Judges: Wicked People, Gracious God
The News makes the world look like an awful place, full of murder, adultery & evil. The book of Judges makes the News look good. Judges plots the descent of Israel into a spiralling cycle of idolatry, sin & disregard for the God who rescued them from Egypt. Judges is dark, it’s uncomfortable, it’s humanity at its worst.
But God’s light shines in the darkness & God’s grace is on display.
‘The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord… The anger of the Lord burned against Israel… But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer…’ (Judges 3:7-9)
In Christ we have been brought to fullness, we have everything we need in Christ. Therefore, we should see to it that we aren't taken captive by the empty philosophies…
God reveals the greatest mystery of the universe to us. It's by this mystery that God grows and matures to be like Christ.
Jesus is God’s beloved Son in, through, and for whom everything was made, out of overflowing love.
The truth is that Christians have a future hope and this hope should shape everything. Paul shows us how it shapes the Christian life, particularly in prayer and encouragement.
Jesus meets a man who has a problem- but then Jesus surprises him by healing his bigger problem.
We all face suffering and difficulty in life. Can we have any hope in the face of that?
We all face suffering and difficulty in life. Can we have any hope in the face of that?
We all face suffering and difficulty in life. Can we have any hope in the face of that?
We're always wanting more. More money, better holidays, a newer car, improved family situation, better friends… But when is it ever enough? Jesus sees through all of that and shows…
Jesus offers us true rest for this life and eternity