Goliath has fallen, the people of God are saved, and a young shepherd from the hill country of Judah becomes an overnight celebrity: the messiah of Israel! Yet creeping through the shouts of celebration is an enemy far greater than any giant on a battlefield. As the hearts of Israel turn towards David, the heart of Saul turns against him.
As we approach 1 Samuel 18 this weekend, I invite you to read over the text and prayerfully ask this question: How do I respond when the Messiah arrives?
1 Samuel 17 || An Unlikely Champion
September 22, 2024 • Josh Leftwich • 1 Samuel 17
"With courage like David, you too can face Goliath!"
Sound familiar? For many, the story of David and Goliath has been reduced to a children's Sunday school lesson or a metaphor for sports and personal challenges. While we love a good underdog story, when it comes to facing the 'giants' in our lives, we often seek more than slings and stones to solve Goliath-sized problems. But what if this story is more than a metaphor for dealing with hard things? What if you and I aren’t the hero of the story?
I invite you to open your Bibles to 1 Samuel 17 and take a fresh look at the age old story of a very unlikely champion.
I Samuel 16 || The Unlikely Choice
September 15, 2024 • Jacob Collins • 1 Samuel 16
This week we renew our 1 Samuel series “The Problem with Crowns,” picking up the story where we left off; Saul is out as Israel’s king, and God says he has found Himself a new and better version. He sends Samuel on a dangerous mission to identify and anoint a new king, even while the old king is still on the throne. Samuel thinks he’s found the right guy, but God tells him not to trust his eyes. He tells him, “The LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
What is God looking for in a king? What is he looking for that everyone else (and even Samuel) seems blind to? And what are we supposed to learn from this dramatic scene to help us follow Jesus?
Can’t wait to pick back up this Old Testament scroll and see how God uses it to speak to us in fresh new ways!
1 Samuel 15:1-3 || Holy War
June 16, 2024 • Dan Gray • 1 Samuel 15:1–3
1 Samuel 14:24-52 || False Spiritual Leadership
June 9, 2024 • James McPherson • 1 Samuel 14:24–52
How do you know whether you are living according to God’s standard as a true spiritual leader? In today’s text, we will focus on three specific situations where King Saul behaved as a false spiritual leader. During the sermon, we will discuss a biblical standard for discerning whether you are living as a true or false spiritual leader.
Ask God to show you what you need from Him to shine as lights in this crooked and twisted
generation.
1 Samuel 14:1-23 || The Lord Saves Israel
June 2, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 14:1–23
This Sunday we will be introduced to a new character who will continue to shine through the pages of scripture as another man after God's heart. One who will be true and loyal and seemingly without vice in every situation he is presented to us. His name is Jonathan.
And in I Samuel 14:1-23 he will be given to us so we can compare/contrast him with his father Saul. What does faith look like and what does it not look like?
1 Samuel 13 || Saul The Fool
May 26, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 13
In I Samuel 13 our King Saul is finally ready to step into obedience and clear the Philistines out of the Promised Land. It starts out very well, and he goes to Gilgal to wait 7 days on Samuel as directed.
Maybe Saul is our guy after all!
But what happens when things get worse after obeying God? What happens when Samuel doesn't arrive in a timely fashion? What happens when his troops begin to desert him?
1 Samuel 12 || Samuel's Priestly Ministry
May 19, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 12
In I Samuel 12 we experience the height of Samuel's priestly ministry to God's people. Samuel explains God's faithfulness and brings the Hebrew nation to their knees in repentance and regret. But it's what he shares with them after this moment that will give them (and all of us) hope for a flourishing future beyond, and maybe even because of their (our) past sins.
1 Samuel 11 || A Savior-King!
May 12, 2024 • Jacob Collins • 1 Samuel 11
Samuel has anointed Saul and announced him to the twelve tribes as Israel's first king. "Long live the king!" But last week's passage ended with an ominous cliffhanger:
But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man (Saul) save us?"
Chapter 11 begins with an enemy invasion of one of the young kingdom’s outlying territories. This passage provides a real-time answer to that rhetorical question....but the answer isn't obvious.
Saul will get a second chance to embrace God's call and commission. Will he make the most of this do-over, or will he make the same mistake as last week?
1 Samuel 10 || Long Live The King!
May 5, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 10
Saul has been called and identified to kingship by the prophet of God.
So now Samuel shares a path with Saul that will bring him more personal confirmation of his calling, and also provide an opportunity to initiate his role of protector, captain and savior of his people.
Will Saul embrace his role, or will he avoid and abandon his calling?
1 Samuel 9 || Donkeys Gone Missing, A King is Found
April 28, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 9
"God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines, of never-failing skill; he fashions up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will." William Cowper
I Samuel 9 is all about the unfathomable providence of God. Donkeys go missing, and Israel finds her King. In a series of disconnected, random and normal events, we will see through to the other side of the tapestry, and notice that they are connected, planned and miraculous.
1 Samuel 8 || A King Like The Nations
April 21, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 8
In chapter 8 of I Samuel the people and the leaders of Israel come to Samuel and request a King to rule over them. Samuel doesn't like this request. God doesn't seem to like it either. And yet, God tells Samuel to obey the voice of his people and give them a King.
And so, the monarchy begins in this ambiguous and enigmatic way.
Maybe this chapter is about something else bigger altogether?
Maybe this is yet another story that God keeps telling us over and over again all through the Old Testament.
1 Samuel 7:2-17 || A Stone Named Ebenezer
April 14, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 7:2–17
The Ark has been traveling and creating a debris field of trouble, among both the Philistine and Israelite people. The idea is to hide it away and go about life.
But that doesn't work either.
So, Israel begins to lament into repentance.
Chapter 7 is our turning point for the nation of Israel and Samuel.
There is a way to be close to God and not die in the process!
And Samuel is just the one to show them how to do it.
1 Samuel 6-7:2 || The Ark Returns
April 7, 2024 • John Zimmer • 1 Samuel 6
Sometimes we hide from God because we do not understand Him-- how loving and good He really is. Sometimes we run from God because we DO understand Him-- how dangerous and undomesticated He really is.
In Chapter 6 of I Samuel we will see what happens when Israel's enemies decide Israel's God is too dangerous to live with, and what happens when the ark of the covenant finally returns victorious to Israel. Be warned: it's not exactly a fairy tale ending. But the bad news may be different than we think.
1 Samuel 5 || Dagon and the Ark
March 24, 2024 • Don Logan • 1 Samuel 5
The God of Israel has been conquered because His people have been defeated and the Philistines have His place of mediation, the Ark of the Covenant.
But God has not been defeated, and it will become clear over the next 7 months that the Philistines will want nothing to do with the Israelite Yahweh. They won't be able to subdue or appease Him and God runs wild over their land with disease and pestilence.
This is a humorous story if you are an Israelite, but a terrifying story if you are not.
What is God trying to tell us with this story?
Please come prepared to be transformed by the Word of God,
Pastor Don
