using a peg ask the children to collect all the pieces of paper and then peg them together – this is what God’s truth is like, it helps hold everything together

Craft: Make the belt below long enough for children to wear round their waist – cut and colour each piece

Session 3

Introduction: Breastplate of righteousness

Story: There was a man named Simon in that city. Simon had practiced magic. He used to show off and called himself a great man.  But Philip came and told them the Good News about the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ – Jesus is not magic, he truly can do amazing things. Men and women believed Philip and were baptized

1Simon saw that the Spirit was given to people when the disciples prayed so  he said, “Give me also this power so that when I lay my hands on a person, he will receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter said to him, “You cannot share with us in this work. Your heart is not right before God. Change your heart! Pray to the Lord and say sorry”

Simon answered, “I am sorry, will you pray for me to make my heart right with God”

Righteousness means being ‘right with God’ we need the breastplate of righteousness to protect our hearts and stop us making mistakes like Simon.

Game: Have the leader hold a red heart shaped piece of card and then each child has a go at trying to throw a soft ball and hit the heart – we need protection

Craft: Decorate two sheets of card – joined as shown by tape, ribbon, string or paper – to go over each child’s head and become like a breastplate/armour

Session 4

Introduction: Shoes to spread the Gospel of peace

Story: Luke 10Go! I am sending you out. Do not take anything with you; and do not greet anyone on the road. But when you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house’We are sent to bring God’s peace to the world

Game: ‘peace be with you’ relay racein teams get the children to race and ‘pass on’ God’s peace to the next person on their team

Craft:

Session 5

Introduction: Shield of faith

Story: Matthew 17 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 1“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He is ill is suffering greatly I brought him to your disciples by they couldn’t heal him.”

“Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus said, and he healed the boy at that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we heal the boy?”

Jesus replied, “Because your faith is not enough. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Game: mustard seed races – using a straw, in turns children can race their seeds by blowing them along a table or space marked out on the floor.

Craft: Make and decorate the shield as shown.

Fill the cross shape with mustard seeds and stick down with glue.

Shield of Faith

Session 6

Introduction: Helmet of salvation

Story: Romans 8

Because God loves us and gives us His salvation. Nothing; not death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Game: Musical hats – like musical chairs – have a selection of hats around the room which the children have to put on when the music stops. Slowly remove a hat at a time until all the children are out.

Craft: Make helmets as shown using strips of paper stapled/glued together. Write/draw on each strip of paper something which helps you in your journey with God e.g. church, family, Sunday school, etc.

Session 7

Introduction: Sword of the Spirit

Story: The sword of the Spirit is the word of God

Hebrews 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it goes right into anything - even dividing soul and spirit; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Game: Using a letter opener (which looks like a sword – hopefully!) open some envelopes to revea inside some Bible verses which might help us in our daily lives.

Craft: decorate the sword and write on the back ‘the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double edged sword’

Session 8

Introduction: When you have your armour on – pray!

Story: 1 Thessalonians 5

Now you have everything you need in your armour you can be happy. Pray without stopping. Give thanks for everything you have – even when you are sad – because this is what God wants us to do. Ask the spirit to help you. In your armour stand firm for what is good and be protected from everything which is bad.

Game: Play a ‘beetle drive’ style game with the children where they take turns in rolling a dice and then get to draw/stick on the pieces of armour onto their soldier/figure.

Craft: finish by colouring and cutting out