Welcome to week 18 of Weekly Word!
We are so excited to journey together through the Book of Ephesians. As we read and focus on the Armor of God, we pray that these weekly readings continue to stir your heart as you abide in Christ!
Below, you’ll find your readings for this week, along with discussion questions and a short devotional for you to enjoy at the end of the week.
This week, we will focus on the second part of God’s armor: The Breastplate of Righteousness!
Readings:
- Ephesians 2
- Ephesians 6:10-14
- Judges 7
Devotional:
Readings: Ephesians 2 | Ephesians 6:10-14 | Judges 7
We are saved by grace through faith—a gift from God that we did not earn on our own and one that is secured for us in Christ!
We read in Judges 7 that God whittles down Gideon’s army to ensure that when victory comes, there is no mistaking whose power was at work. Accordingly, the Breastplate of Righteousness protects our hearts from the exhausting trap of performance Christianity, where we try to earn our salvation by our own merit, rather than resting in the power of the righteousness of Christ and His power within us.
You are covered by the righteousness of Jesus, which means your standing with God is secure, no matter how small or weak you feel today. Rest in Jesus, and remember your breastplate of righteousness, which guards your heart from the lies of the enemy.
Discussion Questions:
- If you truly rested in the fact that your salvation is a gift, what burden could you set down today?
- How does knowing you are righteous in Christ (not by your own efforts) shield your heart from shame when you stumble?
- Gideon had to trust God’s plan over human logic. What logic might you be relying on instead of God’s power?
Dig Deeper
God commands us to wear “righteousness like armor on your chest”, but what does that mean, and where do we find that armor?
In this sermon from Antioch’s 2022 sermon series, “Resistible,” Pastor Stephen discusses what it means to put on the breastplate of righteousness.
We are praying for you as you dig into God’s Word this week!