Gideon online Bible study is a great way to spend your summer in the Bible and in fellowship. We just finished reading week one in the Gideon workbook by Priscilla Shirer and this week we are having small group discussions. I’ve already heard a few women mention that this study is “deep” and “filled with wisdom,” so I hope your book has arrived and you are reading one lesson each day.
(image: Unsplash)
The story of Gideon is only found in three chapters of the Bible, in the book of Judges. For those of you who use online Bibles, pull out a printed Bible this week and see where this book is located in your Bible.
According to the Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, the author of the book of Judges is unknown, although Jewish tradition attributes the book to Samuel, without evidence to support the claim. Most of the 12 Judges are from different tribes, as you saw on the chart in your Gideon workbook this week. Gideon’ story is recorded in Judges 6:1-8:35
Did you enjoy the walk through history this first week? Priscilla Shirer presented a few timelines, a family tree and even a circle of redemption to set the stage for our study. Powerful and impressive if you are a visual learner like me. I especially liked the chart on page 28, with the names of the Judges, identifying attributes and length of time.
We also learned this week that the Spirit of the Lord came upon the Judges. “God hand picked people for the job who were terribly flawed, then empowered them to fulfill these roles in spite of their shortcomings,” writes Priscilla Shirer.
Over and over the Bible teaches us that the Lord uses ordinary people for extraordinary purpose.
You need to yield and allow the Holy Spirit to move in and through you, not just in a ministry calling but in everyday life. Really spend some time praying over your calling….and your role as a member of the family of God. May your words be pleasing to Him, may your heart reflect His love and Grace and may you shine the Light of Christ in everything you do.
Gideon Assignment For the Week
- Read Week Two in the workbook
- Listen to Audio Session Two or Video Session Two at Lifeway.com (optional due to cost)
- Join a small group discussion
I havnt got my book yet ( I had to order it from the states, i live in the UK) but will still join in!!
Come join us!
Hi Christine! Because of moving to a new state, I was reluctant to join a study this summer. However, we’re in, many things are done, I’m sitting at my new desk…so I just ordered the Gideon study. Can’t wait to join you!
I am currently not apart of the Bible Study, but I find encouragement just by reading the post. I will lift up the the study and each sister participating in the study. I do have many prayer request and not sure which one to enter first. Has anyone ever felt the need to cry, but life keeps going and time keeps moving and you with it. That is where I am now in my life, I’m a student due to job lost 3 years ago, my home is in foreclosure (no sale date yet), Praise God! And I don’t have a job yet, and I’m still struggling with the ideal of working and school. So, as the LORD leads any of you, please pray for me. Thanking God for sisters in the faith and Womens Bible Cafe.
I do have my workbook and was excited to get into it. The first thing I noticed was in Judges 1:2,3 God said that Judah swhould go up first, to fight aganist the Canaanities. The first thing Judah did was ask Simeon to go with hem to help. Judah was relying on the arm of the flesh. He didn,t understand that God was the One who would give the victory. So often God gives us a command and a promise, and we immediately turn to the arm of the flesh to carry it out.
Ok, I’ve got the book, and I have sent y’all my email. Now what?
Join a small group!
Week 2 Day 1- Priscilla shares that we must become aware of and honor God’s presence in order to get on with the purposes of God. Opened eyes precede your calling being realized.
I think about how often I am like Jacob when he said “surely God was in this place and I knew it not”. I believe our lives would change so much if we would learn to have a constant awareness of God in our lives. Lord open our spiritual eyes that we might see you more clearly. Lord many of us need a second touch from you on our eyes that we might see clearly. Touch us as you did the blind man, that we might see you more clearly than ever before.
(Week 2, day1) Priscilla shares that if we are constantly anticpating a grandiose event to accompany the times when we encounter God and hear His voice, we will miss out on many intimate moments in our relationship with God. The Lord reminded me of that scripture in 1Kings 19:11-12 God’s Revelation to Elijah-
The Lord said to Elijah “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire was a small still voice of the Lord.
Sometimes God speaks through earthquakes, wind, and fire. We remember those times and expect Him to always speak in those ways. But most generally, when God speaks to us, I believe He speaks in a small still voice. If we are spiritually sensitive our hearts will be tuned to hear the small still voice of God.
Gideon
~By~
Priscilla Shirer
WEEK 1 ~ BIBLE CAFE
QUESTION ~1~
MY SKILLS & TRAININGS IN MINISTRY, TEACHING, SINGING, & PRAISE DANCING MAY, POSSIBLY, BE VIEWED AS A COMPETITIVE EVENT OR NATURE OF A TALENT DISPLAY; RATHER THAN, God’s GLORY BEING EVIDENT WITHIN MY WORSHIP ARE PRIMARY FACTORS IN THE FORM OF “IRON CHARRIOTS” OF INTIMIDATION THAT KEEP ME FROM MOVING FOWARD IN COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO God.
{EXAMPLE} I WANT TO LEAD A CERTAIN SONG THE Lord PUTS ON MY HEART; BUT, I DON’T WANT MY COUSINS, OR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MINISTERIAL STAFF, NOR MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION TO PASS JUDGEMENT OF EITHER: SHE’S JUST SHOWING OUT ~ OR: WHY DON’T SHE JUST SIT DOWN? SHE KNOWS THAT SHE CAN’T SING AS WELL AS SO & SO!!! {LOL}
QUESTION ~2~
{YES} I AGREE THAT, “TODAY’S DIFFICULTIES ARE A RESULT OF YESTERDAY’S DISOBEDIENCE.”
MANY YEARS OF WATCHING PARENTS STRUGGLE, WHILE LACKING TO WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OF God & IN THE WILL OF God; CAUSES SOME TO FAIL TO TRAIN THEIR YOUTH IN THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE; THEREFORE, RESULTING IN A LEARNING GAP OF DEFAULTED LESSONS ON PROSPERITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.
QUESTION ~3~ {B~CAFE’ ~ 4}
UNIFYING THE PEOPLE OF God WOULD BE & IS THE MOST DIFFICULT FUNCTION OF THE JUDGES THAT I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE TO BE POSSIBLE TO FULL~FILL.
TODAY’S PARENTS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, POLITICAL LEADERS, MEDIA, & EVENTS OF DAILY LIVING ARE SO DIVERSE & ADDICTIVE THAT THE STRUGGLE TO KEEP OUR YOUTH FOCUSED ON THE Lord OUR God & His DIVINE WILL IN Christ Jesus’ Holy NAME ARE A 24hr JOB ON A 12~15hr AWAKE WATCH!!! THERE IS TOO MUCH TO EXTINGUISH IN TOO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS TO KEEP A TOTALLY UNTAINTED PORTION OF OUR CHILDREN’S MINDS WITHOUT TOTAL ISOLATION OF THE OUTSIDE world!!! ~ IT TAKES God & God ALONE TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE FROM ALL HARM; WHETHER, EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS MATTER OR PLACED PHYSICALLY IN HARMS WAY. IT TAKES THE POWER OF PRAYING PARENTS TO EQUIP OUR CHILDREN WITH THE FULL ARMOR OF God WHICH IS IN & IS THE Holy Blood OF Christ Jesus THAT KEEPS US ANCHORED WITHIN His Holy Word; POURED OUT INTO OUR SOULS; THROUGH THE Power OF Christ’s Holy Spirit ABIDING DEEP WITHIN US. Amen.
Hi Alison,
Quick question, why do you post in ALL CAPS and write the name of God, and any reference to the Trinity, His Blood in Sentence Case with Lower and upper case? Just wondering??
Hope it is Ok to post so late. I am behind in the study. 🙂
1. Iron Chariots of Intimidation: Fear! Fear of rejection. Fear of people. Fear of failure.
2. “today’s difficulties are a result of yesterday’s disobedience” : AGREE!! It is often difficult to look back far enough to see where the line of disobedience began, but our past disobedience is, more often than not, the cause of/or end result of some of our present/current problems. We often want to blame God for problems in our lives that our truly the result or consequence of our own disobedience/bad decision(s).
3. “annihilate” in my life: 🙂 potato chips…I know the question is deeper than that, but unhealthy eating is truly an issue we are working on presently.
4. Most difficult function of judges for me: Unifying the people of God! 🙂
5. More decline in our day: most central? perhaps each statement represents part of the problem. Our culture is too busy, too child-centered. Parents rushing around trying to make their kids better than their friend’s kids keeps parents and kids too busy and too tired to focus on the truly important.
Dear Lord, I lift up Your precious daughter Glenda. I just read her request for prayer tonight – a year later I am sorry it is this late. I know though Lord that You can do Anything!!! Lord, I pray that Glenda is in a better place – closer to You Father. I pray that you have provided a job for her and that you have filled her with Your comfort and peace that passes all understanding. I pray that You bring some of Your daughters along side her and reach out to her and invite her to do this Awesome Gideon study that You inspired Priscilla to write. Lord, thank You with all my heart and soul that You use my weaknesses to show Your amazing and miracle making Strengths. Please continue to use us ladies like Glenda and I to be Your children to lead others to You and Your Kingdom. It is in Your Precious Son’s name I pray. Amen