FAITH CHALLENGE

Judges 6-8

Lesson A, Weeks 1 & 2 --- GIDEON

Scripture: Judges 6-8

Memory Verse: 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity."

Concepts:

* God calls us to put our trust in God alone.

* God promises to help us when we face hard times.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

* Identify Gideon as a humble man chosen by God for a special mission

* Explain how Gideon’s trust in God enabled him to liberate his people

Gathering Time: (Coach)

The Coach leads the opening routine: snack, fellowship, prayer wall activity, and prayer chain. Nametags are available.

Workshop Lesson Procedure:

Introduction: (Coach)

1. The coach reviews the timeline and the previous week’s workshop activity.

2. The coach introduces the guide.

Scripture/Bible Story: (Guide)

1. Before beginning today’s activities, some time needs to be spent helping the class understand what happened after their last unit (Ten Commandments) and before the time of the judges.

2. To do this, pass out Bibles and ask the class to find the book of Judges. As prompts, remind them it is after the other stories we have studied so far. They should remember those stories were found in Genesis and Exodus. Judges is found before the first king of Israel, which is discussed in the books of Samuel.
3. After they find Judges, ask them to turn to Chapter 2: 6-19. Take turns reading aloud.
4. After the Bible reading, hand out one slips of paper to each child. These pieces of paper will have one event from the Bible reading they just completed. Ask the class to place these events in order.

REVIEW EVENTS:

• The Hebrew people reach the Promised Land.
• Other people are already living in the Promised Land. They worship other gods and have other customs.
• God tells the Hebrews to worship only the LORD.
• The Hebrews forget about God and worship other gods.
• Life becomes difficult for the Hebrews. Other nations defeat the Hebrews.
• God sends judges to help the Hebrews.
• The people listen the judges and turn back to God.
• After the judge dies, the people forget God again and worship other gods.
• Life becomes difficult for the Hebrews. Other nations defeat the Hebrews.
• God sends judges to help the Hebrews.
• The people listen the judges and turn back to God.
• After the judge dies, the people forget God again and worship other gods.

5. Be sure to point out to the class the cycle of events from above that happened over and over again.

6. Tell the class they will spend the rest of this class and the following class learning about one of the judges God sent, Gideon.

Application: (Guide)

1. Begin the study of Gideon with the following questions:

• “Have you ever noticed any problems you wished you could solve, but didn’t think you could do anything about it?” Any answer is acceptable, but if the class is slow to respond, prompts such as “What about world hunger? Pollution? Abandoned animals?
• “Why does it seem like you can’t do anything about these kinds of problems?” Again, many answers are acceptable, but probably someone will say because they are children. If not you may suggest that.
• “What if someone said you were supposed to solve one of these big problems? Could you do it?”

2. Tell the class that the story today is about how God used a young man named Gideon who thought he couldn’t do the job. God wanted Gideon to be one of the judges who helped the Israelites return to worshipping God.
3. Explain to the class that they will spend this week and part of the following week researching the story of Gideon and producing a news broadcast about the events of Gideon’s life. After preparing and viewing their own videotape, they will then watch another video retelling of this story.
4. NOTE TO GUIDE: There are seven sections of the Gideon story that the students will research and report on. The guide will be the news anchor and the coach will run the video camera. Do four sections of the story this week and three sections next week. Write the following Bible references on the white board one week at a time:

Week 1 Week 2

Judges 6:11-16 Judges 7:9-15

Judges 6:25-32 Judges 7:16-21

Judges 6:33-40 Judges 8:22-29

Judges 7:1-7

5. Divide the class into four groups and assign sections of the story to each group.
6. Give each group the attached worksheet and give them 15 minutes or so to read their section of the story from the Bible, complete the worksheet, and prepare for the news broadcast.
7. When the groups are prepared, the guide begins the newscast with a script something like: “Today we are bringing you an in depth report about a young man from the town of Ophrah who defeated of the great Midian army. We have reporters on the scene at several locations to bring you this story. Now to our first report in Ophrah.”
8. If time permits, a practice of the news broadcast might be helpful before actual taping begins.
9. When ready for taping, the coach operates the video camera and the guide serves as the news anchor and assists with questions to the reporters. The guide should use questions to the reporters in the field as necessary to assure the students fully report their part of the Gideon story.

END WEEK 1

[Continue with “Wrap-Up” and “Closing” sections of this lesson for work on memory verse, clean-up, and closing activities.]

BEGIN WEEK 2

1. Divide the class into three groups to prepare reports from the remaining three sections of the Gideon story (see above). Use the Bibles and worksheet to prepare for the newscast.

2. Videotape the remaining sections of the story.

3. View the videotape.

4. Tell the class they will now watch another retelling of the Gideon story. Explain that it was filmed in modern-day Israel and that even though much of the story is like the Bible, it will be obvious that all details are not true.

5. Watch “Gideon Gets His Wooly Wet” and “Gideon’s Exploding Pickle Pots”

Discussion:

1. Begin the discussion by helping the class see similarities and differences between the Bible version and the Tony Robinson story of Gideon.

2. Continue the discussion with questions such as:

• “Was Gideon mature and powerful when God asked for his help?” No. Gideon was young. He felt weak. He had no military experience. He was an unlikely choice to do God’s work.
• “Was it easy for Gideon to decide to do what God wanted?” No. Gideon had doubts about his own power, and at first, he even had doubts as to whether God was powerful enough to help him do what needed to be done. Remember those tests with the wet and dry wool?
• “Was Gideon perfect?” No. He made mistakes. His biggest mistake was after God enabled him to win the battle against the Midianites. Gideon asked the people to give up the gold they captured during the battles and to make it into an idol. That was what the Midianites did in the beginning and now Gideon had done it, too.
• But most important—“Did Gideon serve God?” Yes! For the most part, he was faithful to God’s calling, and despite all his doubts and mistakes, he served God and liberated the Israelites. Fortunately for Gideon -- and for us -- God expects us to be loyal but not to be perfect.
• “What can we learn from this story?” [Key Concepts] God calls us to put our trust in God alone and God promises to help us when we face hard times. God did both of these things for Gideon, and God will do the same for us.

Wrap-up: (Guide)

1. Present the memory verse for this lesson (I Timothy 4:12) One way that has been effective for the class to learn other memory verses is to write several sections of the verse on sheets of paper and then pass them out randomly to the class. Ask student to stand up in the correct order of the verse. Recite together. Repeat.

2. Post the “visual” on the timeline. This can be the word Gideon, the word Judges or a simple picture or clip art to remind the class of the story—perhaps a small army, a clay pot or a trumpet.

3. Ask students to tidy up.

Closing: (Coach)

1. The coach conducts the closing prayer time.

2. Close/lock the door and turn off the lights.

Preparation in advance: (Guide)

1. Prepare “visual” for timeline. See suggestions above.

2. Prepare individual pieces of paper with the historical events from the time of the Ten Commandments to the time of the Judges (see Application section)

3. Photocopy worksheet--attached—make approx 40 copies

4. Write the Biblical references for the sections of the Gideon story on the white board.

5. Write sections of Bible verse (I Timothy 4:12) on individual pieces of paper

6. Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located.

Supply List

· TV with VCR

· video

· Video camera that can be played back for viewing of newscast

· If desired, toy microphone for reporters to use

· Costumes

References

Judges 6-8

“Blood & Honey” videotape by Tony Robinson available at www.ctvc.co.uk/tony.htm
GIDEON WORKSHEET

The Bible reference for our group is: __________________________________

We are group number ________.

Who are the participants in this part of the story?

Where did this part of the story take place?

Summarize the action. What is Gideon doing or what is happening to Gideon? What are other people doing?

How will you present this part of the story for a TV report? Will one reporter give a summary of what has happened? Will all the group members act it out for the camera? Will a reporter conduct interviews with the witnesses or participants in the action? Who in your group will play which roles? Other ideas?

What props or costumes do you need for the TV report?

Practice your newscast.