Monday Night Huddles @ GW

spring training

April 22 - Armor of God - Part 2

  • Ephesians 6:10-20

shield of faith

  • “The Roman shield—the scutum—was not the standard ‘medieval-esque’ shield most picture in their minds upon hearing the word. It was instead a very large, slightly curved rectangular shield featuring at its center a large metal knob (called a boss).

    The scutum was an impressive line of defense. Because of its sheer size (some were three and a half feet tall and almost three feet wide), soldiers were afforded a great deal of protection from enemies. Because of its slight curve, it was able to deflect attacks without transferring the full force of the assault to the man holding the shield. Because of its boss, it was able to deflect even the more vicious blows and function in a limited offensive capacity as a means of knocking an opponent backwards.”

  • Compared to the other items from last week (belt, breastplate, shoes) that you “put on,” what is different about a shield? What is the function of a shield?

  • Read Hebrews 11:1.

    • Part 1 - “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for” - Assurance or confidence is the Greek word hypostasis which is a “legal standing or guaranteed agreement.” If Jesus brings hope and IS hope, what does it mean to have confidence in HIM?

      • Read 1 Timothy 1:12

      • Read Titus 2:3

    • Part 2 - “Faith is… the evidence of things not seen” - We can’t see the wind but we know it is real. How? How could this help us understand evidence and faith in God?

  • A shield guards, defects, incapacitates (takes others out) - How is a shield like our faith in Jesus?

  • “The Roman military had an inventive and very effective tactic that made use of their large shields. When enemies would begin firing arrows and other projectiles at the army, the soldiers would close ranks into a rectangular array—called the testudo, or ‘tortoise,’ formation—and those on the outside would use their shields to create a wall around the perimeter. Then those in the middle would raise their shields over their heads to protect everyone from airborne missiles. The result was a formidable human tank that could be stopped only through a tremendous effort.”

    • How does this relate to our life in Christ and the importance of community?

  • Read Ephesians 2:8-10. What does this mean? How does it impact our lives?

helmet of salvation

  • What is the significance of a helmet?

  • Salvation means to be saved or delivered from something.

    • Read Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8-10, John 3:16-17 and 1 Timothy 2:3-4.

    • What is the penalty of our sin?

  • Read Acts 2:38 and Ephesians 2:8-9.

    • How do we receive salvation?

  • Salvation is not earned, but we still must accept it. What does this mean?

  • God has saved us FROM things, but He has always saved us FOR things? What do you think this means?

    • He saved us from… the evil in the world, the sin of our flesh, hell

    • He saved us for… relationship with Him and others, important plans, purposes and assignments

  • Why is salvation like a helmet?

  • Read Philippians 2:5-11. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?

  • What other thoughts do you have about salvation?

sword of the spirit

  • The Roman gladius has become known as "the sword that conquered the world." Adapted from a Spanish design, the prowess of the gladius in close range combat made it a fearsome tool in the hand of a skilled Roman warrior. When sharpened, its dual edges wreaked havoc on unarmored foes, while its tapered point could pierce through even heavy metal armor.

    A Roman infantryman would go into battle armed with more than just his gladius. He would also have a dagger (pugio), several one-time use spears (pila) and lead-weighted darts (plumbatae), but the sword was his main means of attack. The sword is the only weapon Paul lists as part of the Christian arsenal.

  • Read Psalm 119:105 and John 17:17. What is the Word of God and truth significant?

  • Read Hebrews 4:12. What does it mean that the Word of God is alive and active?

  • Read Matthew 4:1-11. How does Jesus use the Word of God to combat the words of Satan?

  • “Swords are used for close combat, not long-range warfare. Unlike all other pieces of the armor of God, which are solely defensive, the sword is uniquely suited for both defensive and offensive roles. A solid defense is invaluable, but the sword is the only way we can complete the work we have been given to do.” How might this apply to using the Word of God in our Christian walk?

  • Read Luke 11:28. What happens if you have a sword, but don’t use it? How does apply to the Word of God (if we have it, but don’t use it)?

April 15 - Armor of God - Part 1

  • 1 Peter 5:6-11

  • Ephesians 6:10-20

belt of truth

  • “The belt—known as the cingulum or balteus—played a crucial role in the effectiveness of a soldier's armor. It was the belt that held the scabbard, without which there would be no place to put a sword. Imagine an overzealous soldier, fired up and charging out into battle—but without his belt, and consequently without a weapon!” Reference.

  • Why would this kind of belt be like the truth of God?

  • Read 2 Timothy 3:16. Jesus, praying to the Father, gives a clear and straightforward definition of truth: God's Word. The Holy Bible (Scripture—the word of truth) was given by inspiration of God. The Greek expression translated "inspiration of God" literally means "God-breathed"! He actively and fully inspired the Bible to reveal His truth to us.

    His promises, His commands, His word—they are all truth, plain and simple. After all, "The LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:27). If God says something, there is no force that can stop Him from doing it—we can rest assured that it will be done.

  • What is the purpose of TRUTH in our lives? Why is it important that we know what is right and what is wrong?

  • Read Proverbs 3:3-4. How does this relate to the Belt of Truth?

  • What are the dangers of not wearing the Belt of Truth? Read Romans 12:2 and 2 Timothy 2:15.

Breastplate of Righteousness

  • What is the purpose of a breastplace? “The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier's armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs and so on. Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows glance off the armor.”

  • What is righteousness?

    • Read Psalm 119:172, 1 John 3:4, 1 Corinthians 15:34.

  • Whose righteousness should would be wearing?

    • Read Isaiah 64:6, Jeremiah 23:6.

  • What other characteristics does Paul compare with a breastplate?

    • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:8. How do these characteristics also protect our hearts?

  • Read Proverbs 11:4. Why would righteousness be like a breastplate? (Why would being right with God be like protecting your heart?)

  • Read Proverbs 4:23. Why is it important to guard your heart?

  • How do you guard your heart?

feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace (shoes)

  • Why are shoes important? Especially in battle?

  • Read Matthew 4:23, Mark 1:14, Acts 20:24.

    • The Greek word for peace is eiréné, which means wholeness, to be one, rest and quietness.

    • What is the gospel of peace? How does Jesus speak a message of peace?

  • Read Romans 10:14-15. What does he call the feet beautiful?

  • The sandals of the Roman soldier "often were fitted with nails, or armed with spikes, to make the hold firm in the ground" (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible). God's good news and our mission—our marching orders—to preach it serve as our firm foundation. When we truly allow ourselves to take comfort in the good news promised by God, there is nothing from outside ourselves that can trouble our hearts or give us reason to be afraid. Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and so we have nothing to fear from it.

  • Read John 14:27 and Luke 10:19-20. How do spiritual shoes help us stand firm?

  • Read Isaiah 9:6-7. What do these verses say about Jesus, the ruler of this new kingdom?

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit

March 25 - Faith Over Fear

Pre-Workout Questions:

  1. How have you experienced fear, anxiety or intense worry in your own life (school, sports, relationships, etc.)?

  2. What are you afraid of when these worries start to hit you?

  3. Extra time? How would you define fear?

Overcoming Fear

What is fear?

The Bibles says “Do not fear,” how many times?

3 types of fear:

  • Fear of Failure - an overwhelming anxiety that comes when you make a mistake or have the chance of making mistake

  • Fear of Rejection - a worry about being abandoned or not being chosen or accepted

  • Fear of Man - an overwhelming care of what others think; could look like peer-pressure, worry, and codependency

2 Timothy 1:7 - “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”

  • FAILURE - POWER

    • Romans 8:11 - “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

  • REJECTION - LOVE

    • 1 John 4:18 - “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

    • You are a child of God. (1 John 3)

  • MAN - SELF-DISCIPLE (SOUND MIND)

    • Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Only in Christ’s love, can we step out of fear and into freedom

  • 2 Corinthians 3:17

  • It is God’s kindness to walk you through your fears that you can walk in true freedom.

The ultimate form of FEAR (loss) is DEATH. Jesus has CONQUERED death.

  • Romans 8:38-39

  • 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

  • Matthew 28:5-6

How do we experience God’s love?

Questions

  • What type of fear describes an anxiety that you might experience? What is God’s answer (His power, love or sound-mind)?

  • How can your faith in God’s resurrection power create freedom in your life?

  • What is one application or encouragement you are taking with you after tonight’s lesson?

Key Verses to Meditate On This Week:

  • Isaiah 41:10

  • Psalm 55:22

  • Psalm 56:3

  • Matthew 6:34

March 18 -Audience of One

GLORY - appears 606 times in the Bible

  • Old Testament - kavod - glory, honor, weight

    • Ezekiel 1:25-28

    • Extra Reading: Exodus 16:7 (manna in the wilderness), Psalm 29:3 (God of glory),

  • New Testament - doxa - radiance, splendor, light

    • John 1:14 - “The Word [Jesus] became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

    • Hebrews 1:3 - :The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The story of Moses - Exodus 33:12-22

  • Extra Reading: 1 Kings 19:9-18 (Elijah and God in the whisper)

Bringing Glory to God in our lives

Remember? We are image-bearers. We carry the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

Psalm 8:5 - “Yet you have made him [man] a little lower than God, and have crown him with glory and majesty!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - 16 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Psalm 115:1 - “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory”

Matthew 5:16 - “Jesus said, ‘Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’”


What does “Audience of One” mean?

Questions:

  • Out of the 6 Audience of One phrases - which one sticks out to you the most? Which truth do you need help believing? Which one is a new thought or concept for you?

  • Eric Liddell (runner) said, “I believe God made me for a purpose - but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” Describe a time when you felt the glory or splendor or delight of God while you were competing.

  • What questions do YOU have about what it means to compete for God’s glory or an Audience of One?

Extra Resources:


March 4 - Grace & Mercy, Guilt & Shame

February 12 - The Significance of Sacrifice

  • At creation, Adam and Eve lived in perfect harmony with God.

  • Real relationship requires a response, and true love requires a ____________ (1).

  • Genesis 3:1-13

    • What happens to Adam and Eve after their make their choice to disobey?

      • Their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, they hid, they were ___________(2), Adam blamed Eve

      • Sin entered the world.

      • Genesis 4:7 - first time the word “sin” is mentioned in the Bible.

      • Sin means to _______(3) the mark or go wrong. Think archery. Hebrew word “chata.”

  • Genesis 3:21 - God clothes them with garments of skin.

    • The first ________________(4) is made.

    • God demonstrates His grace. Instead of killing Adam and Eve, He covers them.

  • Romans 6:23 - “The wages of sin is _____________ (5), but the gift of God is eternal __________ (6) in Christ Jesus.”

    • Examples of people making sacrifices - a picture of the necessary death of an innocent substitute in the place of the guilty sinner - Noah (Genesis 8), Moses (Exodus 20, 22), Job (Job 1), and on through Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

  • Atonement - Hebrew word “kippur” - means two things: to repay a debt and to purify.

    • Leviticus 16 - the Day of Atonement

      • Verse 15 - slaughter one goat

      • Verse 20-22 - release the live goat into the wilderness

  • The Lamb of God = ____________ (7)

    • John 1:29

    • Isaiah 53:7

  • Jesus is the lamb and the perfect _______________ (8).

    • Hebrews 9:11-12

    • Matthew 5:17 -” Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.”

      • The point of the LAW is HOLINESS - to be set apart

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 - “He became sin, so that we may become the ________________ (9) of God.”

    • 1 Corinthians 6:11 - “But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

  • Romans 8:11 - The same spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is living in you.

  • Romans 12:1-2 - “Offer your bodies as a living _____________….” (10)

  • Psalm 51:16-17 - The sacrifices of God are a _______________ (11) spirit…”

  • Hosea 6:6 - “I desire __________ (12), not sacrifice.”

  • Discussion Questions:

    • Psalm 51 - Why is it important that we start with a humble heart as our sacrifice?

    • 1 Peter 1:13-25

      • Note verse 19-20 - How does this teaching tonight help you understand the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice?

      • How can we live a holy (set apart) life for the Lord?

      • Verse 23 - If we are born again in Christ, what does it mean to have a fresh start in Him?

    • Matthew 16:24-26

      • How might God be asking you to sacrifice? To deny yourself and follow Him?

    • From the scriptures we read tonight, which one stuck out to you? Why?


      weekly reading:

      • Questions to ask: What does this passage say about God? What does it say about humanity (people)? How might God be asking me to respond?

      • Day 1: Isaiah 53

      • Day 2: Psalm 51

      • Day 3: Leviticus 16

      • Day 4: Hebrews 9:11-28

      • Day 5: 1 Peter 1


        More Resources:

February 5 - Made for Relationship

  • God himself is in FELLOWSHIP (1).

    • Father, Son and Holy Spirit

    • Genesis 1:1 - Elohim = GODS (PLURAL) (2)

  • Out of love, we are made to create.

    • Genesis 1:27 - “God created mankind in his own image…”

    • You are God’s response to His love. You are His prized possession. His treasure.

    • Psalm 139:13-16

  • The foundation of REAL relationship with someone is LOVE (3).

  • Loving relationships require a RESPONSE (4).

    • 1 John 4:19.

  • The story of the Bible is a story of God’s pursuit of His people.

    • In Genesis 3:9, God asks, “WHERE ARE YOU?” (5)

    • Luke 15:3-7.

    • God is PURSUING you (6).

    • How have you felt pursued by God? How have you felt God’s love in your life?

  • God has made us to be loved by Him.

    • Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God–shaped vacuum in the heart of each man, which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

  • God’s ultimate response was sending JESUS (7).

  • Why did Jesus have to die?

    • Romans 8.

    • Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to FULFILL it (Matthew 5:17) (8)

  • What is our response?

    • 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. The love of Christ COMPELS us (9).


      weekly reading:

    • Questions to ask: What does this passage say about God? What does it say about humanity (people)? How might God be asking me to respond?

    • Day 1: Genesis 1-3

    • Day 2: Psalm 139

    • Day 3: 1 John 4:7-21

    • Day 4: Luke 15

    • Day 5: Romans 8


      More Resources: