God’s Power
Victory – Part 5
May 21-22, 2022
Judges 6-7, Gideon
Memory Verse: “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (p.863)
- Jesus Gives Me Overwhelming Victory Through His Power.
- Depend on God’s power.
“Then the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with power.” Judges 6:34 (p.193)
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…”
Ephesians 1:19-20 (p.894)
- Don’t hesitate in obeying God.
“Then the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go with the strength you have’…‘I am the least in my entire family!’ The Lord said to him, ‘I will be with you…’” Judges 6:14-16 (p.194)
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 (p.863)
- Do life God’s way.
“‘(God) With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory’…When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords.” Judges 7:7, 22 (p.194)
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (p.883)
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (p.943)
My Next Step This Week: ___I will read the Daily Reading “God’s Power” every day (page A50).
Discussion/Groups Guide
Victory – Part 5 “God’s Power”
Life Groups use this guide in their discussion from the Weekend Talk. This is also a discussion guide you can use with your family and friends.
Conversation Starters
- Every year in the NCAA “March Madness” Tournament, a big storyline is about upset victories. Who might be a “Cinderella” team? Have you been a part of an upset victory (or loss) in any sport, or elsewhere? What was it like?
- We see this in movies, too… the story of the underdog. Why is it that we root for the underdog?
- This series has been about our overwhelming victory through Jesus! While it may have seemed like it, Jesus was no underdog. Talk about when you really want to have a total and complete victory without the drama of an “overtime buzzer-beater.”
Quick Review
Looking back at your Weekend Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
This week’s One Thing: Jesus Gives Me Overwhelming Victory Through His Power.
- Think back over this series Victory. Have you seen any victories? How have you seen God at work? What challenges have you faced with regards to temptations, or Satan, or with angels or demons, or the need for a pure heart?
Series Memory Verse: Romans 8:37 (p.863)
Background: God gives Gideon victory. Judges 6-7 (p.192-194)
- Were you familiar with Gideon’s place in history before this week?
- Did you learn anything new about his story? What stood out?
To put the faith lessons of Gideon into practice today:
- Depend on God’s power. Judges 6:34 (p.193); Ephesians 1:19-20 (p.894); Romans 8:17 (p.862); Matthew 26:39-42 (p.758)
- When have you felt like you were overwhelmed? When have you trusted God to work in His power to bring you through whatever it was you were facing?
- What kind of power does God make available for us? Is it a different power than we see Him work within the Bible? When have you experienced or witnessed His power?
- In Matthew 26:39-42, how do we see Jesus depending on God’s power?
- Don’t hesitate in obeying God. Judges 6:14-16 (p.194); Romans 8:11 (p.863)
- Talk about this statement: “delayed obedience is disobedience.”
- Have you ever tried to argue with God when you knew you needed to obey Him instead?
- When has hesitating about something cost you?
- How does trust factor into your decision not to hesitate? See Proverbs 3:5-6 (p.492).
- Do life God’s way. Judges 7:7, 22 (p.194); 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (p.883); 1 John 4:4 (p.943)
- We’ve all heard the expression, “God works in mysterious ways.” His work with Gideon was certainly a good example of this. Talk about a time when you experienced God’s “mysterious” way of doing something.
- When have you tried to do things your way when you knew you should be doing them God’s way instead? Why do we often trust ourselves more than we trust God?
- Conversely, when have you experienced victory because you surrendered to God’s way of doing something?
- Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. What kept them from being crushed – from despair – from being destroyed?
- How might your story be different if you would quit trying to do things your way?
- What area of your life are you doing that right now?
Digging Deeper
The story of Gideon is a great story for kids and adults alike. It shows how God gave Gideon a supernatural victory against overwhelming odds. There is a deeper message than just a feel-good story. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8 (p 928)). God is unchanging and Jesus is fully God. With that in mind, take a look at the following Bible verses which reminds us of the power of God and consider how you can embrace God’s power in our lives: 2 Corinthians 13:4 (p.889) – Psalm 27:1 (p.425) – Romans 15:13 (p.868) – Matthew 28:18-20 (p.760)
My Next Step This Week:
____ I will read the Daily Reading “God’s Power” every day (page A50)
This Week’s Life Transformation Bible Reading: “God’s Power” (Pages A50-51).