During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Our broken world is filled with sin and evil. Bad things happen, and people abuse and mistreat others. We may begin to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, discouraged, or helpless in the face of all the pain and darkness we see. We may even begin to doubt God’s goodness. But the Bible teaches us that God is always good and that evil has been defeated. Jesus’ victory on the cross is complete, and His power is greater than the one who is in the world. Though God’s power is unmatched, He has given us an unusual battle plan. We are called to surrender completely to Him—and in our weakness, His strength will prevail.
Think about the evil you have seen and experienced. Invite the Holy Spirit to uncover the sin in your own heart. Ask Him to show you where you are called to bring change in the world around you. Then surrender your own strength and wisdom and call on the name of the One who is greater. God has given you His weapons to win the battle against evil. Put on His truth, righteousness, and peace, and hold tightly to your faith as protection. Use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to continue to stand firm against the evil around you. Be strong in the Lord—and celebrate because God has already won!
Encourage students to ask their family members, “Who do you think is the most powerful person in the world?” They can then share that God is more powerful than anything or anyone.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
This game is called Rock, Paper, Scissors. It involves 3 hand symbols. First let’s learn the hand symbols.
Show the students the following symbols and have them imitate your actions.
To play the game, each of you will stand facing a partner. You will hold 1 of your hands in a fist and hold the other hand out flat as the surface for the game. You and your partner will count to 3 together. As you say the numbers 1 and 2, you will hit your fist on your open hand. When you say 3, show the hand symbol for either rock, paper, or scissors.
Demonstrate the hand symbols as you say them.
Before we play, tell me which of these do you think is the most powerful? Rock, scissors, or paper?
Allow 2–3 students to share their ideas.
In this game, rocks are more powerful than scissors since a rock could smash a pair of scissors. Scissors are more powerful than paper because they can cut paper. Paper is more powerful than a rock because it can wrap up the rock. Everyone find a partner and try the game a few times.
If you have an uneven number of students, there can be a group of 3 students. Give the students a few minutes to play the game. Walk around and help any who have trouble remembering which item is the most powerful. Then ask the class to take seats for a discussion.
Today we are going to talk more about growing in our faith. Part of growing in our faith is overcoming evil. Unlike our game where everything had something more powerful that could defeat it, God’s power is greater than anything. His power cannot be overcome. He defeats all evil and darkness. Let’s learn more about that now.
We live in a broken, fallen world, and we can see sin and evil all around us. When something bad happens, we may be hurt, and we may wonder why God would allow bad things to happen. If God is good, why do bad things happen?
Unfortunately, evil exists in the world. When God created the first man and woman, He gave them the power to choose whether or not they wanted to love and follow Him. Because they chose to disobey Him, sin entered the world. Ever since then, people have chosen to sin, and bad things happen as a result. But God is with us in those hard times, and those hard times help us to grow closer to Him. He wants us to choose to trust Him even in difficult times or when facing evil. He wants us to grow in faith!
Our faith can be powerful, and it can help us in difficult times. But it may not be in the ways you would expect. Listen to what Paul, an apostle of Jesus, said about Jesus’ power.
But [Jesus] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10
What do you Paul meant when he said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong?”
When Paul relied on Jesus for strength, he was stronger than when he relied on his own strength.
God is powerful—more powerful than any evil we may face, more powerful than any suffering we experience. His power is displayed in our lives when we submit to Him and grow in faith. We allow God’s power to be made perfect in our lives when we recognize that we cannot overcome sin and evil through our own power. We cannot be strong enough on our own to walk through suffering. Our weakness is God’s strength. As our faith grows, so does our trust in Him and our ability to trust Him with our lives.
When we go through difficulties or are suffering, Satan tries to cause us to doubt God’s goodness, doubt that He is powerful, and doubt that He loves us. Satan is the enemy of humans and God. Satan has power on this earth, and he uses that power to deceive people to choose sin and to doubt and reject God. This is supernatural evil.
What are some examples of supernatural evil or ways Satan causes people to doubt God?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts. Examples could include spirits, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, voodoo, and demon possession.
The Bible teaches us that Satan has no power over those who believe in Jesus. We have no reason to fear Satan because God’s power is much greater than Satan’s. Listen to what the Bible teaches us about this:
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
Satan works to divide, deceive, and destroy. But God is faithful, and He will guard us against evil. God has provided us with protection from Satan’s evil ways. Listen to what the Bible tells us about this protection.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Ephesians 6:10–18
Let’s divide into groups and learn more about these pieces of the armour of God.
Divide the class into 6 groups. Give each group 1 of the armour of God cards from the end of the lesson. Have the groups read the Bible verses on their cards and discuss the questions in their groups. It is okay if they do not think of the suggested answers on their own. If possible, walk around to the different groups and guide their conversations in the right direction. Give the groups about 5 minutes to read the verses and talk about the questions.
The parts of the armour of God and the questions and suggested answers are listed below for your reference.
The Belt of Truth
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31–32
How could the belt of truth help to protect you?
The belt holds up the rest of the soldier’s armour. Without it, his armour would be useless. In a similar way, the truth is protection against the lies of Satan. It helps us to know the ways that point us toward God and away from evil.
The Breastplate of Righteousness
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21
How could the breastplate of righteousness help protect you?
A soldier’s breastplate protects his heart from harm. In a similar way, righteousness can protect our hearts from believing Satan’s lies. Our righteousness comes through Jesus’ sacrifice, not through our own efforts.
The Shoes of the Readiness of the Gospel of Peace
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
How could the shoes of the readiness of the gospel of peace help to protect you from evil?
Good shoes help us to travel safely on even rocky ground. They give us stable footing when we are climbing. In a similar way, the shoes of the readiness of the gospel of peace can help us to know that we are secure in God’s care and love, which is a sure foundation on which to stand.
The Shield of Faith
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
How could the shield of faith help to protect you?
The shield is the first protection against the attack of an enemy. It is held up in front of the soldier to defend against the weapons of others. In a similar way, faith is the first protection against evil. When we trust in God, we will not be deceived by the attacks of the enemy; instead, we will be assured that God’s promises are true.
The Helmet of Salvation
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:28, ESV
How could the helmet of salvation help to protect you from evil?
A helmet protects the soldier’s head and his mind. In a similar way, we need to protect our minds from the attacks of evil. When we trust in Jesus, the Bible promises that nothing, including evil, can take us away from Him.
The Sword of the Spirit
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.
Hebrews 4:12
How could the sword of the Spirit help to protect you from evil?
God’s Word, the Bible, can discern lies from truth because it is sharp like a sword. God’s Word teaches us the difference between what brings life (choosing to follow God) and what brings death (choosing a life of sin). Jesus used the Word of God to defeat Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness. Likewise, we should know and use the Word of God to defeat lies, temptations, and evil.
After about 5 minutes, ask 1 student from each group to share the Bible verse and the group’s answer to the question. If necessary, guide the discussion to help them to discover the suggested answers for their pieces of armour. Then share the following with the whole class:
Most of these pieces of armour are defensive—meaning they are used most often to protect us. Which piece of armour is also offensive—meaning it is used to attack and to defend?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their answers. Then guide them to understand that the sword of the Spirit is both offensive and defensive; the rest of the items are used mainly for protection.
How do you think the Word of God, the Bible, could be used for offense and for defence against evil?
Optional: If you are using The NIV Action Study Bible, the teens can read more about the importance of knowing and obeying God’s Word in the “What About This?” section near James 3.
We can best protect ourselves from evil by reading and studying God’s Word. Prayer is also important to help us to defend ourselves against evil. When we are faced with evil that tempts us or makes us weak or causes us to doubt God, we can use the truths in God’s Word and ask God for strength to defeat it. When we know the truth and when we are talking with and listening to God regularly through prayer, we are less likely to believe the lies of evil! We can also share the truth with others to help them to overcome evil.
In our broken world, we will battle against evil. We will all go through difficulties and suffering, and face temptations. But when we trust in God and use the weapons He has given us, we can overcome evil with God’s power and love.
Gather the whole class together for discussion.
What are some of the things we have learned about God’s power?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts. Be sure they mention that God is more powerful than evil, that His power is displayed in our lives when we submit to Him, and that we should use the armour of God to remind us of what to do when we face evil.
Here are some reminders of how you can use what you have learned:
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, the teens can do this activity on their pages.
Get together with a partner. Think of 1 area of your life where you may be facing evil. It could be a temptation you are struggling with or something bad or evil you have seen around you. You can share that with the partner if you feel comfortable, but you do not have to do so.
Now I will say the pieces of armour. After I say each, think of how you could use that idea to help you in your situation. Remember—you cannot overcome evil on your own. You need to call on God’s help. Each partner will take a turn to pray as though placing each piece of armour on his partner.
Repeat the list of armour below and then allow a few minutes for partners to pray for each other.
Close with a blessing based on 1 Chronicles 29:12:
Blessing: May God, in whose hands are strength and power, give you strength, courage, and wisdom to face evil and overcome it in His name!
Lead the students in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
