Don’t envy the prosperity of the wicked, discern their end

Sunday 17th December 2023

Read: Psalm 73; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Judges 17:1-18:31

Sermon: Judges 17:1-18:31

Introduction “My truth”

17:1-6
“My truth” or God’s truth?

17:7-13
When “My truth” becomes God’s “truth”

18:1-31
Where “My truth” leads

Conclusion
Don’t envy the prosperity of the wicked, discern the end of the faithful (1 Peter 1:3-9)

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

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

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)

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

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)