Judges 6 - Gideon
God gives us strength when we have questions
If you are meeting early in the day ask everyone to look in their bag and find today’s activity – chat about exercise they like to do, do they think they are a strong person?
If you are meeting later in the day, ask people to talk about the exercises they did. Which did they find easy, and which were more difficult?
Ask someone to read out today’s family activity Bible passage from Isaiah 35:3-4.
Explain that while we are all together online today, we are going to think about a story from the Bible, where someone is so scared, he is hiding, and he thinks God can’t help him and his people. He has lots of questions for God!
Ask everyone what their favourite story is – they can say it out loud or send it to everyone on the chat. Ask how many times they have heard or read that story? Give time for people to answer by writing or speaking.
Explain that the person in today’s story from the Bible is called Gideon. Gideon had heard stories all about God and his people lots and lots of times. Say that you are going to say the names of some of the stories Gideon might have heard, and if any of them know anything about that story they can draw or write what they know on the whiteboard. Share the whiteboard and give an explanation of how to use it. If no one writes or draws anything there is a suggestion of what you can write/draw.
- God and Adam and Eve (tree, fruit, garden)
- God and Noah (an ark, a rainbow, animals)
- God and Abraham (stars in the sky, a big family)
- God and Joseph (prison bars, 11 brothers, pyramid)
- God and Moses (basket in a river, crossing the red sea, burning bush)
- God and Joshua (God with him, crossing the Jordan)
Use the script available in the Downloads Box to tell the story of Gideon.
Ask everyone to go and get an item from their home that is easy to bring to the screen, and something to cover the item (e.g. a towel.) Tell everyone to have their items “hidden” when they come back to the screen so no one else can see it. Take turns in guessing what each other’s hidden item is. The household whose turn it is can give 3 clues to help people guess what their hidden item is.
Say that we think of hiding as a fun thing, and it can be, but Gideon and all his family and friends were hiding because they were scared. Gideon also had big questions for God (Why has this happened? Where are the miracles?). Ask each household to think of a big question they have for God and to write it down or write it in the chat. Choose one or two of the questions to talk about today and keep the rest for other events.
Say that God wants to hear our questions and it is good to talk to him and each other about them. When we don’t understand what is going on, and we feel scared or weak, it is good to remember different things that God has said to comfort us. Uset he words from the activity card to make a prayer.
Make up a simple clapping rhythm that you can all do together, fit the words into that beat making it easier to remember…
Be strong
And do not fear
Tell everyone that they can say these words, to the rhythm, the next time they have big questions for God and wonder where he is!
Say goodbye to everyone and look forward to seeing them tomorrow.
