Life Group Questions

1. If you could not hear this week’s sermon, consider going to the church website and listening to it. What main ideas did you gain from the message? Do you have any questions?

2. Why do you think God took Israel through situations of testing? What was it God was trying to discern about the people? Have you ever felt as though God was testing you in your faithfulness to Him? Explain.

3. What were some ways in which Israel failed the test of God? Explain what connection, if any, there may be in God leaving the nations in Israel’s midst and God leaving a tree in the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve (cf. Genesis 3). Was it wrong for God to test people in these situations? Explain.

4. Why did God place restrictions on Israel for whom they were allowed to marry (cf. Deuteronomy 7:3)? Do you think God still cares with whom His people should enter into marriage? Explain. What general principles apply to this idea?

5. Why do you think the writer limited his coverage of Othniel as a savior to Israel? What importance does this story have in the structure of the book? What tone does this section of Scripture set?

6. At what point did God act on behalf of His people? Do you think God ever waits to act on our behalf until we take action? Explain. Do you feel you have ever needlessly struggled because you did not cry out to and seek the Lord? Explain.

7. We read that it was the Lord who raised up Othniel. We are also told that it was God’s Spirit that empowered Othniel. What does this tell us about the judge? What does it tell us about how God works?

8. Briefly explain the idea of our need for God’s grace and the fact that He is gracious to forgive us of sin. When did you first recognize your own need for forgiveness, and what were the circumstances? Are you confident that God has forgiven you of all sin? Is there any sin that you need to confess to Him? Take time to seek the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness and cleansing (cf. 1 John 1:8-9).

by Terry Beatty /  Lead Teacher and Ministry Vision