Podcasts about 1 samuel

This week, Pastor John continued our sermon series Established with a message from 1 Samuel 6-8. Through the text, he challenged us to move from casual faith to wholehearted surrender, reminding us that true establishment begins with repentant hearts before God. No one can stand against the Lord, our one and true King.

“There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.” (1 Samuel 9:1–2 NLT) David was in many ways the opposite of King Saul. Saul came from a family that loved him; David came from a family that neglected him. Saul was the most handsome man in all Israel; David was a handsome enough guy, but relatively ordinary. Saul was attractive on the outside, but on the inside, he was vain, shallow, and devoid of true integrity. In contrast, David had a deep spiritual life and an intense devotion to God. If you want to know about David’s spirituality profile, just read some of the psalms he wrote. They are like windows into his soul. For example, in Psalm 23:1–3, he says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (NLT). David was perfectly content in his relationship with the Lord. And in Psalm 139 he says, “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. . . . Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (verses 1, 6 nlt). David was in awe of God’s limitless wisdom and knowledge. He felt blessed to be known by the Almighty. And when he sinned against the Lord, David experienced deep guilt and shame. Look at his words in Psalm 51:2–3: “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night” (NLT). Saul’s problem was that he was full of himself. So, the Lord rejected him. David was full of the Lord. So, God accepted him. As we saw in an earlier devotion this week, the Lord seems to go out of His way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That way, people are more likely to recognize the Lord’s hand at work and give credit to Him rather than to human beings. Just as surely as God plucked David from obscurity, He is looking for men and women whom He can use in these critical days in which we are living. God is looking for people to touch this generation. He is looking for people to change this world. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war” (NLT). What kind of person does He look for? Someone strong? No. He looks for someone He can show His strength through—someone whose heart is turned toward Him. Does that describe you? Is your heart totally turned toward God? If so, He can and will accomplish great things through you. Reflection question: How can you help people see God’s strength in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for Public Reading of Scripture. This week we are reading 1 Samuel 10 & Acts 12. We invite you to listen and share this practice happening all around the world!Connect with us on social:Telegram: @beholdisraelchannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amir.tsarfati/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beholdisrael/X: https://x.com/beholdisraelYouTube: https://youtube.com/@beholdisrael

“‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.’” (1 Samuel 13:13–14 NLT) The moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are enrolled in a spiritual race. One of the mandates of any competition is that we play by the rules. Otherwise, we will be disqualified. This is true in every race, but perhaps especially in the spiritual one. The book of 1 Samuel gives us the story of King Saul, a man who did not play by the rules. He began his reign in victory and ended in humiliating defeat. The words of the prophet Samuel, who revealed the extent of Saul’s failure, are among the most devastating in all the Old Testament: “‘How foolish!’ Samuel exclaimed. ‘You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command’” (1 Samuel 13:13–14 NLT). Saul lost his character, power, crown, and in the end, his very life. Based on Saul’s life, let me share a few principles on how not to win the spiritual race. First, ignore the little things. Saul’s failure was not immediate, but gradual. He cut a corner here, shaded the truth there. His pride turned into envy. He ignored what God had plainly told him to do. Likewise, it is not for us to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we like and don’t like. We are to obey God even in the smallest matters, because “small” sins turn into big sins. They certainly did for Saul. Second, never take responsibility for your actions. More than once Saul blamed others for his own bad choices (see 1 Samuel 13:11–12). Saul just wanted to save face. He forgot that no matter what, God always knows the truth. Third, don’t get mad, get even. Saul’s animosity ultimately destroyed him. He became jealous when God anointed and began using David, the young shepherd boy. We need to understand that God chooses whom He will choose. We must not let hatred or envy destroy us. As He did with Saul, God has given each of us potential. He has given us certain talents and gifts to use in the race that is set before us. It is up to us to run the race well and play by the rules. Don’t be disqualified. Don’t be prideful. Don’t play the fool. Don’t crash and burn. Don’t waste your life as Saul did. Reflection question: What impulses or tendencies might disrupt your spiritual race? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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1 Samuel 9 by Pastor Will Cass

J. C. Ryle captured the significance of friendship well: “This world is full of sorrow because it is full of sin. It is a dark place. It is a lonely place. It is a disappointing place. The brightest sunbeam in it is a friend. Friendship halves our troubles and doubles our joys.” This remarkable narrative captures the radical nature of God-given friendship highlighted in the friendship between David and Jonathan.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) In our last devotion, we saw how God used Samuel because Samuel made himself available. Today, we’re going to look at another factor as we try to determine why God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Part of our human nature is to prefer heroes and leaders who come from central casting. People who look the part: tall, solidly built, and good-looking, with a chiseled jawline and a thick head of hair. God prefers a different criterion. Time and time again in Scripture, He defies conventional wisdom in choosing people to accomplish His will. When God sent Samuel to anoint the son of Jesse as the king of Israel, Jesse paraded every son but one in front of the prophet. He didn’t bother sending for David because he believed there was no way God would choose a lowly shepherd to lead His people. He was wrong. God revealed His criterion to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7: “Don’t judge by his appearance or height. . . . The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NLT). A chapter later, when David traveled to the battlefield where the Israelites were squaring off with the Philistines, it wasn’t to fight the giant Goliath. It was to take food to his brothers on the front line. Fighting the Philistine champion was a job for King Saul or one of the battle-hardened soldiers in Saul’s army. But that’s not who God had in mind for the task. He sent the shepherd boy who was offended by Goliath’s taunts and who recognized that the giant was no match for God. He sent the only person who wasn’t paralyzed by fear. He sent the person for whom a weapon was an afterthought. He sent the person who would make sure that God would get the credit for the victory. God saw David’s heart. He sees our hearts as well—and He uses us accordingly. If you want to be used mightily by God, work on your heart. Hide God’s Word in it. Pour it out to Him in prayer. Love your neighbor, your enemies, and your fellow believers with all of it. If you have faith in God, if you believe that He can use you, if you are willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can and will do incredible things through you. One thing I’ve said many times over the years is that God is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” If you do, just watch what God will do. Reflection question: What do you want God to see in your heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We saw last week, when we began our study of First Samuel chapter 17, that the stage was being set for this epic battle, a battle that would bring a great transition. And I'm speaking about this battle between David and Goliath, that Philistine giant, and we need to see that David looked at this situation very different than everyone else among the armies of Israel. Why was that? Well, remember what we have learned about David. To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org

20 Proverbs 5-6; 1 Samuel 27-31; 2 Samuel 1-2; 19 Psalms 80-85; 1 Peter 5; 2 Peter 1-3; 1 John 1-3

We saw last week, when we began our study of First Samuel chapter 17, that the stage was being set for this epic battle, a battle that would bring a great transition. And I'm speaking about this battle between David and Goliath, that Philistine giant, and we need to see that David looked at this situation very different than everyone else among the armies of Israel. Why was that? Well, remember what we have learned about David.To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org

“As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.” (1 Samuel 3:19 NLT) First Samuel 3:19 contains two extraordinary accolades regarding the prophet Samuel: “The Lord was with him” and “Everything Samuel said proved to be reliable” (nlt). But those accolades raise some important questions: Why Samuel? Why did the Lord choose to be with him? Why did the Lord make sure that everything he said proved to be reliable? The Bible doesn’t answer those questions directly, but it does offer some clues. Earlier in the chapter, we learn that, as a boy, Samuel served the Lord by assisting the priest Eli in the tabernacle. One night, while Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone call his name. Assuming that it was Eli, Samuel rushed to the priest to see how he could be of service. But it wasn’t Eli who had called him. Three times Samuel heard the voice. And three times he rushed to Eli. The fourth time Samuel heard his name called, he simply and humbly said, “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT). Why did God use Samuel in such a powerful way? Probably because he was available—not just during business hours, but in the middle of the night, out of a dead slumber. He was eager to serve every time his name was called. Believers today can learn a lot from Samuel. We should always be available to be used by God. Our prayer should be, “Lord, You can use me anytime, anywhere, for any purpose—whether it’s my day off or not. I may be out surfing or on the golf course or out snowboarding, but I want You to call on me. I am always available to represent You. Please call on me.” Every Christian must be available and ready to echo the words of Samuel: “Speak, your servant is listening.” God is not looking for ability as much as He is looking for availability. You may think, “God only uses the really talented people. He will never use me. There’s not much I can offer Him.” But God is looking for someone simply to be available and to let Him be strong on their behalf. God isn’t looking for strong people. He is looking for weak people through whom He can be strong. That means every person is qualified to be used by God. That means God can use you. There is no telling how God will use you. But there are ways to make yourself available to Him. One is by putting yourself in the right place at the right time as much as possible. You can’t share your faith with others if you don’t interact or spend time with them. Another way to make yourself available to Him is to stay alert to the opportunities He sends your way. Are you available to be used by God? If not, why don’t you let the Lord know that you would like Him to call upon you? If Samuel’s story teaches us anything, it’s that God may call upon you before the night is over. Reflection question: How can you prepare yourself for when God’s plan puts you in the right place at the right time? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of the Mountain Podcast centers on the biblical call to “multiply,” drawing from Genesis 1, Matthew 28, and Luke 10 to emphasize that every believer is called not only to follow Jesus but to actively make disciples through love, obedience, and everyday faithfulness. Samuel explains that spiritual fruitfulness is a natural result of a healthy relationship with God and challenges listeners to move beyond passive consumption of church services into intentional participation in the Great Commission—praying for others, sharing faith, practicing obedience, and showing compassion in practical ways. Through teachings on discipleship, humility, and the Good Samaritan, the message reframes multiplication as living out Christlike love in daily life, trusting God to reshape priorities, prune distractions, and mobilize believers to serve their families, workplaces, and communities with grace and courage.

20 Proverbs 2-4; 1 Samuel 21-26; 19 Psalms 78-79; 59 James 4-5; 1 Peter 1-4

In this Bible study, Rev. David Buchs leads us through Psalm 75, the meaning of fasting and ashes, and the rise and fall of King Saul—showing how Scripture exposes false repentance and calls us into genuine humility before God. From the cup of wrath Christ drinks for us, to the freedom Christians have in fasting and ceremony.Sunday Bible Study – February 15, 2026Grace Lutheran Church | Little Rock, ArkansasKey themes explored: • Christ drinking the cup of God's wrath on our behalf (Psalm 75; Gethsemane) • Christian freedom versus legalism in fasting and Ash Wednesday • True repentance vs. self-justification in the life of King Saul • Why partial obedience is not obedience—and why grace is our only hope#BibleStudy#ChristianPodcast#ScriptureStudy#LutheranTheology#RepentanceAndFaith#AshWednesday#LentReflection#GraceLutheranLittleRock#LittleRockChurch#ArkansasFaith#LCMS#ChristCentered

David Horrell continues our Looking at the Heart series with this message from 1 Samuel 26

Pastor John continued our Established series by showing how easily we place God in second rather than surrendering fully to Him. In 1 Samuel 4–6, we're reminded that anything we rely on for control, approval, power, or comfort will ultimately fail us. The invitation this week is clear: lay down every rival and let God truly be first.

In 1 Samuel 26–27, David passes the test of power again by sparing Saul's life a second time, proving he is free enough to trust God's timing instead of seizing the throne. Yet in the very next chapter, weary of waiting, he stops inquiring of the Lord and seeks safety among the Philistines, showing how even faithful obedience can erode when trust gives way to survival.

Join us this week as Pastor Mark continues our 1 Samuel teaching series. On this episode, Mark brings a compelling message comparing Jonathan's loyalty and King Saul's insecurity. Like what you hear, or want to learn more? Check out our website at www.hopeinanderson.com

Series: First SamuelSermon: A Song of SurrenderScripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-11Speaker: Dr. Jimmy A. LongLocation: Grace Fellowship of GreensboroDate: Sunday, February 15, 2025

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Come listen to Lead Pastors Joel & Chase as we deep dive into the book of 1 Samuel, look at the character of David and discover how we can all be people after God's heart!

20 Proverbs 31, 1; 1 Samuel 16-20; 19 Psalms 73-77; 58 Hebrews 11-13; 59 James 1-3

Rock Point Church exists to glorify God by leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Did you miss last Sunday or just want to hear it again? Check out our sermons here on the Rock Point Sermons podcast!

1 Samuel - David & JonathanReadings this week:1 Samuel 201 Samuel 211 Samuel 221 Samuel 231 Samuel 24For more information, please see the Reading Plan

20 Proverbs 29-30; 1 Samuel 11-15; 19 Psalms 69-72; 58 Hebrews 6-10

20 Proverbs 27-28; 1 Samuel 4-10; 19 Psalms 65-68; 56 Titus 1-3; 57 Philemon; 58 Hebrews 1-5

David refused to fight battles in his own strength, but consistently waited for God's timing and direction. On today's podcast, Pastor Cameron encourages us to always remember that vengeance belongs to God and God alone! 

Join Pastor Cameron as we look at David's refusal to take his own revenge on King Saul. David honored God by refusing to bring down Saul on his own. 

Door Dirk de Bree

This week, Pastor John continued our Established sermon series with a message from 1 Samuel 3. He reminded us that God is always speaking to His people through His Word, His Spirit, and His work, often most clearly in moments of darkness. As we position ourselves with surrendered and attentive hearts, God establishes those who are willing to listen and respond.

On today's podcast, Pastor Cameron discusses the 400 men that came to gather around David during his time in the wilderness. God sent the people David needed, and David spent time leading and shepherding them! 

In our study, we're going to learn about this battle between Goliath, that is Goliath and King David. Now this time, David was just a helper of King Shaul. He had a position where he was worshiping God before Shaul in order to bring about a change in sheol's spiritual condition that he was not in great distress because of this evil spirit that God placed upon him. To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org

In 1 Samuel 24, David spares Saul in the cave, refusing to seize the throne by violence and entrusting God with both timing and justice. In 1 Samuel 25, that same restraint nearly collapses when David is provoked by Nabal, until Abigail intervenes and keeps him from shedding blood he would later regret, revealing how the wilderness tests not just public obedience but the heart itself.

Aloha and welcome to The Mission North Shore's Podcast! This powerful message takes us to the ancient city of Beit She'an, where we witness the tragic end of King Saul's life and discover what it truly means to finish well. Through the contrasting lives of two men named Saul—King Saul and Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul)—we're confronted with a sobering truth: it's not how we start our spiritual journey that matters most, but how we finish it. 

In this episode of Public Reading of Scripture, Amir and Mike read from 1 Samuel 9 and Acts 11. As Israel continues its transition toward monarchy, we see the early movements that will lead to Saul's rise as king. In the New Testament, Peter boldly defends the salvation of the Gentiles, affirming that God shows no partiality and that the gospel is for all who believe. Join us as we continue our series through Scripture, along with a brief update from Jerusalem.Connect with us on social:Telegram: @beholdisraelchannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amir.tsarfati/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beholdisrael/X: https://x.com/beholdisraelYouTube: https://youtube.com/@beholdisrael