Tier 1:

The Book of Judges follows a descending spiral of Church experience. The key moment in each cycle is when the Lord raises up a Judge / Deliverer [or perhaps better, a Saviour] who will bring freedom from the oppressor, lead the Church back to the worship of Christ, and who will teach the Church the Lord’s ways.  He is not just deliverer, but teacher and model (because of 2:1, I will never break my covenant with you). The success of each Judge is the extent to which they faithfully foreshadow the Deliverer, the Judge, who will liberate us from the oppression we labour under. 

Tier 2:

The closing chapters of the Book of Judges contains some of the most traumatic litereature not just in the Bible, but in any literature. It is disturbing to read and often causes justifiable anxiety in those reading it. It is a stark insight into the reality of what fallen humanity is capable of when the Spirit has departed, and sin is given unchecked reign in human life and society. It is a terrifying reminder of why we need a Saviour… and a King.

Tier 3:

In Deuteronomy Moses had warned the Church that there were lots of competing views of God and of life currently on offer in Canaan. He knew they were going to be tempted to leave what they had been taught and to worship those gods. But God in His wisdom embedded a strategy in the structures of the Church so that this doesn’t happen (Deut.6:1-9). The strategy designed by the Lord is for parents to teach and disciple their children. Constantly, consistently and intentionally. The breakdown of this structure of Church life had devestating consequences. But The Lord proves a faithful Father, who continues to teach and disciple His children.

While both had angels announce their births, only Jesus had a multitude of angels singing for joy. Jesus, like Samson, was publicly displayed for his enemies to mock. Yet, unlike Samson, he walked into his death with complete willingness and unblemished innocence. And he didn’t stay in the grave.

Brooks Waldren

Group Discussion:

Based on what we learn about parenting in the Book of Judges, how should a Church structure it’s children’s and youth ministry?

How should a Church support parents / grand-parents as they think about how they raise their children?

Why do so many parents feel so inadequate about raising their children as Christians?

Why do you think there are so few young people in the British Church?

and later in the session:

How do you feel about the fact that it is the LORD who raises up those who oppress Israel (e.g. 3:12; 4:2; 10:7; 13:1 etc.)? What does this teach us about our God?

Given the fact that the ‘Judges-plan’ doesn’t seem to be working, why doesn’t God come up with something more effective?

What do you think the Book of Judges can teach us about being the Church today?

Why are we most familiar with (and most often teach) the stories of Gideon and Samson, rather than those who best point us to Christ (such as Othniel and Ehud)?

and towards the end of the session:

Can a Christian (or a Church) have the Spirit taken from them like [Samson]? What would that look like?

How can you become so desensitized to the things of God that you wouldn’t know whether the LORD was present by His Spirit or not?

Homework:

Over this half-term we have been working to memorise Matthew 6:1-4. You will have to keep refreshing the rest of the Sermon on the Mount whilst you do this.

(we’ll have memorised the whole of the Sermon on the Mount over the 3 years of DTP)

To Be A Christian: Q&A 25-34

Read I Samuel 1-13