Series: Judges                                                 Week #6 

Message: Jephthah

Communicator: Pastor Nate Hartman

Big Idea: God continues to extend His mercy and compassion to us.

Central Text/s: Judges 11

Wins of the Week: Take time to share WINS, what God did that moved you and others forward and closer to Jesus.

Ice Breaker: The story of Jephthah isn’t as familiar as so many other stories in the Bible. What would you say is your favorite Bible story and why? 

Questions to Consider and Discuss: Choose questions that will work best for your group. Don’t feel you need to “get through” all the questions like a grocery list. Feel free to add to or ask a question in a different way than is written. Trust God for the robust discussion and fruit in your group.  

1. Who would you say is your favorite superhero and why? (They could be from a book, movie, or T.V. show).      
2. Read Judges 11:1. Jephthah was known as a “great warrior”. What is it about you that God identifies you as? God would call me…? (Loved, blessed, wise, faithfull, servant, compassionate, caring, something else.).
3. Jephthah could have easily disqualified himself because of his social status but he chooses not to. Have you ever disqualified yourself or do you know people who have disqualified themselves for one reason or another from God using them? Take time in prayer to thank the Lord for choosing you! 
4. Read Judges 11:29. Why was the Spirit coming on Jephthah so important? Share a time when the Holy Spirit came upon you and used you in the lives of people in a powerful way. 
5. In Judges 11:30-31, we find Jephthah bargaining with God and making a foolish vow. Have you ever made a vow to God that was foolish to make? What was it and did you end up keeping it? 
6. Read Exodus 34:6-7. Of the characteristics listed, which one/s do you appreciate most about God? Which one/s do you need to believe and receive?
7. What do you need to “put aside” or change in your life in order to serve God better or wholeheartedly? What specific step would you need to take for this to happen? Who could be your prayer partner and life encourager in this next step? 
8. Read Ephesians 2: 4-5. Who do you know needs to hear and receive this truth? To whom do you need to extend God’s grace? Add them to your prayer list asking God for His grace to move through you and for them to receive it.  
9. Read Ephesians 2:8,9. What do these verses mean to you?  Take time as a group and thank him for his grace and gift of salvation. 

Group Prayer Options: 

• • Prayer Question: “What’s going on in our lives that we can involve Jesus?”
  • Ask:  What was one praise and one challenge you experienced this week? Celebrate the praises and pray for the challenges. 
  • Ask if anyone has a need or knows of a need, you can also offer “unspoken” prayer requests. 

• Pray for the person on your right, it can be out loud or in silence, if in silence nudge the person next to you letting them know you are done. 

• Prayer Clusters: Groups of two or three (by gender) and share your week together. Pray together and for each other. Send them a text, or leave a message letting them know you have prayed for them this week. 
• Have someone in your group keep a list of both requests and answers then celebrate the answers.

Are you interested in the Bible and in helping Life Groups benefit from the weekend message? We have a team for you! Canvas members like you create these discussion guides each week. If you are interested in joining the team, please email rickz@canvas.church