What are some of the objects in your house which have special meaning to you? How do you treat those objects? What rules do you have for others (children) regarding these objects?
Do you ever have projects for which you set money aside? For what are you setting aside money right now?
What do you think it means to be "set apart" as a person?
Read Judges 13:1-14. (this is the story of Samson)
What parts of this passage seem to be similar to the birth of Jesus (particularly Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38)?
Can you think of any other parts of Samson's life that are parallel to Jesus' life? What about his death?
What was the purpose for which God wanted Samson to be set apart? What was the most important thing He wanted Samson to accomplish? Did Samson accomplish this?
Based on what you know about Samson, make a list of some of his flaws. What were some of the mistakes he made during his life?
Were Samson's flaws and mistakes worse than the flaws and mistakes in your life? Why or why not?
Has God set you apart to do anything unique?
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Samson was set apart to deliver Israel. Those who have been made new in Christ are also set apart to be deliverers.
To what groups of people are you to be a deliverer? From what do they need deliverance?
Despite Samson's flaws, in some ways he was a representation of Jesus. Can you be a representation of Jesus despite your flaws? How?
This week, how will you represent Jesus to the people around you? How will you be a deliverer? How can this group help you accomplish these goals?
Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judges. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
A Rash Decision With Terrible Results (Judges 11)
What is the worse promise you have ever made? Why did you make it? How did it turn out?
Talk about a promise you have made that you ended up breaking? Did you feel like you NEEDED to break it, or just that you WANTED to break it?
Judges 11 tells another story of Israel falling away from God and coming under captivity from a foreign king. This time, the deliverer raised up by God is Jephthah. He has an interesting back-story which is worth reading in Judges 11:1- 28. The enemy Israel is battling in this story is the Ammonites.
Read Judges 11:29-40. How do you feel about this story?
(These kind of vows and sacrifices weren't uncommon in the ancient world. According to the Canaanites, their god, Molech, demanded that children be occasionally sacrificed to him)
Was Jephthah right to make this vow to God? Was he right to keep the vow? Why do you think this story is in the Bible?
Is the story of Jephthah given to us as an example? Why or why not?
Sometimes we make promises (or vows) too quickly. What causes people to make rash decisions? When have you made a decision too quickly and later regretted it?
Read Proverbs 20:25. What do you think this verse means? How does it apply to Jephthah? How does it apply to you?
Read Psalm 119:9-16. These verses give a recipe for making wise decisions. Using your own words, make a list of the pieces of advice given here. How can following this advice help you to avoid foolish promises and decisions?
What difficult decision do you need to make in the coming days? What bad decision do you know you need to avoid? How will you approach this decision from a biblical perspective? How can this group help you?
Talk about a promise you have made that you ended up breaking? Did you feel like you NEEDED to break it, or just that you WANTED to break it?
Judges 11 tells another story of Israel falling away from God and coming under captivity from a foreign king. This time, the deliverer raised up by God is Jephthah. He has an interesting back-story which is worth reading in Judges 11:1- 28. The enemy Israel is battling in this story is the Ammonites.
Read Judges 11:29-40. How do you feel about this story?
(These kind of vows and sacrifices weren't uncommon in the ancient world. According to the Canaanites, their god, Molech, demanded that children be occasionally sacrificed to him)
Was Jephthah right to make this vow to God? Was he right to keep the vow? Why do you think this story is in the Bible?
Is the story of Jephthah given to us as an example? Why or why not?
Sometimes we make promises (or vows) too quickly. What causes people to make rash decisions? When have you made a decision too quickly and later regretted it?
Read Proverbs 20:25. What do you think this verse means? How does it apply to Jephthah? How does it apply to you?
Read Psalm 119:9-16. These verses give a recipe for making wise decisions. Using your own words, make a list of the pieces of advice given here. How can following this advice help you to avoid foolish promises and decisions?
What difficult decision do you need to make in the coming days? What bad decision do you know you need to avoid? How will you approach this decision from a biblical perspective? How can this group help you?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Putting Out the Fleece (Judges 6)
Read Judges 6:33-40.
Do you think Gideon was right or wrong to keep asking God for signs of confirmation? Why?
In Matthew 4:7, Jesus told Satan not to test God. (He was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16)
What do you think is the difference between "testing God" and "questioning God"?
How can you figure out what God's will is for you in the future? How do you determine what God wants you to do when you are in a difficult situation?
Why do you think Gideon had such doubts about the future? How can fear of the future keep us from doing the right thing in the present?
Why do you think God responded to Gideon's tests? Does God always respond to the tests we give Him? Why or why not?
Should we put out "fleeces" for God? Why or why not? Can you think of any time when it might be appropriate to put out a "fleece"?
If you had a chance today to ask God one question about the future what would you ask?
Regardless of whether or not you can see the future clearly, what is one thing that you KNOW God wants you to do tomorrow? Will it be easy or difficult? Will you do it?
Spend time praying for one another. Pray that each person will gain more clarity about the future, and pray that they will have courage to obey God in the present.
Do you think Gideon was right or wrong to keep asking God for signs of confirmation? Why?
In Matthew 4:7, Jesus told Satan not to test God. (He was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16)
What do you think is the difference between "testing God" and "questioning God"?
How can you figure out what God's will is for you in the future? How do you determine what God wants you to do when you are in a difficult situation?
Why do you think Gideon had such doubts about the future? How can fear of the future keep us from doing the right thing in the present?
Why do you think God responded to Gideon's tests? Does God always respond to the tests we give Him? Why or why not?
Should we put out "fleeces" for God? Why or why not? Can you think of any time when it might be appropriate to put out a "fleece"?
If you had a chance today to ask God one question about the future what would you ask?
Regardless of whether or not you can see the future clearly, what is one thing that you KNOW God wants you to do tomorrow? Will it be easy or difficult? Will you do it?
Spend time praying for one another. Pray that each person will gain more clarity about the future, and pray that they will have courage to obey God in the present.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Beware the Woman With the Nail Gun. (Judges 4)
Who is someone that inspires you? Why?
When have you been inspired by someone else to do something you thought might be impossible? Did you accomplish what you set out to do? Why or why not?
Read Judges 4:4-10.
Verse 5 says the Israelites came to Deborah to have their disputes settled. What are some words you might use to describe the kind of virtues Deborah likely possessed?
Why do you think Barak wanted Deborah to go into battle with him? What does that communicate about Deborah's character?
Read Judges 4:11-23. What do you think of Jael?
Notice in verses 11 and 17 that Jael's family weren't Israelites, and they were "friendly" with Jabin and Sisera. Why do you think Jael chose to kill Sisera? Do you think her choice caused problems for her or her husband? Was it wrong for her to kill someone with whom her husband had an alliance? Why or why not?
What does this story have teach us about the roles of men and women?
Have each person in the group choose a character trait that was demonstrated by Deborah or Jael, and that they would like to develop more in their own life. Talk about why they need this character trait and what they might do to grow it.
Have each person in the group commit to pray for one other person in the group this week. Pray specifically that they will have success in their "character growth" efforts.
When have you been inspired by someone else to do something you thought might be impossible? Did you accomplish what you set out to do? Why or why not?
Read Judges 4:4-10.
Verse 5 says the Israelites came to Deborah to have their disputes settled. What are some words you might use to describe the kind of virtues Deborah likely possessed?
Why do you think Barak wanted Deborah to go into battle with him? What does that communicate about Deborah's character?
Read Judges 4:11-23. What do you think of Jael?
Notice in verses 11 and 17 that Jael's family weren't Israelites, and they were "friendly" with Jabin and Sisera. Why do you think Jael chose to kill Sisera? Do you think her choice caused problems for her or her husband? Was it wrong for her to kill someone with whom her husband had an alliance? Why or why not?
What does this story have teach us about the roles of men and women?
Have each person in the group choose a character trait that was demonstrated by Deborah or Jael, and that they would like to develop more in their own life. Talk about why they need this character trait and what they might do to grow it.
Have each person in the group commit to pray for one other person in the group this week. Pray specifically that they will have success in their "character growth" efforts.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Deliverance! (Judges 3)
Talk about a time you have been "really stuck" (traffic, mud, job, etc.). How did you feel at the time? How did you get unstuck? What (if anything) did you learn from the situation?
How do people sometimes get themselves stuck in life? Have you ever watched someone get into a cycle of bad decisions? How did you try to help? What was the outcome?
Read Judges 3:7-9 and Judges 3:12-15.
What similarities do you see in these two passages? How would you describe the cycle in which the Israelites were stuck? (this same pattern is repeated several times throughout the book of Judges)
Has your relationship with God ever felt like this kind of cycle? When is your relationship with God at its high point? When is it at its low point? What are the things you do to contribute to each?
In Judges the Israelites constantly enslaved themselves because they did evil. How have you seen people around you enslave themselves? What are some of the common addictions to which people in our culture become enslaved? Why do you think people get addicted to things so easily?
What are some things to which you tend to become addicted?
What does God do for Israel everytime they call out to him? (3:9, 3:15) What does it mean to be "delivered?"
From what do we most need to be delivered? Who is the deliver God raised up for us? How does that deliverance work?
What things do you feel might be enslaving you today? If you were to cry out to God right now, for what would you ask?
Throughout Judges, God used other people to deliver his people. How can this group help to deliver you from a difficult situation? How can you be a deliverer to someone else in the group?
How do people sometimes get themselves stuck in life? Have you ever watched someone get into a cycle of bad decisions? How did you try to help? What was the outcome?
Read Judges 3:7-9 and Judges 3:12-15.
What similarities do you see in these two passages? How would you describe the cycle in which the Israelites were stuck? (this same pattern is repeated several times throughout the book of Judges)
Has your relationship with God ever felt like this kind of cycle? When is your relationship with God at its high point? When is it at its low point? What are the things you do to contribute to each?
In Judges the Israelites constantly enslaved themselves because they did evil. How have you seen people around you enslave themselves? What are some of the common addictions to which people in our culture become enslaved? Why do you think people get addicted to things so easily?
What are some things to which you tend to become addicted?
What does God do for Israel everytime they call out to him? (3:9, 3:15) What does it mean to be "delivered?"
From what do we most need to be delivered? Who is the deliver God raised up for us? How does that deliverance work?
What things do you feel might be enslaving you today? If you were to cry out to God right now, for what would you ask?
Throughout Judges, God used other people to deliver his people. How can this group help to deliver you from a difficult situation? How can you be a deliverer to someone else in the group?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)