Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Have you ever said, “I can’t do this”?

Maybe it was something at work or home, or a season in life that was overwhelming.

Maybe it was something you felt God was calling you to do, but you were ill-prepared or doubted your ability.

Many times, we see only the impossibilities in a situation, while God is trying to show us our role in his story of redemption.

One biblical character who was skeptical of God’s call was Gideon.

The first thing we can learn from Gideon is...

God often gives us more than we can handle.

Overview of Judges - Chart...

- We find Gideon in the 4th period of Oppression - And it is pretty bad....

He is threshing wheat in a winepress - symbol of lack.

His Father’s property is the central place of Idol worship.

Israel, including Gideon and his town are crying out to God, but not turning towards him away from his idols.

Spoiler - Alert, Gideon becomes the source for Israel’s idolatry because of his pride, and he does some not so good things later as well.

He is almost hopelessly cowardly in the entire story.

Story of Gideon and why God is working with what He’s Got - Gideon along with all Israel are the most unlikely choice.

But this demonstrates God’s Commitment and Faithfulness to His people even when they are completely unfaithful to the covenant.

His Grace.

Can you recall any impossible situations that God redeemed you from, or impossible situations that he called you to?

Leadership Development - Down to a handful of leaders and they started to multiply.

Quiting my job to do an internship - 1 year of praying.

Ben getting Leukemia.

The Eggstravaganza.

The transition from New Hope to South Blendon.

Bring in a fleece.

One thing that we can emulate from Gideon is...

Overcoming fears requires honest communication with God.

1. Herbert Wolf writes, “The angel’s words seem out of line with the timid actions of Gideon, and Gideon himself challenged their validity.

Actually, the promise of the Lord’s presence was intended to encourage Gideon, just as the same assurance led Moses to take the Israelites out of Egypt.

‘The Lord is with you’ is in fact the basic meaning of the name Yahweh (YHWH), revealed to Moses at Mount Sinai” (Herbert Wolf, “Judges,” in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary 3 [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992], 419).

1. “Gideon was afraid, but when he finally put his trust in God and obeyed, the Israelites were freed from seven years of oppression.

There will always be moments in life when we are worried to give ourselves over to God, but the truth is we can trust him with our tomorrows.

Obedience does not require us to be fearless, it only asks that we have the faith to follow God in difficult times” (Ryan Duncan, “What Gideon in the Bible Can Teach You about Overcoming Fear,” Crosswalk, April 4, 2017, https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/what-gideon-in-the-bible-can-teach-you-about-overcoming-fear.html).

Praying about prayer cards for a service, how will I have time to do this, and then Diane Showed up.

Gary Haugen of International Justice Ministry - from the Leadership Summit.

- What do you do when the work seems , hopeless & hard?

Recenter ourselves in Hope.

Not what we can do, but what God can do.

If God wants to do it, he will do it

God doesn’t ask what was needed, but what we have.

Jesus did not come to make us safe, but to make us brave.

The Harder the Task, the more spiritual health we need - The more we need to get down on our knees and pray.

God Guides Story.

Conclusion: What is God doing today that seems impossible?

What happened in the past?

How can you honestly stay in communication with God about it?