At Wilkesboro Baptist, We’re just two sermons away from finishing our summer series entitled, “More Grace: How God’s Interventions Make It Possible to Follow Him.”

The Worship Preparation for Sunday August 23: “Sin Cycles” Judges 17:6; 21:25. Reading preparation: Read as much of Judges as you are able, but especially chapter 21. Reflection questions: Why were the judges necessary? Why did Israel continue to need rescue? What does it mean that “everyone did what was right in his own eyes?” 

Joshua and Judges are books full of hope and tragedy. Israel no longer wandered in the wilderness. They made it to the Promised Land. But even in the land of hope and promise, they sinned. Israel’s situation changed, but we discover in the book of Judges that their hearts had not changed. They worshiped other gods and were judged for it. This Sunday (8/23/2026) we will explore the pattern found in the book of Judges and see our need for a Redeemer. 

Here are some prayers you can pray for this Sunday’s worship: 

• Pray that believers would deepen their knowledge of God and relationship with him (Judges 2:10). 
• Pray that unbelievers (children, teens, adults) who don’t know the Lord would come to him as Savior and King. 
• Pray that we will not “do what is right in our own eyes,” (Judges 17:6; 21:25), but that we will submit to the authority of God, our King and Creator, who determines what is right, good, and holy. 
• Pray that we will not be formed by the standards of culture that surround us (world, flesh, and devil), but that we will be formed by the righteousness God expects through Christ. 
• Pray that eyes would be open and those who gather for worship would be encouraged to see Jesus as our King and Redeemer. 

If you’re not in a church and live in the Wilkesboro area, we invite you to join us at Wilkesboro Baptist for worship. If you have a church and want to follow along with our sermons and worship, you can do so here.

If you have a church family already, would you pray for your pastor and Sunday gatherings? It would be a great encouragement to him if you would ask specifically what you could pray for each week in preparation for worship.

This past Saturday (8/15), the Women’s Ministry at Wilkesboro Baptist hosted an event entitled, “The Greatness of Quietness” where ladies were encouraged to read Scripture, meditate on it, and pray in solitude. This event was a blessing to many. In line with what they modeled this past Saturday, let me encourage you with something else to pray. We have a significant number of church members dealing with health and relational difficulties. For them, we can pray Psalm 27 (emphasis mine):

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

³ Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

⁵ For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
⁹     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

¹¹ Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
¹² Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

¹³ I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!

Praying Scripture for others is one of the best means of connecting God’s plans and purposes to our situations. For more on this topic, consider reading Praying the Bible by Don Whitney.