In this Armor of God lesson, 5th graders create a well-equipped Catholic Christian. The project focuses upon a deeper understanding on how their faith helps us through life challenges. The project can done collaboratively or individually.
Armor of God
Ephesians
salvation
breastplate
Supplies for Armor of God Lesson
- Bibles
- Butcher paper cut into the shape of a person about 5 feet tall (Option 1) or if doing the project individually print the template on letter-sized or ledger-sized paper (Option 2)
- Scrap construction paper
- Scissors, markers, glue
Opening Discussion
Lead the students through a discussion of what makes them well-prepared & well-equipped for a sporting event or club activity.
- How do you make sure you are well-prepared for a sporting activity you have?
- What things/supplies do you need to be successful?
- Who gives you guidance and advice to be well equipped for events?
- How do you make sure you incorporate that advice in the activity?
Explain that God gives us everything we need to be ready to face our daily activities and the dilemmas that come up. These tools are called “The Armor of God”. They make us well-equipped for life.
Introduce St. Paul and His Letters (Epistles)
Explain that the Scripture reading is from St. Paul.
- St. Paul was a missionary who went out to spread the word of God.
- 13 books of the New Testament are the letters he wrote to people that he visited or to people that he wanted to reach out to. (See Google slide #3 for a map of these primary locations of the people he wrote letters to) . He was jailed for at least 2 years and wrote some of his letters from prison.
- This passage is from his letters to the Ephesians.
Scripture: The Armor of God
Open Bibles and read together Ephesians 6:10-18
Discussion:
Define Armor and Identify the Things that We “Battle”
Explain that armor are the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle .
Prompt the class to answer what are some devil-related “battles” we face. Possible answers:
- Sin and temptation
- Bad thoughts and harmful emotions
- Always honoring the 10 Commandments and the Golden Rule
- Moral dilemmas of choosing to do the right thing
- Unexpected adversity
Pull out what Armor Pieces are Mentioned in the Passage
Ask the students what pieces of armor the Scripture passage mentions. (Click through the above Google slide for the animations to identify them.) Write the list on the whiteboard as the students mention them.
- belt of truth
- breastplate of righteousness
- shield of faith
- helmet of salvation
- sword of the Spirit
Identify tools that are part of our Catholic Faith that help us be well-equipped
Then ask what specific Catholic “tools” help clothe us with the armor of truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Holy Spirit. Write the ideas the students have on the whiteboard. Guide them to include these types of answers:
- 10 Commandments
- The Golden Rule
- Beatitudes
- Sacraments especially the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation)
- Prayer
- Bible reading
- Corporal Works of Mercy (feed the hungry , visit the sick, clothe the naked, ….)
- Saints
- Mass
- Virtues: Faith, Hope & Love
Activity: Create a Well-Equipped Catholic Christian
Option 1: Whole Class Project
- Use one big (about 5 ft. long) body shape cut from butcher paper for the whole class
- Assign individuals or pairs to create an armor part (belt, breastplate, shield, helmet, sword, etc,) to add to the body by cutting that particular shape from construction paper.
- Ask them to label it with something from their Catholic faith helps them with that particular metaphor.
- When finished with adding the specific part, ask them to research and add a Scripture passage about that particular faith element.
Option 2: Individual or Groups of 2
- Pass out copies of the template printed on letter-sized or ledger-sized paper.
- Ask them to draw on the body silhouette things that would help them be a well-equipped Catholic Christian. Require them to symbolically draw them in the shape of a belt, breastplate, shield, helmut, sword, etc. Make sure they label it what part of their Catholic faith helps them with that metaphor.
- When finished, ask them to research and add a Scripture passage about each particular faith element they added.
Closing Prayer
Other Resources to for Armor of God Lessons
For younger elementary kids in K-3 the lessons on the Armor of God from Ministry to Children are absolutely wonderful. They include full lesson plans, worksheets, activities and games.
For a more in depth look at the Armor of God as a metaphor, see these passage from christianity.com and from Mercy Multiplied.
Dear Families,
For this week’s lesson, we read Ephesians 6:10-18 about the Armor of God. We learned that we can stand firm in our faith by relying all the tools that God provides. We made a representation of well-equipped Catholic Christian, by adding to a silhouette of a person the things from faith that help us be righteous, truthful, full of the Holy Spirit and lead us to salvation.
- What part of your Catholic faith helps you make righteous decisions when you have a moral dilemma?
- What helps you avoid temptation to sin?
Thank you for the opportunity to teach your child.
Your Child’s Catechist