Sermon Notes

  1.  turns away,  oppresses (v. 1-6)
  2. The Lord sends a  (v. 7-10)
  3. The Lord calls  (v. 11-24)
    1. Gideon’s  (v. 11-16)
    2. Gideon’s first  (v. 17-24)
  4. Gideon goes to war against  (v. 25-35)
  5. Gideon’s  (v. 36-40)

Going Deeper

1. In Judges 6:7 Israel cried out to the Lord. Most scholars do not interpret their cry as a cry of repentance. Tim Keller tells us the difference between regret and repentance: “Regret is all about ‘us’: how I am being hurt, how my life is ruined, how my heart is breaking; but repentance is all about God: how he has been grieved, how his nature as Creator and Redeemer is being trampled on, how his repeated saving actions are being trivialized and used manipulatively.”When have you simply cried out in regret than cried out in repentance? What happened?

2. Read Judges 6:8-10. Rather than immediately raising up a judge the Lord sends an unnamed prophet. They needed a sermon before getting a savior. This parallels the previous cycle (Judges 4). When the people cried out the Lord provided Deborah the prophetess. When we hear from God how do we respond?

3. Read Judges 6:11-21. Now read Exodus 3. What are the similarities between Gideon’s call and Moses’ call?

4. Gideon felt too weak to deliver his people. Read 2 Cor. 12:7-9. Why did God send a thorn in Paul’s flesh? Why is it that when we are weak then we are strong? How can you access God’s strength?

5. How do we know what our modern-day idols are? Our idols may be:Comfort. We can cut down the god of comfort by seeking comfort in the LORD. Read 2 Cor. 1:3-4.Approval. We can cut down the god of approval by remembering that if we are in Christ we have all the approval we will ever need! We have God’s approval. Read Zephaniah 3:17. How does this describe God’s approval?Control. There is such freedom and peace when we release control to the One who is truly in control. Read Psalm 104:32. What does this verse tell us about God? How can we trust Him more?Power – Read 1 Peter 5:6-7. How can we cut down the idol of power according to these verses?

6. Read Judges 6:25-27. God commanded Gideon to tear down the altar to Baal and the Asherah pole. Daniel Block explains why:“By commanding Gideon to build the altar on this pagan site, Yahweh is ordering him to reclaim this paganized land for himself.”What do we need to do in order to reclaim Fond du Lac for God?

7. Read Matthew 6:24. Why does syncretism not work?

8. Read Judges 6:34. Why was this so important? In what ways do we try to live the Christian life in our own strength? How can you submit to the Holy Spirit this week?

9. Why is “putting out a fleece” not a good example for knowing God’s will? What does it say about Gideon that he had to put out a fleece two nights in a row? God obliged Gideon’s request. What does this teach us about God?

10. Read Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5-7; Ephesians 2:8-9. How are we saved? Why are we saved by grace and not by works? As followers of Christ, how can we live continue to trust God’s grace?

11. Read 2 Peter 1:3-11. What has God called us to do as believers? How can you do these things this week?