St. Paul Lutheran Church, Matteson, Illinois & Pastor Troester

The people of Dan covet more land, seek guidance by a false priest and then conquer a weak people, taking their land and set up false idols.

We read about the time of Judges when everyone doing what was right in their own eyes, which lead them away from the true God.

The final acconts of Samson's life.

Conflict, revenge, strife and no peace when Samson goes against God's ways, and yet God is faithful.

The first marriage of Samson and the fall out because Samson does not honor his parents, nor God, and goes to those who don't worship the true God.

The announcement of Samson's birth.

A rash vow by a leader of the Children of Israel, who are at war with an enemy and they go to Jephthah to fight for them and get the victory, but at a price.

A peaceful time for the Children of Israel when they do not go after other gods, but a quick end to that peace when they forsake God and follow others.

The account of the life & reign of Abimelech, the son of Gideon through his foreign servant girl, with all the blood shed, and revenge and treachery, but God prevailed and Abimelech paid the price with his life.

We read how Gideon seeks revenge when he is slighted by his fellow children of Israel, how there is bloodshed and fighting and ultimately God's people go after other gods.

God calls Gideon and his army to trust in Him for the victory. Read the unusual battle, with the unusual army and unusual weapons.

Read about Gideon, a man of great valor, who is made strong with God's strength and who acts in faith with God's help.

The song of praise to God, sung by Deborah and Barak, who bless God for giving them the ability to succeed by trusting in Him for victory.

God raises up the Prophetess, Deborah, and Jael, who are faithful to Him and trust Him for victory.

The sad story of human history where faithfulness to God brings blessings, but doing things our way leads to us getting what we want and then to destruction. And, yet God is faithful when we come back to Him.

Judges starts after the death of Joshua, the leader who brought the people into the land Promised by God, and conquered Jericho, where now they are to take the land God gave them.

The closing instruction, warnings and blessings of God through Paul to the Christians in the church which Paul planted in Corinth.

Paul defending his message and ministry among the people, that he is teaching the truth about Jesus Christ and offering this free of charge.

We want to be commended by Christ, most of all, and be found faithful to Him.

God gives us the gift of giving, motivated by His giving first to us the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life, which comes out in the Christian life.

The gift of Christian giving.

Christians learn that godly sorrow over sin leads to repentance which leads us back to God and to forgiveness.

We are in ministry as Ambassodors for Christ to show others how Jesus has redeemed us and given us life.

Believers in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins are heirs of heaven, who lived now to love God and all others.

While there is much in this life that cause us to "lose heart", as we focus not on what we see, but on the unseen power and gifts we have in Jesus Christ.