[Sunday] Don't Look Away - His Eyes The Book of Judges

Judges Chapters 17-21

The Book of Judges, though a difficult read, confronts us with the ugly truth of how easily we turn away from God and calls us to acknowledge and confess our own sins instead of ignoring them or destroying others.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Don’t Look Away

1. When are times that you are tempted to look away and not speak up?

2. Read Judges 18-21.   How bad have the sins of God’s people gotten at this point?  What is the result of doing what is right in our own eyes?

3. We talked about two unhealthy responses to sin: ignoring it and destroying the sinner. Can you think of any examples in your own life, your community, or even current events, where people tend to ignore sin or focus on destroying the sinner rather than addressing the root of the problem?

4. Read 1 John 1:8-9.  Rather than looking away from sin, what are we called to do?  How does Jesus respond?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Blind Samson - His Eyes The Book of Judges

Judges Chapters 10-12

Samson is set apart. He has a special diet and ways to groom himself. He is powerful and can defeat those who should be stronger than him. But even though he is blind to the ways of God, God is not blind of him.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Blind Samson

1. We connected Samson's struggles to our own tendency to be blind to God's work. Can you think of a time when you relied on your own strength instead of trusting in God? 

2. Read Judges 15:11-16 and Judges 16:23-30.  What evidence is there that Samson had selfish motivation to fight the Philistines?

3. Skim over all of Samson’s story from Judges 14-16.  In what ways is Samson just like the people of Israel? How is Samson blind to what God is doing? In what ways are we similar?

4. Jesus comes to fulfill Israel.  How is Jesus a true and better judge for us?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Cultured Jephthah - His Eyes The Book of Judges

Judges Chapters 10-12

Japhthah tragically misunderstands God's nature, thinking that God will only act because of grossly large devotion. But the actual kingdom of God is one of grace and forgiveness that sets us free.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Cultured Jephthah

1. Can you think of a time in your own life where you approached God with a transactional mindset? Maybe a prayer bargain or feeling like you needed to "earn" God's favor? How did that make you feel?

2. Read Judges 11.  Where did Jephthah come from?  Who wanted him to be the leader?  How is this different from the other Judges we’ve looked at so far in this series?

3. Why do you think Jephthah makes the vow that he does? What does this tell us about his view of God?

4. The sermon talks about God being a God of grace, not transactions. How can we better integrate this idea into our daily lives and avoid falling back into a performance-based faith?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Gideon's 300 - His Eyes The Book of Judges

Judges Chapters 6-9

Despite hiding in fear, Gideon becomes God's unlikely instrument for delivering Israel, a reminder that God uses the unassuming to achieve the extraordinary.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Gideon’s 300

1. Initially Gideon feels underqualified for the calling God makes on his life. Have you ever felt unqualified for a calling or responsibility?

2. Read Judges 6.   How can Gideon's story help us deal with feelings of inadequacy when faced with a calling or challenge?

3. Read Judges 7:The concept of "too many people" (Gideon having too large an army) is an interesting one. How can this idea apply to our own ministries or our vocations? When might trusting God involve letting go of control or certain ways of doing things?

4. Gideon ends up making an idol (the ephod) out of his success. Can you think of any times in your own life where you've taken credit for something God played a role in? How can we be mindful of giving God the credit he deserves?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Judge Deborah - His Eyes The Book of Judges

When Israel strays, a ruthless warlord named Sisera emerges, leaving a trail of terror.  But hope flickers in the unlikeliest places: God raises up a prophetess named Deborah and a seemingly ordinary woman, Jael, who, together, hold the key to a surprising, victory-clinching act.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Judge Deborah

1. Describe a time when someone surprised you by doing a great thing when you didn’t expect much from them.

2. Read Judges 4 and 5.  How does God deliver His people in an unlikely way?

3. We can see that God is working through the weak and unexpected. Can you think of a time in your own life when you felt weak or unqualified, yet God used you in a surprising way? How can we be more open to seeing God working in unexpected ways?

4. We see that God's victory is already secure through Jesus. How can this concept change the way we approach challenges and relationships in our lives?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Ehud Left - His Eyes The Book of Judges

This week's judges cycle: we meet Ehud, the crippled lefty who reminds us that God's power shines brightest in weakness.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Indistinguishable

1. There is a consistent cycle in the book of Judges - rebellion, oppression, and then deliverance. Have you ever experienced a similar cycle in your own life? How can we break free from this cycle?

2. Read Judges Chapter 3. We see how God uses a seemingly weak and “left-handed” person, Ehud, as a judge. What are some of the ways we define strength today? How does the story of Ehud challenge these definitions?

3. We often try to hide our weaknesses. Can you share a time when you felt weak or vulnerable? How did you deal with it?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  Connect the story of Ehud to the concept of God’s power being made perfect in weakness. What does this concept mean to you? Can you think of any other examples from the Bible or your own life that illustrate this concept?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

[Sunday] Indistinguishable - His Eyes The Book of Judges

The book of Judges isn't a straight line but a cycle. Redemption and rebellion echo, reminding us how easily we stray. Prepare to see yourselves in the Israelites' struggles, becoming indistinguishable to the culture around us.

QUESTIONS FOR THE WEEK:   His Eyes: The Book of Judges - Indistinguishable

1. Read Judges 2:6-23.  The book of Judges talks about a cycle the Israelites fall into. Can you identify the different stages of this cycle? How does this cycle relate to our own lives and the challenges we face?

2. The sermon mentions how easy it is to become indistinguishable from the culture around us. What are some ways this can happen in your daily life? How can we stay true to our values even when pressured to conform?

3. What does Jesus offer us that the judges in the book of Judges could not? How can faith in Jesus help us break free from cycles of sin and self-destruction?

4. Do you see living among non-believers as a problem, a possibility, or both?  How can you live a good life among non-believers today?

The Bible Study from last year.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

His Eyes - The Book of Judges

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In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. But they are never far from His eyes.

Reading Plan
Read around the readings for Sunday

• 4/7/24 - Intro Ch 1-2

  • Judges 2:10-16
    Romans 11:1-6
    Matthew 15:1-9

• 4/14/24 - Ehud Ch 3

  • Judges 3:15-30
    Romans 11:7-10
    Matthew 15:10-20

• 4/21/24 - Deborah Ch 4-5

  • Judges 4:1-8
    Romans 11:11-16
    Matthew 16:1-12

• 4/28/24 - Gideon Ch 6-8

  • Judges 6:11-24
    Romans 11:17-24
    Matthew 19:3-12

• 5/5/24 - Jephthah Ch 10-12

  • Judges 11:1-11
    Romans 11:25-27
    Matthew 21:23-32

• 5/12/24 - Samson Ch 13-16

  • Judges 16:23-30
    Romans 11:28-32
    Matthew 22:34-46

• 5/19/24 - Right in Own Eyes Ch 18-21

  • Judges 18:1a, 26-31
    Romans 11:33-36
    Matthew 23:2-12