Podcast
Redwood Church Preaching
Hosted by Redwood Church · EN
31episodes
Episodes
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Judges 7, part 3: holy war still involves torches, horns & jars
Aug 2300:44:38Tap to summarizeGideon knows the Midianite camp is given into his hand, but how shall he receive the victory? Why does he choose this strange method of warfare? The “sword of Gideon” involves no swords—instead horns and torches and pitchers. When he attacks, he does not advance upon the camp, but stands still. His strategy reflects the spiritual principles it is based upon, liturgically resonating with the cutting of God’s covenants. And it is a method God continues to use in the New Testament. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 7, part 2: a model for discerning dreams
Aug 9, 202500:35:21Tap to summarizeIf Gideon is afraid to go into the camp of Midian, God offers him yet another sign to help his unbelief: a dream recounted by a Midianite. The power of this sign is not in the dream itself, but in Gideon’s faith to discern its meaning. God continues to work through such dreams at times, and scripture explicitly tells us that these private revelations will be dark and riddle-like. Here we receive help for understanding the symbolic language of such dreams, and interpreting their meanings. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 7, part 1: crouching soldier, lapping dog-man
Aug 2, 202500:42:24Tap to summarizeNow that Gideon has successfully made war on the idolatry of Israel, he is ready to make war on Midian. Yet, outnumbered four to one, God tells him his army is too big. Holy war cannot be fought, except by men who believe, so two thirds of the army must be sent away. This remains true within the church. Yet still the people are too many, so God refines them a second time, until they are outnumbered 450 to one. But why does he use the lappy-dog test? Why does Gideon need an army of 300 dog-like misfits? And what is the significance for us in the church? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Psalm 58, the hidden violence of self-righteous politics
Jul 26, 202500:39:25Tap to summarizeWicked rulers operate by cloaking their violence in the terminology of righteousness. Though they are preparing a path of violence, they want to appear benevolent and good. As in David’s day, so in ours, where terms like “climate justice,” and “Maori rights” are used to legitimize theft and the threat of violence. Our solution should be the same as David’s, but the church cannot act effectively without unity over the limits of the state’s right to bear the sword. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 6, part 4: fear, faith, and fleece
Jul 19, 202500:42:48Tap to summarizeThe Spirit clothes Gideon—a word used especially for priests being invested with the garments of their identity as God’s servants. Yet suddenly, he seems to get cold feet and asks for two strange miracles. Why would someone with the Spirit act this way? Comparing Gideon’s words to Abraham’s in interceding for Sodom reveals that this is not faithless act, but a faithful one—and the sign of the fleece is not a hasty or foolish request, but a public display with a priestly logic and clear meaning. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 6, part 3: the significance of Gideon’s offerings
Jul 12, 202500:45:59Tap to summarizeIn response to God’s overture of fellowship, Gideon makes two offerings. Careful comparison to the Torah gives us insight into the nature of both priests and saviors in God’s kingdom. Although our worship differs in substance, it remains true that God raises his altar by tearing down Satan’s strongholds and building on their ruins; that he calls us to sacrificial service that can pit father against son; that he uses our idols as kindling for the fire of sacrifice in our hearts; and that the courageous obedience of one man can break the power of fear over an entire body of people. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 6, part 2: Gideon, an unlikely savior
Jul 5, 202500:39:52Tap to summarizeLike Israel before Midian, the true Israel has no power in the land of the West today. How does salvation come in such times? What kind of man does God choose? Gideon seems to be a small, doubtful loser. Why is he threshing in a winepress? What is the significance of the angel turning to face him? What does it mean that he asks to feed the angel—or that the rock eats the food? And how do these things apply in the church age? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Jesus’ arguments against anxiety, part 5: Christian clothing and beauty
Jun 28, 202500:34:38Tap to summarizeJesus distilled his wisdom about worry into seven simple arguments in his Sermon on the Mount. We can follow these arguments to reason our way out of anxiety, and into mental fortitude. His fifth argument is about clothing, exegeting the beautiful yet brief life of the middle Eastern desert flower to prove that God will clothe us sufficiently for our far greater callings. But what are the implications of Jesus’ argument for us, in a world where clothing is cheap and available? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 6, part 1: the enduring problem of Christians fearing other gods
Jun 21, 202500:37:38Tap to summarizeThe mindset of fearing Canaanite gods, and allowing their altars to remain, seems alien and inconceivable to us—we have no gods or altars of this kind. But have we none of any kind? To the contrary, many hold sway in our lives, and we often convince ourselves that it is in our best interest to let them remain. We even offer fearful sacrifices to them. One such god is especially prevalent in the lives of modern Christians. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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Judges 5, part 4: emulating God’s mockery and gloating
Jun 14, 202500:38:47Tap to summarizeDoes God delight in the death of the wicked? Should we? In the same way that we are instructed to seek his vengeance, we are also called to celebrate it. Though there is a danger in this becoming fleshly, yet there is still a pure way for us to laugh righteously at the calamity of the wicked. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit redwoodchurch.substack.com
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