The Armour of God Is Not What You Think

Jeremy Duncan

Feb 15

Written By Kevin Borst

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Scriptures: Ephesians 5, 6

Summary: In this last sermon of our series, If/Then, Jeremy walks through Paul’s big “therefore” in Ephesians. If Christ is bringing everything into unity, then our lives should reflect that unity through humility, patience, and love. We pursue unity, Jeremy argues, because we already belong as equals to one body shaped by Christ. He shows how Jesus redefines power, flipping the script on Psalm 68 to reveal a conquering King who gives gifts instead of demanding tribute. Then, Jeremy examines and reframes the “armour of God,” arguing that our battle isn’t against people but against destructive systems, that keep us from peace.
What’s it therefore: Paul’s “therefore” grounds the second half of Ephesians in a call to live consistently with the reconciling work of Christ. Jeremy shows how Paul’s idea of “one body, one Spirit, one hope,” is our lived expression of humility, gentleness, patience, and peacemaking. Unity flows from oneness; we pursue peace because we already belong to each other in Christ.
Misquoting Scripture: By reworking Psalm 68, Paul presents Jesus as a victorious king who gives gifts rather than demanding tribute. Those gifts take the form of diverse people within the community, equipped to strengthen and mature one another. Additionally, Christ’s power is self-giving and subversive, and our understanding of leadership, strength, and success must be reshaped around that pattern.
Relying on each other: The gifts Christ gives are not tools for individual advancement but people who equip and strengthen the body. Jeremy argues that maturity comes as we support one another through hardship and protect each other from harm, recognizing that every person’s contribution matters.
Reframing the world around us: Finally, Jeremy walks us through Paul’s closing metaphor, the “armour of God. He clarifies that our struggle is not against other people but against destructive powers and systems. The armour represents a way of standing firm in truth, righteousness, faith, and peace, a—subversion of Rome’s violence. Jeremy encourages us to resist evil systems without turning one another into enemies.
Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: Paul in his letter to the Ephesians goes to great lengths to encourage the community toward humility, patience, and love. If you feel like sharing, please give a short answer for the following questions.
Q: Have you experienced a community marked by noticeable humility and gentleness?
Q: What did the community do to make those virtues a reality?
Share: Share you thoughts on unity through diversity. We each bring skills and uniquenesses to our community; Paul calls us to be united in those uniquenesses.
Q: What makes unity difficult in faith spaces, even when we share similar values?
Q: How have you seen this type of “diverse unity” achieved and practiced?
Reflect: Reflect on Paul’s reworking of Psalm 68 to subvert our conceptions of a God who demands tribute from God’s subject, but instead, a vision of Jesus who enters our story and gives good gifts.
“This ‘mistake' is in fact Paul’s entire point: Jesus subverts our expectations.
Jesus is the inversion of our history.
Remember Ephesians 1 says, ‘all things have been put under Christ’s feet.’
Christ has already conquered the world.
But does Christ demand tribute in that victory?
Expect payment from both faithful and rebellious alike?
No. This victory gives gifts away, showers the world with grace.
And so Paul explains how does Christ conquer?
Not by ascending through war, but by descending instead.
Into the human story, all the way to death, through resurrection only to fill the whole universe with love.”
Q: How might this new image effect how you think about unity?
Engage: Engage with the idea of our battle being against rule and authority that aligns itself with evil, rather than people themselves. Consider his words,
“Our battle is against any rule, authority, power,
any force that aligns itself with evil and imposes itself on God's creation.
Now that doesn't mean there's no consequence for bad behaviour
Or that the evil get off scot free.
What it means is that we reframe our perspective to understand
that even those who do evil are victims of their own malfeasance.

Now hear me. They are not the victims; Their suffering does not supersede that of the oppressed.
But, there is no such thing as evil that benefits one and harms another.
At least not in the long-term.
Because when we choose greed
When we choose to oppress another
When we choose to coerce or manipulate or force our agenda we are slowly but surely distancing ourselves from the grace that we need; we are damaging our very existence.
And, I'm not asking you to feel bad for the bad guy.
What I'm saying is that we cannot hurt each other without doing more damage than we realize to our own soul.”
Q: With this quote in mind, how do you think through your task of dismantling oppressive systems and authorities while also acknowledging the humanity of both the oppressed and the oppressor?
Take away: What is your takeaway from the message or today’s conversation?
Prayer from the sermon:
God of peace,
As we come now to your Word,
we ask that you would quiet the noise within us.
Where we are distracted, gather us.
Where we are anxious, steady us.
Where we are defensive, soften us.
If you truly are bringing all things together in Christ,
then bring us together now.
Unify our hearts in humility.
Teach us the patience that bears with one another in love.
Form in us the new self that reflects your grace.
And when we open these ancient words,
protect us from hearing only what confirms us.
Give us courage to be changed.
Give us wisdom to discern what is true.
Help us grow in the way of Jesus.
And as we listen, shape us again
into a people who reflect your kingdom in this world.
In the strong name of the risen christ we pray,
Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 51
MUSIC Curated by Clint Siebert
Cody Carnes - Firm Foundation
Commons Worship - Restore My Soul
Kristian Stanfill - In Christ Alone
Brooke Ligertwood - What A Beautiful Name

A PRAYER FOR OPEN EYES
Written by Scott Wall
From the places you’ve been -
From the heartache you’ve known -
From the versions of yourself you’ve left behind -
you’ve been led here.
Where we pray, Loving God, give us eyes to see you - minds to know you - and hearts to ever seek you.
Here, on the rocky path you navigate right now - Here, through your turmoil and despair - Here, with a gratitude for all the simple ways that Grace appears - you are present here.
Where we pray, Loving God, give us eyes to see you - minds to know you - and hearts to ever seek you.
Moving beyond all you want to control - Moving toward all you long and wish for - Moving into new growth and perspective - you’ll move on from here, into all that lies ahead.
Which is why we pray, Loving God, give us eyes to see you - minds to know you - and hearts to ever seek you.
Amen.

SERIES BUMPER
If/Then