August 25th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

Standing Strong in Spiritual Warfare

Lectionary Readings — Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost — August 24, 2024

1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

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Call to Worship (based on Ephesians 6:10-20)

Leader: People of God, let us gather to worship the Lord, our strength and our shield.

People: We come to be empowered by God's might and to put on the full armor of God.

Leader: Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.

People: We clothe ourselves in God's truth and righteousness, ready to stand against the schemes of the evil one.

Leader: As shoes for your feet, put on the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

People: We prepare ourselves to spread the good news of peace, for our God is the God of peace.

Leader: Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

People: We lift high our faith in God, trusting in His protection and power to overcome all evil.

Leader: Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

People: We receive God's salvation with gratitude and wield His Word with confidence.

Leader: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

People: We commit to constant prayer, for ourselves and for all the Lord's people.

Leader: Let us worship God, who equips us for every good work and every spiritual battle.

All: Almighty God, we come before You as Your army of light. Strengthen us for service, empower us for witness, and fill us with Your Spirit as we worship You in spirit and in truth. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Psalm 84)

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God, how lovely is Your dwelling place! Our souls long, indeed they faint, for the courts of the Lord. Our hearts and flesh sing for joy to You, the living God.

Lord, we thank You that even as the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for herself, You have given us a place of refuge in Your presence. Happy are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise.

Almighty God, You are our sun and shield, the source of our strength and our protection. We praise You for the grace and glory You bestow upon us. No good thing do You withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Father, as we gather in worship today, we recognize that a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Make our hearts like highways to Zion, eagerly traveling towards Your presence. May we find our strength in You, going from strength to strength until each of us appears before God in Zion.

Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer. Give ear, O God of Jacob. We ask that You would look upon us, the face of Your anointed people, with favor. For we trust in Your word that says, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

We pray for those among us today who feel far from Your courts, whose strength feels depleted. Refresh them, Lord. Be their source of life-giving water, turning the Valley of Baca into a place of springs.

Heavenly Father, as the psalmist declared, "Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise," may our worship today be a dwelling in Your presence. Open our eyes to see Your glory, our ears to hear Your voice, and our hearts to receive Your love.

We pray for our community and our world. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Use us, Lord, as instruments of Your peace and love in a world that so desperately needs it.

O Lord God of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You. As we continue in worship, may our trust in You deepen. May our longing for Your presence intensify. And may our lives increasingly reflect the transforming power of dwelling in Your courts.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has made it possible for us to approach Your throne of grace with confidence. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: STANDING STRONG IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)

Introduction

• Share a personal story or contemporary illustration about facing unseen challenges or spiritual battles.

• Briefly introduce the passage from Ephesians 6:10-20, highlighting Paul's metaphor of spiritual armor.

I. POWER: Our Source of Strength (vv. 10-11)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:10-11 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Explanation:

• Discuss the importance of recognizing our own weakness and relying on God's strength.

• Explore the concept of "putting on" the armor of God as an active, daily choice.

Application: Encourage the congregation to start each day by consciously relying on God's strength and "putting on" His armor.

II. PRINCIPALITIES: Our Spiritual Opposition (v. 12)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Explanation:

• Address the reality of spiritual warfare and the nature of our true enemies.

• Discuss how this perspective should shape our approach to conflicts and challenges.

Application: Challenge the congregation to view their daily struggles through the lens of spiritual warfare, recognizing the deeper battle behind surface-level conflicts.

III. PROTECTION: Our Spiritual Armor (vv. 13-17)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:13-17 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench 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."

Explanation:

• Examine each piece of the armor in detail: a. Belt of Truth b. Breastplate of Righteousness c. Shoes of the Gospel of Peace d. Shield of Faith e. Helmet of Salvation f. Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)

• Discuss how each piece protects us and equips us for spiritual battle.

Application: Motivate the congregation to "put on" each piece of armor daily, providing practical ways to incorporate these spiritual disciplines into their lives.

IV. PRAYER: Our Constant Communication (vv. 18-20)

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:18-20 "Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak."

Explanation:

• Emphasize the importance of constant, Spirit-led prayer in spiritual warfare.

• Discuss the communal aspect of prayer, praying for "all the saints."

• Explore Paul's personal request for prayer and its implications for us.

Application: Encourage the congregation to develop a robust prayer life, both for personal spiritual protection and for the strengthening of the broader Christian community.

Conclusion

• Recap the four main points: Power, Principalities, Protection, and Prayer.

• Emphasize that spiritual warfare is a daily reality, but we have been equipped by God to stand firm.

• Close with a call to action, challenging the congregation to actively engage in spiritual preparation and warfare.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for equipping us with Your spiritual armor. Help us to stand firm in Your strength, recognizing the spiritual battles around us. May we faithfully put on each piece of Your armor daily and remain in constant prayer. Empower us to be Your ambassadors, boldly proclaiming the gospel of peace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers