Current Series: Broken People – Faithful God: Journey Through Judges
This Sunday: Gideon – Spirit of Fear
Primary Text: Judges 6 & 7
What is on top of your phobia list? Snakes, public speaking, the doctor’s office?
What are your emotional and physical reactions when you are afraid?
In the midst of this repeated rescue cycle, the Israelites call out to the Lord. Last week we read that God sends an angel to Gideon. Read Judges 6:16-24. What does Gideon need before he proceeds forward?
Read Judges 7:1-11. Do you recall what the word Harod means? What does the Lord ask Gideon to do?
Even though Gideon still had fear, how did Gideon follow the Lord’s commands?
Is there someone in your life who is facing “the Midianites” yet is stepping forward in faith? Besides their faith, what do you admire about them?
Discuss these questions separately. What is a major challenge, pain, or trial that you are in the middle of? What does it mean for you to move forward in faith? How has God shown you His faithfulness or answered your prayers for direction?
Current Series: Broken People – Faithful God: Journey Through Judges
This Sunday: Life Lessons from Gideon
Primary Text: Judges 6:1-16
Consider your childhood and adolescence. Was there a coach, teacher, boss, parent, or relative who spoke into you who told you of special ability or character qualities they saw in you long before you saw it in yourself? Who was it and what did they say?
Read Judges 6:1-16. Why were the Israelites being constantly attacked by the Midianites?
Reflect for a moment. Was there a situation in your life where you wondered why you were being “constantly attacked” and you later realized your actions were a significant factor to the situation? What did God teach you through that discipline?
In verses 11-12, an angel visits Gideon. How does he address Gideon? What do you find significant about how he addresses Gideon?
Get into groups of 2-3. Have one person respond to this statement. This is how I see myself when I struggling or in fear. Then, have the other group members share how God might see them. Have each person take a turn.
In verses 13-14, Gideon asks a question that the angel doesn’t directly answer. Why do you think he doesn’t answer Gideon this way?
Do you recall a time when God didn’t directly answer one of your questions? Ask you look back on it, did He just answer it in a different way?
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: Broken People – Faithful God: Journey Through Judges
This Sunday: Repeated Rescue
Primary Text: Judges 2 & 3
During your adolescence when you made a mistake (came home after curfew, put a dent in the car, or got caught in a lie, etc), how did your parents’ respond? Were there quick and severe consequences, mercy, or was there any reaction at all?
Read Judges 2:18-21, 3:7-11, 12-15. These are examples of repeated rescue. What do you think keeps God coming back to rescue the Israelites?
Where in the Gospels do you see examples of mercy before repentance?
Can you think of a time in your past where you needed repeated rescue? Or is there a current need that comes to mind?
Read II Corinthians 7:10 and put this verse in your own words. Where have you seen examples of each kind of sorrow?
Take time individually to consider godly sorrow in your own life. As you read and discuss these questions, is God bringing an issue into your mind. Individually, write out II Cor. 7:10 and consider the temptations that leading you from being faithful to God. Journal your thoughts and prayer.
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Reflect on the three chairs from last week. Do you have any insight or personal examples where you noticed a 1st chair, 2nd chair, or 3rd chair conversation or decision?
In light of Sunday’s message on Failure To Drive Out, go around and share something of interest or a personal application.
Read Deuteronomy 20:16, Judges 1 and 2:10. What was the sin of the Israelites? Talk about the temptation for the people to fall into that sin.
In groups of 2-3, pick a couple of sins. Why are they so tempting?
Consider your past week. What cultural norms or societal habits naturally want to pull you away from God the most?
Is there another person in your life who knows your strongest temptations that draw you away from God? If so, who is that person?
Pray as a group for the daily temptations we face, the courage to find support and the power to renew our minds. Pray Romans 12:2.
Read Romans 7:21-25 silently and reflect for 5 minutes. Offer people to share afterwards.
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: Broken People – Faithful God: Journey Through Judges
This Sunday: Failure to Pass On
Primary Text: Judges 24, Judges 2:10, Psalm 78
With completing a series of the Holy Spirit, does anyone have a personal story to share about how they saw the Holy Spirit at work recently?
Did God use the words of a Family Team member on Sunday to stir you? (cause you to write down or lead to a conversation after service)
Read Day 2 of the devotional this week. Share with the group a person in your life who you have influence. What encouragement do they need in their faith?
Read Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Who has examples of how they have taken ordinary circumstances and conversations and turned them into intentional opportunities to pass on their faith? Describe if/how you sensed the Holy Spirit in those conversations.
Go around the room and have everyone share of 1-2 personal stories of God’s faithfulness in your life. If time is an issue, take only one minute per person.
Break up into groups of 2-3. In those groups, pray for 2-3 people who God has placed in your life to influence and to pass on your faith.
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: God In You: The Work & Wonder of the Holy Spirit
This Sunday: Power and Person of the Spirit is Greater
Primary Text: Romans 8:1-17, John 14-17
In light of Sunday’s message and service, go around and share something of interest or a personal application.
Talk about fear as a group. Quickly list the most common fears. Now without naming names, discuss fears we see in our close friends, family and even in ourselves.
Failure can cause us to retreat from life. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Two biblical principles for discovering a Spirit-filled life: hunger and surrender. Talk about a physical hunger. How does that preoccupy your mind? Is it easy to take your mind off of hunger when you are seriously needing food?
How about surrender? Share an example of someone in your life who lives surrendered to God. What leads you to say that they live a surrendered life?
Do you live confidently? How does your relationship with the Holy Spirit help you to live in confidence?
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: God In You: The Work & Wonder of the Holy Spirit
This Sunday: Keep in step with the Spirit
Primary Text: Galatians 5:16-25, Ephesians 5:15-18, John 14-17
In light of Sunday’s message and service, go around and share something of interest or a personal application.
Read Galatians 5:16-18. Describe the life of a person who is being led by the Spirit.
Share with the group of a recent situation where you were led by the Spirit. How did He guide you in a conversation or a situation? Explain how it turned out.
Can you share a time in the last couple of days, when you were confident that you were not in step with the Spirit?
On Sunday nights, LSCC Students are going through a series on habits – good and bad habits. Consider teens in your life. Forming good habits will help them for the rest of their long lives. Share with the group, some good habits you see demonstrated in a teen’s life. Take time to pray individually and as a group for teens you know.
Be mindful in the coming days of conversations you could have about the Holy Spirit in your life. If God prompts, ask a friend or a family member about their relationship with the Holy Spirit? As a group, pray for those potential conversations and for our attitude to listen and surrender to the Spirit.
For a follower of Jesus, the question is not, ‘Do I have the Spirit?’, but ‘Does the Spirit have me?’ Share some habits in your life that provides evidence that the Spirit has you.
Are these habits strong in your life? Who in your life knows about your habits and asks you about them?
From the conversation in this group, what is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: God In You: The Work & Wonder of the Holy Spirit
This Sunday: What impact does the Holy Spirit have?
Primary Text: John 14 – 17, Romans 8:26-27, I Peter 2:2, I Cor 2:9-13
In light of Sunday’s message and service, go around and share something of interest or a personal application.
Read John 14:26 & 15:26, John 16:8, John 16:12-15, Romans 8:26-27. Discuss the different roles of the Holy Spirit.
Share with the group a role the Holy Spirit has clearly played in your life?
What role(s) do you not see the evidence of the Holy Spirit at this time?
What behaviors prevent you from experiencing the Holy Spirit?
Do you view the Holy Spirit more as a prosecutor or an advocate?
As a group, take 10 minutes to quiet your mind, relax your body, and focus on listening to God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak and just listen. Share with the group your experience.
What is one next step you will commit to take this week?
Current Series: God In You: The Work & Wonder of the Holy Spirit
This Sunday: Who is He?
Primary Text: John 14:16-17, John 16:7, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5
In light of Sunday’s message and service, go around and share something of interest or an application you took away.
Read John 14:16-17. From these verses, what roles or responsibilities does the Holy Spirit play in our lives?
“But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” Have everyone share a response to this verse. This is a confusing verse. Describe as if you are speaking to an unbeliever.
What is it like to have the Holy Spirit in you?
Read Day 4 of the devotional. Compare and contrast a marriage relationship with knowing the Holy Spirit. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the intimacy you currently have with the Holy Spirit?
What are some things we could do to deepen our intimacy with the Holy Spirit?
What is a next step you will commit to take in your pursuit to know and walk with the Holy Spirit this week?
