Book Club Questions for The Armor of God

1.Shirer opens the study by arguing that everything happening in the visible, physical world is directly connected to a wrestling match in the invisible, spiritual world. Does that claim feel natural to you, or does it feel like a stretch? What experiences in your life make you more — or less — inclined to believe it?

2.Paul uses the word 'wrestle' (or 'struggle') in Ephesians 6:12. Shirer points out that wrestling is intimate, close-range combat — not a distant artillery exchange. What does that image change about how you understand spiritual warfare? How does it make the battle feel more personal?

3.Shirer warns against two opposite errors: ignoring the enemy entirely (naivety) and being obsessed with him (giving him too much credit). Which of these two ditches are you more likely to fall into, and why?

1.In the Roman army, the belt (or girdle) was foundational — it held all other pieces of armor in place and allowed the soldier to move freely. Shirer uses this image to argue that truth is the 'core support' of the believer's life. What happens spiritually when truth is not at your core? What does life look like when it isn't?

2.Shirer distinguishes between knowing truth objectively (in your head) and having it secured at your core (shaping how you feel and live). Which of those describes your current relationship with God's truth? Where is the gap for you?

3.In John 8:44, Jesus calls Satan 'the father of lies' — lying is not just something he does, it is what he is. Shirer argues that the enemy's primary weapon is deception, not direct attack. What lies about God, yourself, or your circumstances have you been most tempted to believe?

1.Roman soldiers wore the breastplate to protect their vital organs — especially the heart. Shirer notes that the enemy targets your heart just as deliberately. In what ways have you experienced direct attacks on your heart — your emotions, desires, motivations, or sense of worth?

2.Shirer explains that there are two dimensions of righteousness: imputed righteousness (what Christ has credited to our account) and practical righteousness (the holy living that flows from it). How would you explain the difference between these two in your own words?

3.Shirer argues that when you sin and do not immediately deal with it through confession and repentance, you are essentially removing your breastplate — leaving your heart exposed. Is there unconfessed sin in your life right now that may be creating vulnerability? (You don't have to share the details, but consider the principle.)

1.Roman soldiers wore iron-cleated sandals that gripped the ground and allowed them to stand firm without slipping. Shirer uses this image to describe what gospel-rooted peace does in the believer's life. Where in your life do you feel most unsteady — most likely to lose your footing when opposition comes?

2.Shirer argues that 'anywhere peace is lacking, the enemy is at work.' Look at the places in your life where peace is consistently absent. What does that pattern reveal about where the enemy is most actively targeting you?

3.There is a difference between peace as a feeling (the absence of anxiety) and peace as a foundation (a settled confidence in who God is regardless of circumstances). Shirer pushes toward the second. How would you describe the difference in your own experience?

1.Shirer describes the Roman shield (the scutum) as a large, door-sized shield that could be interlocked with other soldiers' shields to form a wall of protection. What is the significance of the shield being designed for collective defense, not just individual use? What does that imply about doing spiritual battle alone?

2.The enemy shoots 'flaming arrows' — Shirer identifies these as the doubts, fears, accusations, and temptations he hurls at your mind and heart. What are the specific flaming arrows most frequently aimed at you? What recurring doubts or fears does the enemy use against you most effectively?

3.Shirer makes a pointed observation: 'Talking about faith is not the same as having it.' She defines faith as adapting your behavior, decisions, and lifestyle to what God says — without needing visible evidence first. By that definition, how is your faith actually functioning right now?

1.Shirer argues that salvation is often reduced to a past event — something that happened when you prayed a prayer — rather than understood as a present, daily reality. How have you tended to think about salvation? Mostly past? Mostly future? How often do you think of it as a present-tense protection?

2.The helmet protects the head — the seat of the mind, thoughts, and will. Shirer points out that the enemy's most active territory is your thought life. What kinds of thoughts does the enemy most reliably use to derail you: shame, fear, bitterness, comparison, pride, despair?

3.2 Corinthians 10:5 calls believers to 'take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.' Shirer takes this seriously as an active, daily discipline. What would it practically look like in your daily routine to take a thought captive — to notice it, evaluate it against truth, and replace it if necessary?

1.Shirer points out that the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the full armor of God — everything else is protective. What does it mean that God's Word is both something that defends you and something you can use to push back against the enemy? How does that change the way you approach Scripture?

2.The Greek word used for 'sword' in Ephesians 6:17 is machaira — a short, precise sword used at close range, not a long broadsword. Shirer uses this detail to argue that effective use of Scripture requires specificity, not just general familiarity. What is the difference between knowing the Bible broadly and having specific verses ready for specific battles?

3.In Matthew 4, when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus responded each time with a specific, quoted Scripture: 'It is written...' Shirer holds this up as the model for how believers should handle temptation and spiritual attack.

1.Ephesians 6:13 uses the phrase 'full armor' twice and emphasizes standing firm in 'the evil day.' Shirer argues that the full armor is not optional or selective — you need every piece. Which of the six pieces did you find most challenging to understand or apply? Which came most naturally to you?

2.Shirer designed the perforated prayer cards as a daily tool for putting on the armor through prayer. Have you used them? If so, what has that practice been like? If not, what has kept you from it, and what would help you begin?

3.Look back at the six pieces of armor as a unified whole: truth (belt), righteousness (breastplate), peace (shoes), faith (shield), salvation (helmet), and the Word of God (sword). How do you see these six pieces as interconnected? What happens when one is missing?

1.Which of the seven sessions had the greatest impact on you, and why? Was it a specific image, a Scripture, a personal application moment, or a conviction that landed deeply?

2.When you began this study, how did you understand spiritual warfare? How has your understanding changed? What do you now believe about the enemy, the battle, and your role in it that you did not fully believe before?

3.Shirer's central call throughout the entire study is to get 'serious, specific, and strategic' in prayer. On a scale of 1–10, how would you rate your prayer life at the start of this study? How would you rate it now? What is the single most important change you have made?