March 23, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • Hebrews 12, Matthew 18, Ephesians 5
What have you learned and taken away from the Israelites sin cycle? How has that impacted the cycles you might find yourself entangled in?
What have you been doing to stay removed from the cycle of sin? Be specific.
Jesus
March 16, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
We’ve examined so many flawed heroes - men and women that God used to rescue His people and to lead them back to following Him. All of the judges we’ve looked at were flawed— fallible people who struggled with sin just like you and me. Some of them followed God wholeheartedly and others fell away from him, just like many of the kings who would come after them. God’s choice to use them reminded us over and over again of our theme verse—
1st Corinthians 1:27 | Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
The weaknesses or flaws of these heroes remind us of the strength of God and further highlight the perfection of our final judge. After this judge, no other judge would be needed. This judge would be the final rescuer and He came with a clear mission:
Luke 19:10 | For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
The “lost” are those who have not been rescued, or made right in God’s sight, and are still living separated from God because of their sin. That sin and separation results in death—
Romans 6:23a | For the wages of sin is death…
Each person’s eternity— whether they died rescued and will spend it with God in Heaven or died lost and will spend it apart from Him in Hell— will be determined when Jesus conducts His final judgment.
Samuel
March 9, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • 1 Samuel
Last week, we looked at Samson, who was Israel’s final judge in the book of Judges. But right after that time, a man named Samuel is raised by God to serve as the last judge (1st Samuel 7:5-6, 15-16) and the anointer of the kings (1st Samuel 10 & 16) who would rule over God’s people in the judges’ place. He was also the first prophet (1st Samuel 3:20) and a Nazarite (1st Samuel 1:11) like Samson.
Samuel’s birth was miraculous (1st Samuel 1:1-20) and his place as an important man in Israel began when he was very young! You see, when his mother Hannah couldn’t have children, she prayed to God asking for a son. She promised that the boy, if given to her by God, would be given back to Him.
1st Samuel 1:11b | He will be yours for his entire lifetime…
But that didn't guarantee that Samuel would choose to follow God.
Join us as we look at the life of Samuel and what we can learn from him.
Discussion
Would you say you have your own relationship with Jesus or is it one that your family/leaders want for you? What is the difference?
What does a life sold out to Jesus practically look like? Based off your response would you say you are walking worthy of that calling? Why?
Following Jesus can be hard at times and the Lord might ask you to go to places, people, situations you might not otherwise be comfortable with.
Can you give an example of a time you were called by the Lord to a tough situation?
How did your relationship with the Lord strengthen through the trial?
How do you plan to put your faith into action today?
Judges 11:2b "When these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said [for you are the son of another woman]. "
Jephthah’s own family rejects him and he runs away from his brothers to the land of Tob.
You may have guessed that if Jephthah is going to become Israel’s judge, they must be in trouble. The Bible says—Judges 11:4 | At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel.
The Ammonites were very cruel oppressors. Throughout the Old Testament we see their shockingly inhumane practices. It must have been pretty bad because —Judges 11:5-6 | When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!”
The leaders of Gilead want Jephthah the mighty warrior! This seems like a great opportunity for Jephthah, right? But Jephthah is like, ‘not so fast.’
Thankfully, there's more to this story! Join us!
Samson
March 2, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • Judges 13
We’re skipping ahead to Israel’s final formal judge; his story is one that you might be familiar with. In fact, his story is one of the best examples of a “flawed hero” because even though he messes up over and over again, God still empowers and uses him.
Of course, Israel is in trouble again—
Judges 13:1 | Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.
God needs to raise a judge and to do this, the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) is back. He visits the wife of Manoah and tells her—
Judges 13:3 & 5 | The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son… You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”
Watch to see how this story ends!
Jephthah
February 23, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald • Judges 11
e’re jumping ahead to judge number nine- Jephthah.
Judges 11:1 "Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. "
The great warrior Jephthah had a rough start to his life. His father Gilead wasn’t married to Jephthah’s mom. Instead, he was married to another woman who he already had several sons with.
Judges 11:2b "When these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said [for you are the son of another woman]. "
Jephthah’s own family rejects him and he runs away from his brothers to the land of Tob.
You may have guessed that if Jephthah is going to become Israel’s judge, they must be in trouble. The Bible says—Judges 11:4 | At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel.
The Ammonites were very cruel oppressors. Throughout the Old Testament we see their shockingly inhumane practices. It must have been pretty bad because —Judges 11:5-6 | When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!”
The leaders of Gilead want Jephthah the mighty warrior! This seems like a great opportunity for Jephthah, right? But Jephthah is like, ‘not so fast.’
Thankfully, there's more to this story! Join us!
Gideon
February 16, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
As we begin the story of Israel’s fifth judge, the Israelites have again chosen to do turn away from God to follow sin instead.
The cruel treatment of the Midianites had the Israelites hiding in mountains, caves, and anywhere they could to get away from their vicious oppressors. Even worse, the Israelites were starving because their enemies would attack to steal their crops, sheep, and cattle. God’s starving people cried out to Him for help.
Read the full story in Judges 6, 7 & 8.
Discussion
Why do you think God approached Gideon by calling him a "mighty man of valor"? Do you think God approaches you with the same high esteem? Why or Why not
We see Gideon doubt and test God because of either his lack of trust or fear. How can you relate to Gideon in your own walk with the Lord?
Just as Gideon responds to God's calling, what is God calling you to do right now? How will you respond?
Deborah
February 9, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
Consistent with the cycle of judges, peace among the Israelites is eventually disrupted because they turn away from God to follow sin instead.
During this time in God raises a judge and this time, it’s a woman.
Judges 4:4-5 | Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.
God gives Deborah his plan for rescuing his people from Canaan. She tells a man named Barak—
Judges 4:6b-7 | “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”
Barak doubts God’s promise and wants Deborah, God’s judge, to go with him. Perhaps he feels that her presence will ensure his safety. He may even trust Deborah’s relationship with God more than his own. But because of his doubt, Deborah explains—
Judges 4:9a | “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”
Read the rest of Judges 4 & Judges 5 to see how this exciting event unfolded!
Psalm 20:7 | Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Discussion
1. Thinking in terms of trusting God, who do you relate to more in this story, Deborah or Barak? Why?
2. Can you describe a time God called you to do something and you said no? What did you miss out on because of saying no?
3. Can you describe some of the promises God has made in His word?
4. God does not break His promises! How can you take refuge in knowing that? How can you apply this moving forward with doubts you might have in trusting God?
Shamgar
January 26, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
Throughout the first five books of the Old Testament, we see God’s people — the Israelites — taking shape as a nation. They are led out of captivity in Egypt by Moses. They wander through the wilderness where God gives them the law and really teaches them what it means to belong to Him. After Moses, God shows His power through Joshua who leads the Israelites.
But then, we see God’s people turn away from Him.
They do this over and over again throughout the book of Judges. In fact, when you read the book closely, God’s people follow a pattern of actions over and over again.
This continues until the final judge ushers in the first king.
What about today? Judges were replaced by kings and kings were replaced by Jesus, so is the cycle from the judges over? It’s not!
God can use this cycle to draw the heart of a lost person to Himself.
DISCUSSION
1. Who is your favorite person in the Bible (aside from Jesus)? Why?
2.Can you describe a time God clearly used you in a mighty way? If not why do you think that is?
3. Do you feel inadequate to be used by the Lord? In what ways?
4. Matthew 19:26 says: “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible”. The Bible is filled with many miraculous stories that validate God’s power is what’s actually behind the miracle. How can you embrace your weakness to allow God to be glorified through it?
Othniel
January 19, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
Throughout the first five books of the Old Testament, we see God’s people — the Israelites — taking shape as a nation. They are led out of captivity in Egypt by Moses. They wander through the wilderness where God gives them the law (the 10 commandments) and really teaches them what it means to belong to Him. After Moses, God shows His power through Joshua who leads the Israelites.
But then, we see God’s people turn away from Him.
They do this over and over again throughout the book of Judges. In fact, when you read the book closely, God’s people follow a pattern of actions over and over again.
This continues until the final judge ushers in the first king.
What about today? Judges were replaced by kings and kings were replaced by Jesus, so is the cycle from the judges over? It’s not!
God can use this cycle to draw the heart of a lost person to Himself.
Discussion
Read John 16:8. Breakdown and discuss the three different roles of the Holy Spirit described in this verse.
If you haven’t experienced the leading of the Holy Spirit, you might not have the Holy Spirit or you might not be listening for Him. Do either of these describe you? What will you change?
What are some additional roles of the HS in the life of a believer?
Othniel was empowered by the Holy Spirt to rescue the Israelites and point them back to God. Today our role as believers is to do the same. How are you submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit to point others to Christ and how are you quenching the Spirit?
The Cycle
January 12, 2022 • Michael Fitzgerald
Throughout the first five books of the Old Testament, we see God’s people — the Israelites— taking shape as a nation. They are led out of captivity in Egypt by Moses. They wander through the wilderness where God gives them the law (the 10 commandments) and really teaches them what it means to belong to Him. After Moses, God shows His power through Joshua who leads the Israelites.
But then, we see God’s people turn away from Him.
They do this over and over again throughout the book of Judges. In fact, when you read the book closely, God’s people follow a pattern of actions over and over again.
This continues until the final judge ushers in the first king.
What about today? Judges were replaced by kings and kings were replaced by Jesus, so is the cycle from the judges over? It’s not!
God can use this cycle to draw the heart of a lost person to Himself.
Discussion
Discuss and break down the cycle in the diagram comparing it with the time of the judges and with our lives today!
Where do you currently find yourself in the cycle and why do you think that is?
Read and break our theme verse down… What is being communicated to us in this verse and how did this apply to the judges then? How does it apply to you today? 1st Corinthians 1:27 | Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
The Israelites were told to remove the idols from their land so they would not conform and worship them. Today we are called to live among the people of this world. How do we live amongst the "idols" of today without compromising our beliefs?
