Opening Discussion

• What is something you have been scared to do, but did it anyway?

Shortened Edition

Read and Discuss

Judges 6:11-16

11 The angel of the Lord came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah,which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”

13 Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”

15 He said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

16 “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

• What does the Lord see in Gideon that Gideon doesn’t even see in himself?
• How did the Lord respond to Gideon’s doubts and frustrations about God?
• What is a challenge you are facing?
  • How can you lean on the Lord’s strength to get you through it?

Judges 7:13-18

13 When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said, “Listen, I had a dream: a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”

14 His friend answered, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram’s horn in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.

17 “Watch me,” he said to them, “and do what I do. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I and everyone with me blow our rams’ horns, you are also to blow your rams’ horns all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

• Even after the Lord had given Gideon many signs that He was with him, why did Gideon still doubt?
• Why does Gideon make everyone yell, “For the Lord and for Gideon,” instead of “For the Lord?”
• What are some ways you’ve relied on the Lord for something, but once you’re through that challenge, you’ve thought that it was somehow your power that got you through it?

Discipleship Questions

• What are some daily things you have to rely on the Lord for?
• What is something you are too afraid to do?
• How can you remind yourself daily of the things the Lord is doing for you?

Extended Edition

Read and Discuss

Judges 6:11-16

11 The angel of the Lord came, and he sat under the oak that was in Ophrah,which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was threshing wheat in the winepress in order to hide it from the Midianites. 12 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”

13 Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about? They said, ‘Hasn’t the Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.”

14 The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!”

15 He said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.”

16 “But I will be with you,” the Lord said to him. “You will strike Midian down as if it were one man.”

• What does the Lord see in Gideon that Gideon doesn’t even see in himself?
• How did the Lord respond to Gideon’s doubts and frustrations about God?
• When you feel frustrated with God, why might it be difficult for you to repent?
• What are some ways we try to operate in our own strength?
• When you are afraid, what do you do?
• What is a challenge you are facing?
  • How can you lean on the Lord’s strength to get you through it?

Judges 7:13-18

13 When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling his friend about a dream. He said, “Listen, I had a dream: a loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp, struck a tent, and it fell. The loaf turned the tent upside down so that it collapsed.”

14 His friend answered, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”

15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel’s camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.” 16 Then he divided the three hundred men into three companies and gave each of the men a ram’s horn in one hand and an empty pitcher with a torch inside it in the other hand.

17 “Watch me,” he said to them, “and do what I do. When I come to the outpost of the camp, do as I do. 18 When I and everyone with me blow our rams’ horns, you are also to blow your rams’ horns all around the camp. Then you will say, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’”

• Even after the Lord had given Gideon many signs that He was with him, why did Gideon still doubt?
• When Gideon hears the fear of the Midianites, while in the middle of the enemy camp, his first response is to worship. When you receive good news what is your first response?
• What are some practices you can start implementing that will help you turn to the Lord first in worship, no matter the circumstances?
• Why does Gideon make everyone yell, “For the Lord and for Gideon,” instead of “For the Lord?”
• What are some ways you’ve relied on the Lord for something, but once you’re through that challenge, you’ve thought that it was somehow your power that got you through it?

Discipleship Questions

• What are some daily things you have to rely on the Lord for?
• What is something you are too afraid to do?
• How can you remind yourself daily of the things the Lord is doing for you?

Memorize it!

Judges 6:12 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving- Give thanks to the Lord for seeing what we can become, not just who we are now

Adoration- Worship the Lord for His victory over the enemy

Confess to the times that you haven’t trusted the Lord and relied on your own strength

Others- Pray for someone who is struggling with a tough situation. Ask the Lord to give you the words to encourage them this week.

Self- Pray that the Lord would give you strength and that you would walk daily with Him.