One of the most memorable men from the book of Judges is also the last of the rescuers listed in the book. It’s that man renowned for his strength, as well as the man who lived what would be a dysfunctional and tragic life: Samson. Despite how little Samson looks to God or defers to His plan, God still shows up and brings His purposes to fruition. Join us as we dive into the first of two weeks exploring this epic strongman of a judge.

This week, we come across a judge who starts as an outcast, a reject, but who becomes the deliverer and hero for his people. While Jephthah’s story is encouraging in some regards, he makes, and then follows through, on a tragic vow he never should have even put to words in the first place. Join as as we dive into this life that both serves as a cautionary tale, and also points us to the better rescuer in Jesus.

As we come to the close of Gideon’s story, everything takes a tragic turn as his eyes progressively turn away from God and onto himself. While Gideon in Judges 6 and, especially in, Judges 7 is a life to seek to emulate as he grows to trust fully in what God is up to and becomes obedient to whatever God would ask of him….Gideon in Judges 8 is a precautionary tale of pride and what happens when we become a slave to our own success. And despite a tragic ending, God does not give up on his people.

In Romans 8:28, we read that in “ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him.” It’s a grand promise of God and his faithfulness, but one that we can also misunderstand. Listen along as Pastor Dave Binkley walks us through this passage and explores through the life of Joseph in Genesis exemplifies the truth of Romans 8:28.

This week, we step into the first half of Gideon’s story, where we see God show up in powerful and incredible ways. Despite his initial repeated doubts regarding his own ability, as well as doubting God’s ability and faithfulness, we see Gideon become a man of deep faith and rich trust in Judges ch7 as he’s willing to follow God with whatever may come his way.

Stepping into Judges, the first quartet of judges/rescuers ends with God working through Deborah & Barak  (and Jael) to free the Israelites from the oppressive grip of a tyrant king.  The pinnacle of the account is in 4:14, with Deborah telling Barak, “Go!  This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.  Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?”  

Join us today as we dive into Judges 4 and look to the God who has gone ahead of us.

This summer, we’re diving into the book of Judges, which follows Israel’s descent into chaos and God’s faithfulness through it all. Join us as we explore the repeated cycle through the book, and the longing for a better judge/rescuer/savior/king that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

Who do we trust in the mess? That’s the question we’ll explore as we wrap up our series on Esther with a look at the life of Mordecai, a man who sought not his own gain but to save others lives….and trusted in God’s promises through it all.

As we continue our series through the book of Esther, this week we focus on the book’s namesake, Esther. She didn’t make a mess of things for herself or her people, but Esther still had a big mess to deal with nonetheless. Join us as we seek to answer the question, “When the mess comes to us, how do we respond?”