NASHVILLE (BP) – This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.
Bible Passage: Matthew 6:13
Discussion Questions:
- Why might believers fail to ask God to deliver us from the evil one?
- How does being isolated from other believers make a temptation faced to feel greater that it is?
- What is the relationship between the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6 and Paul’s call to put on the full armor of God in Ephesians 6?
Food for thought:
Every day comes with its own set of challenges. Some of these challenges are brought on by our own doing while others are beyond our control. In the middle of these challenges is the ongoing spiritual battle taking place in our world. God provides us a community, armor and prayer to face not only these challenges but the spiritual battles as well. The community of believers around us gives us strength to stand. We no longer need to go it on our own, but instead can lock arms with others as we battle together.
Derwin Gray emphasizes that every morning should carry a sense of urgency as we put on the armor of God. This armor empowers us to stand against temptation, which may be questions about what we do, what we have, and what others think. Answers in these three areas are found in the truth of Scripture and our union with Messiah Jesus, our suit of armor. God has provided us with the necessary armor. But the armor does us no good unless we put in on.
Our community of believers and armor described in Ephesians 6 find their greatest value when we are in a posture of prayer. Our hearts are turned to God’s agenda, helping us get a clear picture of what we are to do, what or Who we have and Who has us, and what God thinks about us. Through prayer, we are then able to stand with other believers, fully clothed in the armor provided and face the arrows shot our way by the evil one. God desires for us to win and has given us what we need to do so. It is not His fault is we fail to utilize the tools given or approach the battle unprepared. We may view the Lord’s prayer as an invitation to God, but it really is an invitation to us; a call for us to participate in God’s purposes in His creation. We are invited to become a part of Jesus’s story, for His honor and glory. For that we can very thankful.
MasterWork is an ongoing Bible study curriculum based on works from a variety of recognized authors and offers pertinent, practical messages that adults will find uplifting and enriching. The list of authors and their books to be studied in upcoming months can be found at www.lifeway.com/masterwork.
