Come join us at Coggin Church this Sunday for our 8:30 AM service. Our pastor, Dr. Todd Gray, will be delivering a thought-provoking message on the Judges as part of our ongoing series. He will be exploring the importance of avoiding idolatry in our worship of God and how God can use unexpected individuals for His purposes. Additionally, our service will feature updates on upcoming events such as Vacation Bible School (VBS), a mission trip opportunity in San Antonio, and a pool party for families attending VBS. We will also have a time of worship led by our talented worship team. Don’t miss out on this enlightening and engaging service!
Join us at Coggin Church for a captivating 8:30 AM service that focuses on the intriguing story of Ehud, a surprising savior from the book of Judges. This story highlights how God often uses unexpected and underappreciated individuals for His glory. As we delve into the message, we will explore the themes of idolatry, the consequences of forgetting God, and how Jesus can help us overcome these challenges. Don’t forget to stick around after the service to connect with other members of our church family and meet our college pastor. We are excited to worship with you and learn from the history presented in the Bible. See you there!
8:30 AM Service at Coggin Church
Welcome to the 8:30 AM service at Coggin Church! We hope you are as excited as we are for today’s service, where we will be diving into the book of Judges. Our guest speaker for today is Dr. Todd Gray, who will be delivering a message on the importance of avoiding idolatry in worshiping God.
Preparations and Events
Before we begin, let’s take a moment to talk about some exciting things happening at Coggin Church. We have a lot to look forward to, starting with Vacation Bible School (VBS). The anticipation for VBS is rising, and we can’t wait to see the impact it will have on the lives of children in our community.
Another exciting opportunity on the horizon is a mission trip to San Antonio. This trip will give us a chance to extend our love, care, and support to those in need. It is an excellent way to live out our faith and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
To celebrate the upcoming VBS and share our joy with the families involved, we will be hosting a pool party. This event will provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere for families to connect and build relationships. We believe in creating a sense of community and belonging within our church family, and this pool party is just one of the many ways we strive to achieve that.
Before we dive into today’s service, our college pastor will take a moment to welcome everyone and introduce our guest speaker, Dr. Todd Gray. It’s always wonderful to have different voices sharing God’s message with us, offering fresh perspectives and insights.
As we embark on this service, we kindly request your prayerful support for the upcoming VBS. Pray that God’s love and truth would be shared effectively, and that the lives of the children attending would be transformed by His grace.
Worship
Now, let’s transition into a time of worship. We invite you to join us in singing praises to God, as we lift our voices and hearts in adoration. Our worship team has prepared a selection of songs that will guide us in expressing our love and reverence for our Heavenly Father.
Through worship, we find a way to connect with God on a deeper level, allowing His presence to fill our hearts and minds. So, let’s let go of any distractions and fully engage in worship, surrendering ourselves completely to God’s amazing love.
Sermon from Judges: Ahood, a Surprising Savior
Today, we have the privilege of delving into the book of Judges, specifically focusing on the story of Ahood, a surprising savior. Ahood was a left-handed judge in ancient Israel, and his story holds significant lessons for us today.
Being left-handed in ancient cultures carried a certain stigma, often associated with being different or impaired. However, Ahood’s left-handedness was not a flaw; it was part of God’s plan. It is believed that Ahood was left-handed due to a crippled right hand, yet God chose to use this unexpected and underappreciated individual to deliver His people.
The story of Ahood begins with the Israelites’ defeat at the hands of Eglon, the king of Moab. For 18 years, the Israelites served under Moabite oppression until God raised up Ahood as a deliverer. Ahood, with the help of God, concocted a secret plan to rid the Israelites of Eglon’s tyranny.
Ahood’s left-handedness played a vital role in the assassination of Eglon. Since most people were right-handed, their swords were typically worn on the left side, making it easier to draw and strike an opponent. However, Eglon’s guards would have been inspecting the right side for concealed weapons, which is why Ahood hid his double-edged sword on his right thigh. This unexpected move caught Eglon off guard and resulted in his demise.
After assassinating Eglon, Ahood rallied an army and successfully defeated the Moabites, freeing the Israelites from their oppressive rule. This story showcases how God uses weaknesses, abnormalities, and unconventional methods to display His strength.
It is imperative that we learn from the events of the book of Judges and the story of Ahood. The Israelites’ struggle with idolatry is a clear warning of the consequences of forgetting God and embracing false gods. Idolatry not only hindered their relationship with God but also led to a drift away from His teachings.
Sadly, idolatry is not merely a relic of ancient times. It is still a relevant issue today that affects many believers. We may not worship graven images, but we can easily fall into the trap of idolizing money, success, relationships, or even our own achievements. Such idolatry can create a divide in our relationship with God, causing us to live a double life and ultimately forget Him.
To avoid falling into the same pitfalls as the Israelites, we must study and learn from biblical history. By understanding their struggles and the consequences of their actions, we gain wisdom and insight into how to navigate our own lives faithfully.
Israel’s drift away from God and introduction of idols serves as a reminder that idolatry is a personal problem. Each individual must examine their heart and ask themselves whether there are any idols occupying the throne that rightfully belongs to God.
However, let us not overlook the severity of God’s mercy in this story. Despite the Israelites’ unfaithfulness, God continuously pursued a relationship with them, using various means to bring them back to Him. This displays God’s unending love and His desire for us to eliminate idolatry from our lives so that we can serve Him wholeheartedly.
Ahood’s story also serves as a foreshadowing of the ultimate example of triumph through weakness: Jesus Himself. Jesus, the Son of God, willingly embraced weakness, allowing Himself to be crucified on the cross. From the world’s perspective, this would have seemed like a defeat, but it was through this weakness that Jesus accomplished His ultimate victory over sin and death.
As followers of Christ, we are called to trust in Jesus and cling to the cross to overcome idolatry in our lives. We cannot do it alone, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can recognize and resist the idols that seek to take God’s place in our hearts.
Let us humbly ask God for help in revealing and eliminating idols in our lives. With His guidance, we can surrender our hearts fully to Him, allowing Him to work in and through us. Through this process, we will experience true freedom and find our ultimate fulfillment in a loving and intimate relationship with our Creator.
In conclusion, today’s message has shed light on the importance of avoiding idolatry in worshiping God. The story of Ahood reminds us of God’s ability to use unexpected and underappreciated individuals to accomplish His purposes. We must learn from the consequences of idolatry in biblical history and apply those lessons to our own lives, eliminating idols that hinder our relationship with God. Let us trust in Jesus, lean on the Holy Spirit, and actively seek to eradicate idolatry from our hearts. May we continually grow in our love and devotion to our Heavenly Father, serving Him with all that we are.