WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: ‘You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested’ (James 1:3). Praise God that we don’t fail his tests – we just get to do them again!

Formative assessment
As a teacher, I am always considering how to assess whether my students are really learning. When I was a student, there was a lot of emphasis on the test at the end of the unit of work.

Today teachers acknowledge the value of checking progress throughout – the buzzword for this is ‘formative assessment’ – it’s part of the learning and helps the class stay on track.

Gideon’s development
God is the greatest teacher and he understood formative assessment long before the phrase was created. Gideon is being developed into the ‘strong warrior’ God made him to be.

In yesterday’s passage he had a personal encounter with God and his response was worship; so far so good. Today’s task is a little more demanding: destroy the town’s main object of worship.

Going in the strength he has
Notice how Gideon is afraid but still obeys (v 27). God had told him not to be afraid (v 23) so he doesn’t score 100 per cent for this task, but he has learned enough to move on to Strong Warrior Stage II. He is given a new name and, more importantly, the Holy Spirit (v 34).

He goes in the strength he has (v 14), and calls Israel to arms. Even so, the shortcomings of his faith are clear in his request for further assurances (v 36).

Respond: Don’t let your fears or lack of faith stop you from obedience. Trust and obey.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-08-09