Read other parts of this study:
Overview - Lesson 1 - Lesson 2 - Lesson 3 - Lesson 4 - Lesson 5 - Lesson 6 - Lesson 7 - Bonus
Read the Non-Minecraft Version of Lesson 7
Reminder: This is intended to be a small group discussion. Ask the leading questions to the group and invite discussion. For questions with Bible verses, read the verses to help answer the question. Potential answers and key takeaways are provided as a leader’s guide.
We learned in Lesson 6 that much like the helmet provides protection for our heads in Minecraft, the helmet of salvation protects our minds and our thoughts by transforming our minds to make our thoughts obedient to Christ. And who is the one who helps us transform our minds? The Holy Spirit. In this lesson, we learn even more about the tools the Spirit gives us to conquer sin and Satan.
Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Sword
What is the purpose of the sword in Minecraft?
Main offensive weapon
Helps attack mobs
Why is offense important?
It allows you to choose the plan of attack.
It gives you more control of the situation.
You can “act” instead of “react.”
What does the Bible say about swords used in battle?
Exodus 17:13: So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Numbers 21:23-24: But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. Israel, however, but him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified.
Nehemiah 4:16-18: From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.
Key takeaway: Swords were used to help attack the enemy and kill them.
In our spiritual lives, who are we battling?
Ephesians 6:12: 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.
Key takeaway: We are battling against Satan and his legions. Because this is a spiritual battle, we need to be equipped with spiritual weapons, like the sword of the Spirit.
What does the Bible say about swords used for judgment?
Genesis 3:23-24: So the Lord God banished him [Adam] from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Psalm 7:11-12: God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow.
Romans 13:4: For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Key takeaway: God uses the sword as a mechanism for judgment to bring punishment to those who sin.
Who receives the ultimate judgment?
Revelation 20:7-10, 15: When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. ... Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown in to the lake of fire.
Key takeaway: Satan and his followers will receive the ultimate judgment from God. Anyone whose name is not in the book of life will also receive this same judgment.
Interesting note: In Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, the believers received the Holy Spirit, which appeared as tongues of fire resting on them. Could this be the same fire as the fire that came down from heaven to destroy Satan in Revelation 20?
Word of God
What does the Bible say about God’s Word as a sword?
Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Ephesians 6:17: Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Key takeaway: The word of God is sharper than a sword; it is used to judge the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.
Why is the word of God important?
Deuteronomy 8:3: He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Luke 11:28: He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
1 Peter 1:23-25: For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Key takeaway: The word of God endures forever, and it gives us life. We are blessed if we hear the word of God and obey it.
How should we use the word of God?
Matthew 4:1-11: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Psalm 119:11: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Key takeaway: We need to memorize Scripture and have it in our heart so that when we are tempted, we can use the word of God to defeat Satan.
Holy Spirit
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Matthew 3:13-17: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
John 15:26: “When the Advocate comes, whom I [Jesus] will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Key takeaway: The Holy Spirit is part of the trinity—He is the Spirit of God. He dwells in Christians to guide us into obedience.
How does someone get the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:13-14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Luke 11:13: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Key takeaway: The Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father for those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ.
What tools does the Holy Spirit give us?
Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Romans 8:26: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Titus 3:4-7: But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Key takeaway: The Holy Spirit gives us the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. He also intercedes for us in prayer and renews us.
Sword of the Spirit
How does the Holy Spirit help us defeat the enemy?
Galatians 5:16: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
2 Timothy 1:7: For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Ephesians 4:29-32: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Key takeaway: The Holy Spirit gives us power to resist sin, love others, and witness for Jesus. The Holy Spirit also seals us for the day of redemption.
Final Application
What fruit of the Spirit do you do well? Which do you need to practice more?
What gifts of the Spirit have you been given? What can you do to use these gifts more?
What can you do today to use the sword of the Spirit?
Any parallels I missed in my comparison of the sword between Minecraft and us? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
Premium Resources
This study includes premium resources that you can use for individual or group study. Journal sheets can be downloaded and used now or later. They can be printed and filled in by hand or saved and filled out electronically. Journal sheets can be used with both the Minecraft and non-Minecraft versions of the study.
A PowerPoint presentation is also available for group study. It is primarily designed for use with the Minecraft version of the study.
You can access these resources by clicking here: Armor of God Resources
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