The Gospel Project Faith Talk - Judges 3
Sunday: April 6, 2025
Scripture: Judges 3
Scripture: Judges 3
Preschool
Main Idea: The First Judges (Judges 3)
Summary
Review Questions
- God's people stopped listening to Him, so He sent leaders called judges. The first judge was Othniel. Everything was peaceful until Othniel died, and then the people forgot about God.
- God sent a new judge named Ehud. Ehud rescued God's people from the king of Moab. The land was peaceful until Ehud died.
- The people forgot about God again. They asked God for help, so God sent another judge named Shamgar.
Review Questions
- Why did God send judges to His people?
- Who is the perfect Judge that saves His people?
Kids
Main Idea: The First Judges (Judges 3)
Summary
Review Questions
- After Joshua died, the people entered a cycle of rebellion against God by worshiping false gods. God allowed His people to be captured by foreign kings.
- The Israelites cried out to God, and He sent judges to rescue His people. The first three judges were Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar. The people had peace for a while.
- When the judges died, Israel turned away from God.
Review Questions
- What is the consequence of our sin?
- How is Jesus better than the judges from this story?
Students
Main Idea: God’s perseverance in delivering us is greater than our inclination toward sin. (Judges 3)
Summary
In Judges 1-3, after Joshua's death, the Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanites from their land, which led them to worship false gods. God then punished them by allowing enemy nations to oppress them, but when they cried out, He raised up judges like Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar to rescue them. This cycle of disobedience, punishment, crying out to God, and rescue through a judge repeats throughout these chapters, showing God's patience and mercy despite His people's constant turning away from Him.
Review Questions
In Judges 1-3, after Joshua's death, the Israelites failed to completely drive out the Canaanites from their land, which led them to worship false gods. God then punished them by allowing enemy nations to oppress them, but when they cried out, He raised up judges like Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar to rescue them. This cycle of disobedience, punishment, crying out to God, and rescue through a judge repeats throughout these chapters, showing God's patience and mercy despite His people's constant turning away from Him.
Review Questions
- Why do you think the Israelites kept forgetting about God and worshipping idols even after He rescued them multiple times?
- Othniel delivered (or saved) the people from the enemy, but he eventually died. What does this show us about putting our trust in worldly deliverers?
Adults
Main Idea: God both disciplines and delivers His people. (Judges 3)
Summary
Judges 1-3 chronicles Israel's failure to fully conquer Canaan following Joshua's death, leading to religious syncretism and the worship of local Canaanite gods. God responds to this apostasy by subjecting Israel to foreign oppressors, then raising up "judges" (military deliverers) like Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar when the people cry out in repentance. These chapters establish the cyclical pattern that defines the entire book: Israel's sin, divine punishment, repentance, deliverance through a judge, followed by peace until the cycle begins again with renewed disobedience.
Review Questions
Judges 1-3 chronicles Israel's failure to fully conquer Canaan following Joshua's death, leading to religious syncretism and the worship of local Canaanite gods. God responds to this apostasy by subjecting Israel to foreign oppressors, then raising up "judges" (military deliverers) like Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar when the people cry out in repentance. These chapters establish the cyclical pattern that defines the entire book: Israel's sin, divine punishment, repentance, deliverance through a judge, followed by peace until the cycle begins again with renewed disobedience.
Review Questions
- How does the recurring cycle in Judges reflect patterns you've observed in personal spiritual growth or in broader human history? What insights might this offer about human nature and God’s patience?
- Israel allowed Canaanite nations and gods to remain in their midst when God told them to remove the bad influences and idols altogether. What sort of things do we allow in our lives that we say, “It’s fine; it won’t change my heart or mind from worshipping God,” yet these things clearly DO pull us away from Him?
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