This month we’re walking with a man the Bible introduces as Abram. Soon enough, God changes his name to Abraham. Names mean something. God changes him from Abram, “exalted father,” to Abraham, “father of a multitude.” It is this man who God chose to enter into a relationship by which he intended to bless everyone else. We might say, “Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing to others.” 

This week’s Bible story, “Gideon,” starts out the same way the previous stories have started: The Israelites once again turned away from God. This time, God handed the Israelites over to the Midianites. 

This week’s story in The Gospel Project for Kids® was “Deborah and Barak.” After the death of the first judges, the Israelites fell into a continuous cycle: sin, bondage, deliverance, and peace. When the people of Israel were oppressed by the king of Canaan, Deborah was the judge of Israel. Deborah sent for Barak and encouraged him to gather an army and fight the Canaanite army and its commander, Sisera.

In November we’ll be walking with a man the Bible introduces as Abram.  Soon enough, God changes his name to the more familiar “Abraham.”  

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called their on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.  And Abraham sojourned….” (Genesis 21:23-24)

As I write this in early October, there are a whole lot of trees being planted around here.  Trees are an easy sell.  People eagerly sign up to put a tree in the ground.  Doing so in honor of a loved one makes it all the more special.  A newly-planted tree, it seems to me, points both to our past and to our future.

Whenever we see the tree, we remember why we planted.  What was the occasion?  Who is it for?  When did we do this thing? And, whenever we see the tree, we know it has many, many more years left.  It will bring joy and delight to future generations.  We may never sit in its shade or enjoy its fruit.  

It’s not about us.

Sunday’s Bible story took  place chronologically after the death of Joshua.

This weeks message is on the good news about sin.  Yes, you read that correct — sin is actually good news.  Well, OK, the sin itself isn’t good.  But knowing about sin, how pervasive and universal it’s reach is, that is good news.  

Yesterday  your kids learned about “Joshua’s Final Encouragement.” Joshua was an old man—120 years old!—but his life was a testament of God’s faithfulness to His people.

This weeks message continues our “Heidelberg U” series. We’ll look at several passages from scripture that explain the depth and breadth of our sin. Indeed, we are broken and messed up people. It doesn’t take much to see that in our world today. If last week’s message was about comfort, this week’s message is about discomfort.

Isn’t it great that God goes above and beyond what we think is possible to keep His promises to His people? Yesterday’s  Bible story, “The Day the Sun Stood Still” relates something that seems absolutely impossible. But nothing is impossible for God!