God Above all: A Study of the Book of Judges Great Lessons from the Judges series Pastor John Lloyd December 12-13, 2015 As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, many things vie for our attention. Let s spend time focusing on the lessons God wants us to learn from our series God above all: A study of the book of Judges. I call them the Greatest Hits of Judges! We pray that these lessons will become real in our lives as we seek to love our Savior with all of our hearts, souls and minds. Enjoying the Journey, Pastor John Memory Verse: Judges 5:2 That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD! A. God is always reaching out to us even in our most desperate. Judges 2:16Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them. (Luke 19:10) God relentlessly offers his grace to people who do not deserve it, or seek it, or even appreciate it after they have been saved by it. B. God raises up from places we would not expect. Judges 3:15Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. ( I Corinthians 1:25-29)
C. God uses whatever, and we surrender to Him. Judges 3:31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel. D. Amazing things happen when leaders offer themselves to His service. Memory Verse: Judges 5:2 That the leaders took the lead in Israel, that the people offered themselves willingly, bless the LORD! Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Building His Church by Building His People-Ephesians) There is a need for constant renewal in our lives here on earth, and will make a way to make that a reality. Keller Lord renew our passion: Passionate Welcome, Word, Worship, Way of Life, and Witness! (Next Series) E. People awake to God s, awaken others. Judges 5:12 Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. F. God sees us for in us, not how we see ourselves.
Judges 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor. 2 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1 G. It s not about how many are against us, it s about who is us. Judges 7:2 The LORD said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, My own hand has saved me. (I Sam.14:6) H. We need a true, to which all human saviors point, through both flaws and strengths. Judges 16:6 So Delilah said to Samson, Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you. (Hebrews 4:15, Acts 4:12, John 14:6) Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Ephesians 2:14) Remember that God is in charge no matter what it looks like. May God bring His peace even during times of chaos. Invite a friend to our Christmas program God s Peace on Earth next Sat. 4pm, and Sunday 8, 9:45, 11:30am. Christmas Eve. 3:30pm and 5:30pm.
Growth Group Questions for December 16 Judges 1. Which verses in Judges would be most helpful for you to memorize so you have them always available in your mind and heart for the Holy Spirit to use? Greatest hits verses 2. Consider these themes and write down how you have seen these fulfilled in the book of Judges and in your life. (pgs.10-12) God relentlessly offers his grace to people who do not deserve it, or seek it, or even appreciate it after they have been saved by it. 3. God wants lordship over every area of our lives, not just some. (give examples from greatest hits of Judges & personally) 4. There is a tension between grace and law, between conditionality and unconditionality. We find in Judges a seeming contradiction. On the one hand, God demands obedience because he is holy. On the other hand, he makes promises of commitment and loyalty to his people. Will his holiness and his conditional commands (Do this and then I ll do this) override his promises (I will always be with you, no matter what you do), or will his promises override his commands? Put it this way are his promises conditional, or unconditional? Judges is crucial, in that it shows that neither answer to that question is right. (Greatest hits examples from Judges) 5. There is a need for continual spiritual renewal in our lives here on earth, and a way to make that a reality. Judges shows that spiritual decline is inevitable, and spiritual renewal then becomes the continual need. (Greatest hits examples from Judges and your life) 6. We need a true Savior, to which all human saviors point, through both their flaws and strengths. How has Judges pointed us to this greatest hits need? How have you seen this? 7. God is in charge, no matter what it looks like. The most pervasive theme may be the easiest to miss! God often seems almost absent from the scene in Judges, but he never is. He works out his will through weak people, and in spite of weak people. His purposes are never thwarted, regardless of appearances. The mills of God may grind slow, but they grind exceeding fine. (give examples from Judges and your life) Our next study will be Renewing your Spiritual Passion, a study of the book of Ephesians: Building His Church by Building His People!