Gideon was a man just like us, a man who was afraid of failure, among other things. Yet, God used him to do something significant in his redemptive plan. It wasn’t because Gideon was amazing. Join us to discover how we can find the courage to step out and do something meaningful for God’s Kingdom, even when we are afraid of failure.

Sermon Outline:

I. Fear (of any Sort) Enslaves Us.

II. Fear is Closely Related to Unbelief.

III. Believing that God is with Us will Enable Us to Overcome Our Fear of Failure

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways do you personally struggle with fear of failure? How has your own battle with this fear increased or decreased over time or in different stages of your life?

2. What do you make of the fact that the angel of the LORD comes to Gideon and calls him “mighty man of valor”? It’s safe to say Gideon probably did not expect that. What positive statement of identity might you be surprised to hear God speak over you?

3. Sometimes our hardships like Israel’s are a direct result of our sin and rebellion against God. Sometimes they are a simple result of living in a fallen world. How can we tell? What should we do if we find ourselves in a miserable situation like the one Israel is in under the Midianites?

4. The theme of God being with his people is pervasive through the Bible. When we face the prospect of failure, what difference should it make in our lives that God is with us? How can we know God is with us?

5. How can we support and encourage one another in overcoming fear of failure in our individual lives and in our collective journey as a church family?