Free Bible lesson for kids · Letters to the Churches

The Armour of God

Paul told the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armour of God: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Ephesians 6:10–18
Big idea: God gives us everything we need to stand strong.
Memory verse: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Paul told the believers at Ephesus to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). They should put on the whole armour of God, so they could stand against the tricks of the devil (Ephesians 6:11). Our real fight is not against people. It is against the spiritual powers of evil and darkness in this world (Ephesians 6:12).

So God’s people must take up His armour and stand firm (Ephesians 6:13). Wear the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness (Ephesians 6:14). Have your feet ready with the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15). Above all, take the shield of faith to stop all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). Put on the helmet of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, “which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). And always pray for all God’s people (Ephesians 6:18).

Read it in the Bible: Ephesians 6:10–18 (KJV)

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Questions to ask

What is the belt (girdle)?
Truth.
What is the sword of the Spirit?
The word of God.
What is the shield?
Faith.

What this story teaches

Our strength comes from the Lord, not from ourselves (Ephesians 6:10).
The devil is real, but God helps us stand (Ephesians 6:11).
Faith in God protects us like a shield (Ephesians 6:16).
God’s Word is the sword the Spirit gives us (Ephesians 6:17).
God wants us to pray always, for ourselves and others (Ephesians 6:18).

Jesus Fought with God’s Word

When the devil tempted Jesus, He answered, “It is written,” and quoted Scripture. Jesus shows us how to use the sword of the Spirit.

Matthew 4:1–4

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us stand strong this week.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God gives us everything we need to stand strong.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Ephesians 6:11 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors · about 12 minutes

Armour Up Relay

You need: For each team: a belt or rope, a paper-bag breastplate, slippers, a paper-plate shield, a bowl or hat for a helmet, a paper-tube sword

Put each team’s armour in a pile at the far end of the room.
One child on each team is the soldier. Teammates run one at a time to bring a piece back and put it on the soldier, naming it: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit.
When the soldier is fully dressed, the whole team says, “Put on the whole armour of God!”

God gives us everything we need to stand strong. His Word is the sword of the Spirit.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes

Noodle Knights

You need: Pool noodles, paper-plate or cardboard shields, a taped circle

Two knights face off in the circle with a pool-noodle sword and a shield.
Tap your opponent below the waist to score. No hits above the waist, no swinging hard.
First to three wins; the winner faces the next challenger.

Put on the whole armour of God so you can stand. The real battle is spiritual, and God equips us for it.

Pray

Ask God to help us stand strong this week.