The book of Judges has it all - drugs (alcohol), sex (rape and temple prostitutes) and rock stars (Judges)! Except for the occasional story of the biblical Hercules (Samson) and of Gideon - we don't hear many sermons from the book of Judges. Some stories are almost too graphic to tell in church (see the Levite and his concubine Judges 19). Judges covers close to a four hundred year period from about 1400 BCE to 1000 BCE and takes us from the conquest of Jericho, the first city the Israelites took in their occupation of the land of Palestine to the reign of Saul, Israel's first king. It is a time of great political unrest and moral uncertainty. God had promised complete victory to Joshua in his conquest of Canaan under condition of Israel's faithful obedience and trust in God (Joshua 1). The book of Judges records Israel's lack of faith and disobedience leading to failure in their mission, (Judges 2:10-23). The social and spiritual commentary on the times comes at the books end with - "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 21:25).

Continuous fluctuation in the stock market, unemployment at over 9% nation wide, 4 people in line for every job currently being offered, terrorists blowing themselves up to instill terror in the lives of innocent bystanders, riots and looting in the UK and Pennsylvania and mass murder in Norway - government seems ill equipped and unable to deal with such calamities. Not too different than how things were in the days of the Judges with no king in Israel. What can we learn from these troubled times and how to connect with God during such chaos? What can the Judges teach us about life with God in uncertain times?

You are invited to follow along in the sermon series on Connecting With God In Chaotic Times as we follow the story of Gideon to learn about his relationship with God and how God spoke to him and used him to reconnect with God and save his community as well. Judges shows us that when we feel like there is no one in control and everything we have depended on is failing us - there is One who is still in control and who knows how to save and deliver. God is still present and still God. He has his ways of connecting with us even when we are not connecting with him. Check out the messages in our sermon series on Connecting With God In Chaotic Times.