Faithful in Enemy Territory When we step into 1 Samuel 27–30, we find David in one of the hardest seasons of his life. He is still running from Saul, and he is worn out. In 1 Samuel 27:1 we hear him say to himself, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul”(ESV). That... Continue Reading →
Put Down The Sword
God's Provision in the Ordinary Have you ever cried out for a miracle and felt abandoned when nothing changed? That is exactly where we find David in 1 Samuel chapter 21. The giant-slayer is now a fugitive. He is desperate. He is hungry. He is alone. When David arrives in the city of Nob, the... Continue Reading →
Kingdoms We Cannot Keep
Introduction: The Song That Started a War Imagine the scene with me. The war is over. The soldiers are coming home. There’s music in the streets, tambourines shaking, people laughing, kids running beside the procession. And leading the way is David, the shepherd boy who stepped up when no one else would. Goliath is dead.... Continue Reading →
When Giants Fall
Standing Strong in the Valley of Fear Imagine standing on the sun-scorched hillside of Elah. The air wavers with heat. Dust clings to the sandals of Israel’s trembling warriors. Across the ravine, stands Goliath of Gath, a human fortress armored in bronze. His voice bellows taunts across the valley, crashing like thunder against the hills... Continue Reading →
The Call, The Catch, The Commission
When God Starts in the Margins Let me begin with a question: If you were going to launch a movement to transform and redeem the world, where would you start? It is natural to think in terms of power, visibility, and influence. Our minds go to capitals, capitals of religion (Jerusalem), of politics (Rome), of... Continue Reading →
Three Strikes Against a King: Impatience, Pride, and Partial Obedience
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 →
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 →