THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. MAN NIGHT TOGETHER is happening Tuesday, October 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the East Paris Campus. What does it look like when men come together to pursue God with passion and purpose? Join us for an evening that combines great food, friendly competition, worship and a powerful message from Scripture that will challenge you to live boldly for Christ. This isn’t just another event—it’s building the kind of brotherhood that sharpens us as followers of Jesus. Come ready to eat, laugh, worship and be encouraged by God’s Word alongside men who are serious about their faith. Learn more and register HERE.
GROUP VALUES. This month, our focus is on CARE. Just as God heard his people’s cries and responded with compassion in the book of Judges, we are called to demonstrate that same care for one another. This week’s sermon may surface areas where people are struggling. As a group, discuss how you can respond with empathy and help each other take steps toward healing and freedom. If someone in your group is going through a particularly challenging time, reach out to your Group Life contact for guidance on how to provide the best support.
GROW AS A LEADER. As we study the cycle of sin and consequences in Judges, your group members may identify areas where they feel stuck. Create a safe environment where people can be honest about their struggles without fear of judgment. Remember that confession and accountability happen best in relationships built on trust. Your vulnerability about your areas of struggle will give others permission to be honest about theirs.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the seventh week of our sermon series, EPIC. This week, we explore the story of Deborah from the book of Judges and discover how to break free from cycles of sin and consequences that keep us stuck.
ICEBREAKER
When have you felt stuck recently—whether it’s a traffic jam, a delayed package, air travel or something else?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Judges 4:1-15 aloud.
What pattern do you notice in how God’s people relate to him in this passage?
How does Deborah stand out from the typical leaders we might expect in this dark time of Israel’s history?
What does Barak’s response to God’s command through Deborah reveal about his faith?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer continued the EPIC sermon series by examining the cycle in Judges and Deborah’s story. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
How does the repeated phrase in Judges, “everyone did what was right in their own eyes,” compare to our culture today?
God’s people tolerated temptation by allowing the Canaanites to remain in the land rather than driving them out completely. How do we tend to tolerate temptation rather than removing it completely?
Barak’s story reveals the danger of both delayed and conditional obedience. Why do you think delayed obedience or conditional obedience is so easy to justify in our minds?
Think about the phrase “delayed obedience is disobedience.” Is there an area in your life where you’ve been planning to obey God but haven’t taken action yet? What’s holding you back?
Barak missed out on honor because of his conditional obedience. How have you seen conditional obedience cause someone to miss out on something good God had for them?
Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). How have you embraced Jesus as King, allowing him to have authority in your life, and leading to freedom, peace and a full life?
The book of Judges ends by stating that they had no king, pointing to their need for an authority to teach them to live by what is right in God’s eyes, rather than their own. What would it look like practically for you to submit more fully to Jesus’s leadership and authority in your life this week?
WRAP UP
This week, we talked about breaking free from cycles that keep us stuck by making Jesus the King of our lives. What encouraged or challenged you the most from the sermon or this conversation, and why?