Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.

1. How do you respond to the description of God coming as a warrior to sort out evil in the world?
2. Read Ephesians 6:10f. and compare this with the description of armour here. Why is there a difference?
3. Read the description of the covenant again in Isaiah 59:21. What does this covenant mean to you, now, and how is it demonstrated in the life of the church?

Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.

Personal comment:

It is some time now since I personally came to terms with the idea that God ultimately destroys evil. I know that some people find it hard to imagine that evil really exists and that some people choose it and do it, and reap the consequences. Surely, they say, God must love everyone! He does, but He cannot stop people walking away from Him and going their own way, and choosing to accept sin instead of the paths of righteousness. I have also learned that it is no good being the kind of Christian who feels it inappropriate to aspire openly to righteousness and goodness, or honesty or even holiness; this is regarded as being religiously pretentious! But these things are our inheritance from God, the very gifts He longs to give us if we are faithful to Him! Let us rejoice in them!

Ideas for discipleship programme

• Read through a newspaper, and try to make a judgement about the evil nature of some of what you read. How much evil is there really in the world? Talk about this with others.
• Pray for those who find it hard to accept that God comes into this world in sovereign power to do His will. Pray for an outpouring of God’s love so that more and more people are able to find the truth of God’s redeeming power.

Lord God, survey this world we have created with its extraordinary richness and appalling poverty. Come again amongst the poor, speak to us more of Dives and Lazarus, and remind us of Your message of liberation for all in real need. Then, may we know the power of the Gospel again in our midst.  AMEN