Opening Discussion

• What was a phrase or warning your parents or guardians use to always say when you were growing up?

Shortened Version

Read and Discuss

Judges 2:1-13

The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your ancestors. I also said: I will never break my covenant with you. 2 You are not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed me. What have you done? 3 Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.” 4 When the angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 5 So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

6 Previously, when Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had gone to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7 The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works he had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 9 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals 12 and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord, 13 for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

• Things were going well in Joshua’s lifetime, so why did the Israelites fail after Joshua died?
• Why did the Israelites turn so quickly to idols instead of following the Lord?
• How can the church help the next generation to know and follow the Lord?
• Who helped you understand what following Jesus was all about?
  • How can you do that for the next generation?

Romans 15:4

4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 10:6

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

• What ways does the passage from Judges 2 encourage us and give us endurance?
  • How does it give us examples to not do what the Israelites did?
• When you read the Bible are you looking for instructions on how to live a life fully centered on Jesus?
• If you read the Bible looking for the things talked about in these verses, how might it change how you read the Bible?

Discipleship Questions

• If you aren’t currently reading the Bible daily or almost every day, what keeps you from doing that?
• If you do make a regular practice of reading the Bible, how could you enhance that time you spend with the Lord?
• What is one way this week you can start teaching the next generation about Jesus?

Extended Edition

Read and Discuss

Judges 2:1-13

The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you out of Egypt and led you into the land I had promised to your ancestors. I also said: I will never break my covenant with you. 2 You are not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land. You are to tear down their altars. But you have not obeyed me. What have you done? 3 Therefore, I now say: I will not drive out these people before you. They will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a trap for you.” 4 When the angel of the Lord had spoken these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly. 5 So they named that place Bochim and offered sacrifices there to the Lord.

6 Previously, when Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had gone to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7 The people worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua. They had seen all the Lord’s great works he had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110. 9 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel.

11 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals 12 and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed other gods from the surrounding peoples and bowed down to them. They angered the Lord, 13 for they abandoned him and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

• Things were going well in Joshua’s lifetime, so why did the Israelites fail after Joshua died?
• Why did the Israelites turn so quickly to idols instead of following the Lord?
• How can the church help the next generation to know and follow the Lord?
• Who helped you understand what following Jesus was all about?
  • How can you do that for the next generation?
• What are some idols we have in our culture today?
  • What are some ways people worship those idols?
• What can the church do to help people trust and follow Jesus instead of idols?

Romans 15:4

4 For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 10:6

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

• What ways does the passage from Judges 2 encourage us and give us endurance?
  • How does it give us examples to not do what the Israelites did?
• When you read the Bible are you looking for instructions on how to live a life fully centered on Jesus?
• If you read the Bible looking for the things talked about in these verses, how might it change how you read the Bible?
• What does the Old Testament instruct us about idols?
• What are some evil things people desire?
• What do you need to do to turn away from evil desires?
• Who can help you with that this week?

Discipleship Questions

• If you aren’t currently reading the Bible daily or almost every day, what keeps you from doing that?
• If you do make a regular practice of reading the Bible, how could you enhance that time you spend with the Lord?
• What is one way this week you can start teaching the next generation about Jesus?

Memorize it!

Judges 2:10

10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors. After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works he had done for Israel.

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving- Give thanks to the Lord for remaining faithful when we are not

Adoration- Worship the Lord for His steadfast love

Confess to those times you’ve given into your evil desires instead of trusting the Lord

Others- Pray for insight on what the Lord wants you to do to reach the next generation

Self- Pray that the Lord would show you any idols in your life that you’ve put before Him, and the courage to get rid of them