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Leader Guide

Teaching

Copy the Pitcher and Torch Pattern from Lesson 1 for any children who missed the previous lessons. You may copy them in color or black and white.

Copy the Torch Signpost Pattern in color or black and white onto cardstock if possible.

Cut out each torch and place it in the pitcher. 

Have a different child remove a torch in order—1, 2, 3—from the pitcher and read it aloud. Discuss the information below. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Today, we are going to discuss the Signposts we saw in our video about how events in Gideon’s life point us to Jesus.

Signpost 1—Identity in Jesus

Gideon did not think of himself as strong at all. He saw himself as unimportant and a member of the smallest tribe of Israel. Yet God saw Gideon as a mighty warrior who would lead Israel into battle! 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we can do all things through Christ! Why?

Because God is with us always! Immanuel is one of the names given to Jesus. Immanuel actually means “God is with us.”

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 TO DISCUSS 

Philippians 4:13 (nkjv):

  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Isaiah 7:14b: 

Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Signpost 2—The Judge

After Gideon and his tiny army defeated the Midianites in battle, the Israelites wanted to make Gideon their king. Did he agree?

No, Gideon refused to be their king. He told the people that the Lord was their only ruler. Gideon knew that his victory came only by God and he would not take the glory or credit! Gideon knew he was a judge, not a king, put in place by God for that time to save the people.

After Jesus performed a great miracle, the crowd wanted to make Jesus their king to rule over them on the earth. This was not yet Jesus’ time to rule. He understood that He would not be an ordinary king with an earthly kingdom. He knew God’s plan was for Him to die on the cross for our sins, then rise from the dead to give us new life and reign as the King of kings in heaven forever!

The Hebrew word for judge also means defender and savior. Jesus is a righteous judge; our Defender and Savior! Jesus said He came to judge the world and give sight to the blind. Jesus was not only talking about seeing with our physical eyes, but also with our spiritual sight—seeing and believing the truth that He is the one and only Savior of the world! 

Jesus is also our defender who protects us from harm. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd who cares for, watches over, and defends His sheep. And who are His sheep? Us!  

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 TO DISCUSS 

John 6:14–15:

14 When the people saw Him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, He is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force Him to be their king, He slipped away into the hills by Himself.

John 9:39: 

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

John 10:11:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3:

 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

1 John 4:14:

We have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.

Signpost 3—Saved by Faith

God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to 10,000, and then to only 300 men! God did this so Israel would not be able to boast that their victory came by their own ability and power. He wanted them to know that victory came only by His power and might!

This part of the story reminds us that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Salvation is not a reward for our good deeds or our great accomplishments. Salvation is a gift from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, who gives us the victory! We cannot take the credit; we don’t earn it or deserve it, so there is nothing for us to brag about! It is only by God’s mercy and grace! Jesus did all the work for us. All we need to do is believe and trust in Him like Gideon!    

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 TO DISCUSS  

Judges 7:2:

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to Me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

Ephesians 2:8–10:

8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. 

God saw Gideon differently than Gideon saw himself. God saw that Gideon had the potential to be mighty when he allowed God’s power to work through him. It is the same with us. In Jesus, we are made new—we are His masterpiece—created to do the great works that He planned for us to do! We are weak. We make mistakes. We disobey God. But when we ask His forgiveness and trust in Him, Jesus’ strength works in our weakness. Because of this, we can accomplish great things for God! Let’s take another look at how God sees us in our Discipleship Challenge.    

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Hand out scissors and Pitcher and Torch Patterns to any children who missed the previous lessons. Display the model craft from Lesson 1 and explain how the children should cut out and assemble the craft.  

Ask those who participated in the challenge last time if they would like to share about what the second set of two verses mean to them. Ask children to learn the final two verses on the torches and discuss the verses with their families.