1. Read Leviticus 23:33-36 and Exodus 20: 8-11

2. In your opinion, why was rest so important that God commanded it and scheduled it? What does it say to you that God wanted there to be three weeks a year when his people were not to work?

3. Read Leviticus 23:39-40

4. To rejoice is to celebrate. How would you explain to someone what it means to rejoice in the Lord? What have you found helpful in your life that helps you rejoice in the Lord?

5. Read Leviticus 23:42

6. In what environment do you feel closest to God? How would camping out for a week draw God’s people to celebrate their relationship?

7. Read Leviticus 23:43

8. Take a moment now to reflect on your life. What are some moments when God showed up? What does remembering these moments make you feel?

Starter Question:

What does this story show us about God’s love and will?

1. Read Judges 13:1 5

2. What does this passage teach us about how God uses people for his

purposes?

3. Why do we tend to think we have to earn God’s blessings through good

works and moral living?

4. Knowing this, why should we want to live holy?

5. As someone who constantly broke God’s standard why do you think

Samson never repented? How does this compare to today?

6. Read Judges 17:28 30

7. What was Samson’s contribution to God’s deliverance of his people

from the philistine rule?

8. Read Hebrews 11:32.

9. The fact Samson is named as a man of faith in this powerful passage

says what to us about the Lord?

10. What does this mean about us individually?

11. Read Ruth1:1 & 4:22 What does God was working in the foreground

with the Judges to preserve his own lineage as Christ in the

background communicates?

12. How should that affect the way we think? How should this give us

hope?

· PIX: North Buffalo Community Church

· Judges 10:18 -18The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”

· Judges 11:1-3Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.

· 6“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

· 7Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble

· 8The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead.”9Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

· 10The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.

· Involve God first

· 29Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

· God can use unlikely people he did not even choose for His will.

· Be aware of God in your life.

· 30And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

· Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

· Don’t bargain with God, submit to God.

· 34When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.”

· Do you ever give God something God does not want?

· 39After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

· Leviticus 5:4-6  4or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering[a]; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.

· Your relationship with God is not a bargain to be struck.

The Unlikely: The Coward Judges 6/7 Passim

A coward is a person who lacks the courage to do or endure.  

Are you a coward?  

Judges 6:11 - 11The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 

Just because a decision is smart, doesn’t mean it is courageous.  

12When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”  

When you follow Jesus, God gives you a new identity.  

13“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian

14The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”  15“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”   16The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

Your opinion of yourself does not determine God’s purpose for your life.  

17Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!”  23But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

36Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— 37look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” 40That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Allow me one more test…  

How many signs do you need?

When was the last time you thanked God for being patient and gracious to you?

Judges 7:2The LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’

If God asked you to do something that made no sense, would you?

If the call of God is clear, he will provide the “how.”  

10If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” 

What are the reminders God is sending you?

God’s plan for you is bigger than your fear.  

Leaving your fear here leaves your fear in control.

Questions: 

1.  Read Judges 6:11-23

2. After reading this section, what words would you use to describe Gideon? Does he strike you as God’s mighty warrior? Why or why not?

3. Think about Mary’s reaction to the angel Gabriel in Luke 2 and contrast that with Gideon’s reaction. How would you describe the difference?

4. Read Judges 6:36-40.

5. Have you ever heard of someone laying out a fleece before God? What does this do for Gideon?

The Unlikely: The Women Judges 4 passim

•“At church we sang a hymn, “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go,” and I thought that meant girls too.”  

•Judges 4:1-3 - Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, now that Ehud was dead. 2So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. 3Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.

•4Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading[a] Israel at that time. 5She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. 

•6She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

•8Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” 9“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.

•The best faith is the one that helps you take your next step toward Jesus

•17Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite.

•18Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.  19“I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.

20“Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’”

•21But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.

•Her loyalty is not first to her husband, but to her God.  

•“Seek first the Kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added to you as well.”

•22Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead. 23On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.24 And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

•Your gender does not determine your relationship with God; your faith does.

•Galatians 3:28 - 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

•“Wherever He Leads, I will Go.”

The Unlikely: The Betrayer Judges 3:12-30

12Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.13Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms.[a]14The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.15Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.16Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit[b] long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.17He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.18After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it.19But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.20Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace[c] and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat,21Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly.22Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.23Then Ehud went out to the porch[d]; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.24After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.”25They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.26While they waited, Ehud got away. He passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah.27When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them.28“Follow me,” he ordered, “for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.” So they followed him down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan that led to Moab; they allowed no one to cross over. 29At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped.30That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.

• How long does it take for God to get your attention?  

• Are you listening to God’s whispers

• Every movement of God starts with someone listening to God’s whispers. 

• “Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word—by faith! I’m going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word!” – Billy Graham

• Though none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back, no turning back

• God operates in the real world.  

• Sometimes the best we can do is follow Jesus, ask for grace, and trust that God is at work.

• God uses unlikely people – people like you – to change history.

• Am I an unlikely person?  

• Your unlikeliness does not stop God from having a purpose for your life.

• Your failures do not stop God’s love.  

• Will I accept God’s mission for my life? 

• What is God whispering to you today?

The Unlikely: The Tests  Judges 2:6-23

Judges 2:6-23 - 6After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance. 7The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.8Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres[a] in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.10After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the LORD’s anger 13because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14In his anger against Israel the LORD gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.16Then the LORD raised up judges,[b] who saved them out of the hands of these raiders. 17Yet they would not listen to their judges but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the LORD’s commands. 18Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. 19But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.20Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, 21I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. 22I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the LORD and walk in it as their ancestors did.” 23The LORD had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua. 

· Does your fear ever keep you from the miracle of the resurrection?

· Matthew 28:1-4 - After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

· How devoted are you to Jesus?

· Our first reaction to losing control is to be afraid.

· The message of the resurrection cannot be heard where there is fear. – Dale Bruner.

· God will not force faith on you

· 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

· 1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

· When the resurrection power of Jesus touches your life, a mission comes with it: Go tell

· 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

· 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

· Let the joy of resurrection trample your fear.

· The resurrection means fear doesn’t have to rule your life

· Their failures had not changed the relationship; his death and resurrection has.

· The disciples need to know they are still followers after their failures.

· Heavenly Father, I give my fear to you. Let me experience the miracle of the resurrection.

32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 45From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. • Who am I that my Savior would die for me? • Are you doing something for Jesus not because you want to but because you have to? • Are you just going through motions, not really paying attention to Jesus? • Ever blame Jesus instead of doing self-examination?• Do you tell Jesus he has to prove himself to you?• Dale Bruner – “The greatest miracle Jesus ever did was the miracle he did not do• Has God already given you evidence to believe, but you still refuse? • 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. • When your pain overwhelms you, will you still cry out to God? • Will you do something kind for Jesus? • Are you living in the hope of Jesus? • Surely, he was the Son of God. • Do you see who Jesus really is? • They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. • If you are a Christian, are you following; are you serving? • Who am I that my Savior would die for me? The one loved by God. • Thank you for being the Savior who died for me. In your opinion, what does it mean that Jesus refuses to drink the wine and have his pain dulled before his crucifixion? 

Final Hours: Condemned  Matthew 27:11-26

• Our sinful desires will naturally always reject what is true

• Matthew 27:11-14 11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

• Matthew 27:15-18 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.

• Matthew 27:19 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”   

• Matthew 27:20-23 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

• What will you do with Jesus who is called Christ?

• Matthew 27:26 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

• What do you do with this truth?

• You shape the culture, you don’t let it shape you

• What will you do with Jesus?

Starter Question: When is a time you knew the right thing to do, but you didn’t do it?

1. Read Matthew 27:11-26

2. Who is Jesus to you?

3. What are some lies the crowd around you wants you to believe?  What does Jesus say about them?

4. Who is someone God placed in your life to help give guidance?  When is a time you listened and a time you didn’t?  What were the rewards/consequences?

5. When is the last time you wrestled with Christ’s righteousness?

6. How do you feel knowing that we are all guilty for Christ being on the cross?  How does that make you feel?

7. When is a time that Jesus used you to bring hope to someone’s life?

8. What can you show Jesus’ love through your life this week?