Podcasts about scripture i samuel

Scripture: I Samuel 17

Senior Minister Valarie Harris of Overcomers Christian Center ministered for the pastor and family appreciation on the importance of good leadership coming from I Samuel 3:8-9. Scripture: I Samuel 3:8-9 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

Senior Minister Valarie Harris of Overcomers Christian Center ministered for the pastor and family appreciation on the importance of good leadership coming from I Samuel 3:8-9. Scripture: I Samuel 3:8-9 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Join us online: OCCVR.org

Bishop Barry Walker of A Place of Refuge Ministries ministered from I Samuel 9:6 on the subject of an "Honorable Man" during the appreciation of Pastor Dobbs and family. Scripture: I Samuel 9:6 - And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.” Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

Bishop Barry Walker of A Place of Refuge Ministries ministered from I Samuel 9:6 on the subject of an "Honorable Man" during the appreciation of Pastor Dobbs and family. Scripture: I Samuel 9:6 - And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.” Join us online: OCCVR.org

Daily Dose of Hope August 6, 2024 Day 3 of Week 19   Scripture:  I Samuel 30-31; I Chronicles 10; Acts 20   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, on this very wet day.  If anyone in the Brandon area is in need of storm assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to me or any New Hope staff person.  Let's get into our Scripture for today.   We begin, once again, with I Samuel.  In chapter 30, we read about how when David and his men were away with the armies of the Philistines, the Amalekites took advantage of their absence.  They plundered the town of Ziklag, stealing all the livestock and kidnapping the women and children.  Understandably, the men were beyond despair and some blamed David and even spoke about possibly stoning him.  It was really, really bad.  David inquired of the Lord who told him he would be victorious if he were to pursue the Amalekites and the women and children they kidnapped.  So they did just that.   They were successful.  They recovered everything.  Every single Hebrew woman, boy, and girl was recovered and returned to their family.  David and his men also took all the livestock, the flocks and herds, and divided it among all his men and the elders.  The Lord was with David and his men. The ending could have been much different.  Not only did God guide David every step of the way but he protected the women and children who were kidnapped.  I love how the Scripture very specifically states, “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else taken...”  Every life was valuable and every life was recovered.   I just want to stop here and say that God values human life.  Sometimes, we struggle with some of the Old Testament violence and death.  But overall, throughout the whole Biblical narrative, we see how God values his creation.  He cares about his people but he also cares about all people.  Jesus demonstrated this with the way he dined with the outcast, touched the leper, and loved everyone.  And because God loves every single person, so should we.    Chapter 31 details the Philistine conquest of the army of Israel.  The Philistines didn't simply want to defeat Saul's forces, they wanted to do lasting damage.  Saul ends up critically injured, his sons are killed, and the Hebrew army is largely annihilated.  In the ancient Near East, wounded soldiers were often mutilated and tortured on the battlefield by the enemy army.  Saul knew this and wanted to avoid allowing the uncircumcised pagans from humiliating and torturing him. After his armor-bearer refused to kill him, Saul falls on his own sword.  The armor-bearer then follows suit.   Less than twenty-four hours after Saul's meeting with the medium, the prophet Samuel's words in chapter 28 have come to pass, “The LORD will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.  The LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”  What God had said would happen has happened.  The dynasty of Saul has finally ended.  More on this when we get to II Samuel!   Now, let's take some time to talk about I Chronicles 10.  It tells the same story as I Samuel 31 about Saul's army being defeated, his sons being killed, and Saul taking his own life by falling on his sword.  Both chapters even go into how the Philistines took Saul's head and his armor to put on display at the temple of their gods.  But what I Chronicles 10 includes that isn't mentioned in I Samuel is why Saul died.  The author makes it clear – Saul died because he was disobedient to the Lord.  Over and over again, Saul blatantly disobeyed God's law, from chasing after David to killing all the priests.  Sin always has consequences.   Our New Testament reading is Acts 20.  There is a lot in this chapter that is worthy to be highlighted but I'm choosing these last several verses.  Paul is leaving the elders at the church of Ephesus, people he has worked and preached alongside for quite some time.  These are people he has grown to love and who love him dearly.  They are brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are family.  And they know they will never see one another again in this earthly life.   When I was traveling in Germany with my Doctorate cohort in 2018, I met a pretty  extraordinary South African couple who dedicated their lives to witnessing to Syrian refugees in some of the most dangerous places on earth.  Our little group shared, prayed, laughed, and cried with them.  My own life journey is forever changed because of the one day I spent with them.  I say all of this to make this point.  As we left each other's company that day, we were sad because we knew that chances were we would never see each other again this side of heaven.  But, we also rejoiced because we knew that we knew that we would spend eternity together.   I think about this as I read about Paul leaving his dear friends.  They know that life circumstances will never allow them to be together again in this world.  But friends, we aren't simply citizens of earth, we are citizens of heaven!  Our time apart is short compared to the eternity we will spend together in heaven.  I try to remember this when I officiate a funeral of a loved brother or sister in Christ.  Yes, it is very painful to say good-bye.  We miss them.  But if we know Jesus, then it isn't really good-bye.  It's simply "See ya later! Hasta la vista! Till we meet again!"  The pain and sadness are real.  We must acknowledge that.  But we can trust that God will turn our mourning into dancing.  Thank you, Jesus!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope August 4, 2024 Day 1 of Week 19   Scripture:  I Samuel 26-27; I Chronicles 8; Acts 18   Welcome back, everyone.  We are now on Week 19 of our daily Bible reading plan.  We have come a long way!  Good job to all of you.      Today, we start with I Samuel 26.  Once again, we see David spare the life of Saul.  Saul has reneged on his previous peace with David (not surprising) and has taken 3,000 troops to pursue David in the wilderness of Ziph.  David hears about this plan and tracks Saul.  When Saul and his troops are asleep, he sneaks down to the camp and takes Saul's water jug and spear, which were right next to his head.  David could have easily killed Saul with his own spear but he doesn't.  Why?  Because David is obedient.  As much pain and heartache as Saul has caused David, he refuses to lower himself to Saul's level.  He refuses to take revenge.  God told David not to kill Saul so he won't kill Saul.   I'm sure it took a huge amount of restraint for David to allow God to take care of things in his timing.  What is it about us as human beings that we feel the need to take revenge?  When someone has hurt us, when a wrong has been done, we want to hurt or get back at the person who did it.  We want to make them hurt as much as we do.  David must have had that temptation with Saul but he didn't give in to it.  I've known people who held on to anger and the desire for revenge for years and years.  It ended up becoming like a poison in their system, slowing killing their spirit and any joy in their lives.   Examine your own life. Do you have intense anger toward another person?  Do you have the desire for revenge or maybe simply the desire for someone else “to get what they deserve”?  What would it be like for you to give that to God today, to totally release it and allow God to take care of the situation in his own way and timing?  I can't help but wonder how your life might change.  I keep thinking about Paul's words in Romans 12:17-21, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.   David has gotten tired of this cat and mouse game with Saul.  Thus, David takes his family and his large army to live in the land of the Philistines.  By this point, David has made a name for himself; he is essentially a famous outlaw and Achish, the king of Gath, allows him to stay there (remember that my enemy's enemy is my friend so Achish saw David as an ally).  That being said, this was no small thing for the king to do.  David and his 600-man army, many with families, would have taken over a small Philistine town.  You can imagine the townspeople might not have been too happy.  Knowing this, David asks Achish to give them a town, a space of their own, to live in and not be too disruptive in the Philistine territory.  David pretends his request is an act of humility (“Why should I live in the royal city with you?”) but David clearly knew what he was doing.   Interestingly, the king gives David the town of Ziklag.  This was an area that was part of Judah, part of the territory that God had given the Israelites, but they had never gotten around to conquering it.  David and his men promptly conquered it and made a home there.  David's time in exile was certainly not a waste, as he actually used it to continue Israel's conquest of Canaan.  From that point on, the land belonged to Judah.   After reflecting on David's time in Philistine territory, I began to think about times in my own life that felt a bit like an exile.  I'm sure you have those seasons of life as well.  Maybe it's a health issue, a stagnant job, caregiving responsibilities, or something else that keeps you from doing what you really want to do, that keeps you from feel like you are moving forward in your life.  But those times in exile are not wasted.  In fact, God doesn't waste anything! These are times that God can use to teach us and help prepare us for what's to come.  If you are like me, you may get a bit impatient during these times.  Instead, think of them as seasons of healing, growth, and preparation.   Okay, we are going to kind of breeze through I Chronicles 8.  It is the genealogy of Saul the Benjaminite.  I think we have done a pretty good job covering the importance of these genealogies.  No need to belabor it.  Read through the names and simply reflect on how these were men who really lived, had families, jobs, and lives.  And this chapter documents that.   Our New Testament passage is Acts 18.  Here, we read more about Paul's missionary journey.  He heads to Corinth, where he almost throws in the towel when it came to preaching to the Jews.  But God encourages him and we continue to see his pattern of heading to the synagogue first, debating with the Jews, and then bringing the message to the Gentiles.  While I'm sure it was frustrating for Paul, he did see a lot of fruit.  Jews and Gentiles alike from all walks of life are beginning to believe the Good News.    Priscilla and Aquilla appear on the scene and they are a huge support to Paul, as Apollos will be as well.  What I admire so much about Paul is how he traveled around frequently, built networks of believers (which become churches), and he seems almost fearless.  He doesn't get too attached to any place, although he stays some places longer than others.  And yet, he builds deep relationships.  There had to be a lot of hard good-byes.  He was totally and completely sold out for Jesus and he was willing to make any sacrifice to advance God's Kingdom.  How many of us can say that?  Wow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

Daily Dose of Hope August 1, 2024 Day 5 of Week 18   Scripture:  I Samuel 25; I Chronicles 7; Acts 17   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope.  Today, we start a new month and end our 18th week reading Scripture consistently.  Friday and Saturday, you will have two days off to catch up and get ahead and then we start week 19 on Sunday.  Remember, I love to hear feedback about how you are learning and what God is revealing to you through his Word. With that, let's get started with today's Scripture.   Our first reading is I Samuel 25.  It was sheep-shearing time, a time for festivities and rejoicing because of the profits that are generated by the wool.  David and his men, over the course of their battles with the Philistines, had ensured the safety of many shepherds and their flocks, including that of a man named Nabal.  Nabal was very wealthy and must have owned many sheep.  At the time of the shearing, David sent some men to Nabal, asking for some kind of gift in exchange for keeping his flocks safe.     Nabal responded in a very ugly and aggressive manner.  Scripture clearly calls him an evil man.  But Nabal's wife, Abigail, was much smarter and kinder than he.  One of Nabal's hired men informed Abigail of the situation and she promptly took matters into her own hands.  She knew that her husband's selfish actions would bring harm on the entire household.  At that very moment, David had gathered his men and was planning an attack on Nabal and all he owned.  In verses 21-22, we see David speak some incredibly bitter and vengeful words; it truly seems out of character for him.  Maybe the overwhelming stress and injustice of the circumstances with Saul had built up within him; this may have simply been the straw that broke the camel's back.    But God intervened.  While on his angry trek to Nabal's house, he comes across Abigail. She had brought huge quantities of food and wine as a gift for David and his men.  She gets off her donkey and lowers herself to the ground in front of David.  Then, she begins the longest speech of any woman in the entire Old Testament.  In her speech, she does three things: she intercedes on behalf of her husband, she prophesies that David will overtake his enemies and create a dynasty for the House of David, and she prevents David from breaking Torah and bringing any kind of judgment on himself (David should not be the one to take revenge on Nabal but God).  Abigail's actions certainly saved many lives and much heartache for David.  Of course, what she did was highly unusual and went against her culture's social expectations for women.  But over and over again in Scripture, we see God use unexpected people to achieve his purposes. God doesn't call the equipped, but instead equips the called.  How has God called you and have you responded?   In I Chronicles 7, we find more lists – the sons of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher.  You guys are probably getting tired of hearing me talk about this genealogy.  I promise, we have only two more chapters of lists before we get to what we might think is more exciting.  And yet, these names are important – thy are real people with real lives who served a real, living God.  They may be a bit boring to get through, but there is purpose in having them in God's Word.   Our New Testament passage is Acts 17.   In this chapter, Paul preaches in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens.  At each place, he tailors his message to his audience but it's still clearly the Gospel.  The reception he receives at each location is different too.  But in each city, as different as they are, some people believe or want to know more.  I think this is such a great model for us.  We share as God leads us and we tailor the message to those who are listening.  If we are telling the Jesus story to Jews, then we will focus on the Old Testament and the various prophecies about Jesus.  If we are telling the Jesus story to Gentiles, then the story will be spoken in a way that makes sense to them.  Paul appealed to what they knew – think about his use of the altar to an unknown God.    In our world, I present the Gospel to someone who grew up in the church differently than I do to someone who has never heard of Jesus.  I guess the theme here is know your audience and listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 31, 2024 Day 4 of Week 18   Scripture: I Samuel 23-24; I Chronicles 6; Psalm 54; Acts 16   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, everyone.  This is the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan for New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  It's Wednesday and if you live in the community, we would love to have you attend our Recharge service tonight at 6:30pm in the Garage on the Moon Ave. side of our campus.  There is a time of worship and then we break into small groups.  There is a young adult small group, a group for middle and high school youth, an adult all-ages Bible study, and my prayer group.  I would encourage you to try us out if you have never come.  I promise that you will be blessed!   Okay.  Let's get into our Scripture for today, starting with I Samuel 23.  David is clearly afraid.  He is being hunted and he knows it.  But his faith is also strong.  He is relying on God's protection, trusting in God to provide for him and literally direct his steps.  Yet, that doesn't mean he wasn't feeling fearful.  He was human.  At just the right time, God sent Jonathan to visit with David and reassure him.  Yes, God has a purpose for David.  No, Saul would not be successful.   Jonathan, now fully aware of the evil possessing his father, is confident that God will bring about a new thing through David. Be sure to read the whole chapter. After David's visit with Jonathan, the Ziphites (from Ziph, a town in Judah), went to Saul to report that David was hiding in their territory.  They were being cunning and probably thought they would be rewarded in some way by the king for their betrayal of David.   In chapter 24, David had the opportunity to take Saul's life but he doesn't do it.  He simply cuts off a corner of his robe when Saul is distracted.  He confronts Saul, making it clear that he has done nothing to deserve Saul's hatred and attempts on his life.  David shows him the corner of his robe, demonstrating that he had (and still has) the power to kill Saul.  Why?  Because God is on David's side.  David repeatedly says “May the Lord be our judge and decide between us.”  And David makes it clear, he chose to repay Saul's evil with mercy.  Saul is moved. He admits that he knows that God will put David on the throne and asks David to not kill off his descendants. There is some kind of reconciliation but at this point, we have no idea if Saul is sincere and if he will continue to pursue David.  But if only for just a moment, there is peace.   I Chronicles 6 lists the sons of Levi and the temple musicians.  I love that even the temple musicians are listed!  Their gifts and contributions are incredibly important to God's work and they need to be recognized and remembered.  Keep in mind, these chapters are providing a monument to the men who served Israel before the exile.  Each name is important.  Each name matters.   Our psalm for today is Psalm 54, which David wrote when he found out about the situation with the Ziphites (that we read about in I Samuel 23).  We get a picture of David's desperation and dependence on God.  It's also amazing to me that he is still praising God.  He is being hunted like an animal, he is scared to death, and he is praising God.  Wow.  Do we praise God in the darkest moments of our lives?    Our New Testament passage is Acts 16.  There are two parts of this passage I want us to discuss.  The first is when Paul meets Timothy and decides to bring him on his missionary journey, he circumcises him.  Wait?  Didn't Paul just argue at the Council of Jerusalem that circumcision and the law were an unnecessary burden for Gentiles?  Yes, he did.  Now he circumcises Timothy.  Is he contradicting himself?  I don't believe so but there are some layers to unpack.    Timothy's mother was Jewish and his father was Greek so he was not circumcised.  Now, he and Paul were going to be visiting many young churches, some filled with Jewish believers.  While circumcision wouldn't be required, it probably gave Timothy a bit more authority in the eyes of those new Jewish converts.  It was probably also a debate they just didn't want to have.  They wanted the focus to be on Jesus and they were avoiding anything that would be a distraction.  Of course, I'm thinking – was there a circumcision check at the door?  How would they even know?  But I digress.   The other part of the passage that is fascinating to me is how the Spirit of God discourages them from going one way so that they would end up in Macedonia.  And by going into Macedonia, it opens up a whole new area to the Gospel.  They head to Philippi, where they meet a woman named Lydia and she accepts Jesus.  This is only the beginning!  By listening to the Spirit and not insisting on their own way, the Gospel was advanced.    How often do we want to force our own way with God?  Yet, the Spirit is always trying to guide us, if we let him.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope July 30, 2024 Day 3 of Week 18   Scripture:  I Samuel 21-22; I Chronicles 5; Psalm 52; Acts 15   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  Let's get right into our text for today.   Our first Old Testament reading is from I Samuel, starting with chapter 21.  David is on the run.  He knows that Saul is after his life and has a lot of resources with which to pursue him.  David makes a quick stop to see Ahimelech the priest to gather some provisions but then heads into Philistine territory.  It was certainly a risk to head into enemy territory but he wasn't safe at home either.  Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures.  He is hoping to go unnoticed in the foreign land but no such luck; David's reputation precedes him.  Afterall, he is the one who killed Goliath!     In order to protect himself from Achish, the Philistine ruler of that area, he pretends to be insane.  The king may have felt threatened by David as brave warrior but he didn't worry too much about David as the insane guy.  This was clearly a low point for David.  Wherever he goes, he is a fugitive.  He doesn't know who he can trust.  He's left the people who love him and he must be incredibly scared and lonely.  We get a picture of David's intense emotions by reading some of the Psalms (we read some of these yesterday).  Scholars suggest that Psalm 34 particularly depicts this time in David's life.  It starts by stating, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”  It speaks of God saving him from his troubles and encamping around those who fear him.  We see themes of protection, deliverance, and trust through out the Psalm.  Even in this time of fear and insecurity, David is praising the name of God. People are actively hunting him down but he's never lost trust or faith.  He knows that right will prevail.   How many of you needed to hear that today?  Even in our deepest struggles, we can praise the name of Jesus and trust him with our lives.  Things may not turn out the way we want them to but we can be certain that Jesus is still on the throne and right will prevail.   Moving on to chapter 22.  David heads to the places where he feels comfortable and knows there will be some safety.  Adullam, which means refuge, is in Judah and close by was a hill that had fortifications and caves for hiding.  David couldn't have been too clandestine, however, because his family sought him out there, as did a few hundred Israelite men who were unhappy with the current regime and wanted David to be their commander.  David takes his family to a place of safety in Moab, for he knows they are at risk simply by being related to him.    In fact, anyone who helped David was at serious risk. When Saul discovered that Ahimelek the priest gave David bread and a sword, basic provisions for his journey, King Saul was irate.  His reaction was over the top evil.  He decides to kill all the priests and their families. But the king's men refuse to touch the priests.  These men were the anointed of the Lord; no Israelite would touch them.  But Doeg the Edomite was there, a pagan, and he was fine with killing them.  So Doeg strikes down the priests, eighty-five of them, and then killed all the men, women, children, and livestock in the town of Nob, which was the town of the priests.   The priestly line was almost wiped out but not quite. One of Ahimelek's sons, Abiathar, managed to escape and find his way to David.  Now, the only remaining priest has found his way to the king-to-be and they can support one another.  In this time of crisis, two men of God can lean on one another, guide each other, and protect the future of the priesthood.    Think about the events of your life.  I hope they haven't been quite as dramatic as David's, but think specifically about some of the most difficult and desperate moments.  So often, I do believe that God sends just the right person into our lives at just the right time–someone to support us, guide us, and even protect us when we need it most.  Who has that person been for you?    Our I Chronicles chapter has more lists of people who matter.  These were sons of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  While the names themselves don't mean a lot to us, we trust that each person played an important role in some way to advance the Kingdom of Israel.    Psalm 52 is a psalm of David, written after David hears the tragic news of Doeg the Edomite killing the priests and their families.  This had to be totally devastating for David.  He writes of Saul's deceit and sin, emphasizing how eventually Saul will meet his doom.  God will only allow so much.  But I love how the psalm ends in verses 8-9, But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.  For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.  Despite the devastation, David praises God and rests in his hope.  Our final chapter is in the New Testament, Acts 15. This is a pretty crucial moment for the young church.  Some people from Judea have gone to the churches and said that to follow Jesus, you must first be a Jew first and follow the law of Moses.  Well, Paul and Barnabas are appalled and they debate fiercely with these men.  Thus, they are invited to go to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders to discuss the matter.  This is a pivotal moment.  Will the council in Jerusalem put the burden of the Law on these new Gentile believers?  Because the Law is a heavy burden.    Amazingly, it seems that the discussion at the council meeting is both civil and Spirit-filled.  Don't we wish all church meetings could be this way?  Paul and Barnabas give testimony to what they have witnessed with Gentile believers receiving the Holy Spirit.  James stands up and quotes Scripture from the prophets which points to Gentiles accepting the Lord.  Thus, they come up with a compromise to not make the burden too heavy for the new believers.  They are to avoid sexual immorality, not eat meat dedicated to idols or meat from strangled animals or blood.  All three of these were very pagan behaviors associated with idol worship.  This is where they decide to draw the line and it makes sense.    While this seems to bring resolution, we know that these issues will continue to come up.  Let's see what tomorrow brings.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 29, 2024 Day 2 of Week 18   Scripture:  I Samuel 20; I Chronicles 4; Psalms 56, 57, 142; Acts 14   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let's get started.   In I Samuel 20, Jonathan finally understands the extent of Saul's hatred toward David.  At first, David thinks maybe he had done something to bring on this treatment but Jonathan assures him that is not the case.  Jonathan still doesn't believe his father, King Saul, could truly want David dead.  Jonathan appears to be deluded and a bit naïve, but his love for David is strong and genuine.  They devise a plan to discern to what degree Saul is serious about his plan to kills David.   In this chapter, we witness the interaction between Saul and Jonathan.  Jonathan is a bit shocked that his father hated David with such intensity but he now understands the severity of the situation and that no logical argument will change Saul's mind.  But Saul persists in trying to bring Jonathan back over to his side using three strong motivators: shame, guilt, and greed.  Saul insists Jonathan is bringing shame on the family (remember this was and still is an honor/shame culture; family shame is a really serious thing.)  He then tried to guilt him into turning against David.  Finally, Saul tells Jonathan that his own kingdom will never be established as long as David is alive, trying to appeal to his sense of greed.    We don't really know what was going on in Jonathan's head; he may have been tempted to side with his dad, even for just a second, but he doesn't.  Jonathan stands firm. He is loyal to his friend and to his faith.  He boldly questions his father, asking why David should be put to death.  According to Torah, an innocent man should never be executed.  We see again how selfish ambition and hatred have driven a deep wedge between Saul and God.   Guess what I Chronicles 4 includes?  You were right, more genealogy.  This chapter lists the descendants of some more clans of Judah.  Just a reminder, the author wanted to create a monument of sorts of those from Israel who died before the exile.  As I've mentioned previously, family histories in that time and culture were really only provided for the wealthy and elite.  I think the author knew that all of these individuals and families were important to Israel and important to God.  He wanted them to be remembered.  I know genealogies are kind of boring to read through.  But I want us to try to go back through the chapter and look at each name – every single name is a life, a family, a story.  Every name represents part of Israel's faith journey and really our own faith journey as well.    We were given three psalms to read for today.  These are all psalms written by David when he was under attack.  The first (Psalm 56) he wrote when he was seized by the Philistines, the next two (Psalms 57 and 142) he wrote when Saul is trying to kill him, and he was hiding in a cave.  When David was scared, he trusted God for help.  When David was unsure what to do, he trusted God for help.  When David's life was on the line, he trusted God for help.  The bottom line, David poured his sorrows and fears out to God, knowing that God was his only hope.  In some ways, these psalms are kind of like journal entries for David.  We are getting a peak into his deepest thoughts and feelings.  How do you communicate your feelings to the Lord?    We conclude today with Acts 14 and read more about Paul and Barnabas' missionary journeys.  Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe are all in what is now south-central Turkey, just to provide some geographical context.  In Lystra, they were preaching and noticed a man who was disabled since birth, in that he could not walk.  The Scripture says that they could tell he had faith to be healed so they healed him.  And then basically all heck breaks loose!  The locals believe they are gods and want to make sacrifices to them.  Talk about getting the wrong idea.    Think about it.  In these towns, they worshiped the Greek and/or Roman gods.  Their everyday lives were very much intertwined with this kind of god worship.  Want a better crop?  Pray to this god and give him a few sacrifices.  Want to be more fertile?  Pray to this god and offer some sacrifices here and there.  That was their world.  And so it makes sense that when Paul and Barnabas healed, that must mean they are gods.  Of course, Paul and Barnabas were appalled at all of this but it won't be the last time something like this occurs.  The Gospel was freeing, refreshing, but also a totally new concept for many of these people groups.  It takes them time to understand what it means to follow the one true God.   We'll chat more tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope July 28, 2024 Day 1 of Week 18 Scripture:  I Samuel 18-19; I Chronicles 3; Psalm 59; Acts 13 Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope.  This is the daily devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We are in week 18!  We have almost been reading Scripture consistently for four months.  Way to go!!!  Keep up the great work. Today, we start in I Samuel, chapter 18.  Scripture says that because God was with him, everything that David did was successful.  After David killed Goliath, the women (mothers, wives, and daughters) were understandably ecstatic that their loved ones stayed protected.  It was Israelite custom to compose songs to describe a victorious battle.  The one in this chapter struck a chord with Saul.  In verse 7, we can hear it, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.  Saul burned with jealousy.  It's almost as if he knows that David is the one selected to be king and he is bound and determined to prevent this from happening. Over the course of the chapter, he attempts to kill David and then devises a plan to ensnare David by bringing him into the royal family.  In the end, David flourishes.  He evades the king's attempts on his life.  Saul's daughter does not ensnare him, she loves him fiercely.  Jonathan, Saul's son, becomes like a brother to David.  Because God was with him, everything that David did was successful. As followers of Jesus, we know that God is always with us.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God is all around us and in us!  While this does not ensure that we will be successful in the way that David was, if we seek God's wisdom and direction, we can be effective for the Kingdom.  This may not look like worldly success but it's so much better. In chapter 19, we see that Saul's jealousy of David is beginning to become an obsession.  Saul is determined to see David dead.  It's hard to imagine that this king, who saw the hand of God work powerfully in his life, has now become incredibly self-absorbed, bitter, and insecure.  But while Saul hated David, others loved him.  They saw his pure heart and his commitment to the Lord and they were drawn to him.  Jonathan, Saul's own son, was one who was fiercely dedicated to David.  We even see Jonathan try to talk some sense into his father.   Saul commits to Jonathan by taking an oath that he will not kill David.  Of course, we know this doesn't go as planned.  It doesn't take long before Saul is back on the warpath.  He's willing to do anything, even betray his own son, to ensure that David will not get the throne, as if Saul had some kind of power to thwart the will of God.  In reflecting on today's text, I began to think about how people were drawn to David.  Jonathan loved his friend, David, and was willing to go to great lengths to save his life (we'll read more about this tomorrow).  The troops loved David.  Saul's daughter loved David.  There was simply something about his spirit that drew people toward him.  There are certainly some people in our lives that are like this.  They exude the spirit of God in their words and behavior.  Thus, we are drawn to them.  We want to be around them.  They are encouraging, loving, and kind.  They never have a negative word to say about anyone.  Think about some of the people in your life that fall into this category.  What can we learn from them?  Give thanks to God for these individuals today. Today, we aren't going to talk about I Chronicles, as I think we have already talked the genealogy at length.  If you missed our previous discussions about these chapters, be sure to go back to last week and review.  They are very important but let's be real, there is only so much to say. Psalm 59 is another psalm of David.  It's obvious that Saul and his men are after him and they want blood.  David appeals to God for protection.  As you read through this psalm, picture David pleading with God.  When we feel like our world is falling down around us, how do we handle the fear? In Acts 13, we read about the first missionary journeys.  The believers feel the Holy Spirit calling them to go, so they go.  Notice that wherever they go, they stop in the synagogue first and preach to the Jews.  Some follow and believe which simply angers the Jewish leaders and they cause trouble.  It's then that Paul basically says, “Look, we tried to offer you salvation in Jesus.  You reject us so we are moving on to the Gentiles!”  The Gentiles are very pleased.  And the word spread and many people believed. I think sometimes we keep trying to do something, over and over and over again, without a lot of success because we feel like God has called us to do so.  Sometimes, as in this passage, that is simply a door we need to close so that we can open up a more productive one.  It's okay to say no to good to do what's great for God's Kingdom. More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope July 25, 2024 Day 5 of Week 17   Scripture:  I Samuel 17; I Chronicles 2; Acts 12   Dear friends, welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope!  This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!  Let's also rejoice in God's Word and all we are learning.  With that, we head into our Scripture for today.   We start with I Samuel 17.  Today, we read the classic story of David and Goliath.  For those of us who grew up going to Sunday School, we know this one by heart.  Young, naïve David triumphs over the giant Philistine.  But as I read it again today, I was reminded of something.  This is not a story of human courage and power but rather incredible faith and trust in a powerful God.  Goliath was truly a giant.  He measured over 9 feet tall and was broad and strong.  His size alone would have been quite overwhelming for the Hebrew army but he also had state of the art armor and weaponry.  Goliath was a soldier who fought to the death in one on one combat.  He would fight against a single man from an enemy army and the solider who was left standing won the battle for his people.  The dead soldier's people would become subjects of the victorious nation.  There isn't much evidence that the Israelite army did much one to one combat; it was typically the whole army fighting together. This was new to them and they were scared to death. No one dared to face Goliath. David arrives at the battle lines to bring food provisions to the soldiers.  His three oldest brothers were fighting with King Saul.  We don't know why David wasn't on the battle lines, possibly because he needed to stay at home and help his father.  He arrives in time to hear Goliath taunting the Israeli soldiers, who were quite fearful.  David was obviously disturbed that Goliath could so boldly insult the Hebrew army, the army of the living God.  He starts to ask questions, greatly annoying his older brother who, possibly out of fear himself, says some pretty awful and untrue things about David.  David is unrelenting.  His offer to fight Goliath is initially refused by King Saul.  But David is determined.  Finally, Saul agrees and even offers David his own armor and sword.  Interestingly, David clothing himself in the royal armor is a foreshadowing of what is to come: David will soon be king.  But David quickly abandons the royal armor; he wasn't used to fighting in such things.  He dressed like a shepherd would have, using what seemed normal and natural to him–a stone and a sling.  Just so you know, the stones were not little pebbles but would have been about the size of a tennis ball.  Nothing to laugh at for sure.  But what's most impressive to me is that David understood this was a theological battle.  It wasn't just him fighting against this Philistine.  This was God's battle.  When the Israelites went to war, it was supposed to be a spiritual battle.  They represented Yahweh, the one true God.  For that reason, they were only to go to war with God's blessings and they were to be ritually pure.  David was making a point.  This wasn't about him.  God would fight the battle for him.  Of course, we know the rest of the story.  Goliath is defeated.  I'm hoping none of us have to be engaged in any kind of one of one combat.  But we certainly have battles to fight.  What might it be like to allow God to fight our battles for us?  How would that change our perspective?  How would it change how we handle the situation, the words we speak, and our demeanor with the people involved?  Spend some time today thinking about your current battles.  Consider giving them to God, for real, and not taking them back. Let's move on to I Chronicles 2.  From this chapter through chapter nine, we will be encountering more genealogy and lists of people.  Why so many lists?  I did a bit of a deep dive into the purpose of the genealogy, specifically in I Chronicles.  The author did this very intentionally.  He wanted to create a monument of sorts of those from Israel who died before the exile.  Apparently, family histories in that time and culture were really only provided for the elite.  I think the author knew that all of these individuals and families were important to Israel and important to God.  He wanted them to be remembered.  I can't help but think about all the monuments and memorials I've visited over the years.  One that always brings me to tears is the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C.  The pure number of names is overwhelming.  And then there are those who find a loved one or relative and take pictures or make an imprint onto paper of the name they came to see.  It gives their lives meaning.  It helps us remember.  It's critical to our history.  In many ways, I think these first few chapters in I Chronicles are similar.  These men deserve to have their names written, read, and remembered.  We will close today with our New Testament reading from Acts 12.  Things are getting rough for Peter and the Christians.  Persecution is increasing.  Herod is getting especially agitated and throws Peter in prison.  I want to talk about the miracle of Peter being released but first let's discuss the Herod dynasty because I think that's important.  The Herodians were given power of the region of Judea by the Romans.  While they were brutal and power-hungry, they did consider themselves to be Jews.  This Herod from Acts 12 is Herod Agrippa I.  His grandfather was Herod the Great; he was the Herod who called for the killing of the Jewish baby boys after Jesus' birth.  He was the nephew of Herod Antipas, who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist and to whom Jesus was brought.  All of these Herodian kings were insecure and felt easily threatened by those who criticized them or their way of life.  Thus, this Herod was persecuting Christians and had already executed James, the brother of John.  Peter is arrested and thrown in prison with many, many layers of security.  But no soldiers or shackles can stop God!  He sends an angel who frees Peter and leads him out of the prison to a home where many believers were meeting.  This is just the beginning of the miracles God is going to do. Finally, let's talk about Herod's death.  After securing some kind of peace deal, King Herod stands before the people and gives his royal address.  The people go wild!  They begin to say this is the voice of a god, not a man.  And insecure Herod just soaks it up.  But God is having none of it, and he strikes him down dead.  Y'all, arrogance does not pay.  God calls his people to be humble.  All glory and honor belong to God.  Yes, there are times in which we can be appropriately proud but we have to be very, very careful.  The way of Christ is always humility. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope July 24, 2024 Day 4 of Week 17   Scripture:  I Samuel 15-16; I Chronicles 1; Psalm 39; Acts 11   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  We have a lot of Scripture to cover today so let's get started!   Our first Old Testament passage is I Samuel 15.  What a sad chapter.  Saul has come completely unhinged.  He gives lip service to serving God but really does what he wants.  God had tasked Saul and his army to destroy the Amalekites for their violent treatment of the Israelites as they made their way into the promised land.  God's instructions were very clear: kill all of them.  But Saul decides to save the best of the livestock and keep the Amalekite king as a prisoner.  When confronted by Samuel the prophet, Saul actually lies about the situation.  When caught, he begins to back-pedal, saying he took the best of the animals to sacrifice to the Lord.  He is almost flippant, totally not acknowledging the severity of disobedience.    It's obvious, the power of kingship has gone to his head.  Saul wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.  He has forgotten where he came from and who got him there.  He has forgotten his place in the world.  Saul is not above God.  As a result of Saul's arrogance, his disobedience, and his lack of repentance, Samuel knows he must separate from Saul.  He can no longer be connected with this man.  This grieves Samuel, as he had served with Saul for years.  And Saul's behavior grieved God.    I've been reflecting about this–are there times when we think we are above God? Are there times when we think we know better?  I'm not saying I have a good answer or even an example, but it's worth spending some time in prayer about this.   Let's move to chapter 16.  Here we see Samuel anoint David to be king.  Young David was God's choice for the next king of Israel.  What's interesting here is that all the obvious choices are rejected by God.  God sought the youngest son of Jesse, the shepherd boy, the lyre player.  I love this passage, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”     As humans, we judge others by their appearance, their speech, their abilities, their job, even where they're from.  Without really knowing a person, we judge and criticize them (I see this happen all the time inside the church.). But God could care less about any of these attributes!  God cares about the heart.  Are we loving?  Are we kind?  Are we obedient?  How could we be different as a body of believers if we ONLY looked at the heart?  If you didn't read through the whole chapter, I encourage you to do so. It's fascinating to see how God orchestrates events to bring Saul and the newly anointed David together. Be sure to check it out.    Our reading today also brings us to I Chronicles 1.  This book is mainly a record of the reign of King David.  Much of it will be similar to what we read in 2 Samuel and I Kings so it makes sense that the Bible reading plan has us picking it up at this point.  There are many, many genealogies in I Chronicles, which is what we find in chapter 1, a genealogy from Adam to Esau.  But the genealogy covers all kinds of people – kings, Levites, priests, armies, and other officials.    What we will find in this book is that it is written from a priestly perspective.  Whereas I and II Kings will focus on royalty, this book is going to emphasize proper worship of Yahweh.  Obviously, we will dig deeper as we get more into the book.  Until then, try to make sense of the genealogy, thinking about how each person is mentioned because they were important for God's purposes in one way or another.  Each person mentioned represents a life, a family, a story, and a purpose.   Psalm 39 is a painful psalm to read.  King David is the author and it's obvious that he has been chastised by God.  He is facing the consequences of sin and he pleads with God about how much longer the pain will last.  How much longer will he have to face God's scorn?  What we can surmise is that the baby he fathered with Bathsheba has died.  David is grieving and lamenting.  We get to see his pain on paper.  While I read it, I also wonder what Bathsheba must be feeling.  Women's voices were rarely recorded at the time but I can't help but thinking about her in the midst of this tragedy.   Finally, we get to visit our New Testament passage, Acts 11.  What a great chapter!  It starts with Peter explaining why he entered the house of a Gentile and how the new believers received the Holy Spirit.  Isn't it interesting that the church leaders in Jerusalem don't start by asking Peter about the Gentiles' conversion?  No, they are more worried about Peter being a good Jew.  They are more worried about the superficial.  I think about our earlier Scripture about King David.  Man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart.  God is less worried about the food that's eaten and more concerned about the souls of people.    At the same time, I get it.  These Jewish church leaders had been taught the law from the time they were wee ones.  Yes, Jesus had opened up new doors and broken down barriers, but the law is the law.  This struggle with whether/how to follow the Mosaic Law as a follower of Jesus will be a major theme throughout the rest of the New Testament.  We are quite removed from it as Gentile believers 2000 years later, but this was a big, big deal.    I don't want to leave this chapter without at least mentioning the church at Antioch.  This is the first place they are called Christians and we have the scattered Jews and the local Greeks worshiping together.  This was quite revolutionary!  More on this tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope July 22, 2024 Day 2 of Week 17   Scripture:  I Samuel 11-13; Psalm 38; Acts 9   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope.  Happy Monday!  I'm looking forward to getting right into our Scripture for today.   We begin with I Samuel, chapter 11.  Here, we find the people of Jabesh Gilead being threatened by the Ammonites.  They know they are outnumbered so they ask for a treaty.   The Ammonites, filled with arrogance and a good bit of spite, agree to that only if they can gauge out the eye of every man in Jabesh, which would render these men basically incapable of battle ever again.  This would make them effectively slaves to the Ammonites.    Messengers are sent and Saul gets word about what happened.  No way will he allow this to happen.  God's Spirit falls on Saul and he gains wisdom and confidence.  The men follow him and defeat the Ammonites.  This was a great victory for Israel but also for Saul.  They now see him as king.    In chapter 12, we see Samuel pass the leadership baton to Saul for the final time.  But first, Samuel finds the need to set some things straight.  Samuel stresses that he led both effectively and with integrity.  Israel, on the other hand, sinned again and again. It was especially a sin to ask for a human king, as God always intended that he would be their king.  Samuel, to emphasize the point of this particular sin, asks God to send thunder and rain to demonstrate both the severity of their sin and the power of God.  The people immediately respond with fear.   We see Samuel reassuring the people.  He doesn't sugarcoat it.  Yes, they have sinned.  Yes, they probably should not have asked for a human king.  But it's done.  Now, they need to repent and move forward.  Fear God, trust God, and serve God.   Move on.  How many people need to hear that today?  Yes, maybe you have messed up royally in your past.  Maybe you even messed up this week!  It's time to repent.  You can think of repentance as turning away from sin and back toward God.  It's not simply being sorry for wrongdoing but intentionally moving back toward a relationship with God.  What do you need to do to move back toward God?   As we see moving into chapter 13, one of Saul's first acts as king was to establish a standing army.  Both he and his son, Jonathan, commanded different divisions of the Hebrew army.  We see Jonathan and his soldiers attacking the Philistine army at the town of Geba, greatly aggravating the Philistine leaders.  They decide to retaliate by attacking Saul's troops and the Israelites are greatly outnumbered.  In fact, Saul and Jonathan's men respond by running away and hiding in caves, rocks, thickets, cisterns, or wherever else they can find safety.    Saul waits for Samuel to come to offer the necessary burnt offerings that are supposed to happen before a battle occurs to receive the Lord's favor. But Saul gets impatient.  In fact, Saul is so impatient that he goes ahead and just offers the burnt offerings himself, a big no-no.  Samuel, as the prophet, is still the spiritual authority, not King Saul.  We don't really know why Saul took matters into his own hands; maybe he was anxious about the battle and not thinking straight or possibly he thought himself invincible as king.  Regardless, when Samuel arrives and realizes what has happened, he admonishes Saul and prophesies that because Saul did not obey God's commands, his kingdom will not endure.  God has another king in mind, someone who will be man after God's own heart.   I don't know about you, but sometimes I get a bit impatient.  If I'm honest, I get impatient with God.  Why hasn't this happened yet, God?  When are you going to act in this area?  But impatience never ends well, not for Saul and not for us.  I was thinking about how the opposite of impatience is not patience but trust.  God calls us to trust him to do his will in his timing.   Psalm 38 is a psalm of David.  In it, David is pleading with God for forgiveness for sin.  His guilt has become all-consuming and he knows that he must face the consequences of God.  While we don't know for sure, this psalm could have been written after David's experience with Bathsheba and Uriah.  If you recall, David rapes Bathsheba (there was no way that she had any choice in the matter), impregnates her, and then effectively murders her husband by putting him in the front lines in battle.  While he lived in denial for some time, God has convicted him of his sin.  He knows what he has done and he knows that there will be severe consequences.    Acts 9 is filled with some great passages.  First, we have Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  It's amazing how God took the biggest persecutor of believers and very intentionally chooses him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  His conversion story is dramatic and it really needs to be.  He doesn't strike me as the kind of person who would take hints from God.  He needs something that cannot be disputed, like the living Christ meeting him on his Damascus journey and speaking directly to him.  Then, he loses his sight, only to regain it when Ananias prays for him.  It's quite extraordinary.   But we also have the story with Peter and Dorcas.  This is such a beautiful passage.  Dorcas, who takes care of the widows in that area, has passed away.  Remember, widows are some of the most vulnerable people in that society.  Without a husband or son to care for them, they have no way to care for themselves.  If it weren't for God's people, they would be doomed to a life of poverty and/or prostitution.  Dorcas cared for these women and they loved her dearly.  When Peter sees the situation, he is moved with compassion.  He prays and Dorcas is restored to life.     We serve a God of resurrection.  How do you need to see resurrection in your life today?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope July 21, 2024 Day 1 of Week 17   Scripture:  I Samuel 9-10; Acts 8   Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan.  Let's get right to our Scripture for today.   Our Old Testament Scripture comes from I Samuel, beginning with chapter 9.  God has chosen a king for the people and his name is Saul.  At this point, we don't know much about Saul, except that his father was wealthy, he was from the tribe of Benjamin, he was quite tall, and he had lost his donkeys.  Thus, he goes on a journey to find them and almost gives up.  His servant suggested they go see a man of God he had heard about, for this "seer" might be able to lead them in the right direction.  As we know from the reading, the man of God was Samuel.  God had just revealed to Samuel who the king would be and we get this beautiful interaction between God and Samuel.  We can surmise that the lost donkeys were simply a way to get Saul to Samuel.  God had orchestrated the whole thing.   There are times in our lives when we can certainly see God leading us in a certain direction.  It may even be that specific events are woven together in such a way that we know God had his hand in it.  Now, I don't believe that every little thing we do is orchestrated by God.  After all, we have free will and God allows us to make our own choices. But there are times, as we see in today's Scripture, that God has a specific purpose to achieve and he makes sure it gets done.  That was true for Samuel and Saul and it is certainly true for us as well.   In chapter 10, we see Samuel anoint Saul as king of Israel.  Possibly in order to reassure Saul that this was indeed his calling, Samuel goes through a long list of things that would occur before Saul reaches home.  Everything Samuel said would happen does come to pass almost immediately.  What's interesting to me is that God changes Saul's heart; God's Spirit comes over him and Saul begins to prophecy, something that must have been very uncharacteristic of the young man.  Clearly, God was making a point to Saul–God had chosen him.   Samuel gathers all of Israel at Mizpah, where Saul will be instituted as king.  He explains the rights and duties of kingship.  This seems to indicate that this monarchy would be different.  Saul was not to be an oppressive autocrat, as the kings around him.  Israel's monarchy would fall under its covenant with God.  There would obviously be privileges as king but the people also had rights.  The ultimate law of the land was still God's law.    It doesn't take long for some people to dislike Saul.  They don't know him, they haven't seen him govern, and they already hate him.  It doesn't matter to them that Saul is God's choice.  They want what they want and it wasn't Saul.  But I love how Saul handles it–he remains silent!  Friends, there will always be detractors.  There will always be people that dislike you before they know you, especially if you are in a leadership position.  I think something to remember is that it isn't about you, your abilities, your calling, or your character.  It's about them.  For those who hated Saul at this point in our story, it wasn't about Saul at all.  It was about something within them–insecurity, anger, bitterness, separation from God, sin.   Maybe someone simply needs to hear that today.  Trust what God has called you to do.  Stay faithful.  There will always be objectors.  I've certainly had and have my fair share.  And sometimes, the best way to respond is simply to stay silent.   Okay, let's move on to Acts 8.  After Stephen's killing, the new Christians are forced to scatter around the area.  Saul (not the Saul we are talking about in the I Samuel – this is a different Saul who will become Paul) is going door to door to question people and throw Christians into prison.  This is serious stuff.  I want you to just imagine what that would be like.  We live in a place where we can worship freely but what those new Christians experience isn't too different from many parts of the world today.  Just keep that in mind.    What's interesting to me is that wherever they go, the believers spread the Gospel.  They aren't deterred by their experience in Jerusalem.  Rather, the opposite seems to be true.  They are bold and tell the story of Jesus wherever they go.  Think of your own life.  How do you share the story of Jesus?  Do you?   I also want to highlight Philip's experience at the end of the chapter.  The Holy Spirit tells him to head down the road to Gaza and when he does, he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading the book of Isaiah.  Philip knows this is his purpose and this is a beautiful opening that God has provided.  He does not hesitate.  Philip asks the Ethiopian if he understands what he is reading; the man responds, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?”  Okay, perfect opening.  Philip takes the opportunity to explain how the prophecy points to Jesus.  He shares the Gospel and the man believes and is baptized.    I want to reiterate a point here.  Philip does not hesitate.  He sees an opening and he takes it.  Again, we need to think of our own circumstances.  How often do we have an opening or we feel the nudge to share about Jesus and we chicken out?  How often do we hesitate?  What are we afraid of?   Okay, more tomorrow, friends.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Scripture: I Samuel 13:14, I Peter 3:9, I Samuel 24, I Samuel 26, II Samuel 9:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16, John 3:36, Ephesians 5:5-6, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:7, Revelation 3:19, I John 3:21-22, I Corinthians 3:13-15, II John 1:18The Pulse WV LiveTopic: Rooted: Q&A MercyHost: Becky & Carl WhiteMonday, April 15, 2024A Network That Beats To The Heart Of GodFor Booking Information: 304-364-4164Email: jay@thepulsechurch.com There Are Three Ways to Financially Support the Pulse-Winfield, WVPayPal:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCXFPAHPH8MYA&source=urlText:https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/thepulse/THEPULSEWINFIELDWVMail: 5368 State Route 34 Winfield, WV 25213Or Give In PersonCheck us out on social media and our website.Website:www.thepulsewv.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/718582154980548/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGXhf2uE9oSMh961HaKJogTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_pulse_winfield?_t=8a2JwTzm8xG&_r=1Instagram:356youth_winfield: https://instagram.com/356youth_winfield?igshid=3s8rb0i8xqbvThe Pulse Winfield Gospel Quest:https://instagram.com/the_pulse_winfield_kidsclub_?igshid=154la475j8arrTwitter:https://twitter.com/thepulsewvApple Podcast:https://thepulsewv-gassaway.simplecast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse-wv-live/id1527607059Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4YZljk4BeOmao9KAo7NYn6?si=bJu7H3MWT5eezEh357OqKAhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7pbbpIgE2Spzqdmd982w2c?si=-5W7mfxhSJyIk-mREfMmHwGoogle Play:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS96NDFMazd0WAhttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9ockc4RE4xaARadio Public:Sermons:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-WemdAJPodcast:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-live-GymVAJDeezer:Sermons:https://deezer.com/show/3055022Podcast:https://deezer.com/show/3053812I Heart Radio:Sermons:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-87312929?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=truePodcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-live-87312874?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/22dca9f0-25f7-4cf0-a927-c896dbccd048/the-pulse-wv

Scripture: I Samuel 15:1-5, I Samuel 15:13-20, Romans 6:13, II Timothy 2:3, James 5:11, II Corinthians 6:1, Exodus 17:8,           I Corinthians 3:9The Pulse ExperienceSermon: Y-E-S, GodAssistant Pastor Dwight WallsSunday, October 15, 2023A Network That Beats To The Heart Of GodFor Booking Information: 304-364-4164Email: jay@thepulsechurch.com There Are Three Ways to Financially Support the Pulse-Winfield, WVPayPal:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCXFPAHPH8MYA&source=urlText:https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/thepulse/THEPULSEWINFIELDWVMail: P.O. Box 561 Eleanor, WV 25070Or Give In PersonCheck us out on social media and our website.Website:www.thepulsewv.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/718582154980548/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGXhf2uE9oSMh961HaKJogTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_pulse_winfield?_t=8a2JwTzm8xG&_r=1Instagram:356youth_winfield: https://instagram.com/356youth_winfield?igshid=3s8rb0i8xqbvThe Pulse Winfield Gospel Quest:https://instagram.com/the_pulse_winfield_kidsclub_?igshid=154la475j8arrTwitter:https://twitter.com/thepulsewvApple Podcast:https://thepulsewv-gassaway.simplecast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse-wv-live/id1527607059Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4YZljk4BeOmao9KAo7NYn6?si=bJu7H3MWT5eezEh357OqKAhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7pbbpIgE2Spzqdmd982w2c?si=-5W7mfxhSJyIk-mREfMmHwGoogle Play:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS96NDFMazd0WAhttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9ockc4RE4xaARadio Public:Sermons:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-WemdAJPodcast:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-live-GymVAJDeezer:Sermons:https://deezer.com/show/3055022Podcast:https://deezer.com/show/3053812I Heart Radio:Sermons:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-87312929?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=truePodcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-live-87312874?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/22dca9f0-25f7-4cf0-a927-c896dbccd048/the-pulse-wv

Scripture: I Samuel 8:1-22The Pulse ExperienceSermon: No More KingsPastor Jay MaceSunday, December 4, 2022A Network That Beats To The Heart Of GodFor Booking Information: 304-364-4164Email: info@thepulsewv.comThere Are Three Ways to Financially Support the Pulse-Winfield, WVPayPal:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCXFPAHPH8MYA&source=urlText:https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/thepulse/THEPULSEWINFIELDWVMail: P.O. Box 561 Eleanor, WV 25070Or Give In PersonCheck us out on social media and our website.Website:www.thepulsewv.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/718582154980548/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGXhf2uE9oSMh961HaKJogTikTok:https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdxTGwpq/Instagram:356youth_winfield:https://instagram.com/356youth_winfield?igshid=3s8rb0i8xqbvThe Pulse Winfield Kids Club:https://instagram.com/the_pulse_winfield_kidsclub_?igshid=154la475j8arr Twitter:https://twitter.com/thepulsewv Apple Podcast:https://thepulsewv-gassaway.simplecast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse-wv-live/id1527607059 Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4YZljk4BeOmao9KAo7NYn6?si=bJu7H3MWT5eezEh357OqKA https://open.spotify.com/show/7pbbpIgE2Spzqdmd982w2c?si=-5W7mfxhSJyIk-mREfMmHw Google Play:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS96NDFMazd0WA https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9ockc4RE4xaARadio Public:Sermons:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-WemdAJPodcast:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-live-GymVAJDeezer:Sermons:https://deezer.com/show/3055022Podcast:https://deezer.com/show/3053812I Heart Radio:Sermons:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-87312929?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=truePodcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-live-87312874?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/22dca9f0-25f7-4cf0-a927-c896dbccd048/the-pulse-wvhttps://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fe8c94c7-d726-4379-a4c1-04469fd03ee8/the-pulse-wv-live 

Scripture: I Samuel 4:14-22, The Song Of Solomon 1:2, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 91:1, John 10:27-28, Ephesians 4:30, Matthew 19:22The Gathering-Flatwoods,WV | Day #44 | Evangelist L.A. Sperrey#God #Jesus #HolyGhost #joy #peace #love #thegathering #flatwoodswvFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringrevival/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUY1Y2ehBIQUPUCGsfrUz_Q

Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-19 This Sunday Steve Sundby preached on the theme "Listen to the Spirit". Have we learnt to hear and recognize the voice of God, and willing to respond?

Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-10, John 1:32-25, Acts 4:13, John 10:10, John 14:12-14The Pulse WV Live In The MorningTopic: Jesus Is Making DisciplesHost: Pastor Doug Smailes & Pastor John FowlerFriday, January 28, 2022For Booking Information: 304-364-4164Email: info@thepulsewv.comThere Are Three Ways to Financially Support the Pulse-GassawayPayPal:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCXFPAHPH8MYA&source=urlText:https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/thepulse/THEPULSEGASSAWAYWVMail: P.O. Box 141 Gassaway, WV 26624Check us out on social media and our website.Website:www.thepulsewv.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/thepulsewv/https://www.facebook.com/718582154980548/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkUxPTJpjRyLCRJ5ZnLiVlwhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGXhf2uE9oSMh961HaKJogTik Tok:https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdxTDCSh/Twitch:https://twitch.tv/the_pulse_wvInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/thepulsegassaway/Twitter:https://twitter.com/thepulsewvApple Podcast:https://thepulsewv-gassaway.simplecast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse-wv-live/id1527607059Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4YZljk4BeOmao9KAo7NYn6?si=bJu7H3MWT5eezEh357OqKAhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7pbbpIgE2Spzqdmd982w2c?si=-5W7mfxhSJyIk-mREfMmHwGoogle Play:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS96NDFMazd0WAhttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9ockc4RE4xaARadio Public:Sermons:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-WemdAJPodcast:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-live-GymVAJDeezer:Sermons:https://deezer.com/show/3055022Podcast:https://deezer.com/show/3053812I Heart Radio:Sermons:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-87312929?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=truePodcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-live-87312874?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/22dca9f0-25f7-4cf0-a927-c896dbccd048/the-pulse-wvhttps://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fe8c94c7-d726-4379-a4c1-04469fd03ee8/the-pulse-wv-live

Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-10, John 1:32-51, Romans 8:38-39The Pulse ExperienceSermon: Jesus Is Calling Disciples-Come & See Follow MePastor Doug SmailesSunday, January 23, 2022For Booking Information: 304-364-4164Email: info@thepulsewv.comThere Are Three Ways to Financially Support the Pulse-GassawayPayPal:https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HCXFPAHPH8MYA&source=urlText:https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/thepulse/THEPULSEGASSAWAYWVMail: P.O. Box 141 Gassaway, WV 26624Check us out on social media and our website.Website:www.thepulsewv.comFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/thepulsewv/ https://www.facebook.com/718582154980548/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkUxPTJpjRyLCRJ5ZnLiVlwhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGXhf2uE9oSMh961HaKJogTik Tok:https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdxTDCSh/Twitch:https://twitch.tv/the_pulse_wvInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/thepulsegassaway/Twitter:https://twitter.com/thepulsewvApple Podcast:https://thepulsewv-gassaway.simplecast.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pulse-wv-live/id1527607059Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/4YZljk4BeOmao9KAo7NYn6?si=bJu7H3MWT5eezEh357OqKAhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7pbbpIgE2Spzqdmd982w2c?si=-5W7mfxhSJyIk-mREfMmHwGoogle Play:https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS96NDFMazd0WAhttps://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9ockc4RE4xaARadio Public:Sermons:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-WemdAJPodcast:https://radiopublic.com/the-pulse-wv-live-GymVAJDeezer:Sermons:https://deezer.com/show/3055022Podcast:https://deezer.com/show/3053812I Heart Radio:Sermons:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-87312929?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=truePodcast:https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-pulse-wv-live-87312874?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueAmazon Music:https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/22dca9f0-25f7-4cf0-a927-c896dbccd048/the-pulse-wvhttps://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fe8c94c7-d726-4379-a4c1-04469fd03ee8/the-pulse-wv-live

For those asking "what is my calling? " or "what am I hear to do? " this message invites the listener to focus on the voice of the Lord. Scripture: I Samuel 3  

God's choice does not look like our choice. It can take repeated failures for us to recognize His choice for our live. Scripture: I Samuel 16:1-12    

Scripture: I Samuel 15:34-16:13 Rev. Chalice Overy, associate pastor at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, was our guest speaker this Sunday. The story of Samuel anointing David is a good hero story. However, it also points out our biases, or expectations, for who is fit for leadership. But most hero stories also miss something; all the days in between when we’re not facing giants, or even obstacles of giant proportions. On all those days we don’t need to be concerned about self preservation, we can work to build a world that is sustainable and just. What if we spent less time looking for heroes and more time trying to help each other uncover the heroism that is inside each of us? We’ve got to nurture that spark inside of each person, so that we’re building a world that is not always in crisis mode. We have the story of Samuel anointing David as king, but the king was only one role. One is not enough to move a nation forward. Who will anoint the rest of us to create the world we believe is possible? It has to be you. It has to be us! We are anointed to be anointers of others.

IT’S COMPLICATED Message #3 “Ok, You are right…It is you!” Scripture: I Samuel 25:14-19 Pastor Phil Whetstone May 16, 2021

Scripture: I Samuel 16-17 Series: The Whole Counsel of God Notes: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AtZn-btopJYtiGauhL6PDLn-L4gU?e=KOK4n0 This is a systematic theology series rich in biblical exposition that serves as an overview of the beliefs that define our Christian faith. This series will cover sessions on what The Bible says about the following topics: – What is “the whole counsel of God” and what do we do with it? – The teaching about God – Creation – The teaching about man – The person of Jesus Christ – Salvation – Working out your salvation – The doctrine of the Holy Spirit – The doctrine of scripture – The doctrine of the church – The doctrine of the last things The whole counsel of God as contained in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is necessary to equip saints for their walk with the Lord. In them are found answers to life's origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. It helps a believer see the big picture of God's plan for the redemption of mankind that has been playing out through the ages.

Scripture: I Samuel 2:1-10 Series: The Whole Counsel of God Notes: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AtZn-btopJYtiGJOdvX7EG0L1nUE?e=4WrqS6 This is a systematic theology series rich in biblical exposition that serves as an overview of the beliefs that define our Christian faith. This series will cover sessions on what The Bible says about the following topics: – What is “the whole counsel of God” and what do we do with it? – The teaching about God – Creation – The teaching about man – The person of Jesus Christ – Salvation – Working out your salvation – The doctrine of the Holy Spirit – The doctrine of scripture – The doctrine of the church – The doctrine of the last things The whole counsel of God as contained in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is necessary to equip saints for their walk with the Lord. In them are found answers to life's origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. It helps a believer see the big picture of God's plan for the redemption of mankind that has been playing out through the ages.

Sunday, February 28, 2021 Virtual Worship 10:00 am Service | Title: The Lamp Is Still Burning! | Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-20; Jeremiah 29:11

Pastor David kicks off our School of Hard Knocks series this morning.  Today he helps us explore our origin stories and how we are molded by the experiences we face.   Scripture: I Samuel 8-16 Discussion Topics: What is a “Hard Knock” story that was all about a wrong decision you made? What is the gift […] The post The School of Hard Knocks – Origin Story appeared first on Navigation Church.

Waiting is something God uses in our lives that we find very difficult. We don't want to wait we want progress. God longs for us to have faith as we wait. Join us this week as we look at how David waited well. Scripture: I Samuel 18-19 Keywords: patient, patience, envy, jealousy, difficulty

The life of David is packed with glimpses of the character of God. Listen this week as we see how God uses, loves, and empowers unlikely people as we meet David for the first time in the Scriptures. Scripture: I Samuel 16:1-13 Keywords: David, calling, leadership, restart, Jesus

Hannah's Song Speaker: Pastor Amy Yoder McGloughlin Scripture: I Samuel 1 :4-20; 2 :1-10 Pastor Amy discusses Hannah's Song.

[00:00] Special Music: "A Simple Song" - Tracy Van Fleet, Soloist (Leonard Bernstein) [04:17] Scripture: I Samuel 3:1-10; 19-20 [06:50] Summer Sermon Series: Flawed, Yet Faithful: "Eli & Samuel" - Dr. Walter C. Dilg, Jr.

Scripture: I Samuel 22:1&2, 23:16

Scripture: I Samuel 1:9-20. Happy Mothers' Day! We celebrate those very special ladies in our lives with a message from the the story of Hannah, found in 1 Samuel.

Sermon by Senior Pastor Laura S. Truax Read this sermon here: Link coming soon! Scripture: I Samuel 17:55-18:4 Please visit our website here: www.lasallestreetchurch.org

2012-04-29-0830 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning April 29th 2012 in the 8:30 service.Scripture: I Samuel 22:1-2; 30:1-6; Luke 10:17-21; 9:55-56; Isaiah 55:3Topic: SufferingNotes:- How does God treat people He really loves?- David finds himself hunted, living in a cave, joined by all who were in distress- You will be removed from comfort, from where you think you are serving God. All you think you’ve done for Him seems forgotten, but it’ll be God that does it to you- The things that excite us and those that excite God are miles apart- Don’t rejoice in your ability but in that He did it for you when you least deserved it- God put David in this situation not to teach him faith, but seasoned faith- God doesn’t use arrogant faith.  Seasoned faith doesn’t have to stomp and yell and proclaim but is a quiet, determined confidence that what God promised He will do- Christian television and arrogant faith; youthful faith is independent faith- Any faith that is not seasoned is presumptuous faith- Jesus did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them- God let David go live with the enemy; He may let other go live with the enemy, but He doesn’t leave them there- We turn people out, write them off... let God be God- David was left with nobody but God; our strength must come from God. -  Sure mercies (what He did for David, He’ll do for me)

2012-04-29-1030 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning April 29th 2012 in the 10:30 service.Scripture: I Samuel 22:1-2; 30:1-6; Luke 10:17-21; 9:55-56; Isaiah 55:3Topic: SufferingNotes:- How does God treat people He really loves?- David finds himself hunted, living in a cave, joined by all who were in distress- You will be removed from comfort, from where you think you are serving God. All you think you’ve done for Him seems forgotten, but it’ll be God that does it to you- The things that excite us and those that excite God are miles apart- Don’t rejoice in your ability but in that He did it for you when you least deserved it- God put David in this situation not to teach him faith, but seasoned faith- God doesn’t use arrogant faith.  Seasoned faith doesn’t have to stomp and yell and proclaim but is a quiet, determined confidence that what God promised He will do- Christian television and arrogant faith; youthful faith is independent faith- Any faith that is not seasoned is presumptuous faith- Jesus did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them- God let David go live with the enemy; He may let other go live with the enemy, but He doesn’t leave them there- We turn people out, write them off... let God be God- David was left with nobody but God; our strength must come from God. -  Sure mercies (what He did for David, He’ll do for me)

Scripture: I Samuel 18 Speaker: Pastor David Anderson The post Toxic Envy first appeared on Redeemer Montclair.

Scripture: I Samuel 18, 19, 20 & 23, What is authentic community? Let's take a look at the story of Jonathan and David to see how they modeled how to experience authentic community.

2011-06-12-0830 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning Jun 12th 2011 in the 8:30 service. Scripture: I Samuel 17:46-47 Topic: Victory Notes: - David & Goliath- Every day I must go back down to the valley and face Goliath- I will not be able to win this battle with Saul’s armor (worldly weapons)- If you have not first been in the presence of God, Goliath will look bigger...- What does your giant look like?- When you feel there is no way out... bad marriage, job (out of work), depression, addiction...- Everything Israel did was dependent on Goliath... fear- Learn how to confront Goliath- You do not have to be afraid or lose every day- This is not your battle; it is the Lord’s- The enemy cannot keep you from praising God who brings you victory

2011-06-12-1030 Pastor Loran Livingston is the speaker this morning Jun 12th 2011 in the 10:30 service. Scripture: I Samuel 17:46-47 Topic: Victory Notes: - David & Goliath- Every day I must go back down to the valley and face Goliath- I will not be able to win this battle with Saul’s armor (worldly weapons)- If you have not first been in the presence of God, Goliath will look bigger...- What does your giant look like?- When you feel there is no way out... bad marriage, job (out of work), depression, addiction...- Everything Israel did was dependent on Goliath... fear- Learn how to confront Goliath- You do not have to be afraid or lose every day- This is not your battle; it is the Lord’s- The enemy cannot keep you from praising God who brings you victory

Scripture: I Samuel 16, John 10Vacation Bible School SundayStreaming Real-Media Format