Today we look at the famous story of the judge Gideon in Judges 6 and 7. Pastor Ryan focuses on the spiritual aspect that Gideon had a little, included faith, yet God told him to use what he had, and God would do the rest! With God, even a little is sufficient, as our God will make sure that it is sufficient, and His Will be done!

In Judges chapter 4 we look at Deborah, a wise woman made wise with the power of the Holy Spirit, a strong, confident judge you sees God's plan for her and for Israel. We also look at her compatriot Barak, strong, not as confident, but exercises faith to follow God (and join Deborah) though he does not know the outcome of their battle with the evil Canaanite king Jabin. Chapter 5 is a paean of victory sung by both, revealing enemies of God, allies of God and passive bystanders, uncommitted to the battle against evil. Pastor Ryan leads us in study of all three, with the simple, direct challenge from Gods word: which one are you?

We study the detailed and dramatic narrative of the judge Ehud (Judges 3:12-30). Here, God empowers the "fat" Moab king Eglon to lord over Istael, and to teach His children to return to Him, using Ehud to righteously judge Israel's enemy and defeat them. Pastor Ryan also uses this story as an analogy for our lives in Christ, where Eglon represents those "gross" and obvious sins that we must radically address with the 2-edged sword of Ehud; our sin must be dealt with and through the Holy Spirit's power return to the Lordship of the loving Christ.

We look at Judges 2:5 - 3:11.

Pastor Symps speaks directly to the heart of Israel's sin (and by representation, ours!), repeatedly abandoning the God of their salvation to worship other idols (as we do today!). The next generation after Joshua hardly knew the Lord God of mercy!

We also look at the first of the recorded judges, Othniel, and discern what made him a man that God had chosen to lead.

Pastor Ryan begins us on a new journey through the book of Judges, where "everyone did that which was right in their own eyes". Today, we look at 3 portions of the book from chapters 1 and 8, and the ending. Israel starts on the right track, yet the book follows course that is disastrous - a question we could ask ourselves today: "HOW did we get here!?" In our designated scripture we learn of Israel's failure to worship, failure to obey, and failure to be united. Again, lessons for today!

BCC enters into a service of dedicated prayer for the many ministry facets conducted in and by our body. Interlaced, found here, are four short devotionals, highlighting each of the pillars of our church's mission: steadfast worship, healing community, uncommon unity, and faithful witness (see also our sermon series on "Following Jesus Together", 9/1/19 to 12/1/19).

Today, a special day to start the New Year, we are engaged in a service of lament, to give to the Lord our pain of loss in 2021, experienced both individually and as a body. Pastor Symps leads us through a devotional of Psalm 13, using this passage as an instruction on how David poured his heart out to God, and how we too can appeal to our Father with our lament.

So goes the famous Christmas Carol, "long lay the world, in sin and error pining.' Pastor Ryan uses this deep Christmas devotional to explain the depth if the word "pining" and the Goodie;l of John's answer:

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14). Jesus, our cure for our pining of sin and error, inexhaustible grace, irrefutable truth!

Today Pastor Ryan hones in on the divine attribute of Jesus, Who is the Light of the World, emphasizing John 1: 1-9. We learn that darkness reveals, bit the Light (of Jesus) reveals. The Gospel is here Good News, and Christmas celebrates the tremendous reality that God entered into our darkness to reveal what sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil is trying so desperately to conceal: that God is good, and He wants you and I to know Him.

Our BCC children and youth ministries lead the congregation in a celebration of Christmas, through song, play and messages. In Jesus is Truth and Light! Pastor Symps finishes the celebration with a devotional message, expounding on the reality that the message of the Nativity must include Christ's work on the Cross.