Week 18 - The Old Testament
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Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:
If you could tame and have any animal as a pet now, what would it be? What would you name it?
The Old Testament
Judges 3-17
1. Have time to get an overview on Judges? Check out this free resource and video: www.bibleproject.com/explore/video/judges/ What is your favorite story from Judges? Why?
2. How would you summarize the book of Judges? The Bible Project summarizes Judges as “Israel’s Total Failure.” How do you see that play out across Judges?
3. Read Judges 2:1-5. Several times in the Old Testament God appears as “the angel of the Lord” which is described as a “theophany” (God’s appearance to man) or “Christophany” (Christ’s appearance to man before the incarnation of Jesus). In these instances, the “angel” often speaks directly as God (not just a messenger) and receives worship or sacrifice (which angels usually deny). (for more see: www.gotquestions.org/angel-of-the-Lord.html )What do you think it must have been like to hear the rebuke of “What is this you have done?” Have you ever been in a season of life where you felt God was correcting or disciplining you? What was that like? Despite this rebuke from God, did Israel learn? (Judges 2:11-15) Do we learn?
4. Read Judges 2:16-19. How does it feel to see that God does not completely abandon His people? Do we see a similar cycle of repentance/obedience/blessing and worldliness/disobedience/discipline in our own lives today?
5. Judges 17:6 & 21:25 state that “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” How does this verse summarize the 400+ years of the Judges. Do you feel that this verse could also describe the season and culture we live in? Why or why not?
6. In the Bible, sometimes stories are “descriptions” of man’s rebellion rather than “prescriptions” of God’s commands. What are some examples of “descriptions” rather than “prescriptions” from the stories of Ehud (ch.3:12-20), Deborah/Barak (ch.4-5), Gideon (ch.6-9), Jephthah (ch.11-12), and Sampson (ch.13-16)? What are some aspects of their stories that are good examples or lessons to us? What parts of these stories surprised or shocked you?
7. When Deborah speaks to Barak (Judges 4:6) it sounds like God had already told Barak what to do and he failed to do it. Can you think of a time when God told you to do something and initially you ignored His command? Did God later convict you or give you the courage to obey?
8. What kind of woman is Jael? (Judges 4:17-22) How does she inspire you?
9. Judges 5 is a song of celebration, remembrance, & victory. Do you have a favorite song that reminds you of God’s power & deliverance from Satan &sin? What is your favorite verse? Why?
10. In Judges 6-9 we are introduced to Gideon. What do you think about his interactions with the angel of the Lord? Would you have acted similarly or differently? What aspects of God’s character do we see in His appearance and communication as the angel of the Lord? Why did the Lord reduce the size of Gideon’s army so significantly from 32,000 to 300?
11. Jephthah’s pride is clear in Judges 11-12. How would you define pride? How can we recognize pride? Why do we struggle so much with pride? Why does our pride get us in so much trouble?
12. The story of Samson (Judges 13-16) is full of amazing victories. Much of Samson’s trouble devolved from his disobedience to his parents regarding marrying a believer/Israelite (Judges 14:3). Why is marrying a believer so important (1 Corinthians 7:12-16,39)? Why is sexual sin so particularly addictive and destructive?
13. The book of Judges finishes with some horrific descriptions of sin. What can we learn from this downward spiral of sin among Israel? What sins do we see Christians most tempted by today?
General Discussion Questions
• What do these passages teach us about our enemies’ attacks (deceptions, distractions, discouragement, and temptations)? How can we better resist these attacks?
Application Questions:How do you need to respond to and apply these truths to your life? (Is there a sin to avoid? A command to obey? An example to follow? A prayer to offer? A truth to remember or memorize? An attitude to change? A teaching to share?)