When God Goes, Everything Goes

This episode finishes the book of Judges by walking through its darkest chapters (19–21). It recounts the Levite and his concubine, the horrific violence in Gibeah, the ensuing civil war, and the devastating consequences when God's rule is rejected. The sermon presses hard on the consequences of conformity to the world, the church's responsibility to protect the vulnerable, and the need for righteous, restorative discipline rather than vengeance. It ends with a reminder of hope in Christ and a call to live transformed lives that reflect God’s justice and mercy. Judges 19-21  May 31, 2026 Sermons by Mark Miller and Kevin Pitts Opener: The concubine's dad convinces the Levite to stay two extra days in Bethlehem. What is one place that you could easily be convinced to stay two extra days?  Hospitality is a big theme in this text--from the father of the concubine to the old man from Ephraim. How can we effectively practice hospitality today? Read the six key New Testament passages that pertain to hospitality: Romans 12:13a; 1 Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2a; 3 John 8; and 1 Timothy 3:2; 5:10c. What observations and applications can you make from these texts?  The poor concubine is treated in a gruesome and ghastly way and then left to die. How can and should the church respond to these types of atrocities? In what way can we minister to the used and abused of our community?  Women were seen as property rather than people. In what ways are women devalued today? How should the church view women?  Israel exploited the vulnerable and considered them to be expendable (19:16–30). Who are the vulnerable in our society? How do you think God would evaluate our treatment of them? How can you speak and work against the cruelty and violence of our culture?  The Levite seeks revenge by calling the whole of Israel to war. What is a believer to do when they feel they must be avenged? How should a believer engage with another believer when he/she has been sinned against?  How does Satan use infighting to distract and destroy churches? What can we do to avoid this?  What specific things have you learned from the book of Judges? What key takeaways would God have you remember for the future? How would you sum up the message of the book of Judges in a few words?  What else had you hoped we would discuss? Are you willing to share a testimony this week for the Judges wrap-up?