Judges: Cycles of Destruction and Deliverance

What does Judges have to do with everyday family discipleship?


In this week’s episode of The Wholehearted Households Podcast, host Helen Lee introduces us to the book of Judges, sharing her own experience of “revenge bedtime procrastination” and relating to how we, like the Israelites, can get ourselves stuck in self-sabotaging cycles.


Our Bible spotlight focuses on how God, in his compassion, sends judges to deliver his people from their destructive behavior. Yet, after a period of peace and rest, the Israelites eventually settle back into their sinful ways, and the cycle repeats itself—ultimately illustrating their need for a new and better King.


Then, our discipleship nugget equips you to guide your family through a time of confession: first by explaining the need to confess our sins, then by modeling how to do so, and finally by asking God for to receive his merciful pardon and peace.


Finally, our spiritual practice invites you into the practice of self-examination, in which, in the presence of God's love, we reflect on where we have sinned and how we can offer these places up to God for forgiveness, healing, and transformation.


Wherever you listen, may you and your family be blessed by this episode as you seek to follow Jesus with your whole heart.


The Wholehearted Households Podcast is a production of InterVarsity Press (IVP) and made possible by the generous support of the Lilly Endowment. Discover more great listens from IVP on our website (ivpress.com/ivp-podcasts) or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/@InterVarsityPress/podcasts) .


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Resources from the episode


This week’s Bible spotlight is adapted from Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church (www.ivpress.com/tell-her-story) by Nijay Gupta.


This prayers from this week’s discipleship nugget are adapted from The 1662 Book of Common Prayer: International Edition (www.ivpress.com/the-1662-book-of-common-prayer) , edited by Samuel L. Bray and Drew Nathaniel Keane.


Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.


Grant to your faithful people, merciful Lord, pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


This week’s spiritual practice is adapted from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us (www.ivpress.com/spiritual-disciplines-handbook) by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun.






Credits


✅ Special offer: Visit ivpress.com (www.ivpress.com/) and use the code IVPWHP for 40% off and free US shipping on any IVP resource mentioned in this episode.


✅ Producers: Kaitlin Borek, Abby Lee, Karen Savella Stallard, and Travis Albritton


✅ Assistant Producer: Christine Pelliccio Melo


✅ Hosts: Alex Blount and Helen Lee


✅ Narrators: Kaitlin Borek, Jack Reece, and Karen Savella Stallard


✅ Sound Engineering: Honest Podcasts (honestpodcasts.com/)


✅ Social Media Manager: Makayla Payne


✅ Podcast Art: Amy Cerra


✅ Theme Song: “Elegant Flight” by Sounds Like Sanders and “Birdhouse” by EVOE


Disclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts/authors featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.