Notes for my Adult Sunday School Class (Taught Sunday Mornings at 1o AM.... you are invited! -JLD


FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH PASTOR’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
JAN. 18, 2009 “COMMITMENT IN LEADERSHIP” JUD. 3:1-13

1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
· According to verse one, why was it that the Lord “left” enemies in the land of Israel? Wasn’t it because of the “lack of faith” of the people of Israel that they still had enemies in the land? How does this verse speak to the sovereignty of God?
· Do you have any enemies? Can you give a testimony of how God used these enemies to prove your faith? Have you ever been called upon to prove your faith to anyone? How does anyone go about proving their faith? Where does our light as a Christian burn the brightest?
· When is the last time that “war” has come to the land of America? Do you believe that our sons and our daughters are prepared to fight for their country or for their faith?
· How can we see that the conflicts of our life are their to prepare us for the days of the future conflict yet to come? Will America see a future conflict? Are we living in the last days? Should we anticipate perilous times?

3Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath. 4And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
· Do you believe that the people of the United States are harkening unto the commandments of the Lord?
· We’re the commandments that the people of Israel were to follow, commandments from the hand of Moses, or commandments from the hand of God? How do we know if a commandment is from God or man?

5And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: 6And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. 7And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
· What was the danger that the children of Israel had to contend with by having the people of Canaan living so closely by?
· Is there anything wrong with an “interracial marriage?” Is that what this text is talking about?
· What happened to the children of the parents who were brought up in a mixed marriage? Who was “Baalim” and what was wrong with him?
8Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years. 9And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim. 11And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
· Does God ever get angry? Is it a sin for a person to get angry? What was God angry about? Is what makes you angry of an consequence?
· What did God do because he was “angry” with the children of Israel? Could God do the same thing to us in America? Have we ever given God a reason to be angry with us?
· Does God ever get angry with his children? Have you ever received a spiritual spanking? Do you need one?
· What did the children of Israel do when they were “hurting?” Is it ever wrong to “cry?” Shouldn’t we accept the consequences of our sin without crying? Should we stop our children from crying when they are hurting?
· How did God respond to the cries of our children? Should a Father try to do all that he can do to bring deliverance to his children? Have you?
· How did God deliver the children in this text? Can God use just “one man” to bring deliverance to an entire nation?
· What did Othneil do to deliver Israel? What do we know about him?
· What was Othneil’s occupation after he brought deliverance to Israel? What does it mean to be a judge? What should be the measure of judge’s judgment? Is a judge limited in jurisdiction? Do they always speak for God? Should they always be honored by the people they serve?

12And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. 13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.
· What happened as soon as Othneil died? Why would the people of Israel turn away from God so quickly?
· Are all people wicked? Why are people so wicked? Are you wicked?
· Where is the city of Palm trees? Why would God allow the children of Israel to be defeated?
· Do you have any desire to visit the city of Palm trees today?
· Are you planning on going to our weekend getaway at the Shoreline Inn this coming weekend? Have you made your reservations yet?
· What do you know about Eglon? Was he anymore righteous than the people of Israel were? Why would God use someone more wicked to bring defeat a people who are less wicked by comparison?