Bound by Self

Intro [Part 1]: From Triumph to Sorrow

September 1, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 1:1—2:5, Joshua 23

Lifelong Disciples of Jesus… 1. Radically depend on God’s power and presence. 2. Wholeheartedly obey God’s commands. 3. Continually repent of sin. Things to Keep in Mind Throughout Judges: 1. This book is hard to read (and hard to apply). - It is rooted in a foreign culture, time, and place - It is R rated (bloody violence, graphic sexual situations, horrible oppression, etc.) - What do we do with Holy War? - It quickly goes from good, to bad, to worse 2. God is the hero of this story **A Way Through the Problem of Holy War (From Tim Keller)** 1. This holy war is not carried out based on race. 2. This holy war is not carried out based on imperialistic expansion. 3. This holy war is carried out as God’s judgment and through direct revelation.

Intro [Part 2]: Renewal or Decline?

September 8, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 2:6—3:6, Joshua 1:7–9

As we continue our introduction to this sermon series, Pastor Jon offers three reasons why this book is good to read (even though it is hard to read): This book is valuable for us because: 1. God is the hero of these stories 2. It is honest about the good, the bad, and the ugly. 3. It reinforces the only way forward The main question we are faced with in this introduction and throughout Judges: Will we join God in continual renewal or will we remain in perpetual decline?

Othniel

September 15, 2024 • John Kiess • Judges 3:7–11, Leviticus 26:23–25, Psalm 34

Outline of Judges: -Chapters 1-2 (Part 1)  -Chapters 3-16 (Part 2)  -Chapters 17-21 (Part 3) Key Takeaways • God disciplines those He loves  • God uses evil for good purposes  • God rescues us from our sin  • God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve  • God gives us His Spirit to serve Him and others  • God gives us eternal peace and rest

Ehud: A Swift End to Oppression

September 22, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Hebrews 12:5–6, Judges 3:12–31, Psalm 94, Revelation 1:16

1. Respond to God's Discipline 2. Rest in God's Power to End Evil 3. Rely on God's Power!

Deborah: Willing People, Mighty God

September 29, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 4—5, Matthew 28:18–20, 2 Corinthians 3:5–6

1. Rest in God's Power 2. Join God's People in God's Mission Join with Seaside in God’s Mission: -Join regularly on Sundays -Invest intentionally in community -Serve sacrificially -Give generously

Gideon [Part 1]: Faith or Fear?

October 6, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 6—7, Romans 5:8

Our belief that our idol is essential + Fraility of idols= Fear that our idol will fail us Instead of trusting God: -We trust in things/ stuff: “political programs, economic theories, career options, philosophies, lifestyle options, entertainment programs…” -We trust others: In their power, security, promises, charisma, etc. -We trust ourselves: In our own ability, strength, knowledge, etc. Why can we trust God? Because he won’t fail us! -God is gracious -God is powerful -God is with us

Gideon [Part 2]: Toxic Failure

October 13, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 10—12, Judges 7:2, Genesis 1:28, Mark 10:42–44

The way Gideon ends his story leads us to consider three things to be cautious of: 1. The toxicity of revenge 2. The toxicity of success 3. The toxicity of power

Jephthah: Two Warnings

October 20, 2024 • John Kiess • Judges 10—12

1. A warning about persisting in sin  2. A warning about negotiating with God Overview of Judges: +Judges Chapters 1-2 (Part 1) – the beginning of unfaithfulness  (Establishment of the cycle ) +Judges Chapters 3-16 (Part 2) – the downward spiral of unfaithfulness  • Major judges - Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson  • Minor judges – Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon  +Judges Chapters 17-21 (Part 3) – the depths of the unfaithfulness  • Civil war and absolute godlessness

Samson [Part 1]: Dangerous Incongruence

October 27, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 13—14, Psalm 27:3–7, Genesis 1:28

-Dangerous Incongruence #1: Faith with conditions (Goal: Faith without conditions) -Dangerous Incongruence #2: Saint in name alone (Goal: Saint in all of life) -Dangerous Incongruence #3: Passive participant in God’s plan (Goal: Active participant in God's plan)

Samson [Part 2]: How to Neglect God

November 3, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 15—16, John 3:30

How to neglect God: 1. Make yourself the center of your life 2. Ignore Gods purpose for your life 3. Take matters in your own hands 4. Avoid conflict at all costs 5. Forget that good things come from God

Bound by Self [Part 1]

November 10, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 17—18, Luke 9:23

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. [Judges 17:6, ESV] Bound by [to]… 1. Self-rule (There was no king in Israel… even though God was their King!) 2. Self-righteousness (Everyone did as they saw fit… even though God had clearly told them what to do) 3. Self-Interest (They use God to get what they want… instead of being used by God for what God wants) “The purpose of Micah’s religious efforts is to get access to God so that he can get what he wants. The goal of true faith is to give God access to your heart heart so that he can get you to do what He wants. Religions true purpose is to get God to serve you; gospel faith’s purpose is to get your heart to serve Him.” -Tim Keller

Bound by Self [Part 2]

November 17, 2024 • Pastor Jon • Judges 19—21

“Ironically, in a world in which the individual makes himself the measure of all things, the individual eventually counts for nothing… By means of anonymity, the narrator has depicted a sinister world of alienation, denigration, and deconstruction.” -Judges & Ruth: New American Commentary by Daniel Block Israel’s moral decay: - Broken families - Subjugation of others - Coldness toward others - Vile sexual abuse - Indifference - Manipulation/ deceit - Excessive retribution - Indiscriminate violence - Fixing sin with more sin

Seaside Church

Sermons from Judges