Uncertainty is unavoidable.
Our lives are so complex and so dependent on the decisions of others that any notion that we are in complete control is an illusion. Think about driving a car–no matter how careful we are, safety still depends on the other drivers keeping their cars in their lanes.
Most of us have grown accustomed to this uncertainty when it comes to driving. But what about your future? Your identity? Your calling? Your community? Life changes quickly, and often we are left scrambling to figure out what to do when certain aspects of life cease to be so certain.
This week, we will read about Gideon in Judges 6-8. He was a man who had an absolutely amazing future, identity, calling, and community from God. But he was plagued by uncertainty. Sometimes we think that uncertainty, doubt, or hesitation would disqualify a leader from service in God’s plans. God, however, patiently responds to Gideon’s halting obedience. He shows signs, keeps fleeces dry, and even gives the enemy a dream of a barley loaf going through their camp like a wrecking ball to reassure Gideon that the only healthy destination for his uncertainty is trust in the living, mighty God.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: July 17, 2016 // Title: Gideon
Scripture: Judges 6-8
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
What does God see when He sees us? There may not be a more important question to ask or dare to attempt to answer in our lives. Yet, this is the question that forms so much of the story of Gideon. Gideon is hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat, when God shows up and calls him “Mighty Warrior”—exactly who it looks like Gideon is not. But God sees in Gideon what Gideon is incapable of seeing in himself. And as Gideon begins to believe what God sees about him, he begins to become who he was always destined to be. This week Jon helped us face our fears and acknowledge the names that too often try to define us in unhelpful ways by making room for God to speak to us and tell us what He sees in us. As we begin to hear what God sees us to be, our fear gradually turns into faith and our disobedience becomes obedience.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
My best ID comes from hearing what God sees when God sees me!
CHANGE
5 questions to help us GROW or SEE IT
1. When was the last time you were afraid? How did you react to that fear? Why was Gideon afraid in this passage? How was he
reacting to that fear?
*Have fun identifying together how you react to fear in your life. Use that experience to relate to Gideon’s story together.
2. What did God see in Gideon? How was what God saw in Gideon different than what Gideon saw in himself?
*Discuss why God calling Gideon “Mighty Man of Valor” was such a stunning thing.
3. What names have you been called in your life—both bad and good? How have these names affected who you have become?
*Give space for everyone to talk through the good and bad names they have heard people call them. Affirm the places that God
might be using others to speak truth into each person’s life. Correct the places where someone’s words might be hindering
each person’s life.
4. How did what God saw in Gideon affect his direction? How does seeing who God says we are affect what we do with our lives?
*Discuss together how our identity affects our direction.
5. What is holding you back from becoming who God has called you to be? What would it take for God to turn your fear into faith?
*Pray for each other as you identify fears and barriers to becoming who God has made you to be.
CHALLENGE
3 exercises to help us GO or BE IT (choose at least 1)
UP (Our relationship with God): Name Game
In this passage, Gideon not only hears a lot about his name, but also learns something about God’s name. In Judges 6:24, Gideon calls the place where God spoke to him “The Lord is Peace.” Take some time to think about some of the names of God you know. Place five minutes on the timer on your phone, and as a family name as many names of God as you can before the timer hits 0:00
IN (Our relationships with each other): Story Time
Now that you have named as many names of God as you can, have each family member pick out one of those names and share a story of how he or she has seen God live up to that name.
OUT (Our relationship with the world): Called Out
Have each person identify one other person that he or she can speak into this week. Write down a few positive things that you might want to tell this person that he or she might not see in him/herself. Then find some time to say those things to that person this week.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.