The Test of Maturity

Judges 4 – 5

The story of Deborah

You can measure a person’s maturity by measuring the amount of time

between an answered prayer and how long it takes to say, “Thank you.”

You can also measure a person’s maturity by measuring how much pain

they can endure and still rejoice.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of

many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces

perseverance. James 1:2–3 (NIV2011)

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have

learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether

well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Philippians 4:12

(NIV2011)

You can also measure a person’s maturity by measuring how much pain

they can endure and still rejoice.

You can measure a person’s maturity by measuring the amount of time

between an answered prayer and how long it takes to say, “Thank you.”

Grading scale… F — Never say “Thank you.”

D — Say thank you next Thanksgiving.

C — Say thank you a few days.

B — Say thank you in a few hours.

A — Say thank you immediately.

You can measure a person’s maturity by measuring the amount of time

between an answered prayer and how long it takes to say, “Thank you.”

What difference does this make? Dozens of research studies with diverse participant groups have also revealed that the

practice of gratitude leads to the following: Increased feelings of energy, alertness, enthusiasm, and vigor.

Success in achieving personal goals.

Better coping with stress.

A sense of closure in traumatic memories.

Bolstered feelings of self-worth and self-confidence.

Solidified and secure social relationships.

Generosity and helpfulness.

Prolonging of the enjoyment produced by pleasurable experiences.

Improved cardiac health.

Greater sense of purpose and resilience.

Four key dates…

Abraham 2000

David 1000

Fall of Israel 722

Fall of Judah 587

Story of Deborah

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was

dead.

Judges 4:1 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who

reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in

Harosheth Haggoyim.

Judges 4:2 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly

oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for

help. Judges 4:3 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to

him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you

ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount

Tabor. Judges 4:6 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and

his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ ” Judges

4:7 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with

me, I won’t go.” Judges 4:8 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the

course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will

deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak

to Kedesh. Judges 4:9 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and

army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on

foot. Judges 4:15 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

At Barak’s advance, the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and

army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on

foot. Judges 4:15 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come

right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him

with a blanket. Judges 4:18 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went

quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg

through his temple into the ground, and he died. Judges 4:21

(NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

Judges 5:1 (NIV2011)

Story of Deborah

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

Judges 5:1 (NIV2011)

You can measure a person’s maturity by measuring the amount of time

between an answered prayer and how long it takes to say, “Thank you.”

Story of Deborah

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

Judges 5:1 (NIV2011)

So,

Try really hard

to be grateful.

So,

Try really hard

to be grateful. How God changes us

Truth

Training

Habit

Trusting

Trying

Worship

Together

Telling

The Holy Spirit

Testing

Example

God’s sovereign grace

Application… 11:00 challenge

Gideon

Judges 6 - 8

What do you know about Gideon?

What do we learn about God?

What do we learn about ourselves?

What do we learn about Christian living?

Is there a promise to claim?

Is there a command to obey?

Four key dates…

Abraham 2000 David 1000 Fall of Israel 722 Fall of Judah 587

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Judges 6:1 (NIV2011)

Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help. Judges 6:6 (NIV2011)

When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Judges 6:7–8 (NIV2011)

The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. Judges 6:11 (NIV2011)

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:12 (NIV2011)

What do we learn about ourselves?

Cross-reference

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV2011)

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” Judges 6:13 (NIV2011)

What do we learn about Christian living?

Cross-reference

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV2011)

Cross-reference

…strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Acts 14:22 (NIV2011)

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Judges 6:14 (NIV2011)

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:15 (NIV2011)

P.L.O.M. The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Judges 6:16 (NIV2011)

Judges 6:25–32 (NIV2011) That same night the Lord said to him, “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old. Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.

Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.”

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the Lord told him. But because he was afraid of his family and the townspeople, he did it at night rather than in the daytime.

In the morning when the people of the town got up, there was Baal’s altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar!

They asked each other, “Who did this?” When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning!

If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.” Judges 6:25–32 (NIV2011)

Lesson #1: Bad things happen.

Cross-reference

so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV2011)

Why do bad things happen?

Because we sin and God punishes sin. Because that is how life is on planet earth. Because of our stupidity.

Lesson #2: God can use imperfect, fearful people.

Cross-reference

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 (NIV2011)

Lesson #3: God prefers to use people of great faith and confidence.

Cross-reference

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (NIV2011)

Cross-reference

And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Matthew 13:58 (NIV2011)

Cross-reference

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; Matthew 9:29 (NIV2011)

Samson Judges 13 - 16

Four key dates… 2000 Abraham 1000 David 722 Fall of Israel 587 Fall of Judah

Overview… Judges 13 – Birth of Samson Judges 14 — Marriage of Samson Judges 15 — Conflict with the Philistines

o Foxes / torches. o Philistines burn Samson’s wife and father. o 3000 Israelites hand Samson over to the Philistines. o Samson kills 1000 Philistines with a jawbone. o “Samson led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.” Judges 15:20 (NIV2011)

Judges 16 — Samson and Delilah

How would you evaluate Samson’s life? Compromised potential. How would you evaluate Samson’s life? Compromised potential. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48 (NIV2011)

Why did Samson not realize his great potential? People—especially your inner circle—have a profound impact on your life. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV2011) Then Samson’s wife threw herself on him, sobbing, “You hate me! You don’t really love me. You’ve given my people a riddle, but you haven’t told me the answer.”

Judges 14:16a (NIV2011) She cried the whole seven days of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people. Judges 14:17 (NIV2011)

People—especially your inner circle—have a profound impact on your life. Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. Judges 16:15–16 (NIV2011)

People—especially your inner circle—have a profound impact on your life. Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV2011) Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV2011) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV2011) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Psalm 1:1 (NIV84)

People—especially your inner circle—have a profound impact on your life. Two applications… Surround yourself with godly people. If you want to reach outsider, include them into your group.

What are the odds that any particular lost person will come to faith in the next 12 months? What are the odds that any particular lost person will come to faith in the next 12 months if we enroll him in our group?

You can double a class in two years or less by inviting every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.

Community must proceed content. You can double a class in two years or less by inviting every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.

Ruth, Part 1, Feb 19

Three goals…

Context

Story

• Application

Four key dates…

• Abraham 2000

• David 1000

• Fall of Israel 722

• Fall of Judah 587

Overview…

• Ruth 1 — Ruth weeping

• Ruth 2 — Ruth working

• Ruth 3 — Ruth waiting

• Ruth 4 — Ruth wedding

In His sovereign design, God ordains sorrowful tragedy to set the stage for surprising triumph. — David

Platt

Key verse: But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will

go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

(NIV2011)

Key Idea: Loyalty.

Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:42 (NIV2011)

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do

anything”—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV2011)

Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family. Proverbs 27:10 (NIV2011)

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a

brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV2011)

Questions:

What did it feel like for Naomi to hear Ruth’s pledge to her?

Have you ever had a friend or relative express surprising loyalty to you? Who has a story?

What risk did Ruth take in making this pledge?

What benefits came to Ruth for her loyalty?

Who are we to be loyal to?

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household,

has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV2011)

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who

belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:10 (NIV2011)

What benefits come to us when we are loyal?

What price do the disloyal pay?

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him

must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews

11:6 (NIV2011)

Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you.

Deuteronomy 6:18a (NIV2011)

Ruth, Part 2

Feb 26, Explore

There will come a time in your life when it looks like the train has left the rails.

Four teacher tips…

• Start early.

• Focus around one big idea.

• Teach for application.

• Present the big idea in introduction as a promise.

Three goals…

• Context

• Story

• Application

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Ruth

• Noah

• Isaiah

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Noah

• Ruth

• Isaiah

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Abraham

• Malachi

• Ruth

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Abraham

• Ruth

• Malachi

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Sarah

• Ruth

• Moses

• Jeremiah

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Sarah

• Moses

• Ruth

• Jeremiah

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Ruth

• David

• Samuel

• Saul

Context: the Old Testament Game

• Ruth

• Samuel

• Saul

• David

Overview…

• Ruth 1 — Ruth weeping

• Ruth 2 — Ruth working

• Ruth 3 — Ruth waiting

• Ruth 4 — Ruth wedding

Assignment

• C — Read through the book of Ruth.

• B — Read through the book of Ruth each week.

• A — Read through the book of Ruth every day.

• A+ — Read through the book of Ruth and…

• Study Bible notes.

• Study Bible introduction.

• Quarterly.

• Sermons on youtube.com (David Platt or others).

Gleaning…

• God’s amazing, wonderful plan for feeding the poor.

Gleaning…

• When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what

remains for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow. Deuteronomy 24:21 (NIV2011)

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule:

“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV2011)

It is morally wrong the feed a man who could work but chooses not to.

Kinsman redeemer

• Deed restriction where land could always be bought back by a member of the family.

So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was

working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek. Ruth 2:3 (NIV2011)

And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of

the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. Ruth 2:3 (KJV)

So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the

part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. Ruth 2:3 (ESV)

So Ruth went to the fields and gathered the grain that the workers cutting the grain had left behind. It

just so happened that the field belonged to Boaz, from Elimelech’s family. Ruth 2:3 (NCV)

So she set out and went to glean in the fields behind the reapers. Chance led her to a plot of land

belonging to Boaz of Elimelech's clan. Ruth 2:3 (NJB)

Nothing just happens. God is at work. There’s a grand plan coming into play. — Jon Courson

Only, as the narrator is inviting us to see, there was no such thing as luck driving this chain of events.

This was all part of a higher plan. It was nothing less than a divine appointment that brought Ruth to the

fields of Boaz. — Reformed Bible Commentary

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

Revelation 4:2 (NIV2011)

Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Lamentations 3:37 (NIV2011)

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out

everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11 (NIV2011)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called

according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV2011)

What are some other stories that illustrate the Romans 8.28 Principle?

Who can tell of a time in your life when it seemed like the train had left the rails?

What are we to do when are in a phase of life that it feels like the train has left the rails?

What can we do now—today—to prepare ourselves for a time when it looks like the train has left the

rails?