Morning Break Bible Study

In Lesson 6 of our study of Gideon, we take an up close and personal look at the topic of idolatry - the things in our lives that we place ahead of God. Focusing on the latter part of Gideon's life, we wrestle with the challenging question: "Who or what has authority in my life?"

Lesson 5 shows us a picture of Gideon moving from a position of victory to a pattern of behavior filled with confusion, anger, and revenge against his enemies. Instead of relying on God, he returns to many of his old habits. His life becomes an example to us to keep our focus on God as we face the enemy.

Join us in this fourth lesson of our Gideon series as we take a deeper look at what Gideon's story, as well as the Bible as a whole, shows us about requesting signs from God. As we examine three different occasions in which Gideon received signs from the Lord - twice where Gideon asks the Lord for a sign and once where God freely offers him one without request - we get to see what these situations reveal about Gideon and his faith as well as what they reveal about our gracious and patient God.

Lesson 3 reminds us of the importance of focusing our hearts and minds on God. Just as God called Gideon and empowered him, so he calls and empowers us by his Holy Spirit to focus on Him as we stand against the enemy.

In the second lesson of this Gideon series, we are introduced to Gideon and his circumstances. The Angel of the Lord appears to him while he is fearfully threshing wheat in a winepress. We look at this first encounter Gideon has with the Lord, how the Lord calls Gideon to a new identity, and then how the Lord calls him to live out his new identity. This week’s lesson shows us that God is a good and faithful Father who can use us mightily for his Kingdom work despite our weaknesses, shortcomings, and insecurities.

In the first lesson when Gideon's story begins in Judges 6, we see God's people living in fear and poverty; their nomadic neighbors, the Midianites, have invaded their land and destroyed their homes, crops, and cattle.

As they cried out to God for deliverance, we learn the reason for Israel's sad situation:  The people did evil in the eyes of the Lord; Instead of obeying God, they did not listen to him.

This week's lesson traces God's promises to Israel and the consequences of their failure to follow him. Their behavior is a reminder of our own failure to obey God. 

In the lesson " Turning Grasping into Generosity '' Bethany Gant in this study's final lesson, Turn Grasping into Generosity, Bethany Gant leads us through the story of the poor widow's offering in order to encourage us to live generously as well as examine the things that may hinder us from doing so.

In the lesson " Overcoming Injustice with Prayer '' Michelle Thompson leads us through a comparison of the cruel judge giving into the widow's plea and God answering His chosen ones' cries. Jesus teaches us how much better God is as a just, righteous, and faithful judge.

In the lesson " Shape Overload into Simplicity,'' Bethany Gant leads us through a comparison of the crippled woman Jesus heals on the Sabbath with the religious leader that was offended by this action as a call to examine our own hearts for the expectations, traditions, and legalism that may be keeping us crippled spiritually.

In the lesson "Exchange Peace for Worry" Michelle Thompson takes us through the challenge of the law expert and the outburst of Martha. We can exchange worry for peace when we seek the Kingdom of God which Jesus calls the one thing that is needed. 

In the lesson, Trade Silence or Aggression for a Beautiful Voice, Bethany Gant, takes us through the story of three women who used their voices differently. We learned different approaches to conflict & that the way we use our voice matters.

In the lesson, Tame Sin with Gratitude Marcia Jamison takes us through the story of the sinful women at Simeon the Pharisee's house. The lesson challenges us to recognize the gift of forgiveness and show gratitude for  God's grace and mercy

In the lesson " Swap Fear for Faith '' Bethany Gant takes us through the stories of the Faithful Centurion and the Widow of Nain in order to take a deeper look at how we can choose to live a life of faith rather than fear, regardless of our circumstances.

In the lesson " Replace Control with Trust " Michelle Thompson takes us through the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus focusing on how we can learn to let go of control and replace it with trust as we study the work  God did in Mary’s life.

In the lesson "Jesus: the Son of Man is the Righteous Judge" Marcia Jamison takes us through the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats where we learn as Jesus sits as King of Kings, He gathers all the nations before Him.  He separates them into two groups and righteously judges those who have served Him and those who have not. As He does, we learn again that how we live matters.

In the lesson "Faithful Living" Michelle Thompson takes us through the Parable of the Talents where we discuss what faithful and unfaithful living looks like. We are called to be ready for the Lords coming and being ready means using the gifts we have been given to live fruitful and invested lives for the kingdom.

In the lesson "Are You Prepared for Christ's Return?" Bethany Gant teaches from Matthew 25. To be prepared for the return of Christ is to be engaged in responsible, active service.

In the lesson "Jesus Prepares His Disciples" Marcia Jamison teaches from Matthew 24: 1-36. Jesus answers in His own words the disciples' questions regarding the character of the end of the age and of the destruction of Jerusalem. His main message is to keep watch and be ready.

In the lesson "Times of the End" Michelle Thompson teaches through Daniel 11 &12. We focus on the vision that was given to Daniel by God as an answer to what would happen to the Jewish people. We see the precise fulfillment of the prophecy in the first section and then we discuss the yet-to-be-fulfilled prophecy of the end times.  

In the lesson "A Battle in the Heavenlies" Marcia Jamison teaches through Daniel 10. We are given a peek behind the curtain of the Heavenlies.  There we see Angels at war with powerful demonic beings who are working to prevent God’s messengers from reaching Daniel with an answer to his prayer.  Daniel finds comfort in God’s words to him as the Angelic Messenger from above finally breaks through.

In the lesson "Prayers and Answers" Michelle Thompson teaches through Daniel 9. We study the prayer Daniel prayed on behalf of himself and his people asking God to Listen, Forgive, Hear, and Act. Then we see how God blesses Daniel with a much greater answer than expected: the prophecy of Messiah.

In the lesson "Conflict in the Workplace" Marcia Jamison takes us through Daniel 6 where we find three ways Daniel’s enemies try and trap him: through his character, through his faith in God, and through his ethnicity.

In the lesson "Belshazzar’s Feast" Michelle Thompson takes us through Daniel 5 where we discuss the prophecy of the fall of Babylon. We walk through the feast of King Belshazzar to learn how we need to be learners of God’s Word.

In the lesson "Heaven Rules" Marcia Jamison takes us through Daniel 4 where we discuss the sovereignty of God. We walk through the dream King Nebuchadnezzar has that warns him to humble himself and repent. We learn the importance of submission to God.

In the lesson "God With Us in the Fire" Michelle Thompson takes us through Daniel 3 where we discuss the courageous faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We want to learn how they were able to be faithful and obedient while in Babylon, which we can use today.  We are also encouraged that God uses trials to grow deep roots of faith which bring glory to His name.

In the lesson "God is in Control " Marcia Jamison takes us through Chapter 2 in the book of Daniel.

When your world seems like it is spinning out of control, remember that God knows just where you are. Give your circumstances over to Him.

In the lesson "How Did We Get Here" Marcia Jamison takes us back to the prophecy before the time of Daniel to discover why God’s people are exiled to Babylon. We end the lesson with instructions on how to live in a secular society with the promise that God has for us: a hope & a future as we learn to seek Him.