JUDGES: THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN - A Survey of the Bible
Judges: The World Turned Upside Down
A Survey of the Bible
For the bulletin in PDF form click here.
Context: Who, When, Where, and Why?
• Who composed Judges?
• When did he write?
• Where were he and his audience?
• Why was he writing?
Content: How and What?
• How is Judges organized?
Two Fold Introduction:
• Political: Failure to Complete the Task of Driving Out the Canaanites (1:1-2:5)
• Theological: Failure to Raise Up a New Generation in Faith (2:6-3:6)
The Tragic Decline of a Nation - The Israelites Look Like the Canaanites (3:7-16:31)
• OTHNIEL: The Model Judge (3:7-11)
• EHUD: Left-handed Assassin (3:12-30)
- SHAMGAR: Another Judge (3:31)
• DEBORAH and BARAK: The Rise of a Women of Valor (4:1-5:31)
• GIDEON: A Man with a Great God & A Weak Faith (6:1-8:32)
* Abimelech: The Son of Gideon - Not a Judge (9:1-57)
- TOLA: Another Judge (10:1-2)
- JAIR: Another Judge (10:3-5)
• JEPHTHAH: A Shrewd Man & A Rash Vow (10:6-12:7)
- IBZAN: Another Judge (12:8-10)
- ELON: Another Judge (12:11-12)
- ABDON: Another Judge (12:13-15)
• SAMSON: A Fool God Uses (13:1-16:31)
Two-Fold Conclusion:
• Theological: Failure of Spiritual Leadership (17:1-18:31)
• Political: Civil War Destroys the Nation (19:1-21:25)
• What is the message of Judges?
Conviction: So What?
• What should we believe?
- The Lord is faithful to do all that He promised - including discipline His people.
- God will not abandon his people; He will let them experience consequences.
- We need more than a dynamic human leader. We need the Son of God.
• How should we behave?
- Put all your hope and trust in King Jesus!
• Where does this fit?
- A demonstration of the need for a Monarchy ultimately led by the Son of God.
Next Steps
• Stop putting your hope and trust in dynamic personalities and human institutions.
• Commit yourself to be faithful to God in the midst of a corrupt culture.
• Give your undying allegiance to Jesus Christ.
This Week’s Growth Guide
God’s Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.
•. Monday - Judges 1:1-18
•. Tuesday - Judges 3:7-30
•. Wednesday - Judges 4:1-24
•. Thursday - Judges 5:1-31
•. Friday - Judges 17:1-18:31
Home Church
Our Home Churches meet weekly to facilitate quicker relational depth, study the same passage taught Sunday to help apply Scripture in the context of community, and pray with one another. Home Church helps our body seek God’s best for one another.
Home Church Questions
• Read Judges 4:1-24.
• Was there anything new or insightful in this message?
• Was there anything you know you can or should immediately apply?
• What did you struggle with in this message? What did not make sense or caused you to evaluate your own life more deeply?
• How would your life personally, or the life of your family be different if you fully live out the truths in this message?
• Why would an entire book of the Bible contain overwhelming human failures?
• Why do we tend to idolize people in the Bible like Samson?
• Where do we misplace our trust and hope? Government? Retirement Portfolio? Family? Friends?
• Discuss the similarities of the book of Judges to our day and age.
• How can we stand against the cultural drift and not “do that which is right in our own eyes”?
Finances
Weekly Budget 31,390
Giving For 12/25 24,243
Giving For 01/01 57,168
YTD Budget 847,523
YTD Giving 798,729
OVER/(UNDER) (48,794)
Fellowship 101
We invite you to join us Sunday morning, January 22, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship.
This is a great opportunity to learn about our mission, values, and ministries. If you’re new to Fellowship, join us in the conference room (First floor) to hear what God is doing and where He is taking us. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders who are there to answer your questions. We’re excited to meet you! Register at fellowshipconway/register
New to Fellowship?
We are so glad that you joined the Fellowship Family to worship this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift.
Get Connected in a Home Church
Fellowship’s desire is for everyone to be relationally connected. The primary way we do this is in Home Churches – small groups that meet in living rooms to apply God’s Word, pray, and to serve together. Go to fellowshipconway.org/home church for more information.
Men’s Fellowship
Men, join us for breakfast, fellowship, and prayer Wednesday, January 11, 5:30-6:30 a.m. Text 501-434-4449 and let us know you’re coming.
Women’s Fellowship Cake Decorating Class
Join us starting Thursday, January 12 for five weeks, 6:30-7:30 p.m. here at Fellowship. To sign-up and a list of supplies needed, contact Susan Woole at 501-269-2666. For child care text Shanna at 501-336-0332.
Worship Night
Join the Fellowship family for a night of worship and praise Sunday, January 22, 6:30 p.m. Child care is provided by RSVP by texting Shanna at 501-336-0332.
Fellowship KIds Family Game Night
Bring your whole family and join us at Fellowship Friday, January 27, 6-8:00 p.m. as we play games, eat snacks, and have lots of fun! If you have a favorite board game, bring it with you to share with friends.
Josiah Venture Spring Conference Virtual Yard sale
In 2023, we are taking a team to the Czech Republic (April 29 - May 9) to serve missionaries. We would greatly appreciate your prayers for our team and welcome your help with raising the funds to cover the
expense of the trip. You can be part a by donating stuff you no longer need. We will have a “rolling virtual yard sale” that will kick off on January 9. For more information go to fellowshipconway.org/register.