11. Now in Ophrah, the Eternal’s messenger sat under an oak tree that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. Gideon, the son of Joash, was beating out wheat in the winepress so that the Midianites could not see what he was doing.

12. The Eternal’s messenger appeared to Gideon.Messenger of the Eternal One: The Eternal One is with you, mighty warrior.

14. The Eternal turned to Gideon and addressed him.

Eternal One (speaking through His messenger): Go out with your strength and rescue Israel from the oppression of Midian. Do you understand that I am the one sending you?

Gideon: 15. But, Lord, how am I supposed to deliver Israel? My family is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least of my family.

Eternal One: 16. Go. I will be with you, and you will totally destroy the forces of Midian as one man.

If you are here checking out us for the first time today, welcome! We are grateful that you’ve made Centerpoint a part of your Sunday. Before you leave today, please take a moment to fill out your Connect Card and leave some feedback while it’s still fresh in your mind. For every first time guest card turned in today, we're going to make a five dollar donation to the Good Samaritan food bank. Through their partnerships with other local agencies around our city, they take that five dollar donation and turn it into fifty dollars worth of groceries to serve families in need. So just by being here for the first time, and filling out your Connect Card, you're helping our church be the church that God is calling us to be. You can drop your Connect Card in the bucket as offering is being received at the end of service.