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Paul begins a defense of his apostleship. First he points to the fact that he brought the gospel to the Corinthian believers. They would not exist as a church without him.

Despite God’s warnings to the Israelites that a king will oppress them, they refuse to listen, and finalize their request for a human monarch. They wish to be like the other nations who all have kings. They want to give up their system of self-governance in hopes that a king will take all such responsibility from them. The Lord answers that a king will be appointed.

Samuel tells Israel the word of God. With a king, the people of Israel will lose their sons to fight his wars, to farm his fields, to make his weapons. Their daughters will become perfumers, cooks, and bakers for the king. The king will tax the people for the best of their produce and will take their servants and livestock for his own gain. Ultimately all Israelites will be as slaves to the king, and God will not hear their pleas to undo this.

Samuel is unhappy that Israel wants a king, so he prays to God for guidance. God assures Samuel that Israel is rejecting Him, not Samuel. He explains that this is how the Israelites have always behaved. God will grant Israel a human king, but first they must be warned of the consequences that will bring.

The local leaders of Israel tell Samuel that his sons are dishonest judges, and that they want a king over the entire nation like all other countries.

In his old age, Samuel appoints his sons Joel and Abijah as judges, but they judge corruptly and take money to determine outcomes.

John finishes his letter by reminding the church to imitate good, not evil, for doing good is of God, but doing evil is disobedience to God. John commends a man name Demetrius to the church and concludes that he hopes to see them soon in person to speak about other matters.

John criticizes a man named Diotrephes who puts himself first above the church, rather than serving the believers. Diotrephes has rejected what John and other church leaders say, and has made false accusations against them. Worse still, he has worked against helping missionaries and has removed church members who wanted to support them.

John commends the church for its faithfulness toward other believers, especially traveling missionaries who preach the gospel of Jesus. John affirms that it is right to support these travelers, so that we can share in their work.

John has heard report of how well the church was doing and it makes him glad.

John expresses his love for the church and his hope that it will thrive.

John begins his letter by referring to himself as an elder, rather than an apostle, to put himself on equal footing with his recipient, Gaius. He seeks to advise, not dictate, concerning a problem within the church which Gaius helps shepherd.

The LORD promises to pour out His Spirit on the inhabitants of Judah in the end times. All the Israelites in Jerusalem who invoke the name of the LORD with a heart full of faith will be delivered from His judgment.

Joel summons the land, the wild animals, and the inhabitants of Zion to rejoice because the LORD will restore their blessings.

In response to Judah’s genuine repentance, the LORD will have mercy on them and restore their agricultural products, which the locust plague devoured. The text infers that Judah repented, and God relented of the impending judgement.

As the prophet announces God’s impending judgment on Judah, he calls the people to repentance. He tells them to return to God genuinely because God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love and therefore might relent of the impending judgment.

The prophet describes details of the army which God will use to carry out His judgment on Judah, along with a description of the devastation it will impose.

The prophet Joel issues a call to blow the trumpet to announce God’s imminent judgment on Judah which will come in the form of a large, invading army.

Paul concludes his letter to Philemon asking him to prepare a place for him to stay whenever he is able to come and sends him greetings from some believers who are serving with Paul who knew Philemon. Paul finishes his letter with a blessing.

Paul sums up his requests and asks Philemon to refresh his heart. He expresses confidence that Philemon will do even more than what Paul asked of him.