Taking Up the Sword of the Spirit

Sermon Notes

1. The Sword of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God.
2. The Greek word “graphe” refers to the written form of the Word of God.
3. The Greek word “logos” refers to the message or understanding of the Word of God.
4. The Greek word “rhema” refers to the spoken or declared Word of God.
5. Jesus in Mt 4 is the ultimate example of someone using the “sword of the Spirit”.
6. There is spiritual power in proclaiming the Word of God.

Follow-up Questions from Sunday:

Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

Introduction question for groups:
What is one thing you like to do when you have free time?

Digging Deeper:
1. If someone was to ask you what the “Word of God” is, what would you say?
2. What does 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16; and John14:25-26 say about the role of the Holy Spirit in writing the Word of God? What is the Greek word for “Word” of God that describes this?
3. What does Hebrews 4:12 tell you about the Word of God? When was the last time you heard or read the Word of God and it became alive to you, as though God was speaking to you personally? What is the Greek word for “Word” of God that describes this?
4. In Ephesians 6:17, the apostle Paul tells us to “take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God”. When you picture someone doing this, what does it look like?
5. When you read Matthew 4:1-11 what would you say is happening in these verses?
6. When Jesus was being tempted/attacked by Satan how did he use the Word of God to defend Himself? What does this teach us about using the Scriptures defensively and offensively in our own battles?
7. The Greek word for “Word” of God found in Ephesians 6:17 is rhema which means to audibly proclaim or declare the written word of God like Jesus did in Matthew 4. How do you understand the difference in the application of this word compared to the other two?

8. What do you think it is about audibly declaring/proclaiming the Word of God that makes it so powerful in the working of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives? How have you experienced this in your own spiritual journey?

Taking it Home:
Spend some time this week meditating on Ephesians 6:17 and ask the Lord to teach you what the “sword of the Holy Spirit” is and how He wants you to use it in your personal life.

Prayer:
Pray for each other in your group that God would help all of you to see what He sees and to proclaim what He says in and through your life.