Today we're looking at a passage from a disturbing and yet hopeful book. We've been looking at Judges, which is a story about how bad things get with God's people. Things keep getting worse and worse. There seems to be no limit to the way God's people sin in this book, and they get themselves into all kinds of trouble. But Judges also gives us hope because no matter how bad things get, God doesn't give up on his people. God is the real hero of this book.

I said that Judges is a disturbing book. Even with that in mind, today's passage is extra disturbing. Few stories in the Bible are more crude or bizarre than the one we're looking at today. It's been called a literary masterpiece. It's an ancient literary cartoon that has a bit of fun at someone's expense. It has everything: plot twists, foreshadowing, plays on people's names, satire, humor - bathroom humor at that. You could say that today's story is related at least PG, and it's not for the squeamish.

Besides being rude - there's no way around it - we're also left with questions about the morality of what happens in this passage. Strangely, this passage doesn't resolve all of our moral questions as we finish it.

So let's look at what happened and ask three questions:

1. What happened that's so rude and disturbing?
2. What does it tell us about us?
3. What does it tell us about God?

Someone's said, "In the darkest hour, God does his greatest work." That's certainly true in the Hebrew book of Judges. No matter how bad things got, God never gave up on his people. Time and again he came to their aid.

This Sunday we'll be looking at "God and Messes" from Judges 3:7-31.

Sermon from September 23, 2007 by Darryl Dash - Audio | Transcript

Last week we began looking at one of the most depressing and yet also one of the most hopeful books in the Bible, the book of Judges. One of the questions that we're forced to ask as we read this book is: how could the people of Israel have been so stupid? They had everything going for them. They had seen God act. God kept on raising up new leaders. He kept on bailing them out. And yet they kept on blowing it. They didn't just make small mistakes either. They really and absolutely blew it.

Today's passage lays out a pattern for the rest of the book. It's a cycle that repeats itself over and over. It's not so much a cycle as a downward spiral. Judges shows that Israel spirals downward further and further away from God and into trouble. What we're going to look at today forms a template for most of the book of Judges. We're going to see as well that the heart of this downward spiral is an issue that's just as much of a problem for us today as it was back then.

What I'd like to do today is to simply ask three questions:

1. What is the downward spiral?
2. What's at the heart of the downward spiral?
3. How can we break this downward spiral?

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. In October, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

Last week we saw that there are two church offices in the Bible: Elder and Deacon. Elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation.

Deacons

Up until now, we have essentially expected our deacons to function as elders. When we give our deacons the dual role of deacon and elder, we give them an unmanageable role and expect too much.

Deacon literally means “servant.” In contrast to elders, deacons do not have ruling authority over the church, nor are they expected to be able to teach.

From Acts 6:1-6 (which may refer to deacons) and 1 Timothy 3:8-13, it seems that deacons had the following functions:

• Caring for the finances of the church
• Administering the affairs of the church
• Ministering to physical needs

The Difference

Elders at Richview will oversee the doctrine, direction, and discipline of the Church.

Deacons will direct the financial, benevolent, ordinance, and facility operations of the Church, as well as directly oversee ministries.

Coming in the next few weeks:

• What will elders do?
• What are the qualifications for elders?

We're all familiar with downward spirals. No matter how hard we try, it seems difficult to pull out of a spiral and establish a better pattern.

This week, we'll be looking at a passage that describes this cycle, and the only solution to it. Join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we look at Judges 2:6-3:6.

Sermon from September 16, 2007 by Darryl Dash - Audio | Transcript

Today we're beginning a series from one of the most disturbing and yet one of the most hopeful books of the Hebrew Scriptures, the book of Judges. It's one of those books that makes you shake your head at times and wonder how they could have got it so wrong. Things get bad in this book, and they only get worse. If you were to try to find a book in the Bible that illustrates that people are sinful, this would be your book.

As dismal as this book is, it's a book in which we see ourselves. One Old Testament scholar says that Judges may be one of the most relevant books for the North American church at this time. Why? We're going to see a little bit of the answer today.

We will probably go through the following experience a number of times in reading this book. First, we'll read a passage and say, "They're so bad. I can't believe they did that." Then, after thinking for a minute, we'll realize that in some ways we're just the same. Judges hits uncomfortably close to home at times, because we are often like the people we're going to read about.

And yet it's also a book of hope. No matter how bad things got at the time of the Judges, God never gave up on his people. This book shows us that God is gracious, and he often treats his people "not according to what they deserve but out of his boundlessly merciful heart" (Daniel Block). The book of Judges reminds us that God's people often disappoint, human leaders often disappoint, but God's purposes will prevail, not because people are great, but because God is great. "The true hero in the book," someone has said, "is God and God alone."

Let's take a look at the beginning of the book of Judges, which sets up the rest of the book. Then let's look at the core question which we need to answer, and we'll have to answer again and again in this book.

Richview is currently in the process of selecting Elders. In October, we will be holding a business meeting to elect our first Board of Elders.

Two Offices: Elder and Deacon

In the New Testament, there are two basic types of church offices (Philippians 1:1). The first goes by many different names: elder, pastor, overseer, bishop. These terms are used interchangeably for the same office (Acts 20:17-28, Titus 1:5,7).

The other office is deacon.

Meaning of Elder

The different names for elder give an idea of what elders are:

• “overseee” literally means “one who supervises”
• “elder” could refer to chronological age or special status within the community
• “pastor” means shepherd

Elders fulfill a spiritual task. They anoint the sick (James 5:14), preach, teach, admonish, and guard against heresy (Titus 1:9), and govern the church (1 Timothy 5:17). Some have a special role in teaching (1 Timothy 5:17).

The New Testament consistently uses a plural form for elders, which means that the responsibilities were shared by a group of elders.

In summary: elders provide supervision and spiritual guidance for the congregation.

Coming in the next few weeks:

• What is the difference between elders and deacons?
• What will elders do?
• What are the qualifications for elders?

The Book of Judges is one of the bleakest, yet also one of the most hopeful, books of the Bible. The beginning of Judges prepares us for what follows. As we read the beginning, we're forced to ask what is wrong with the world. is it circumstances? Or is there a deeper problem? And what can we do about it?

Join us this Sunday at 10:30 as we look at What's Wrong with the World from Judges 1:1-2:5.

Sermon from September 9th 2007 by Darryl Dash - Audio | Transcript

Well, I don't know what we're going to be celebrating in four months, but for a lot of us this is the real New Year. So I'd like to welcome you back from your summer, and also to wish you a Happy New Year, or at least a happy September.

What I'd like to do this morning is to talk about what's ahead for us as a church for the coming year, and then as we get ready to go to the Lord's Table to talk about why it's so important.

As we start into Fall, it's usually the time that our ministries kick off again and we begin to ask what's ahead for the coming year. You may be aware that we're in a state of flux right now, with some change in staff and a move to a new leadership structure with elders, who will provide spiritual oversight of the church. As well, there are lots of smaller needs and challenges and happenings in many of our ministries, but I want to take a wider view at what I think will be on the agenda, besides all of these things, for the coming year as God allows.

Important update re: September 9 picnic:

In case it keeps raining, the picnic will be moved inside to the Activity Room of the church.

This week is a busy one for many of us as kids return to school and vacations end. It's also a busy time in the life of the church. For those who have been away, welcome back.

This Sunday is our kick-off Sunday. The morning service looks full. We also have a picnic planned for after the service, so please plan to come out. Bring yourself, a chair, and a donation. We'll take care of the food and the games.

I'll also be talking about three items on our church's agenda this year. This seems like the time to look ahead and ask what we're going to focus on in the coming year. I have three. Curious? I hope you'll come out and that we can interact on these. I'll also be talking about why our efforts to be the church are worth it.

Next week, we begin a series on one of the darkest books in the Bible: the book of Judges. In some ways, it's also one of the most encouraging books. Despite the failures of the people in the book of Judges, God never gave up on them. This gives all of us hope.

I am looking forward to seeing you and discovering what is in store for us in the coming year.

This Sunday is our Fall Kick-Off followed by a picnic. We'll be looking at three areas of focus for the coming year and while they're important. We will also celebrate communion together.

Sermon from September 2, 2007 by Brian Mullins - Audio