Sermons from July 2016
Miracle Man and Revenge: Samson, Part 1
Samson (Judges 13:1-15:20) is the miraculous child given by God to bring hope to the Israelites. He is set apart and strengthened with power. Still, he operates as much on revenge as he does on God’s prompting. What happens when a deliverer does God’s work in wrong ways or mixes God’s work and wrong aims together? SERMON OUTLINE “Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the Lord, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now…
The Outcast: Jephthah
Jephthah (Judges 10:6-12:7) was a gritty deliverer from a gritty background. The son of a prostitute, Jephthah was called by God and the people as deliverer almost reluctantly. Empowered by the Spirit, however, Jephthah brings a mighty victory over the Ammonites, but inflicts a terrible justice afterwards. SERMON OUTLINE What are the Israelites continuing to do? What is evil in the sight of the Lord Worshiping the gods of the people they had conquered Forsaking what God has done for them…
The Bramble King: Abimelek
Abimelek (Judges 9:1-57) follows the way in which his father, Gideon, lived the latter part of his life, setting himself up as king by murdering his brothers and oppressing the people. Abimelek’s story is in one sense the conclusion of Gideon’s story, but it also shows us what happens when a ruler walks away from God. SERMON OUTLINE “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’” (Judges 9:14 ESV) The Beginnings of the Bramble…
All’s Well that Ends Well?: Gideon, Part 2
Gideon starts well (last week), but ends his life with bloodshed and idolatry, losing sight of the most important matters of serving God. It is easy as men and women of God to start well, but it is much harder to end well. What can we learn from Gideon (Judges 8:1-35) about beginning and ending well with God? SERMON OUTLINE “Now there was no king in the land, and everyone did what was right in his own opinion.” (Judges 21:25)…
Strength in Weakness: Gideon, Part 1
Gideon’s story in Judges 6:1-7:25 tracks an unexpected leader with plenty of doubts who moves to surprising victory. God tells Gideon to cut his army down from thousands to a hundred to remove the opportunity of boasting “my own strength has saved me” (7:2). What happens from there is the lore of great stories that show the power of God bringing strength in weakness. SERMON OUTLINE “Follow me Gideon and I will make you a kinsman redeemer of your people.”…