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Sermon Audio

Bible Teaching from Pastor Paul Edwards

The Test and Cost of Covenant Love

March 17, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 20:24–34

David is hiding in the field while Jonathan is taking the measure of Saul's attitude toward David. Over the course of a three-day festival, the covenant between Jonathan and David (made in 18:1-4 and reaffirmed in 20:8) will be tested, its cost will be levied, and where loyalties lie will be exposed.

Take the Longview

March 10, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 20:12–17

What are you afraid of? David's fears are in the context of his immediate present circumstances. Jonathan's fears are in his concern for the future welfare of his family. Regardless of the source of our fears and anxiety, they are a condition of life in a fallen world. This issue isn't THAT we are afraid, but HOW our fears find their resolution in the blessing of the future coming King.

Steadfast Love

March 3, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 20:1–23

Where do you turn when there is no where to turn? This is David's predicament. He is a fugitive now, fleeing and hiding from the plots of Saul to take his life. David finds the resolution of his anxiety in the covenant of the Lord, grounded in the steadfast love of the Lord in spite of his perilous circumstances.

The Fatal Consequences of Quenching the Spirit

February 25, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 19:18–24

In 1 Samuel 18 and 19, Saul has set himself against David (the Lord's Anointed - see Psalm 2), first secretly in chapter 18 and now publicly in chapter 19, enlisting the help of his military servants. But even as Saul is plotting against David, the overtures of God's grace are extended to Saul, culminating in the Spirit of God coming upon Saul. As a result, Saul enters into the praise and thanksgiving characteristic of "prophesying,' only to quench the Spirit's overtures one final time.

My Defender and Deliverer

February 11, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards

In 1 Samuel 19, the grace of God is on display in his protection of David. But of we read carefully, we will also see the grace of God in his overtures to Saul in opportunity after opportunity to repent. What happens when we repeatedly spurn God's offer of grace? God eventually withdraws his grace in final judgment.

Scheming Against the Lord's Anointed

February 4, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 18:17–30

Saul's jealousy of David has now led to his scheming against David to have him killed - first covertly (chapter 18) and then openly (chapter 19). And yet even when his life is under threat, David remains blissfully content. Why and how?

The Pernicious Sin of Jealousy

January 28, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 18:5–16

In the aftermath of David's victory over the giant of Gath there were two markedly different responses. In 1 Samuel 18:1-4, Jonathan responds with love. In 1 Samuel 18:5-16, Saul responds with jealousy and envy. What is the source of Saul's envy, but more importantly, what is the effect of Saul's envy? What can we learn from Saul about killing envy in our own hearts?

Bond of Brothers

January 21, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 18:1–4

In the immediate aftermath of David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the narrator gives us an intimate insight into the relationship between Jonathan and David with the words, "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved David as his own soul" (1 Samuel 18:1). What accounts for this unique and immediate bond between Jonathan and David?

Confronting the Contradictions in 1 Samuel 17:54-58

January 14, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:54–58

There are several apparent contradictions in 1 Samuel 17:54-58: 1. Why would David take the head of Goliath to Jerusalem, which was at least 50 miles away, when Jerusalem was not the capitol of Israel at the time David defeated Goliath? 2. If David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem in verse 54, why does he still have it when he appears before Saul and Abner in verse 57? 3. Why would David have a tent at the battle site in verse 54 when clearly he is living with his father Jesse in Bethlehem, going back and forth between Bethlehem and the battle site in verse 15? 4. Why does Saul seemingly still not know who David is, asking Abner whose son David is in verses 55-56, when he has had at least two extended interactions with him (16:17-23 and 17:31-39)?

The Was No Sword in David's Hand

January 14, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:38–54

David is facing down an imposing figure who is armed to the teeth, and yet, "there was no sword in David's hand." Why? Every military strategist, ancient or modern, would see this as a colossal blunder on David's part. So why is there no sword in the hand of David?

The Gospel According to David, Part 1

January 7, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:32–37

In 1 Samuel 17 there are multiple voices speaking lots of words with contradicting messages. There are the words of the Philistine which has instilled fear in the armies of Israel. There are the words of Eliab which berate the shepherd David. There are the words of Saul casting doubt on David's ability to triumph against the giant of Gath. But it is the words of David that have the attention of everyone gathered in the Valley of Elah.

The Gospel According to David, Part 2

January 7, 2024 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:34–37

On what basis is David so confident that he can defeat the giant of Gath? He is fully aware of his own inexperience and youthfulness, but he is not looking to himself at all. He is looking to the faithfulness of the living God.

The Four Last Things: Hell: Eternal Separation from God

December 31, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • Mark 9:43–48, Revelation 21:7–8

The end and object of Heaven is the glory of God. So, too, the end and object of Hell is the glory of God. God is glorified in the just condemnation of sinners. Why is there a Hell? What is Hell? How can a good God send anyone to a place of eternal torment?

The Four Last Things: Heaven: God with Us

December 24, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • Matthew 1:18–25, Revelation 21:3

The birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem's manger brought heaven down to us so that God in Christ might bring us up to heaven. From Matthew 1:23 and Revelation 21:3 we learn that just as Jesus is Emmanuel - God with us - so Heaven is God with us. Where Jesus is, there is heaven. In this Christmas meditation we consider seven things that will be true of us when we get to heaven.

The Four Last Things: Judgment

December 17, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • Acts 17:22–31

There is within the heart of every human being at least some understanding that there is coming a day of reckoning. Sadly for many, they don't understand that that day will not be a reckoning between their good deeds and their bad deeds, but a reckoning between their obedience and the perfect law of God. What gives God the right to judge the world? What is the manner in which he will judge the world? By what standard will he judge the world? What is my only hope for acquittal on that day when I stand before the judgment bar of God?

The Four Last Things: Death, Part 2

December 10, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, 2 Corinthians 5:1–10

What happens at the moment of our physical death? The answer depends on how you have responded to the the Lord Jesus Christ. For the unbeliever, there is an immediate consciousness of eternal separation from God. For the believer, there is an immediate consciousness of the eternal presence of God. The believer enters into at least seven realities the moment their soul departs their body.

The Four Last Things: Death, Part 1

December 10, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • Genesis 3:1–19, Hebrews 2:14

What is death? It is not the cessation of existence. It is not merely the end of life. How does the Bible define death, and further, what doe the Bible tell us about why we die, where we go when we die, and what God Himself has done about death?

Enter David

November 26, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:12–31

In the opening verses of 1 Samuel 17 the armies of Israel are paralyzed by their fear of the champion of Gath, the giant Goliath. Into this scene of fear and loathing enters a young shepherd boy with no military experience who is incensed that Saul and his armies are allowing the name of the living God to be dishonored. Who is David? What did he see and hear that Saul and the armies did not see and hear? What steeled David's resolve to confront the giant when all of the men of war in Israel were fleeing from him?

Fear and Loathing in the Valley of Elah

November 19, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:1–11

The story of David & Goliath is not a metaphor for slaying of "the giants" in your life. 1 Samuel 17 is not about overcoming your problems or your troubles. It is ultimately about the defense of the honor of God. The Giant of Gath loathes God and God's people. He is the personification of our adversary, the devil. If we look on the "outward appearance" we only see the disadvantage, and we are fearful. But if we look to the promises of God, we have the confidence that God will ultimately prevail, even if it costs us everything. What are we willing to risk to defend the honor of God?

Choice Cuts

October 29, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:1–11

The story we have come to know as the story of David & Goliath is really a story about David & Saul & Goliath. And the real point of the story is one that is missed by those who think they know the story best. As we begin to consider this familiar story, we must unlearn most of what we think we know about David & Goliath before we can proceed with the details.

Failure is Not an Option

October 22, 2023 • Pastor Paul Edwards • 1 Samuel 17:38–47

Why was David prepared to take on Goliath? Because he had a perception as to the real issues. David had the perception to realize that more was at stake than the mere defeat of Israel and the humbling of her pride. The honor and dignity of God was a stake. In defeating the giant, David wanted the whole world to know that there is a God in Israel, that the battle is not won with human weapons, and that the battle is the Lord's and it is He who gives the victory.

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