Week of August 25, 2024
Equipped
We don’t carry out our mission of being Jesus’ lights in the world on our own. Even as he deploys us for service and influence, so Jesus also equips us to serve effectively, to love freely, and to witness winsomely. In the final chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul uses the picture of the Roman soldier’s armor to describe the empowered life of Jesus’ followers.
Monday, August 26 | Psalm 18:28-35
The writer of this psalm, Israel’s great king David, was himself a trained warrior. So part of his description in this psalm reflects God physically equipping him for battle. But the psalm also provides a metaphor for God’s equipping of us for spiritual warfare, thus providing background to Ephesians 6. What wall have you scaled in your life with God’s help (v.29)? How has God been a shield for you providing you refuge (v.30? In what ways has God given you strength (v.32)? How does God train us for spiritual battles (v.34)?
Tuesday, August 27 | Ephesians 6:10-20
Here the Apostle Paul uses the image of a well-equipped soldier to help describe how God equips us to do battle for him. Who are we doing battle with (vs.11-12)? How does this show us our need for God’s equipping? What is the only offensive weapon that Paul mentions? What for you is the most important defensive protection in this passage? What flaming arrows of the evil one have you faced in recent months? How has your faith mattered in protecting you?
Wednesday, August 28 | 2 Timothy 3:10-17
The Apostle Paul describes his ministry as fruitful and yet challenging. What’s the connection between v.10 and v. 16-17? How does God’s Word equip us to do every good work (v.17)? What of the Bible’s teachings do you view as most important? Why is regular reading of God’s Word so vital to persevering through opposition and persecution?
Thursday, August 29 | Colossians 3:12-17
Here Paul’s metaphor for equipping changes from God’s armor to Christ’s clothing. How do we clothe ourselves with virtues like “compassion, kindness, humility, and patience (v.12)? What makes the forgiveness and love of God the most important pieces of clothing (v.13-14)? What are your spiritual practices that enable Christ’s word to “dwell in you richly” (v.16)?
Friday, August 30 | 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
The Apostle Paul’s critics may accuse him of being timid when he is with them and only bold in his writings. In Paul’s view, however, he is always trying to show the humility and gentleness of Jesus coupled with divine power that knocks down the false philosophies of this world (the paradox of power in weakness) (vs.4-5). What are the false ways of thinking that we as Christians are up against in the present world? How can we be equipped to take down these deceptions and distortions? In addition to Scripture, what teaching and resources have helped you to battle with the influential lies of our culture?
