Sermon Notes

  1.  away self-sufficiency (v. 1-8)
  2. Giving us  in His power (v. 9-18)
    1. The Lord gives Gideon  (v. 9-14)
    2. Gideon takes  (v. 15-18)
  3. Stand still and watch the Lord’s  (v. 19-25)

Going Deeper

  1. What is causing you fear today? Read Psalm 56. What does this text tell you about God? What does it tell you about people? What will you do about it?
  2. Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-4. What is the situation? Why would this cause Jehoshaphat fear? Now read 2 Chronicles 20:5-12. How is Jehoshaphat responding to his fear? What can we learn from this prayer?
  3. In Judges 7:1-8 the Lord cuts away Gideon’s self-sufficiency by cutting his army down from 32,000 to 300. How do we as Americans in 2022 struggle with self-sufficiency? How has the Lord (maybe forcibly) cut away your self-sufficiency? What do we need to do? How will we do it?
  4. In what ways have we lectured, shamed or judged another person who was experiencing fear? How did it turn out? What are ways we can listen patiently, be present and even enter in with someone experiencing fear?
  5. Read Judges 7:12. One Bible scholar tells us the language of v. 12 gives ominous foreshadowing. The phrase, “settled down” could also be translated, “falling in the valley.” Miles Van Pelt says:“This is the same verb used to described the deaths of Eglon (Judges 3:25), the army of Sisera (4:16), and Sisera himself (4:22; 5:27 [3x]).”What does this tell us about God’s plans?
  6. What did the army of 300 shout (Judges 7:20)? Who had a sword? Who will win the battle? Why is Gideon’s name included? Should it be?
  7. What did Gideon’s army do to win the battle against the Midianites? How is this similar to what the people of Israel did in Exodus 14:5-31 (especially v. 10-14)? How is this similar to our eternal salvation (Jn. 3:14-17)?
  8. What are the complications that begin to arise in v. 23-24? What did Gideon do wrong
  9. What is the significance of the winepress and rock in v. 25? What does it tell us about God’s sovereignty and power?
  10. What is standing in the way of the Lord fighting your battle today? What will you do about it?