Podcasts about scripture judges

Today's Scripture: Judges 11:1-3 In this Daily Devotion, Pastor Sumrall dives into Judges 9 and the dangers of putting blood ties above what is right. Discover the powerful first parable in the Bible—about trees and a thornbush—and what it reveals about leadership, character, and ambition. Loyalty is a strength, but when misused, it can lead to disaster. Learn how to stand for what is right—even when it's against those closest to you ---- Discover fundamental truths and the power of Scripture with Pastor David E. Sumrall on Daily Devotions. Pastor Sumrall is the undershepherd of the Cathedral of Praise, a Christian church dedicated to Jesus and His Word, with campuses across Metro Manila and branches worldwide.   Get to know Cathedral of Praise: https://linktr.ee/cathedralofpraise Learn more about Pastor David Sumrall: https://linktr.ee/davidsumrall Subscribe to Pastor Beverley Sumrall's Podcast: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph/podcasts/praise-moments/ Subscribe to Cathedral of Praise TV: https://www.youtube.com/c/cathedralofpraiseTV/?sub_confirmation=1 Visit our website: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cop.manila Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofpraiseph Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/COPmanila DD - Daily Devotions © 2025 Cathedral of Praise. All rights reserved. This video and its content are the property of Cathedral of Praise. Sharing is allowed only by linking back to the original source. Unauthorized use, reproduction, modification, or distribution is strictly prohibited.

Today's Scripture: Judges 9   When Gideon died, he left behind 70 sons—but it was Abimelek, the son of a slave woman, who seized power by exploiting family loyalty. In this Daily Devotion, Pastor Sumrall dives into Judges 9 and the dangers of putting blood ties above what is right. Discover the powerful first parable in the Bible—about trees and a thornbush—and what it reveals about leadership, character, and ambition. Loyalty is a strength, but when misused, it can lead to disaster. Learn how to stand for what is right—even when it's against those closest to you ---- Discover fundamental truths and the power of Scripture with Pastor David E. Sumrall on Daily Devotions. Pastor Sumrall is the undershepherd of the Cathedral of Praise, a Christian church dedicated to Jesus and His Word, with campuses across Metro Manila and branches worldwide.   Get to know Cathedral of Praise: https://linktr.ee/cathedralofpraise Learn more about Pastor David Sumrall: https://linktr.ee/davidsumrall Subscribe to Pastor Beverley Sumrall's Podcast: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph/podcasts/praise-moments/ Subscribe to Cathedral of Praise TV: https://www.youtube.com/c/cathedralofpraiseTV/?sub_confirmation=1 Visit our website: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cop.manila Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofpraiseph Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/COPmanila DD - Daily Devotions © 2025 Cathedral of Praise. All rights reserved. This video and its content are the property of Cathedral of Praise. Sharing is allowed only by linking back to the original source. Unauthorized use, reproduction, modification, or distribution is strictly prohibited.

Today's Scripture: Judges 6–8 We all know Gideon as the unlikely hero God used to deliver Israel—but what we often overlook is just how deeply fear ran in his life and even in his family. In this Daily Devotion, Pastor Sumrall walks us through Gideon's journey in Judges 6–8, showing us how God calls out our potential even while we're still battling fear. God called Gideon a “Mighty Hero” while he was hiding. The same way He calls out greatness in you, even when you feel weak or afraid. Fear doesn't disappear overnight—but God understands and patiently leads us through it, giving us the courage to step into His promises. ---- Discover fundamental truths and the power of Scripture with Pastor David E. Sumrall on Daily Devotions. Pastor Sumrall is the undershepherd of the Cathedral of Praise, a Christian church dedicated to Jesus and His Word, with campuses across Metro Manila and branches worldwide.   Get to know Cathedral of Praise: https://linktr.ee/cathedralofpraise Learn more about Pastor David Sumrall: https://linktr.ee/davidsumrall Subscribe to Pastor Beverley Sumrall's Podcast: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph/podcasts/praise-moments/ Subscribe to Cathedral of Praise TV: https://www.youtube.com/c/cathedralofpraiseTV/?sub_confirmation=1 Visit our website: https://cathedralofpraisemanila.com.ph Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cop.manila Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathedralofpraiseph Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/COPmanila DD - Daily Devotions © 2025 Cathedral of Praise. All rights reserved. This video and its content are the property of Cathedral of Praise. Sharing is allowed only by linking back to the original source. Unauthorized use, reproduction, modification, or distribution is strictly prohibited.

In this episode of The Story of Scripture, the Israelites go from bad to worse. By the end of the book, the God's chosen people reflect the character and values of their idolatrous, violent neighbors, instead of Yahweh. Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss what we can learn from these tragic narratives and how it connects with the book of Ruth.

Today's Scripture: Judges 6   Ever felt unqualified for what God is asking you to do? In today's Daily Devotions, Pastor Sumrall unpacks Gideon's story from Judges 6—a relatable moment where a hesitant heart meets God's unstoppable purpose. Gideon had doubts, questions, and insecurities: “Why has this happened? Where are the miracles? I'm the least in my family!” But God simply said, “Go in the strength you have… I will be with you.”  

In this episode of The Story of Scripture, Ted Rysksoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss the increasingly disappointing and disturbing history of God's people during the time of the judges. Ted wears pink in solidarity with the women who experience the worst effects of the sin of the Israelites, Rachel admits this is not her favorite book of Scripture, and Lance reminds them of our need for a good King.

On this Palm Sunday, Pastor Blake lead us through one of the most sobering sections in Scripture—Judges 19–21. In the second part of the message titled “Life Without The King,” we confront the painful realities of human brokenness, injustice, and denial. These final chapters of Judges challenge us not to look away from darkness, but to recognize our deep need for a righteous King.

In this episode of The Story of Scripture, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester discuss Gideon and Jepthah. These two judges of Israel seem to be faithful leaders, but inevitably lead God's people further into idolatry and violence. In these hard-to-read stories, there is both the depth of human depravity, and the surprising, patient faithfulness of God.

In this episode of the Bible Reading Plan Recap, Ted Ryskoski, Lance Lawson, and Rachel Chester jump into a new part of the Story of Scripture in the book of Judges. God has delivered the descendants of Abraham from slavery, made him his people, promised them blessing, and led them to the promised land. How will the people of God respond?

Scripture: Judges 11:1-11, and 11:29-40 Dear Church, If we don't know God, we cannot make an acceptable sacrifice. Even if we want to. In the book of Judges, there is a terrible, tragic and important story about a man named Jephthah and his only daughter. Jephthah was one of the judges of Israel. He was … Continue reading "An Acceptable Sacrifice-Week 2 // Knowing God // Pastor Kate Murphy"

Scripture: Judges 16:23-30 Speaker: Bishop John D. Perry II

Faith isn't always about seeing the victory in advance; it's trusting that God goes ahead of us. This week Cath Tallack explores one of the Bible's most intense and uplifting stories of faith, obedience, and divine intervention! Through the story of Deborah, discover what it means for God to go before you in life's toughest battles, and how to trust Him through seemingly impossible situations. Whether you're facing a personal struggle or just seeking inspiration, this message is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and might. | Scripture | Judges 4–5 Romans 1

Scripture:  Judges 2:10-16, Judges 10:16, Judges 2:10, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Judges 21:25, Romans 5:8 Speaker:  Scott Meyer Summary: This sermon emphasizes the cycle of Israel's rebellion, repentance, and deliverance in the Book of Judges. It begins by illustrating how Israel repeatedly turns away from God, faces oppression, and then cries out for rescue, only to fall back into idolatry once a judge dies. Scott warns that neglecting God's instructions can lead to decay and emphasizes the importance of passing faith to the next generation. He draws a parallel to modern-day idolatry, urging believers to put their hope in Jesus rather than political systems or personal idols. The sermon concludes by affirming Jesus as the ultimate, perfect judge who breaks this cycle by shedding His own blood for our deliverance.

Scripture: Judges 6:11-18, Mark 16:15-20, Philippians 4:19, Ephesians 3:14-16 A Network That Beats To The Heart Of God.Sermon: Go YeSpeaker: Dr. Brian Miller-Global Transformation MinistriesSunday, October 6, 2024https://linktr.ee/thepulsewv

Pastor Todd shares Friday's devotional podcast from Bible Fellowship Church. [Scripture: Judges 10]

Scripture: Judges 9

Scripture: Judges 4-5

Welcome to the official YouTube channel of Crown Ministries International. The place where everybody is somebody, and God is ALL. We pray you have a royal worship experience with The Lord, as you are watch this rebroadcast. Speaker: Bishop Jonathan Shaw Sermon: "A Left Handed Victory" Scripture: Judges 3:12-23 Date: July 14, 2024 STAY CONNECTED WITH CROWN:  Subscribe to our YouTube page, and hit that

Scripture: Judges 16

Daily Dose of Hope July 11, 2024 Day 5 of Week 15   Scripture:  Judges 19-21; Acts 2   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complement New Hope Church's Bible reading plan.  Today, you can breathe a sigh of relief because we are finishing with the book of Judges.  Look, I know it was a difficult book and some of the senseless violence is just hard to read.  Tomorrow, we will be moving into the book of Ruth, which is such an amazing story!  Our New Testament passage for today is Acts 2 and it should be encouraging and energizing (which is good because our Judges passages definitely are not!)  Let's get into our Scripture.    Judges 19 is a story of human depravity.  As I read it, I can't help but hear the echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah (read Genesis 19 to jog your memory of the details).  Certainly, this text in Judges serves to show just how horrific Israelite society had become.  Of course, we see the worst of patriarchy throughout the passage as well: the nameless concubine with no control over her life circumstances, the acceptance of the rape and abuse of women (in order to preserve the men's honor), the lack of emotional response from the Levite when he finds his wife is dead, and the subsequent disgusting murder and mutilation of the woman.  While we could probably dig much deeper into those themes, I really don't think this passage is intended to be about the abuse and oppression of women.  Rather, it is intended to show just how pagan and vicious the Israelites had become.  Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.  They look more like the Canaanites than the Canaanites themselves do.  And it's very, very ugly.  Where is their faith?  Have they totally forgotten God?   Judges 20 is not much better.  The Levite tells the story of his concubine being raped (he conveniently leaves out any part that makes him look bad.)  A large number of Israelites gather in response to the story.  It's unclear which part of the man's story is the source of their anger and agitation but they do feel justified to wage war against the Benajmites.  It appears to be a holy war of sorts against evil.  What's interesting to me are the spiritual themes which have returned to the text.  The Israelites gather together and assemble "before the Lord."  They inquire of the Lord several times during the battles and God answers them.  In the end, they give Yahweh credit for the victory over the Benjamites.  Israel has drifted far from God.  They have engaged in deplorable things and allowed idolatry to be regular part of their world.  In so many ways, they seem to have forgotten the ways of the one true God.  And yet, here we see they haven't totally forgotten God.  When crisis hits, when tragedy strikes, they remember who they are. Aren't we the same way?   In the final chapter of Judges, we witness the consequence of the Israelite battle against their brothers, the Benjamites.  In a fit of rage, they have sworn an oath to not allow their daughters to marry Benjamites (ironic because they seem to have no issue intermarrying with Canaanites).  However, once the smoke has cleared and the battles are over, their allegiance to the Benjamites begins to resurface.  There are only 600 Benjamite men remaining, as the rest were killed in battle and all the women and children were also slaughtered.  The other Israelites fear they will be celibate and unable to carry on the Benjamite line.  They weep loudly as a group over the literal end of the tribe of Benjamin.  Their solution to the problem is brutal and violent, in keeping with the lack of value for human life which we find throughout the book of Judges.  They punish those from Jabesh Gilead who failed to appear at their assembly by killing the whole village, except for the virgin women, who they give to the Benjamites in marriage.  The rest of the wives were simply kidnapped by the Benjamites, at the urging of the Israelite elders.  If their daughters were "stolen," then they couldn't be accused of giving them in marriage and breaking their former oath.     Again, we see the treatment of women in this time and place is appalling.  We move from the rape and murder of one woman (from chapter 19), to the kidnapping and rape of literally hundreds of women.  The total unraveling of the Israelite people seems to be complete.  They are vicious, depraved, and worthy of death.  And yet, we will continue to see God's grace shine through in the least expected ways as we work our way through the Old Testament.   Let's move on to Acts 2.  I think we need some life-giving Scripture.  I'm going to read the first three verses, On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.    First, let's talk about the roaring windstorm.  Throughout Scripture, wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In ancient Hebrew, we have the word, ruach, which means breath/wind/spirit and we see this word quite a bit in the Old Testament.  Wind represents the life-giving work of the Spirit.  Think about it.  In Genesis 2, God breathed life (ruach) into Adam.  In Ezekial 37, we are in the valley of dry bones and God has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, saying “I will put my Spirit (ruach) in you and you will live.”  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is typically referred to in the Greek as pneuma.  The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary to form life in her womb.  In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.    I can't help thinking, how many people need to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit right now?  How many people are really struggling, barely holding on, languishing in doubt, pain, anger, cynicism?  Or maybe, you simply feel nothing?  There is NO true living without the presence of the Spirit, only existing.     Next, we have the tongues of fire.  Let's sit here for a second.  Fire is often descriptive of God in the Old Testament and it speaks to the purifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit.  In this sense, the Spirit causes things that are impure to become pure...lives, hearts. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says “I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Peter speaks of the new Gentile believers as experiencing the Holy Spirit and having their hearts purified.  If something is pure, it is only one thing–pure gold, pure oxygen.  It isn't filled with contaminants or additives. It is totally and completely that one thing. I picture the Holy Spirit coming upon that group of believers on the day of Pentecost and purifying or refining their hearts so they would be totally and completely dedicated to the things of God, not half filled with the stuff of the world and half filled with the things of God.  I wonder that about our own hearts.  What contaminants have we allowed to seep in?  What do we need to purify? Come like a fire, Holy Spirit, and burn in us so that we can be pure and totally devoted to the things of Jesus.   Let's read some more Scripture, beginning with verse 4 (this is truly a paraphrase), All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  This made a racket and a crowd forms...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?  Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”  And then Peter gets up and says, we aren't drunk, it's only 9 in the morning.  Let me tell you what his means...and he shares with them the Gospel, he speaks of how the Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, he speaks of Jesus' ministry, his death, his resurrection and it says this,  Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the HolySpirit.”   And what happened? 3000 believed and were baptized.  The Holy Spirit came, the people were given power to act, and they did it!  They trusted God and they responded.  We talked about how the Holy Spirit is life-giving and purifying but it also has power.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do really hard things.  If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has made a home within you. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES within you.  And God didn't give us that power simply for our own use.  It's for the mission of sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.     Why do you think we struggle so much with that?  What part of the mission causes you to hide in fear?  Friends, we have POWER within us and it is given to us for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ.  Let's just let that sit and settle.   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 10, 2024 Day 4 of Week 15   Scripture:  Judges 17-18; Psalm 21; Acts 1   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  Tonight, we have a special short worship service in the sanctuary at 6:30pm.  Our VBS families are invited as well as all of New Hope.   After the service, there will be a scavenger hunt in the social hall.  For those who would like to come and pray, I'll be leading the prayer group as we pray over every single pew and all the VBS classrooms.  We want to pray for each family, each child, each person touched by our VBS so that they come to know Jesus and find a place to worship him.   Okay, let's get started with the book of Judges, chapter 17.  This chapter includes an odd story in the middle of the book of Judges about an unnamed Jewish family living in the hill country of Ephraim.  On the surface, the family seems devout, even God-fearing.  But as the story progresses, problems begin to emerge.  The Jewish family seems to follow the Lord.  The son's name, Micah, even means "Who is like God?"  But right away, we see cracks in their faithfulness.    Micah is a thief who dishonors his mother by stealing her silver.  He steals 1100 shekels, which is a very large sum.  When he returns the silver, the mother says that she consecrates it to the Lord but there is no evidence this is done. She doesn't take the silver to the priests at the temple but rather gives it back to her son to make an idol. Note, only 200 shekels were given to the silversmith to make the idol; we don't know what happened to the remaining 900 shekels.    Idols are clearly against God's law, as is Micah's home shrine.  He also establishes his own son as priest over the shrine.  When a Levite man from elsewhere comes looking for a place to stay, Micah decides to pay him to be the family priest.  From the theft to having a family priest over a home shrine, the law is blatantly disobeyed.    What is the author trying to teach us through this story?  Why was it included in the book of Judges?  Certainly, we need to look below the spiritual veneer.  People and situations aren't always what they seem.  Faithfulness to God is best demonstrated through actions, not words.  While they may have professed faith in Yahweh, in everything this family did, they looked more pagan than Hebrew.  If an objective observer was peeking into your own life and home situation, what might they say about your faithfulness to God?   Okay, let's move on to chapter 18.  The Danites decide that they want their own land and they head off to conquer it.  But unlike other conquests in which God clearly went with his people, the Danites seem to be totally off kilter.  They are doing this on their own for their own selfish purposes.  They arrive at Micah's house (from Judges 17) and steal his priest and idols.  While they don't kill Micah's family, they do find a town to attack and pillage.  After burning down the town, they claim the area as belonging to them and rebuild the city.  They set up the idols stolen from Micah.  While they may have Israelite names, they have certainly sold their souls to Canaanite values.  There is effectively no difference between the Danites and their pagan neighbors.  They have turned their back on God.  And the saga of the judges continues.   Now, let's turn to the New Testament.  Today, we are starting the book of Acts, one of my favorite books of the Bible.  It's incredible to see how the Holy Spirit transforms, leads, directs, and shapes the new Christians and the young church.  Chapter one opens with Jesus ready to ascend into heaven.  Even though this is post-resurrection, the disciples still didn't understand everything.  We find them asking Jesus when he is going to restore the kingdom to Israel.  Their understanding of God's Kingdom is still a bit misguided, but Jesus redirects them.  He says only God knows the time and place for that.  But, there is something even better ahead.  And Jesus tells them that the Holy Spirit is coming.  The Spirit of the living God is coming and when it does, they will receive a power like no other.  This is the same truth for us:  When God's Spirit comes upon us, we have the ability to  witness, to bear testimony, to all the things of Jesus.  It really isn't about us but about God's Spirit in us! And then, Jesus ascends into heaven.  They don't quite get it yet, but now it's a waiting game.  The Holy Spirit is coming and they have no idea what they are in for.  Tomorrow, we get to talk about Pentecost and the birthday of the church.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 8, 2024 Day 2 of Week 15   Scripture:  Judges 9-11; Psalm 17; Luke 23   Welcome back once again to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional that complements the bible reading plan for New Hope Church.  I'm going to ask all of you to be in prayer for our Vacation Bible School, which starts today.  We will be ministering to almost 200 children and their families.  Please pray that those who don't know Jesus will come to know him, that those who just give a head nod to God will come to follow him more closely, and pray a special prayer of protection, strength, and wisdom for all our children, volunteers, and staff.  With that, let's get right into our Scripture for today.   As usual, let's begin with our Old Testament passages.  At the end of Judges 8, we see that Gideon dies and the Israelites begin to engage in idolatry once again.  The pattern is repeating itself.  This time, in Judges 9, we read about Abimelek, who is one of Gideon's sons by a concubine from Shechem (Gideon had something like seventy sons by his many wives and concubines).  In my research, several scholars actually consider Abimelek a judge of Israel but certainly not one chosen by God.  He wanted to lead Israel and does so for three years, but he is cruel and violent.  Eventually, rebellion is stirred up against Abimelek.  In his own violent quest to squash the rebellion, he is killed.    As we read this, it becomes evident how incredibly chaotic and ugly this time of the judges happened to be.  Moving into Judges 10, we meet Tola and Jair, two other judges that led Israel.  Then, it becomes clear that Israel is once again falling into depravity and idolatry.  God allows them to fall into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.  We get the sense that a new judge is coming.    Jephthah is next.  He is a complicated judge however.  He is the son of a prostitute and a man named Gilead.  This is kind of confusing, as the father has the same name as the region in which they live.  You may have caught that.  Anyway, Gilead's sons by his legitimate wife drive Jephthah away from their home and he flees to a land named Tob, where he gains a name for himself as a warrior.    I'm going to give a bit of a summary of what happened because I think it's not incredibly clear as we read.  Basically, Israel is being oppressed pretty severely by the Ammonites and they decide to attack the region of Gilead once again.  The people are hurting but they have no leader.  Thus, they ask Jephthah, who they previously pushed away, to come lead them.  Jephthah tries to negotiate with the Ammonites first but that isn't successful.  God's Spirit comes over Jephthah and he is able to recruit fighters for the battle.  Then, he makes a horribly misguided vow.  He tells God that he will offer as a burnt offering whatever or whomever comes to meet him if he returns in victory.  Jephthah then attacks and thoroughly defeats the Ammonites, so Israel is saved for the time being.   But who comes out to meet Jephthah?  His only child, his daughter whom he dearly loves.  He is greatly distressed and tells his daughter what he vowed to God – to either give her up as a human sacrifice OR dedicate her whole life in service to God, two different interpretations by scholars of Jephthah's vow.   The daughter requests two months of freedom to travel and spend time with friends and he grants her that.  Her primary concern in not getting to marry and have kids, which makes many think that she did dedicate her life to service to God rather than become a burnt offering, which God truly would have detested.  Only pagan gods required human sacrifice.  Regardless, the whole story is slightly bizarre.   Psalm 17 is a beautiful prayer written by David.  He is once again pledging to stay faithful to God, and he asks that God protects him from his enemies.  Most likely, this prayer was penned by David as he was fleeing from Saul who wanted to kill him.  David clearly trusts God completely and knows that God will answer.  There is a great expression here when David asks to be the “apple of your eye.”  This is a reference literally to the pupil.  This part of the body is the most protected, the most guarded against even a slight touch.  David asks God to guard him in the same way.   Okay, let's move on to the New Testament.  Today, we focus on Luke 23, which includes Jesus' trial before Pilate, the crucifixion, his death, and his burial.   Crucifixion was a horrific death.  He was beaten and mocked by the soldiers, betrayed by his own people, and nailed to a cross to die. I won't go into the gory details of crucifixion, as you have probably heard them before, but it was a terribly painful and humiliating way to die.   There was a man named Simon from Cyrene who was passing by and they forced him to carry the cross.  Cyrene was on the tip of Africa so this man was far from home!  And here he was, just going about his business, and he is enlisted, or more like seized, to carry the cross of the Savior of the world.  I'm guessing that Jesus' physical body was incredibly weak and bloody by this point.  And Simon walked by him, carrying the cross that would serve to execute Jesus but also save all humanity from their sin. We don't know what happened to Simon after the crucifixion.  He isn't mentioned again in Scripture.  But my guess is that his life was never the same again.  An encounter with Jesus is always life-changing.   Luke's version of this passage has a lot of substance.  We read about the criminals executed on each side of Jesus, one of whom ends up believing and Jesus says, “Today, I will see you in paradise.”  Pretty amazing.  But Luke also includes the observation about the curtain in the temple.  When Jesus is about to breathe his last, the curtain in the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies (where God's presence stayed) from the rest of the temple was torn in two.  Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies one time a year to make atonement for the sins of the people.  This tearing of the curtain was hugely symbolic and I don't want us to miss it.  It meant that Jesus' death was the final atonement for sin and now the Holy of Holies was open to all people.  God's presence is never confined again, never to be in a place made by human hands.  Jesus Christ is God.  His body is the temple.  He is the final sacrifice and he has opened the door to all people, all believers, being able to go boldly into God's presence with no barriers.      I should also mention that now that Jesus has ascended into heaven, the presence of the living God is still with us in the form of the Holy Spirit.  And if we believe in Jesus and his sacrifice, then the Holy Spirit dwells in us.  The presence of God is now within us!  Think about that.  It's really amazing and takes some time for us to wrap our brains around.  God is closer than your very breath.   Let's chat again tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 7, 2024 Day 1 of Week 15   Scripture:  Judges 7-8; Luke 22   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  I hope you enjoyed having different hosts during the month of June.  I want to extend a big thank you to Pastor Roberto, Pastor Lavetta, and Brianna for helping while I was on vacation.  I do believe there was a little confusion last week and I apologize for that.  I am now back for the daily and look forward to starting week 15!  Let's get right into our Scripture for today.    Our Old Testament reading for today comes from the book of Judges, when people did what was right in their own eyes.  Just FYI…it never works out well when people do what's right in their own eyes because we are inherently sinful.  We need a standard, we need guidance, we need God.  Just a reminder, in Judges there is a repetitive cycle.  The people rebel, engage in all kinds of wicked idolatry, and break covenant with God.  In turn, God lifts his hand of protection and allows his people to be conquered by a pagan nation.  This lasts awhile until the people can no longer stand the oppression and they cry out for God's help.  God sends a judge, who conquers the pagan nation and the people live in peace for the duration of that judge's life.  When the judge passes, the cycle begins again.  It happened with Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar in Judges 3, it happened with Deborah in Judges 4.    Now it's Gideon's turn.  After a period of lawlessness, idolatry, and general wickedness, God has allowed the Midianites to overtake the Hebrew people.  The Midianites are incredibly cruel and oppressive.  They destroy the Israeli crops and their livestock.  The people are hungry and weak so they cry out to God for help. This time, God calls Gideon to be a judge.  We read his call story last week.  If you missed it, be sure to review Judges chapter 6, as it is yet another example of how God doesn't necessarily call the equipped but rather equips those he calls.    Okay, let's move on to our chapters for today.  Gideon starts with roughly thirty-two thousand troops from four different tribes.  That may seem like a lot to us but it was really a drop in the bucket compared to the massive Midianite army.  And yet, God says it's too many men.  So God gives instructions to thin out the troops, first by telling those who are scared of the fight to go home.  Then, he separates the men by how they drink water from a stream.  God knew his people well–with a large army, they would take the credit for the victory.  By the time Gideon finished with God's instructions, only three hundred Israelites remained to fight.  Now, it seems almost like a suicide mission against the Midianites EXCEPT the God of the universe is on their side.  There is no earthly fighting force that can even get close to God's power.  And there would be no question–the victory totally and completely belonged to the Lord.  How many people need to be reminded today that there is no earthly force greater than our God?   Gideon conquers the Midianites.  But what's a little perplexing is the end of chapter 8.  Gideon takes a portion of the bounty and makes an ephod made of gold.  The Israelites end up worshiping the ephod!  One might think that Gideon would know better, that he would know the weaknesses of his own people.  Thus, as soon as Gideon dies, the Israelites fall back into the pattern of idolatry.  And the cycle begins again.  More on this tomorrow.   Let's move onto Luke, chapter 22.  This is a long chapter with a lot of important pieces.  It starts with Judas agreeing to betray Jesus.  Of course, Judas' heart had begun to harden long ago.  Betrayal doesn't happen suddenly; it's a slow process of allowing bitterness, anger, and pain to filter into our heart until our decisions are guided by those negative emotions.  As we know, this doesn't end well for Judas.   Next, we have the beautiful passage about the Last Supper.  Jesus takes the Passover meal, which these faithful Jewish men would have celebrated every single year of their life and turns it upside down.  It's now a sign of Jesus' death and the new covenant.  Of course, they don't understand anything at this point.  I don't blame them for being so confused.  I'm sure I would be too.    There is also the prayer in the garden.  I want us to really spend some time here with Jesus on the Mount of Olives.  Jesus knows what is going to happen and he is distressed.  He says in verse 42, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  Jesus knows the inevitable outcome. He has spoken to his disciples about it.  He knows he is about to face something really horrific.  And yet, rather than running from the inevitable future or whining about it or worrying about it, he totally surrenders himself to God.  He keeps on keeping on, working toward his purpose.  Over and over again, Jesus is defiant in the face of death because he knows that he is secure in the hands of his Father.  He knows that he will be held by the kind of power that never fails, never gives up, that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”    I read about the kind of trust and surrender that Jesus had and I sometimes feel like a total failure.  I want to give it over to God.  I truly believe that I am secure in the hands of the Father.  I want to cast my cares upon him and not take them back.  It's not like I enjoy carrying my burdens alone.  It is not like I want to add weight to my cross.  I would love nothing more than to cast all my cares on Him and move on with my day; anxiety free, cappuccino in hand, happy and free and fearless in the face of whatever happens, knowing that Jesus is present and real and holding me.  And yet, there is always something that trips me up, always something that gets me running back to the foot of the cross to pick up a few items I had laid down, because I mean...what if He doesn't take care of things in the way that I asked?  If you ask me, this whole surrender thing, while great in theory, is downright scary and hard.  I'm hoping all of us, after reading today's chapter, will really reflect and pray about Jesus' surrender.   Some thoughts on surrender.  Surrender is not the same as compliance.  Compliance, which many of us are quite good at, is about following rules and regulations.  Surrender is about laying it at the foot of Jesus and trusting him with our fears, our worries, our loved ones, our past, our present, our future.  What is it, right now, that you know God is calling you to lay at the cross, to trust him with?  What worry, burden, or fear do you need to be freed from?  Furthermore, surrender is not a one and done deal.  When it comes to my children (who I probably spend the most time worrying about), I lay them down at the foot of the cross every single day.  It's a daily choice.  Jesus made a daily choice of surrender.     Surrender, trust, and presence go hand in hand.  As we grow closer to Jesus, become more aware of his presence, trust him more, then surrender becomes a little bit easier.  Not easy, but easier.   I want to close today's Daily Dose of Hope a little differently than usual. I'm going to read The Prayer of Abandonment by Charles de Foucauld.  I find it powerful.  I'm going to read it slowly and I encourage you to repeat each line after me.   Father, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you. I am ready for all. I accept all. Let only Your will be done in me, and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, To surrender myself into your Hands, Without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father. Amen.   I know I spent a lot of time today on surrender.  The chapter goes on with Jesus' arrest and the soldiers mocking him.  Tomorrow, we will talk about this more.  We are heading to his crucifixion.  Get ready.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Payback always ends with both parties losing. Scripture = Judges 15:1-20

Pastor Todd shares Friday's devotional podcast from Bible Fellowship Church. [Scripture: Judges 2]

Don't ever assume that just because God uses you in powerful ways that you are right before Him. Scripture: Judges 14:8-20 and 1 John 1:6-7

Arise, Mighty Warriors: Gideons 300 Army in 2024 • Friday Service at the RRC Website: www.PastorTodd.org To Give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Book: www.PastorToddBook.com RRC Nashville: www.RRCNashvile.org Introduction: - Gideon's story is not just a historical account; it's a divine blueprint for overcoming insurmountable odds. - In Judges 7, we witness God's miraculous intervention through Gideon's army of 300, demonstrating the power of faith and obedience. - As we delve into this passage, let's uncover the spiritual principles that can empower us to conquer our own battles. 1. **The Call to Arms** (Judges 6:11-16) - Scripture: Judges 6:12 - "And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, 'The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!'" - Commentary: Despite Gideon's initial doubts and fears, God affirms his identity as a mighty man of valor, reminding him of the divine strength available through God's presence. 2. **The Winnowing Process** (Judges 7:1-7) - Scripture: Judges 7:2 - "And the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, "My own hand has saved me."'” - Commentary: God intentionally reduces Gideon's army to demonstrate that victory comes through His power alone, not through human strength or numbers. 3. **The Midnight Encounter** (Judges 7:9-15) - Scripture: Judges 7:13-14 - "And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, 'I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.' Then his companion answered and said, 'This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.'” - Commentary: God confirms Gideon's victory through the dream of the Midianite soldier, affirming His divine intervention and delivering assurance to Gideon. 4. **The Unconventional Warfare** (Judges 7:16-22) - Scripture: Judges 7:20 - "Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, 'The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!'" - Commentary: Gideon's army engages in unconventional warfare, utilizing torches, trumpets, and broken pitchers to confuse and defeat the enemy, symbolizing the power of God's strategies over human wisdom. 5. **The Complete Victory** (Judges 7:23-25) - Scripture: Judges 7:22 - "When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man's sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath." - Commentary: Through the obedience and faith of Gideon's 300, God delivers a complete victory over the enemy, showcasing His faithfulness and power to save His people. Conclusion: - Gideon's 300 teaches us that it's not about the size of our army, but the magnitude of our faith in God. - Let's apply these principles in our lives: trusting God's promises, embracing His selection process, listening for His guidance, and engaging in unconventional warfare against the enemy. - As we arise as mighty warriors in Christ, let's expect nothing less than complete victory in every battle we face. Amen.

Scripture - Judges 21

Scripture - Judges 19:29-20:48

Scripture - Judges 19:1-28

Scripture - Judges 18:1-31 Honoring God should be our main goal in life and “success” is not a sure sign of God's approval.

Scripture - Judges 17:1-13 Sermon Summary: Our worship can be sincere, and yet be ridiculous in God's eyes.

Scripture - Judges 16:22-31 Sermon Focus: God's purposes are more important!

Scripture - Judges 16:1-21

Scripture - Judges 14:20-15:20 Sermon Summary: When fallen men follow their hearts, devastation follows them.

Scripture - Judges 13:24-14:19 Sermon Summary: God is always working His good plans through sinners.

Scripture - Judges 13:1-24a

Scripture - Judges 3:31; 10:1-5; 12:7-15 Sermon Focus: What are we doing with the opportunities and influence that God has entrusted to us?

Scripture - Judges 12:1-7 Sermon Summary: Self-worship is destructive and must be overcome in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture - Judges 10:17-11:40 Sermon Summary: The LORD cannot be manipulated, nor do we need to manipulate Him.

Scripture - Judges 10:6-16

Scripture: Judges 1

Scripture - Judges 9:1-57

Scripture - Judges 8:22-35

Forget the heroes. These days, we want authenticity. We want personal vision. We've done away with hero worship.  In the story of Samson, we see that the Bible doesn't give us hero worship, but it also doesn't give us hero hatred or deconstruction. Some people have called Samson an old-fashioned hero, like Superman—but he's not. I've been waiting for people to call him the anti-hero—he even makes jokes when he's killing people. Samson is physically quite strong and morally quite weak. But in spite of this, God actually judges Israel with him. What does it all mean? In the story of Samson we see that 1) hero worship does not help, 2) but hero deconstruction doesn't help either, and 3) we need something else. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on October 12, 1997. Series: Pointers to Christ – Directional Signs in History. Scripture: Judges 15:9-20. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Scripture: Judges 6:11-12 New Birth CathedralDr. Jamal Bryant, Senior PastorWays To Give:WeAreNewbirth.orgText "NBGIVE" to 77977https://pushpay.com/g/nblithoniaGivelify: https://giv.li/lup0jbZelle: dataentry1@newbirth.orgJoin our Family:joinnewbirth.org

Scripture: Judges 16:26 New Birth CathedralDr. Jamal Bryant, Senior PastorWays To Give:WeAreNewbirth.orgText "NBGIVE" to 77977https://pushpay.com/g/nblithoniaGivelify: https://giv.li/lup0jbZelle: dataentry1@newbirth.orgJoin our Family:joinnewbirth.org

by Brooks Simpson | From the Series: Judges in Our Own Eyes | Scripture: Judges 17:5-6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:24-25 Download Audio

by Brooks Simpson | From the Series: Judges in Our Own Eyes | Scripture: Judges 17-18 Download Audio

by Greg Gilbaugh | From the Series: Judges in Our Own Eyes | Scripture: Judges 13:1-5 Download Audio