Added on 15 Sep 2009
Aim
To introduce Gideon as a biblical hero – an ordinary guy, used by God
Introduction
Good morning – How has your summer break been? We hope you have all settled into your new class and that the new children have made some new friends.
Player 1: l need some helpers choose 4, ask the children to tell us who are their heroes? (Using the card write down at least 4 answers).
Great! some good names, l know lets do an × factor type game to decide which one of the heroes you think is the best.
When l call out the name of each hero you clap your hands if you think they are the best, to make sure it is fair we will ask our helpers which hero they think had the most claps.
Ask the children that are helping what makes a good hero? Write down the answers on the flip chart.
Gideon
Actually children heroes are normally ordinary people; today we are going to tell you the story of an ordinary hero from the bible.
Gideon: Right then, Lord, were ready. Well as ready as we will ever be!
God: Hang on Gideon. We’ve got a problem here. You have too many soldiers to fight the Midianites.
Gideon: Too many? Too MANY?
God: That’s right, too many. I don’t want you becoming big headed over this you see. Passing out medals and bragging to me about how you beat the Midianites with your own strength. So here’s what I want you to do. Tell anyone who’s frightened to go home.
Narrator: So Gideon did what the Lord said and 22,000 frightened men went home.
Gideon: Ok Lord, there are 10,000 brave men left. Now were ready to face the battle. (Sighing)
God: Hang on a minute. There are still too many men.
Gideon: Too many? Too MANY?
God: That’s what I said. Too many. We wouldn’t want you getting too big for your britches now, would we? Putting on parades and building monuments because you thought you were big and strong. So, take your army down to the river. Those who drink water from their hands can stay. Those who kneel down and drink straight from the river will have to go.
Narrator: So Gideon did what the Lord told him to do. Some of the men scooped the water into their hands to drink. But most knelt down and stuck their heads in the river. And when it was all over, there were only 300 soldiers left!
Gideon: All right Lord, I guess we’re ready to fight the Midianites now. I’ll just tell the men to get their swords and we’ll be on our way.
God: Swords? Who said anything about swords? Look you can carry them in your belt if you really want to but that isn’t how you’ll win this battle. You see, when this is over I don’t want you going on and on and on about how fierce you were, how noble and mighty and about how you don’t need me any more. I’ve heard it all before. If you want to win this battle you’ll have to do it my way. So I want you to give every man a trumpet, an empty jar and a torch. Got it? And we’ll wait till
night when your enemy is asleep.
Gideon: All right but I’m not convinced about all of this.
Narrator: Despite not being convinced Gideon and his army used their trumpets, torches and jars just as the Lord directed and because of their faith a few hundred men were able to defeat a Midianite army of tens of thousand of men. Gideon was a hero because he trusted in the Lord’s strength and wisdom and not his own.
Reflection
Gideon was a real Hero because he trusted GOD completely, God wanted Gideon to realise that winning the battle was not about having more soldiers than the enemy; it was about Gideon trusting God, and about the awesome power of God.
It wasn’t about Gideon’s MIGHT
It wasn’t about NUMBERS
It wasn’t about Gideon’s POWER
It was about GOD’S POWER
Song
Be Bold Be Strong