Sermon Archives

1 Samuel: Crowns
December 3, 2017

1 Samuel 31 | Draw your Sword

1 Samuel 31 | Draw your Sword

We end the book of 1 Samuel with the end of Saul. As we come to the end of his life, we see how the decisions of Saul’s life have led to a destruction of everything around him: his sons are dead, his army decimated, and the nation of Israel is on the run. In […]

November 19, 2017

1 Samuel 30 | This is David’s spoil

1 Samuel 30 | This is David's spoil

David and his men return home after bring rescued from their awkward situation in the Philistine army, only to find that their city has been burned and the women and children taken. David goes to God for strength, guidance, and hope in the midst of his suffering. This story teaches us a bit about faith, suffering, […]

November 12, 2017

1 Samuel 28 | The Lord has turned from you

1 Samuel 28 | The Lord has turned from you

Saul has reached his breaking point and pursues help…in the form of a witch. He is frustrated by God’s lack of communication, so he channels the one prophet who always knew what to say: Samuel. If he expected Samuel to join his pity party, he was wrong. Samuel rebukes him and then adds to his […]

November 5, 2017

1 Samuel 27+29 | I shall escape out of his hand

1 Samuel 27+29 | I shall escape out of his hand

David takes his men into Philistine land and takes things into his own hands. In this ‘godless’ chapter, we see what happens when we ‘follow our hearts.’ David creates a mess of a situation and becomes trapped by his own actions and lies. God, as He always does, rescues David from this. In all of […]

October 29, 2017

1 Samuel 25 | Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you

1 Samuel 25 | Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you

A vignette within the larger story of 1 Samuel, David is faced with a disrespectful local who has gotten used to being a big fish in a small pond. Nabal not only rejects David’s request, but insults him in the process. Just as David is about to act in a way that will bring shame […]

October 22, 2017

1 Samuel 24+26 | You have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil

1 Samuel 24+26 | You have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil

Saul goes off in search of David again, but this time the roles reverse: Saul becomes the hunted. Faced with the possibility of killing his ‘enemy’ David chooses to spare Saul…twice. He even has to hold his men back from doing the job themselves. In this, we see that David is so focused on faithfulness […]

October 15, 2017

1 Samuel 23 | They will surrender you

1 Samuel 23 | They will surrender you

David is on the run. As he runs, he has to deal with the tension of being the anointed king living in oppression. He has a promise of where this is all going, but in the meantime, things don’t look so good. It is similar for us. We also have been purchased for glory, but […]

October 8, 2017

1 Samuel 21+22 | You turn and strike the priests

1 Samuel 21+22 | You turn and strike the priests

David is running for his life. As his situation has taken a negative turn, his trust in God is tested. In this, we see that a deep abiding faith in God not only sustains a person through hardship, but creates good and is an encouragement to those around them. We are promised nothing situationally in […]

October 1, 2017

1 Samuel 20 | Is not the arrow beyond you?

1 Samuel 20 | Is not the arrow beyond you?

David and Jonathan had a strong bond. It is a friendship that includes care, sacrifice, and covenant. It is, in short, the kind of hospitality we are called into as Christians. In this story, David goes to Jonathan to inquire about why Saul wants him dead; David is confused by Saul’s hatred. Jonathan acts on […]

September 24, 2017

1 Samuel 18+19 | I will pin David to the wall!

1 Samuel 18+19 | I will pin David to the wall!

This is a section on relationships. Many of the characters in these two chapters do not play the role we expect. Jonathan, the heir to the throne, gives his robes and honor to David. Saul uses his daughter to set a trap for his adversary. His daughter returns the favor by saving her husband from […]

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