Crash Test Dummies: Surprising Lessons from the Book of Judges

by Talbot Davis

You've seen them, haven't you? They ride in the front seats of expensive cars and drive headlong into a brick wall. And then they do it again. And again. They're crash test dummies. Why do they keep doing the same dumb thing over and over again? Or maybe a better question is, why do we?

In this study on the Book of Judges, author Talbot Davis explore the stories of the judges from the perspective of the Israelites’ repeated failure to be faithful to God alone. Through his creative, quirky angle on the book, Davis highlights how the Israelites in Judges made the same mistake of apostasy over and over again. Each time God delivered them, they eventually fell back into the predictable, tragic pattern.

As he explores each judge's story, Davis invites readers to consider the shape that patterns of sin take in our lives, and how God seeks to free us from them and empower us for faithful living. Readers will come to know the Book of Judges and its central characters more deeply, and they will come to appreciate this biblical book as a source of wisdom for living well.

Discussion questions and a practical focus for each week will also accompany each chapter.

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2017

About the author

Talbot Davis is the pastor of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, a congregation known for its ethnic diversity, outreach ministry, and innovative approach to worship. He has repeatedly been recognized for his excellence in congregational development and has received the conference's Harry Denman Award for Excellence in Evangelism. Since Talbot began serving at Good Shepherd in 1999, average worship attendance has quadrupled, growing from 500 to 2000 each Sunday. Talbot lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Julie, and they have two grown children. Talbot offers sermon tips and help through his blog, http://www.talbotdavis.com/sermon-help/.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you told me that a study of the book of Judges would be a "I couldn't put it down" experience, I would have seriously doubted. Yet "Crash Test Dummies" is just that! So many nuggets of wisdom, I started underlining in the introduction.

Anyone who uses John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany" to illustrate a point is an instant friend to me!

Davis does not dance around issues of racism, sexism, ageism, addiction and stereotyping; he stomps all over them with biblical authority. And presents the reader with real solutions beginning with self.

Although a very serious topic, when you least expect it, Davis tosses out a zinger that makes you laugh as he also sends you to look in the mirror.

This book about Judges puts the spotlight on our shortcomings that have been occurring since 1200 B.C. and before. Davis isn't afraid to ask the reader hard questions. Yet, one does not feel chapped, rather cheered on to overcome. It helps that he shares some of his own vulnerabilities.

This is definitely my favorite of all Davis' studies. I've already recommended it to my daughter's LifeGroup.

[Heather Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some great nuggets of wisdom. It also shed a new light on judges. Like judges, it is incredibly redundant. The author often says the same sentence or phrase many, many times in the same chapter or even on the same page. While this often illustrates the cyclical nature of The Jewish people's relationship with God, it became annoying enough that it was detracting for me. If you can squeeze past some of the monotony, there are really good gems of truth to find. We read it in a group at church and it did spur some fantastic dialog. Not life changing but worth a gander and a quick read at only 6 chapters and just over 100 pages.

[Rick Bergmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Group Study

We used this as one of weeknight studies and it encouraged fantastic discussions that often ran longer than the normal hour we met.