The Well Church of the Nazarene

In this Bible Study series, we're taking an in-depth look at the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18, and discussing the tools we can use to accomplish God's mission to invite, include, and train others while facing the battle within ourselves.

Today's focus is on the Gospel of Peace. Jesus talks about the good news of God's kingdom, which does not come by force or through power, but through grace, love, submission, and sacrifice.

We long to be part of something grand--something epic. The Bible draws us into God's epic story of healing humankind, and the story of the Exodus--from slavery to the Promised Land--is one of those stories.

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the rest of the law, including detailed plans for a tabernacle. This tabernacle would represent the presence of God to the people of Israel. It gave them direction. In following the tabernacle, Israel joined God's epic story.

We don't have a physical tabernacle, but we have been invited to follow as well. Our example is Jesus. When the Church fails to embrace the pattern of Jesus, we lead people away from God's epic story. Which story are you embracing?

If you've not yet watched or listened to any of our series discussions, this is one you don't want to miss. Josh, Paul, and Mara recap our May series, Go, in which we've studied the Great Commission and how we're called to be the Church--a people pursuing the mission of God. How can we apply what we've learned this past month to what's happening in our world today?

God has invited us to join Him in His work. When we engage ourselves in the mission, He is working in and through us. The Holy Spirit unites God's people. We are being created and reformed into the image of Jesus, and God's mission isn't asking for us to Go and make others like us. It's to Go with Him and JOIN others as we pursue holiness together. If we're praying that God's desires become ours, we can't be passive or complacent with what's going on in His kingdom.

In this Bible Study series, we're taking an in-depth look at the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18, and discussing the tools we can use to accomplish God's mission to invite, include, and train others while facing the battle within ourselves.

Today's focus is on the Breastplate of Righteousness, which protects the most vulnerable parts of us by living right with God and toward others, and doing the things we know we should do.

This is the last week in our "Go" series, where we've been studying the Early Church and the Great Commission, emphasizing an old truth: Church is not a building or a time, but a people pursuing the mission of God.

We were created to share life together; we need each other. And in light of this week's events, it is important to note that God's mission includes racial reconciliation. We are called to be part of the solution, not simply resist being part of the problem. It's not an easy call, and oftentimes we don't know where to start when it comes to the big issues of our day, but may we find our way in Him--in his Spirit, his power, his peace...and with his people.

We're picking up where we left off in the story of the Early Church, continuing our ongoing discussion about the role of Christ-followers in the Great Commission. This week the focus is on Philippians 4:4-13, and what contentment may have looked like in Paul's day, as well as today. The path to being content is not always an easy one to follow--especially in these days of social media influence. It requires focus. Intentionality. And often, community. Thankfully, we can do all things through Him, and in his strength. How can you learn to be content, and model that contentment among others?

In this Bible Study series, we're taking an in-depth look at the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18, and discussing the tools we can use to accomplish God's mission to invite, include, and train others while facing the battle within ourselves. Today's focus is on the Belt of Truth and its role in protecting us from the lies that might keep us from our mission.

Backup plans are the reality of life. Unforeseen circumstances affect our lives more so than our planning. How do we pursue God's mission when things go contrary to our plans?

Contentment is rare in our world. But in his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul urges the Church to seek contentment that's not based on circumstances, but rather a focus on better things. Contentment does not mean the absence of sorrow or pain. Contentment means that in our sorrow and pain, we will choose to focus on something good. We can lean into God. We can be content in any circumstance through God who gives us strength.

Pastor Paul chats with Lauren Woolum, a graduate of Marysville High School and Kent State University. In her college years, Lauren experienced a transition in her faith, from viewing salvation as a get-out-of-hell free card, to learning what it really means to be a follower of Jesus and pursue his mission. She teaches part-time at Kent State, dabbles in woodworking, and attends and works at a college-based church called H2O, where she first felt the call to campus ministry.

You can support Lauren by praying for her ministry at H2O and its students, or by contributing financially at reliant.org/lauren.woolum

Our scripture this week is from one of Paul's letters to the church of Ephesus, where he continues to guide and disciple them, encouraging them to keep going with The Great Commission. There are many ways you can engage in conversation around this passage, and we encourage you to take our discussion example and intentionally examine scripture and share your observations with others.

Pastors Mara, Paul, and Josh share their thoughts on Ephesians 6:10-18, with an emphasis on verses 12 and 18. This "battle" we're facing isn't against others. It's against the darkness within ourselves. But unfortunately, we often mistake our culture and understanding for what Christianity is, and when we apply those cultural, personal interpretations to scripture, it's possible to miss what the Word is actually saying.

The good news is, if we consistently pray "not my will, Your will" it shifts our perspective, and can totally change the way we approach every situation, every struggle, every battle, from its focus on what others are doing, to a focus on our own relationship with God, and seeing people the way God sees them. Choose your weapons carefully!