Preteen Porch Growth Group Questions
Today’s Bible Story: Use Somebody (Gideon) • Judges 6–8
Today’s Key Question: How could God use you?
Today’s Bottom Line: God can use you no matter what.
Monthly Memory Verse: I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
Monthly Life App: Confidence—Learning to see yourself the way God sees you
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Check-In and Hangout (6:30-6:45)
Countdown (6:40-6:45)
Welcome/Tickets/ Opening Activity (6:45-6:55)
Worship/ Video (6:55- 7:05)-
Activity (7:05- 7:15)- Application Activity
Small Group (7:15- 7:30)-Talk about God, Bible Story Review, and Discussion Questions
Sermon Summary (7:40-7:50)
Application and Prayer (7:50- 7:55)
AUDIO: Play high-energy music as students enter.
Theme Loop
OPENER
Alright, let’s all stand up and worship together .!”
WORSHIP
“Happy Day (Remix)” Live Lyrics Video
The So and So Show:
APPLICATION
June 2021 • Week 3 Large Group • Preteen
COMMUNICATOR: “I imagine that Gideon probably thought there was NO WAY things would end the way they did when God shrunk his army down from 32,000 to 300! But you know what I think Gideon thought was even more unbelievable? That God would use him. Gideon was pretty unsure about God using him, and yet, God called Gideon a mighty warrior before any of the rest of the story took place!”
“Maybe God knew more than Gideon about how God could use him.”
“Are we ever like Gideon? Or do you ever have Gideon moments? Maybe you get a part in the school play and you start to second guess how you’ll learn all those lines. Or maybe you’re on the free throw line with seconds on the clock and everyone watching as you prepare to take your shot. It’s easy to think you’re the wrong person for the job. Or maybe your friend is struggling, and you feel like you should help but are afraid you’ll make things worse. You wish there was another person who would help.
“What Gideon forgot was that it wasn’t about the size of his army. He was able to be a ‘mighty warrior’ because God promised to be with him. Confidence isn’t about being the best of the best or having the most of the most. We can have true confidence because we know who we are and, more importantly, who God is. And we know that we can trust God no matter what.”
LANDING
SLIDE: Key Question Slide
“How could God use you? In other words, think about how God made you. What are some big or even small ways God might be looking to use you? It’s okay if you’re not sure how you’d answer that question. We’re all learning how God can use us to make a difference in the world. Thankfully, you have a great Small Group Leader who can help you think through it some more. Before you head out, let’s talk to God and ask Him to help us understand how He can use us. Let’s pray.”
Theme Loop
Lesson Discussion
Bible Story Extension
252 Preteen June 2021 • Week 3 Press Play: Get in the Mix Large Group • Preteen
o Iftheyroll“giveyouropponenttwoextrapoints,”theotherteamgetstwopoints.
o Ifateamrollsthe“Underdog”square,theylosethreepoints.
o What’sonewaytheMidianitesbulliedtheIsraelites?(theystoletheIsraelitescropsand
livestock, stole their food, destroyed their land, etc.)
o WhydidGodsendanangeltoGideon?(totellGideonGodwasgoingtousehimto
defeat the Midianites)
o TrueorFalse:GideonwasselectedbyGodbecausehewasstrongandfromapowerful family. (False)
o WhatwereoneofthesignsGideonaskedfromGod?(Feelfreetorepeatthisquestion since Gideon requested multiple signs)
o HowmanymenstartedoutinGideon’sarmy?(32,000)
o Howmanyendedupstaying?(300)
o WhatdidGideonoverhearwhenhespiedontheMidianitecamp?(TwoMidianitemen
talking about a dream and the meaning of the dream)
o HowdidGideonandhissoldiersdefeattheMidianites?(Theysurroundedthecampand
blew their trumpets, shouted a battle cry, broke jars, and held torches. The Midianites
ran away crying.)
o TrueorFalse?AftertheIsraelitesdefeatedtheMidianites,GideonbecameKingofthe Israelites. (False)
o HowdidGodusehim?
o ImagineyouareGideonandanangeltoldyouGodwassendingyoutosavethe
Israelites. Why do you think Gideon kept asking God for signs?
o HowdoyouthinkGideonfeltwhenhisarmywasreducedfrom32,000mento300men?
Why did God tell Gideon to send so many of his soldiers away?
Discussion Questions
Ask:
Job 1:13-22
What terrible things happened to Job?
How did Job respond to these events?
Have you ever experienced loss similar to Job’s? Explain.
How did you respond? How do you think you would you respond if you lost everything? What are some ways you can worship God through your hardships this week?
Sermon Clip and Discussion
Sermon Discussion (7:35-7:55) (God sees value in you!)
What’s some things you are good at or strengths you have?
How do you use them for yourself?
How do you use them for God?
Do you ever feel like you are not (blank) enough to be used by God? How so?
Tell about a time God used you to make a difference in the world. True or false:
You could be wasting your potential every Sunday service by not giving back. And how does that make you feel?
Application And Prayer Announcements
Today’s Key Question: How could God use you?
Today’s Bottom Line: God can use you no matter what.
Monthly Memory Verse: I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NIV)
Monthly Life App: Confidence—Learning to see yourself the way God sees you
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Check-In and Hangout (6:30-6:45)
Countdown (6:40-6:45)
Welcome/Tickets/ Opening Activity (6:45-6:55)
Worship/ Video (6:55- 7:05)-
Activity (7:05- 7:15)- Application Activity
Small Group (7:15- 7:30)-Talk about God, Bible Story Review, and Discussion Questions
Sermon Summary (7:40-7:50)
Application and Prayer (7:50- 7:55)
AUDIO: Play high-energy music as students enter.
Theme Loop
OPENER
Alright, let’s all stand up and worship together .!”
WORSHIP
“Happy Day (Remix)” Live Lyrics Video
The So and So Show:
APPLICATION
June 2021 • Week 3 Large Group • Preteen
COMMUNICATOR: “I imagine that Gideon probably thought there was NO WAY things would end the way they did when God shrunk his army down from 32,000 to 300! But you know what I think Gideon thought was even more unbelievable? That God would use him. Gideon was pretty unsure about God using him, and yet, God called Gideon a mighty warrior before any of the rest of the story took place!”
“Maybe God knew more than Gideon about how God could use him.”
“Are we ever like Gideon? Or do you ever have Gideon moments? Maybe you get a part in the school play and you start to second guess how you’ll learn all those lines. Or maybe you’re on the free throw line with seconds on the clock and everyone watching as you prepare to take your shot. It’s easy to think you’re the wrong person for the job. Or maybe your friend is struggling, and you feel like you should help but are afraid you’ll make things worse. You wish there was another person who would help.
“What Gideon forgot was that it wasn’t about the size of his army. He was able to be a ‘mighty warrior’ because God promised to be with him. Confidence isn’t about being the best of the best or having the most of the most. We can have true confidence because we know who we are and, more importantly, who God is. And we know that we can trust God no matter what.”
LANDING
SLIDE: Key Question Slide
“How could God use you? In other words, think about how God made you. What are some big or even small ways God might be looking to use you? It’s okay if you’re not sure how you’d answer that question. We’re all learning how God can use us to make a difference in the world. Thankfully, you have a great Small Group Leader who can help you think through it some more. Before you head out, let’s talk to God and ask Him to help us understand how He can use us. Let’s pray.”
Theme Loop
- Divide the group into two teams.
- Teams take turns answering the questions you read to them from the list below.
- Award a point to the teams for each correct answer they give.
- After a team answers correctly, they roll the die.
Lesson Discussion
Bible Story Extension
252 Preteen June 2021 • Week 3 Press Play: Get in the Mix Large Group • Preteen
o Iftheyroll“giveyouropponenttwoextrapoints,”theotherteamgetstwopoints.
o Ifateamrollsthe“Underdog”square,theylosethreepoints.
- Once teams have answered all the questions, declare a winner.
- Questions:
o What’sonewaytheMidianitesbulliedtheIsraelites?(theystoletheIsraelitescropsand
livestock, stole their food, destroyed their land, etc.)
o WhydidGodsendanangeltoGideon?(totellGideonGodwasgoingtousehimto
defeat the Midianites)
o TrueorFalse:GideonwasselectedbyGodbecausehewasstrongandfromapowerful family. (False)
o WhatwereoneofthesignsGideonaskedfromGod?(Feelfreetorepeatthisquestion since Gideon requested multiple signs)
o HowmanymenstartedoutinGideon’sarmy?(32,000)
o Howmanyendedupstaying?(300)
o WhatdidGideonoverhearwhenhespiedontheMidianitecamp?(TwoMidianitemen
talking about a dream and the meaning of the dream)
o HowdidGideonandhissoldiersdefeattheMidianites?(Theysurroundedthecampand
blew their trumpets, shouted a battle cry, broke jars, and held torches. The Midianites
ran away crying.)
o TrueorFalse?AftertheIsraelitesdefeatedtheMidianites,GideonbecameKingofthe Israelites. (False)
- Once a winner is declared, gather kids in a circle.
- Use the following as a guideline for further discussion:
o HowdidGodusehim?
o ImagineyouareGideonandanangeltoldyouGodwassendingyoutosavethe
Israelites. Why do you think Gideon kept asking God for signs?
o HowdoyouthinkGideonfeltwhenhisarmywasreducedfrom32,000mento300men?
Why did God tell Gideon to send so many of his soldiers away?
Discussion Questions
Ask:
- How could God use you to serve other people? Or how could God use you to encourage their family or a friend? What about just showing God’s love to other people? How could God use you to do that?
- What can we do when we are asked to do something and we don’t feel like we are up to the task? Maybe we don’t think we are strong enough or have what it takes or we are just unsure of where to start.
(Refer to the butcher paper from Take a Snapshot Activity.) What words describe a kid who God can use? (The purpose of this question is to emphasize God can use anyone! God can use funny kids, shy kids, loud kids, quiet kids, jocks, musicians, dancers! God can use each and every kid in the group!)
Job 1:13-22
What terrible things happened to Job?
How did Job respond to these events?
Have you ever experienced loss similar to Job’s? Explain.
How did you respond? How do you think you would you respond if you lost everything? What are some ways you can worship God through your hardships this week?
Sermon Clip and Discussion
Sermon Discussion (7:35-7:55) (God sees value in you!)
What’s some things you are good at or strengths you have?
How do you use them for yourself?
How do you use them for God?
Do you ever feel like you are not (blank) enough to be used by God? How so?
Tell about a time God used you to make a difference in the world. True or false:
You could be wasting your potential every Sunday service by not giving back. And how does that make you feel?
Application And Prayer Announcements