Fusion: week of 8/29

 FAMILY THEME: GOD PROVIDES REDEMPTION

Ruth 4:1-17

God had a plan for Naomi and Ruth's redemption, and He

has one for us as well.

✞   God Provided a Way of Redemption for Those in Need

     (Ruth 4:1-12)

      Boaz fulfilled the role of kinsman-redeemer for Ruth

     and Naomi and their inheritance.

✞   God's Redemption Leads to Joy and Worship

     (Ruth 4:13-17)

     Ruth and Boaz were married and blessed with a son.

     With all of the people in Bethlehem, they rejoiced and

     recognized God's hand at work.

Fusion: week of 8/22

FAMILY THEME: GOD USES FLAWED PEOPLE

Judges 16:1-31

Samson's strength did not extend to strength of character,

but God still used him.

✞   Ongoing Patterns of Sin Lead to Sorrowful Consequences

     (Judges 16:1-21)

      Samson's lustful passion grew into a sinful pattern of

     behavior. He was willingly blind to the consequences

     of his sin.

✞   God Can Use Us in Spite of Our Flaws if We Turn to Him

     (Judges 16:22-21)

     God graciously granted Samson forgiveness and the 

     power to fulfill his original calling, destroying 3,000

     Phillistines with his final act.

Fusion: week of 8/15

 FAMILY THEME: GOD CALLS ORDINARY PEOPLE

Judges 7:1-23

Before Gideon enlisted, before the army gathered, God had

already won the victory He can do the impossible when we

put our trust in Him.

✞   God is the True Source of Our Success

     (Judges 4:1-3)

      Against conventional wisdom, God told Gideon that his

     army was too large and used a series of tests to reduce

     it to 300 men.

✞   God Encourages and Strengthens Us When We Need It

     (Judges 7:49-15)

     God bolstered Gideon's confidence by sending him to

     overhear an enemy soldier's dream.

✞   God Does Amazing Things When We Trust and Obey Him

     (Judges 7:16-23)

     God granted the victory in such a way that no one could

     have denied that He alone was the victor.

Fusion: week of 8/8

FAMILY THEME: GOD CHOOSES UNUSUAL LEADERS

Judges 4:1-24

Deborah broke the mold. God's selection of a woman to restore

peace and judgment to Israel was exceptional in every way, but

Deborah courageously stepped up to the task.

✞   Confession and Repentance are the First Steps Toward
      Restoration with God

      (Judges 4:1-3)

      God's people allowed themselves to become complacent,

      and they turned away from Him. When adversity came to

      them, they cried out for His help.

✞   God Uses Many Different People and Strategies to

     Accomplish His Purposes

     (Judges 4:4-10)

     God's plan of deliverance may have seemed counterintuitive

     to the military strategies of the day, but He put the prophetess

     Deborah in place as a judge.

✞   Victory is Found in God's Power and Ways, Not in Our Own

     (Judges 4:11-24)

     Together, Deborah and Barak experienced amazing military

     victory. Jael, another woman, finished off the threat to Israel

     with a tent peg. The glory went to God!