August 1: Judges 6 – We are introduced to Gideon. What do you like about Gideon? How are you like Gideon? What is God saying to you through the introduction of his life in this chapter? “When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.’” (verse 12) Gideon did not feel like he was a mighty warrior. He cites all the reasons why he is not a good choice. This might be an aspect of humility, but it also might be fear and avoidance. God gives him an affirmation. God gives you an affirmation. What affirmation do you receive from God? What does he say about you? What is he asking you to do?

August 2: Judges 7 – What do you gather from this story? Why is it so inspiring? “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.’” (verse 7) This has to be the key point of the message. God would reduce the number from 32,000 to 300. With an army that is vastly outnumbered there could be no doubt that victory was from God. The men could not take the credit. How might God use the unlikely things in your life to do something great? How is this so contrary to the approach in today’s world? What do you learn from this spiritual principle?

We will keep reading through the Book of Judges, and say goodbye to Gideon and welcome Abimelech, who would pursue being the King of Israel. There will be other judges that will follow, bringing us to Samson; we know that name very well. This is a very up and down (mostly down) time in the history of God’s people. How could we avoid such a downturn in our day? What do you learn from the readings this week?

August 3: Judges 8 – What stands out to you in this chapter? What do you learn from Gideon. “Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Succoth, ‘Give my troops some bread; they are worn out. . .’” (vv. 4 & 5) We see a different Gideon who has been built up in faith by what God has done. Gideon is strong and determined. The leaders of Succoth and Peniel refuse to help Gideon. They were thinking that the odds of Gideon’s army of 300 men beating the Midianites of 15,000 was very slim. But they were wrong. They did not recognize God’s power. Many people do not recognize the evidence of God and what he does. But they are wrong and they will be judged for it. So too in Gideon’s day? How do you see Gideon’s courage increasing? What is the difference in Gideon from when you first met him ‘til now? Do you think God wants to make that kind of change in your life? Why?

August 4: Judges 9 – What verse stands out to you in this longer chapter? Why do you think it impresses you? How might you apply it? “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.” (verse 2) Abimelech wanted to usurp the position reserved for God alone. He was Gideon’s son, and well thought of at that time, so why shouldn’t he use that opportunity to make a name for himself. But he was power hungry, and even ruthless, as you will read throughout the story. What do you learn from Abimelech’s approach to leadership? Why did it displease God? Why do you want to be like Gideon but not Abimelech? What is the difference?

August 5: Judges 10 – What stands out to you in this short chapter? “The LORD replied, ‘When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you.’” (vv. 11 -13) These verses show how difficult it is to follow God over the long haul. The Israelites always seemed to forget God when all was well, but despite being rejected by his own people, God never failed to rescue them when they call out to him in repentance. God is an amazing God of grace. How is life going for you? If it is good, you are in danger of forgetting God. If it is difficult you are in danger of not trusting God. What part is the Lord trying to teach you these days?

August 6: Judges 11 – What part of Jephthah’s life gets your attention? What do you learn from him? “I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the LORD, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.” (verse 27) Jephthah tried to solve the problem without bloodshed but the king of Ammon ignored his message. Jephthah recognized the Lord as the people’s true judge, the only one who could really lead them and help them conquer the invading armies. Jephthah had the right perspective about God. What was it? What do you learn about God through Jephthah? How did he view God?

August 7: Judges 12 – What stands out to you in this short chapter? What three judges are mentioned? What do we know about them? “He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years.” (verse 9) How would it be to have your epitaph read like that? There is nothing to his life. There is a sense that he had a lot of children and they were pretty wealthy because of the number of children, or the note of 70 donkeys, but we don’t know. You can have many things, even a large family and live without significance. How are you living your purpose for God today?

August 8: Judges 13 – What stands out to you in the story about Samson’s introduction into this world? What was inspiring and what is concerning? “The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, ‘You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, because you will conceive and give birth to a son. No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.’” (vv. 4 & 5) God had big plans for Samson. From birth he would be designated as someone special in God’s desire for his people. How do you think Samson did in fulfilling his purpose? What do you know about him? Do you think God has something as specific as that outlined for you? Does God know both your beginning and your end? Think about it.

August 9: Judges 14 –What stands out to you in this chapter? Why? “His father and mother replied, ‘Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people’” (verse 3) Samson’s parents objected to his marrying the Philistine woman for several reasons. It was against God’s law; the Philistines were Israel’s greatest enemies; marriage to a hated Philistine would be a disgrace to Samson’s family. But his father ultimately gave in to Samson’s demands. Why is this the first sign that God’s purpose for Samson may not be fulfilled? Why are choices about marriage, career and location so important? Does God care about those? Why? Are you in step with him? Would you like to be?

Let’s complete the Book of Judges this week with this very relevant message about doing your own thing. The last sentence in the book reads, “In those days Israel had not king; everyone did as he saw fit.”

August 10: Judges 15 – What stands out to you from the stories of Samson? What was strong about Samson? What was weak about Samson? “Then Samson said, ‘With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys of them.’” (verse 16) In Samson’s poem he boasts of his own strength. Pride would cause him to take credit of the work he had done, but could have only done in God’s strength. How are we susceptible to pride? What does it mean to feel good about what you have accomplished without boasting? What would a humble Samson look like?

August 11: Judges 16 – What verse stands out to you? Why do you think God brought it to your attention? Everyone knows the name Delilah. She is the thorn in Samson’s side. “Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.” (verse 21) It is a very sad verse about the outcome of Samson’s pride. He was also susceptible to the alluring ways of a woman. Delilah was a deceitful woman with honey on her lips and poison in her heart. What do you learn from this story? How is Delilah like the ways of the devil? How will you flee from the subtle attempts of the devil to bring you down?

August 12: Judges 17 – What stands out to you in this short chapter? What gets your attention? “A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of Judah, left that town in search of some other place to stay. (verse 7 & 8 ) Apparently the Israelites no longer supported the priests and Levites with their tithes because so many of the people no longer worshiped God. The young Levite in this story probably left his home in Bethlehem because the money he received from the people was not enough to live on. But how does this chapter describe the downfall of God’s people? Are there any areas where you are susceptible to spiritual decline? Why?

August 13: Judges 18 – What stands out to you in this chapter? Why? How does this chapter remind you of how we live today? “They answered him, ‘Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?’” (verse 19) This is essentially a bribe. Through this entire incident no one desired to worship God; instead, they wanted to use God for selfish gain. This sounds like today’s world. Beware of following God for selfish gain rather than selfless service. What is weak about the church today? How is the church like the environment of the Judges? How is it different? What does God want from his church?

August 14: Judges 19 – What stands out to you in this chapter? What is most impressive to you? As I have been reading these chapters quickly I realized that I am not very familiar with these stories. I was unaware of a story like this found in this chapter. It is very upsetting, even as the story ends with, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt.” (verse 30) I don’t know that there is anything very redeeming to take from this chapter, only a disgust over how evil man can be. The purpose the man had of cutting up his dead concubine was to spread the word over the horror of how incredibly evil the people had become. They had lost their vision of God and they would be judged. What do you take away from this story?

August 15: Judges 20 – What stands out to you in this chapter? Why? How is there a sense of justice to the ugliness of the previous chapter? “The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, ‘What about this awful crime that was committed among you? Now surrender those wicked men of Gibeah so that we may put them to death and purge the evil from Israel.’ But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites.” (verse 12 & 13) Perhaps the Benjamite leaders minimized the seriousness of the crime. Perhaps they wanted to overlook the situation. Maybe some of them were related to the men involved. Covering for their own kinsmen, the entire tribe of Benjamin sank to a level of immorality as low as those that had committed the crime. The consequences would be devastating (verse 46). The Bible teaches that the consequences of sin will follow you. How is that true? What do you think about that? What does it make you want to do?

August 16: Judges 21 – What stands out to you as we wrap up the Book of Judges? What could be your final summary? What would you say is your final assessment of this period of Israel’s history? “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (verse 25) During the time of the judges the people of Israel experienced trouble because everyone became his own authority and acted on his own opinions of right and wrong. This produced horrendous results. Our world can be similar. Individuals, groups and societies have made themselves the final authority without reference to God. When people selfishly satisfy their personal desires at all costs every pays the price. How do you see that in our world today? What is God calling us to do?

I invite you to read the Gospel of John with me for the next 21 days. It has been two years since we read John, and of all the Gospels, we learn most about Jesus, who he really was and what he came to do. It will fit very well as we go into the fall season with our desire to lift up Jesus. Our mission and purpose is motivated by this simple line: “Because of Jesus.” Let’s learn more about Jesus, fall in love with Jesus and honor him with our lives. May the Gospel of John motivate all of us to live for him. I will be highlighting one aspect of each chapter as a seed thought for your relationship with Christ, however, as you read through the chapter, notice what God uses to stir your heart. As you read each chapter, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who will bring things to your attention that God wants you to know or apply or change with his help.

August 17: John 1 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (verse 14) What does it mean that Jesus was full of grace and truth? Why are both important? How can you be a person that is growing both in grace and truth?

August 18: John 2 – “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee.” (verse 11) Does the Lord still do miracles? Can you think of something that would be like a miracle in your life? Why does he do miracles for some and not for others? What do you think the key is to your relationship with Christ in regards to him doing miraculous things?

August 19: John 3 – “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (vv. 7 & 8 ) The Bible clearly teaches that to be born from above is to be changed within by the Holy Spirit. The key to receiving Christ is faith. How has the Holy Spirit changed you? What does the word regeneration mean to you? Would you call yourself a born again Christian? Why?

August 20: John 4 – “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (verse 24) This reminds me of Jesus being full of grace and truth. Why is worship both spirit and truth? What does that mean to you? How do you worship the Lord in spirit and truth?

August 21: John 5 – “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” (verse 6) Doesn’t that seem like a silly question? Of course he wanted to get well. But maybe he became so comfortable with is disabilities that he didn’t want to change. Sometimes people live with a poor self-esteem and they get use to living that way. Sometimes we lose hope and only focus on our circumstances. There are many reasons that keep us stuck. Are you stuck in any way? Why or why not?

August 22: John 6 – “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (verse 35) We will read many “I am” statements by Jesus. They are purposely scripted by John to know that Jesus is the “I Am.” What does it mean that Jesus is the “I Am?” How would you put that in your own words? How does that affect your life?

August 23: John 7 – “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’” (vv 37 & 38) John spends time introducing the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like living water in your soul. How would you describe streams of living water flowing within? What does that mean? How does that affect your life? How important is the Holy Spirit?

August 24: John 8 – “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (verse 12) In Matthew we learn that we are called the light of the world. Jesus shines his light into our lives and then his life reflects through us. What does it mean to be the light of the world? How is Jesus the light in your life and how does that affect who you are to others?

August 25: John 9 – “’Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” (verse 3) The belief in Jewish culture was that suffering and difficulty was the result of sin. Sometimes there are consequences to sin, no doubt, but in this world we will have trouble. The key is to find strength in the Lord. Whether for forgiveness of sin or working through the challenges of life, we need God’s help. How do you need to lean on the Lord today?

August 26: John 10 – “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (verse 14) Another “I Am” statement from Jesus. This statement talks about the closeness of relationship that Christ had in mind with us, his sheep. What does it mean to you to know Jesus? How do you cultivate that connection? How are you deepening your relationship with Christ these days?

August 27: John 11 – “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (vv. 25 & 26) These might be my most favorite verses in the Book of John. I use them at memorial services as much as any. Having a relationship with Christ means that I will never die, even though my body may give way. This is a wonderful verse of assurance and certainty about the promise that Jesus gave to his followers. How does that help you? What does that mean to you? Do you believe this?

August 28: John 12 – “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (vv. 30-32) In our ministry we want to lift up Jesus. The promise given in this verse is if the Lord be lifted up, people will be drawn to him. Not everyone will be drawn to him, but many will. How are you lifting up Jesus? What does that mean to you?

August 29: John 13 – “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (vv. 15-17) You can sense the power of this statement. Jesus said that we should follow him; do as he has done. How important is serving? How are you serving others these days?

August 30: John 14 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (verse 6) You can’t find a stronger statement in the Bible pointing to the importance of Jesus being the bridge to God. Jesus is our path to the Father. He is the centerpiece of history. How does this verse encourage you? What does access to the Father mean to you?

August 31: John 15 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (verse 5) Another monumental statement from Jesus about the importance of being connected to him. What does it mean that we can’t do anything without Christ? How do you understand that? How does it affect your everyday life?