Ephesians - FAITH

FAITH

Question of the day:  What is your favorite Christmas tradition in your current home. 

Good morning Class.  This is going to be a short written lesson.  I know that if you are in class there will be lots of meaningful discussion.  For those of you just reading it may seem sparse and very short.  I pray that you will spend even just a few moments contemplating the questions and diving more into this topic of FAITH on your own.  You will be missed in class!   

FAITH

READ:  Ephesians 6:16

 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 

When we think about Armor, you might be able to say that the shield is the most iconic or recognizable piece.  It is often used to represent all the armor.  It is certainly highly impressive.

The shield used by the roman soldiers came from the word θυρεός, meaning, shaped like a door a shield (Latin scutum); it was large, oblong, and four-cornered.  The  first picture below is an actual shield and the second picture is how it was used in group combat. 

 These shields were perfectly designed so that they fit together so well that the regiment could be completely covered or protected and could advance without any of them getting hurt.  They were not only shaped like  a door but as big as a door.  They would also be very heavy. 

My cousin when he was in high school decided to make a shield like this and hand carved our families coat of arms in the front.  It was amazing and a beautiful piece of art, but you had to be very strong to pick it up.  It was remarkable. 

This brings up an interesting point.  If the shield spoken of was this huge door like shield, then it was used most effectively in a group. They would interlock and create a movable forts. 

What does that say to us about the importance of our faith community?

These shields would be far less effective in one on one combat.  Now to be clear, the roman soldier had access to another type of shield that was small and round and much more effective in one on one combat, but the word used in this passage refers to this door like shield. 

How are we more effective as a community? 

Why is the group or church important?


FAITH

What is faith?

What does faith do?

Why do we struggle with faith?

Why aren't we moving mountains?

Or are we?

How do these pictures of the shield and the way they were used change your view of faith or does it?

What is your favorite bible verse about FAITH and why?

How does your faith community play a role in your overall faith?

When looking at the above picture I can't help but think of "coming along side one another."  I think of moments when friends or family or community are doubting and the opportunity we have to come along side them and put our shield next to theirs.  Then behind the shields encouraging them to pick it up to keep holding it up. 

Has anyone ever come up beside you when your shield was being lowered because you just lost your strength or resolve?  Has someone ever encouraged you to pick it up and keep going?

What challenges or erodes your faith or contributes to you lowering your shield, or even wanting to just put it down?

Perhaps it is less about the arrows hurling toward us and more about what is happening behind the wall of shields?  Could it be that the reason people put down their shields is because of what is being said or not said behind the wall? 

Are we encouraging faith or eroding it?

In this passage Paul writes what the shield protects us from, what is it?

What are the flaming arrows of the devil?

Faith.

This coming week, as you spend time celebrating the birth of Jesus, as you spend time with family and friends, will you be a warrior who encourages those around you to pick up their shield and stand beside them!!!! 

Merry Christmas!