The World Is Against God (Ephesians 6)

Dear families,

Each year, numerous local churches fill backpacks for children in their communities who have limited access to school supplies. They may schedule a Saturday morning to pack hundreds of backpacks full of pencils, paper, notebooks, scissors, erasers, and more to ensure that children are well-equipped for school.

Imagine if they filled the backpacks with candy, toys, tools, and dirt. Imagine that instead of paper and pencils, kids received empty soda cans and grass seed. Sure, those children may be ready to swing by the recycling center and start a landscaping project, but they would not be ready for what was in front of them.

In Ephesians 6, at the conclusion of Paul’s letter to his friends in Ephesus, Paul reminded the Ephesians of the tools they needed to remain faithful in the combative culture they were living.

The tools Paul described are not a hammer and nails. In fact, the tools that Paul exhorts them to use are metaphors for the spiritual characteristics and disciplines that are essential to guarding against the spiritual attacks of the devil and actively combating the lies of the evil one.

Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus to put on truth, righteousness, readiness to take the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. We can pursue and hold tightly to these distinctive characteristics of those whose hope is in the gospel of Jesus Christ; and in so doing, we’ll be equipped to stand firm in the faith.

Why are these things so essential? As Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.” Paul says you’re not fighting a physical battle, but a spiritual one. Be sure you are equipped with the right tools for the task at hand.

In the same way, the kids in our communities need pencils and paper to be equipped for school, we need these spiritual characteristics and disciplines to grow and be equipped for the spiritual battle that we are facing each day. Be sure you gather the right supplies; it will make all the difference.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus won the fight against evil.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus won the war against evil when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. God gives us power to fight against evil. We fight against sin each day, knowing that Jesus already won for us.
• Older Preschool: Jesus won the war against evil when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. God gives us what we need to be strong against evil. We fight against sin each day, remembering that Jesus already won for us.
• Kids: Paul told believers to be ready to fight a spiritual battle every day. People and powers who are against God will be against us too. But Jesus died and rose from the dead. He had victory over evil. We can fight the battle against evil, knowing Jesus already won the war.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Why do people not choose Jesus? People choose what they want rather than what God wants.  
• Older Preschool: Why do people not choose Jesus? People are born with sin and choose what they want rather than what God wants.
• Kids: Why do people reject Jesus? People reject Jesus because all people are born with a sin nature and want to please themselves rather than obey God. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: People were unkind to Jesus. Isaiah 53:3 
• Younger Preschool: People turned away from Jesus and were unkind to Him. Isaiah 53:3  
• Older Preschool: He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Isaiah 53:3 
• Kids: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Isaiah 53:3 

** Next week: People Welcomed Jesus as King (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12)