Judges Week Seven

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KING & COUNTRY: Week 7 – The Chosen: Samson Open in Prayer W elcom e/Introductions/Cast Vision Rem ind the Grow Group of the ground rules Share context of the story [Provide context by sharing the information below.]

Samson is the last God-appointed leader in the book of Judges. His strength was unparalleled. Unlike his predecessors, rather than lead an army, he battled the Philistines single-handedly. While he was certainly used of God to bring deliverance to the Israelites, his flaws were just as dramatic. Samson’s “tragic-hero life” embodied the same unfaithful and disobedient acts that Israel also exhibited during the same time frame. Tell the story – Judges 13:1-25 [Have someone tell the story.] Rebuild the story [Group members tell the story together based on what they remember.] Read the story out loud [Read the scripture passage to see if anything was added or omitted.] Discuss these questions:

1. What do we learn about God from this passage? [Nothing is impossible with God; God calls us to live by faith; God guides our steps and gives us the information that we need in His perfect timing; God is worthy of every moment of my life; God is all powerful; God will allow us to experience the consequences of our sin; God’s ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:8-9); God often works through flawed people to accomplish His purposes on earth; etc.]

2. What do we learn about Man/Us from this passage? [I can rationalize my sin and make my behavior perfectly acceptable; I determine “right from wrong” based on my feelings rather than the Word of God; I need accountability from others who will help me guard against making idols out of the good things in my life; I often want all my questions answered before stepping out in faith; my sinful acts violate my relationship with God and go directly against His will for my life; etc.]

3. What is God saying to you specifically through this passage as it pertains to your life, marriage, family, and work? 4. In light of what you’ve learned today, what do you need to do to obey God? Other Q uestions specific to this passage:

1. What 3 things, other than God, do you spend the most time thinking about, become most excited about, care most about? How could these things become idols to you? 2. Do you obey God because of faith in His promises or because it is a grudging duty? Assign Next week’s passage – Judges 16:1–31 [Ask someone to tell the story next week.] Close in Prayer

KING & COUNTRY: Week 7 – Leadership Coaching The purpose of this page is to help you sharpen your skills as a Grow Group leader. Each week, we will include concepts, challenges, and resources designed to assist you as you lead and shepherd your Grow Group and grow as a disciple yourself.

Leading [learn to facilitate your group more effectively] Remember the atmosphere that a spiritual child may need to experience in a Grow Group. They need to be free to ask questions and know that they won’t be criticized if they give a wrong answer. They need to know we are all on the journey together, and that sometimes we are obedient and sometimes we are disobedient. We all need to be reminded that we have not arrived, but that we serve a God of grace and mercy who guides us on the journey.

Shepherding [know the sheep, feed the sheep, lead the sheep, protect the sheep] A spiritual child may be young in their faith or may have been a believer for years. Spiritual children are typically self-centered, idealistic, and may fluctuate between over-confidence (pride) and under-confidence (defeat). You may see this in their actions and hear it in their conversation. To shepherd someone who is a spiritual child, you must be in relationship with them at a deeper level than just a weekly meeting. Help them build a meaningful relationship with God by teaching them how to pray, pointing them to biblical truths, and involving them in the family of God through corporate worship and relationships with other believers. Spend time listening to them and let them tell you their story. Share your story as well. They’ll appreciate you sharing your struggles and being transparent. Introduce them to other believers who can also come alongside them to help encourage and challenge them. Point out their abilities and invite them to serve in some way so that they can begin seeing their purpose in God’s mission. Give them grace and support when they make mistakes.

Developing [grow as a disciple yourself] In Matthew 6:33, we are told to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Our relationship with Jesus should not end with a prayer for salvation. It is only the beginning. He desires that we seek His heart in everything that we do. Search your heart today. Is there something that you have yet to surrender fully to the Lord? Commit that to Him today.