In HYACKs, we joyfully commit to always be studying a biblical book chapter by chapter, either on Wednesdays or Sundays. This summer, that biblical book will be Judges. While Judges is certainly not an easy or "light" book to study, it does have a clear shape, as it relates the continuing cycles of sin for God's people as they turned away from God, were defeated or taken into slavery, were delivered by a God-given judge, only to return again to sin and rebellion. Judges' shape points clearly to the theme of the book – "we need a king!" Its concluding remark enforces this: "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (21:25).

Our prayer is that this Sunday series in the book of Judges would remind us of our own sinfulness, and the way that we in our own strength often are in danger of falling into cycles of sin. More than this, however, we are excited for the way that Judges highlights the need that we all have for a King – one who will reign over us, protect us, and lead us. We hope to point to Jesus as God's perfect King through this series in Judges; he is the only one who can reign over the lives of sinful people. This will also lead well into our Fall series in the book of Matthew, where we see how Jesus truly is presented as the promised eternal King of God's people.