I. Saul’s First Mistake: He Did Not Wait on God (1 Samuel 13:1-23) We all know how difficult it can be to wait on God. We probalby know how hard it is to wait on a job offer, a diagnosis, or direction in life. Waiting tests us like nothing else. 1 Samuel 13 is about... Continue Reading →
Israel Asks For A King
Sermon Audio: LINK I. The Crisis of Leadership and the Question of Kingship (1 Samuel 8:1-5) In 1 Samuel 8, Israel stands at another crossroads. The chapter begins, “When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel” (1 Samuel 8:1, ESV). Samuel had served faithfully as prophet, priest, and judge. But with age... Continue Reading →
The Loss and Return of the Ark:
Sermon Audio: LINK I. The Danger of Presuming on God's Presence (1 Samuel 4) In 1 Samuel 4, Israel makes a fatal mistake. They presume on God's presence without submitting to His authority. Facing the Philistines, a fierce warrior people from the island of Caphtor (modern-day Crete), Israel believes the battle can be won by... Continue Reading →
A Prayer, A Promise, A Prophet
Sermon Audio: LINK Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1–28, ESV There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name... Continue Reading →
The Childhood of Jesus
I. Jesus’ Growth in Nazareth (Luke 2:39–40) There is a kind of mystery in the years that pass between Jesus' infancy and His public ministry. The Gospels give us snapshots of His birth, then again when He’s twelve, and then the curtain lifts in full in His thirties. We might be tempted to call those... Continue Reading →