Author: Andrew Griffin

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We don’t need another hero!

Sunday 10th December 2023

Read: Judges 14:1-15:20; Judges 16:1-31

Sermon: Judges 14-16

Judges 1-13 Samson and the A, B, C, D, E of Judges

14:1-15:20 The saviour delivers Israel, part 1
14:1-4 The Lord’s unknown purposes

14:5-20 some ‘telling’ things about Samson
14:5-9 HE DIDN’T TELL HIS PARENTS

14:10-20 HE TOLD HIS WIFE

15:1-8 The Lord’s purposes against the Philistines by Samson’s wife

15:14-20 Samson begins to deliver Israel

16:1-31 The saviour delivers Israel, part 2
16:1-3 another woman, another opportunity against the Philistines

16:4-22 Samson tells his woman, again

16:23-31 Samson continues to deliver Israel

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Despised and rejected

Sunday 26th November 2023

Read: Judges 10:1-11:11; Judges 11:12-12:15

Sermon: Judges 10:1-12:15

10:1-5 The A, B, C, D, E, cycle continues

10:6-16 The Ammonite oppression and the Lord: Israel vs the Lord
10:6-9 the Ammonites oppress Israel

10:10-16 the Lord’s exasperation at Israel’s misery

10:17-11:11 The Ammonite oppression and Jephthah: The elders vs Jephthah
10:17-11:3 Who will fight the Ammonites?

11:4-11 Jephthah’s exploitation of Israel’s misery

11:12-28 Whose land is it: Jephthah vs Ammonite king

11:29-40 Jephthah vs his daughter
11:29-33 a foolish vow

11:34-40 why continue with a wicked vow (Lev. 5:4-6)?

12:1-7 Jephthah vs the Ephraimites

12:8-15 The A, B, C, D, E, cycle continues

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Abimelech and his empty men

Sunday 19th November 2023

Read: Psalm 103; Romans 12:9-13, 19; Judges 8:29-9:57

Sermon: Judges 8:29-9:57

Introduction: “What goes around comes around”: karma, retribution & revenge

8:29-35. Farewell Gideon, introducing Abimelech

9:1-6. Abimelech is made king; Jotham escapes

9:7-21. Jotham’s fable

9:22-57. The Decline and fall of Abimelech

Conclusion: honour where it’s due; leave revenge to God
(Romans 12:9-13; Psalm 7:12-16; Romans 12:19)

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Mighty warrior or least of all his family? (Part 1)

Sunday 5th November 2023

Read: Psalm 79; Judges 6:1-8:3

Sermon: Judges 6:1-8:3

Judges 1-5 The downward spiral

Judges 6:1-10 The usual cycle continues?
6:1-7 the usual A, B, C of Judges

6:8-10 a departure from the usual

 

6:11-8:3 The usual unexpected salvation
6:11-24 weakest in Manasseh or mighty warrior?

6:25-32 clean up your own backyard first


6:33-8:3 salvation by God’s hand

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Honor to whom honor is owed

Sunday 29th October 2023

Read: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43; Judges 4:1-5:31

Sermon: Judges 4:1-5:31

4:1-3 A-B-C again

4:4-24 Yahweh’s surprising deliverance

5:1-31 The work of God celebrated in song

5:2-3 The song’s theme and audience

5:4-5 Yahweh’s awesome power

5:6-11c Israel’s desperate plight

5:11d-23 Israel’s mixed report-card

5:24-30 Triumph and tragedy: the perspective of two women

5:31 The prayer of God’s people

Conclusion: waiting for the sunrise (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

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Living among the Canaanites in the Promised Land

Sunday 8th October 2023

Read: Joshua 2:1-24; Judges 1:1-2:5

Sermon: Judges 1:1-2:5

Judges 1:1-2 The LORD’s word of covenant confirmation


Judges 1:3-21 The Southern tribes ‘go up,’ defeat and drive out the Canaanites (mostly)
1:3-8 starting well in getting rid of idolatry and evil from the land and Jerusalem


1:9-17 strong examples and co-operation


1:18-21 darkening skies


Judges 1:22-36 The Northern tribes ‘go up,’ defeat and do not drive out the Canaanites
1:22-26 spying out the land – again


1:27-36 …. did not drive out the inhabitants of ….


Judges 2:1-5 The LORD ‘goes up,’ and gives a word of covenant judgment