August 16, 2009

Ministry Team News

• Grow Team : Sara Crane• Serve Team: Dave Farr

Announcements• Breakfast Sign-up• Missions Conference - Sept 25

- 27• Women’s Fall Retreat – Oct 2

& 3• Email Distribution List

Bcbc-sundayschool.blogspot.com

Prayer Requests &

Praise Reports

Last Week’s Homework

Identify one unused skill that

you have and watch for

God’s opportunities to use

it at work, at home, or at

church.

What issue are you facing now that you need to decide how

to act?

Group Breakout

The CycleIsraelites

Sin

God’sPunishment

IsraelitesRepent

God’sDeliverance

The Judges of Israel

1. Othniel (3:7-11)2. Ehud (3:12-30)3. Shamgar (3:31)4. Deborah (chapters 4-5)5. Gideon (chapters 6-8)6. Tola (10:1-2)7. Jair (10:3-5)8. Jephthah (11:1 – 12:7)9. Ibzan (12:8-10)10. Elon (12:11-12)11. Abdon (12:13-15)12. Samson (chapters 13-16)

Judges 6• God gives Israelites into the hands of

the Midianites (v 1)– Invaded like swarms of locust (v 4)– Did not spare a living thing (v4)– Israelites cry to the Lord (v 7)

• Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon (v 11)

• Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress (v 11)

Focal Passage

Judges 6:14-23; 36-40

Judges 6:1414 The LORD turned to him and

said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

Judges 6:15 15 "But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how

can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

Judges 6:16 16 The LORD answered, "I will be

with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.“

Gideon’s Response• Gideon asks for and receives a

sign to confirm God spoke to him• Gideon obeys God’s command and

breaks down his father’s alter to Baal and builds an alter to God

• The Midianites move in and prepare to raid the Israelites

Judges 6:36-4036 Gideon said to God, "If you will save

Israel by my hand as you have promised- 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said." 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

Judges 6:36-4039 Then Gideon said to God, "Do not

be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew." 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

• What do you think about Gideon’s approach to discerning God’s will?

• Is Gideon’s approach one we should try to emulate?

Gideon’s Story• Eliminated the Midianites &

Amelikites with just 300 men• The land enjoyed peace for 40

years• Gideon was credited for his faith

(Hebrews 13:5)

When you know in your head what God wants you to do but you still

have a measure of uncertainty in your

heart, what should you do?

Discerning God’s Will

1. Make sure you are involved

regularly in studying God’s Word

(Ps. 119:105).

2. Pray fervently (James 5:16).

3. Be about doing what you already

know to be God’s will (James 4:17).

Discerning God’s Will

1. (1 Cor. 8:13) Could this cause someone else to stumble?

2. (1 Cor. 10:31) Will this action bring glory to God?

3. (1 Cor. 10:32-33) Could this damage my witness?

4. (2 Cor. 5:10) Am I willing to stand before the judgment seat of Christ with this?

5. (Col. 3:17) Can I do this in Jesus’ name? 6. (1 Thess. 5:22) Does this have any appearance

of evil?

Romans 12:1-2Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your

bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your

spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern

of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then

you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good,

pleasing and perfect will.

Remember that God’s will isn’t primarily about the outcome of the task, but the bowing of our hearts and wills in attitudes of submission and service to God

—wherever He places us.

Homework1. Are you throwing out the fleece

instead of doing what you know

He has already called you to do?

2. Prayerfully consider one action

you will take this next week to

seek and know God’s will.