Sermon Preview
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Perhaps you’ve had this experience. You are at your favorite restaurant, anticipating a scrumptious meal, your favorite of all. You order it. The 9-ounce filet mignon, medium-well, with baked potato and green beans. Your stomach growls, and your taste buds are at full alert as you mentally rehearse the flavor of this succulent dish. But when the server finally delivers it, you discover that he has brought you spaghetti and meatballs instead! Not what you ordered! Not what you ‘needed’! You’re disappointed and surprised, to say the least!
Well, if you can relate to that experience, then you know how the ancient Israelites must have felt during that most tumultuous period of the Judges. In Judges 6:1-6 we learn of the awful conditions that the Israelites endured as they lived in the ‘Land of Promise’ among their enemies, the Canaanites. The Israelites had once again done “what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (v. 1). And, as a consequence of their rebellion, “the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian [aka ‘Canaanites’] seven years” (v. 1). It was a ghastly experience for the Covenant nation! Their terrible afflictions, which came directly from the hand of Yahweh, brought them “very low,” and they desperately “cried out for help to the Lord” (v. 6).
Clearly, their anxious cries for help from Yahweh anticipated an immediate deliverance from their pains and tribulations. It was assumed to be axiomatic: ‘We pray. Then God gives us what we want, what we need, right now.’ However, a funny thing happened on the way to their recovery. Rather than sending relief in the form of another powerful warrior-judge who would beat back those pesky Canaanites, “the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel” (v. 8). They had ordered the fillet mignon. But the divine ‘Waiter’ delivered the spaghetti and meatballs!! They requested a fighter, a man of ruthless power and military prowess. But the Lord delivered a preacher, ‘armed’ only with the Word of Yahweh! What gives? What did this mean? And, more importantly for us, what does it mean?
On Sunday we will look carefully at the events recorded in Judges 6:7-10, and we will see that there is a very important lesson for us today. So before we gather for worship and the ministry of the Word, re-familiarize yourself with the storyline from Judges 6:1-10. And then let’s all pray that we will understand why it is that sometimes the Lord does not give us what we’ve ordered, or what we think we need. And this is what proves that He loves us!
Also, remember to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night! It is that blessed time of the year when we ‘fall back’!
I love you all so very much!
Mike
Upcoming Events:
November 5, 2 PM – Bryant Baby Shower
November 5, 4:00 PM – Children’s Choir
November 5, 4:30 PM – Youth Group
November 7, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Study
November 8, 9:30 AM – Women’s Morning Study
November 9, 6 AM– Men’s Morning Bible Study
November 12, 2:30 PM – Flower Guild Meeting
November 14, 6 PM – Senior Fellows Dinner at BRAVO
November 15, 9 PM – Senior Fellows Bags O’ Blessings at The CARE Center
November 18, 12 PM – Providence Presbytery Youth Party at Monte Sano State Park
November 28, 9 AM – Senior Fellows Breakfast at the Church House
November 29, 9 PM – Senior Fellows Bags O’ Blessings at The CARE Center
December 6 – Women’s Christmas Party
Order of Worship:
You can access this week’s Order of Worship by clicking here
The songs for this week are:
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Hymn 535, all 3 verses)
Spirit of The Living God (Hymn 26, 3 times)
Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross (Hymn 264, all 4 verses)
More Love To Thee (Hymn 649, vs 1, 2, 4)
Announcements:
Reformation Walk: A huge THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who helped make our Reformation Walk a huge success! We had great participation from our own children, and many visitors as well. Everyone had a great time learning about the life and times of Martin Luther and, more importantly, about the gospel themes of the Reformation. Click here for pictures!
Bryant Baby Shower: All women of the church are invited to a baby shower honoring Stephanie Bryant on Sunday, November 5th, from 2 to 4 pm, at the Timbers’ Edge Clubhouse. RSVP HERE.
Women’s Bible Studies: There are two Fall Women’s Bible Studies going on, Tuesday evenings at 6PM and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM. For more information about these or any other women’s ministries please contact Denise Scrip.
Youth Group: Youth Group will meet again on October 29 at 4:30PM at the church. All students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend, and please bring friends!
Alleluia Choir: The Alleluia Choir (Grades 2-6) meets every Sunday 4:00-4:50 pm upstairs in the Church House. New choristers are always welcome!
Senior Fellows: On November 14 the Senior Fellows will celebrate their wives and will kick off the holiday season with a dinner at 6:00 PM at BRAVO in Bridge Street. They will also support packing Bags of Blessings at The CARE Center on the morning of November 15
Flower Guild: The Flower Guild will be conducting a planning meeting for decorating the church for the Advent/Christmas Season on November 12, 2017 from 2–4pm in the church fellowship hall. All who are interested in helping are encouraged to attend. There will be many opportunities to help during the 4 week season and all ideas and suggestions are welcomed. Please sign up in the Narthex or contact Virdia Jastrebski virdiaj@gmail.com or Donna Henry henry_donna@bellsouth.net
Monte Sano Youth Party: There will be a party for all youth groups in our presbytery (grades 6-12) at Monte Sano State Park on November 18 from Noon until 4 PM. Admission is free if you tell the guard shack you are with the party. Please contact Eric Fulcher at Westminster Pres eric.fulcher@gmail.com for more information.
Women’s Christmas Dinner: Save the date for the Women’s Christmas Dinner at the Monte Sano Lodge on December 6 at 6 PM.
Prayer Requests:
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Robin Holloway, Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Nolan Osmer, George Boyd, and Joyce Bosley
Expecting: Please pray for the Bryant family, expecting in December, the Townsley family, expecting in March, and the Staffords, expecting in April.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Vinnie and Molly Athey (RUF at UAH); RUF at Alabama A&M; Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).