The Armor of God · Lesson 4
The Armor of God: Shield of Faith
Daniel 3:1-30; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:33-34; Isaiah 43:2 Old Testament PrincipleFaith
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge gold statue and told everyone to bow down or be thrown into a blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow. "Our God is able to save us," they said. "But even if He does not, we will not bow." They were thrown into the fire, but God was with them, and they came out without even the smell of smoke. The shield of faith means holding on to God Himself, and His promises put out the fiery arrows of fear and lies.
The shield of faith is part of God's armor. Faith means trusting God Himself, even when we don't know how things will turn out, and His promises put out the fiery arrows of fear and lies.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:16 BSB
Christ Connection · Picture
In the fire there was a fourth man, "like a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25). Many Christians believe it was the Son of God Himself. Either way, it is a picture of what God does in Jesus. He doesn't only shout encouragement from outside our trouble. He comes into it. Jesus is Immanuel, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and He promises, "Never will I leave you" (Hebrews 13:5). Faith is the shield that holds on to Him.
Matthew 1:23; Hebrews 13:5-6; Hebrews 11:33-34; 1 John 5:4
The Big Story · Redemption
God stays with His people in the fire and keeps them, pointing to Jesus, Immanuel, who came into our trouble to save us.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Arrows and a shield
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): The balloon that won't pop
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Shield up!
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
I trust God. He is with me.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Stand tall, Color the shield
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
King Nebuchadnezzar told everyone to bow to his gold statue. Three friends would not bow. They said, "Our God can save us. But even if He does not, we will not bow." God was with them in the fire! The shield of faith means we trust God, and His promises stop the scary thoughts and lies the enemy throws at us.
Memory verse
“Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows.”
Adapted from Ephesians 6:16
Start here
Hold up the shield. Toss a paper ball at it. Ask, "What does a shield do?" Say, "Today we learn about the fourth piece of God's armor, the shield of faith."
Bible story 6 min
King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue. It was 90 feet tall! He said, "When the music plays, bow down to it. If you don't, you go into the fire!"
The music played. Everyone bowed. But three friends stood tall. Their names were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They loved God. They would bow only to Him.
The king was very mad. "Bow, or into the fire you go!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Arrow blockers 8 min
You’ll need: A cardboard shield, Six paper balls
- One child holds the shield. The leader calls out a scary thought, like "Nobody likes you!" and tosses a paper ball.
- The child blocks it and shouts a promise, like "God loves me!" Then pass the shield.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
When King Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to worship his gold statue, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused. "Our God is able to save us," they said, "but even if He does not, we will not bow." God was with them in the blazing furnace. The shield of faith means trusting God Himself, not just hoping things turn out our way, and His promises put out the flaming arrows of fear and lies.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Arrows and promises, Armor checklist
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at home, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Faced with a blazing furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered the most powerful king on earth, "Our God is able to deliver us. But even if He does not, we will not bow." Their faith rested on God Himself, not on a guaranteed outcome, and God met them inside the fire. The shield of faith isn't how strongly we feel. It's holding up who God is and what He's promised against the flaming arrows of fear, doubt and lies.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Faith under fire, My shield wall
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at school
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Faith
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Jesus the KingJesus Calls FishermenLuke 5:1-11After a night of catching nothing, Peter trusted Jesus' word and let down the nets, caught so many fish the nets began to break, and left everything to follow Jesus.New TestamentFaith
Nicodemus Comes to Jesus at NightJohn 3:1-21; John 7:45-52; John 19:38-42Nicodemus was an important teacher of God's law. He came to talk with Jesus at night. Jesus told him that to see God's kingdom, a person must be born again, given a brand-new life by God's Spirit. Then Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Later, Nicodemus stood up for Jesus and helped bury Him. Faith in Jesus brings new life.New TestamentFaith
Jesus the KingAn Angel Visits MaryLuke 1:26-38; Luke 1:5-20The angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of Jesus, God's Son, and Mary trusted God's word, because nothing is impossible with God.New TestamentFaith
With Building BricksDavid and Goliath: Faith1 Samuel 17:32-51; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 3:15The giant Goliath dared Israel's army to fight him, and every soldier was afraid. But a young shepherd named David said, "I will fight him." David told King Saul, "The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will save me from this giant too." David took no armor, only his sling and five smooth stones. He ran at Goliath in the name of the LORD. God guided one stone, and the giant fell. Faith means believing God and acting on it, because we know what He has already done.Old TestamentFaith
In the BeginningThe PassoverExodus 11:1-12:42God protected every home marked by the lamb's blood, and Jesus is our Passover Lamb whose death keeps us safe.Old TestamentFaith
The Bronze SnakeNumbers 21:4-9On the way through the desert, God's people grumbled against God and Moses. Snakes came into the camp, and many people were bitten. When the people said, "We have sinned," God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who looked at it lived. Jesus said He would be lifted up like that snake, so that everyone who believes in Him has life.Old TestamentFaith