Titus 3:3-7 | For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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We’re jumping ahead to judge number nine- Jephthah. Judges tells us—

Judges 11:1 | Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior.

The great warrior Jephthah had a rough start to his life. His father Gilead wasn’t married to Jephthah’s mom. Instead, he was married to another woman who he already had several sons with. Apparently, these boys didn’t like Jephthah much.

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2nd Corinthians 4:7 | We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

1st Corinthians 1:27 | Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

• What does 2nd Corinthians 4:7 mean when it calls people “fragile clay jars?” How is this a weakness?

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Isaiah 40:28-31 | Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

• What evidence of God’s power can we see in creation?

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Ephesians 3:20 | Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

• How is worrying about our weaknesses like relying on our own power?

• How does relying on your own power limit what you can do and your impact on God’s kingdom?

• According to Ephesians 3:20, who’s

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Isaiah 41:10 | Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

• How can fear be a weakness?

• What are some things that you fear? Why?

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Romans 8:26-28 | And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

• Do you ever hide your weaknesses from others? Why?

• Who helps us in our weakness? How?

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2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 | Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• What are some of your weaknesses?

• What promise does God give us about our weaknesses?

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