1 Samuel 17:40 — 5 Smooth Stones of Biblical Precision and Accuracy
[Originally posted April 11, 2018]I have the privilege of attending the Together For the Gospel (T4G) Bible Conference in Louisville this week. The theme is...
1 Samuel 20-26 — Questioning God
Remember the movie The Fugitive (Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones) – unjustly accused; on the run; looking for justice and vindication; wanting to find the murderer of...
1 Samuel 18-20 — Friendship is Priceless
[Originally posted May 6, 2008]The Singles group at Hope Bible Church met Tuesday night and compiled this quick study on the Model of Genuine Friendship patterned...
1 Samuel 1:1-18 — Hannah’s Prayer of Desperation
PASSIONATE PRAYER CAN TRANSFORM A ROOT OF BITTERNESS INTO A SEED OF BLESSING
1 Samuel 1:19-28 — Samuel Dedicated to the Lord for Life
OUR LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL CONSECRATION SHOULD MATCH OUR DEPTH OF SPIRITUAL INDEBTEDNESS
1 Samuel 2:1-10 — Hannah’s Praise – Rejoicing in the Lord
ANSWERED PRAYER CAUSES THE RIGHTEOUS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD – THE SOVEREIGN ONE WHO BOTH EXALTS THE LOWLY AND JUDGES THE WICKED
1 Samuel 2:11-26 — 2 Ministry Styles: Selfish Exploitation vs Dedicated Service
SPIRITUAL MINISTRY CAN BE MARKED BY EITHER SELFISH EXPLOITATION OR DEDICATED SERVICE
(CONTRAST BETWEEN THE 2 EXTREMES OF THE SONS OF ELI AND SAMUEL)
1 Samuel 2:27 – 3:6 — How to Fall From High Priest to No Priest
THE ABUSE OF THE PRIVILEGES OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP HAS FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES
1 Samuel 3:1-21 — Samuel’s Confirmation as a Prophet of the Lord
THE FAITHFUL SPOKESMAN FOR GOD COMMUNICATES EVEN THE HARD WORDS OF JUDGMENT
(WHAT IT MEANS TO DECLARE THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD)
1 Samuel 4:1-22 — Ichabod – The Glory is Gone / God is No Rabbit’s Foot
WHEN SUPERSTITION AND SELF-WILL REPLACE GENUINE WORSHIP AND OBEDIENT FAITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD DEPARTS FROM HIS PEOPLE
1 Samuel 5:1 – 7:2 — Don’t Mess With the Holiness of God
GOD PROTECTS HIS HOLINESS BY CURSING THOSE WHO FAIL TO APPROACH HIM WITH THE PROPER FEAR AND CAREFULNESS
1 Samuel 7:3-17 — Secret to Successful Leadership
STRONG SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP (SAMUEL) USES THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION AND THE WEAPON OF PRAYER TO ACCOMPLISH THE MINISTRY GOALS OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL, DELIVERANCE FROM ENEMIES, PEACEFUL EXISTENCE, AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS
1 Samuel 8:1-22 — I Wanna Be Like Mike! The Superstar Syndrome in Spiritual Leadership
GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE A TRAGIC HISTORY OF REJECTING GOD’S LEADERSHIP MODEL FOR A PRAGMATIC, WORLDLY MODEL OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING
1 Samuel 9:1-27 — God Gives the People What They Want
GOD SOVEREIGNLY GUIDES IN THE SELECTION OF SAUL TO BE KING
– GIVING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY HAD DEMANDED
1 Samuel 10:1-27 — The Coronation of Saul
THE ANOINTING OF GOD’S CHOSEN LEADER WAS A MIXED BLESSING IN MANY RESPECTS – YET CLEARLY A DIVINE APPOINTMENT
1 Samuel 11:1-15 — The Eye of the Storm – Leadership Proving Ground
KING SAUL WINS OVER HIS CRITICS BY PROVING HIS MILITARY LEADERSHIP WITH A SPIRIT-INSPIRED RESCUE OPERATION
1 Samuel 12:1-25 — Present Obedience Can Outweigh Past Transgression
FORMER TRANSGRESSIONS DO NOT DOOM YOU TO PRESENT FAILURE AS LONG AS YOU CHOOSE TO FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM RIGHT NOW
1 Samuel 13:1-23 — Can You Justify Expediency?
LEADERSHIP OPERATING ON THE BASIS OF EXPEDIENCY RATHER THAN OBEDIENCE CAN WIN SOME IMPRESSIVE BATTLES BUT STILL FORFEIT THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE
1 Samuel 14:1-52 — Sometimes Leaders Get Too Big For Their Own Britches
RASH DECISIONS ON THE PART OF LEADERSHIP CAN PLACE THEIR TROOPS AT RISK
1 Samuel 15:1-35 — Rebellion Cannot Be Tolerated, Excused, or Overlooked – The High Cost of Failing to Fully Obey
INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE = COMPLETE REBELLION
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE = TOTAL REBELLION
THE COST OF FAILING TO OBEY GOD FULLY IS SUPRISINGLY HIGH
1 Samuel 16:1-23 — Changing of the Guard
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION REQUIRES CAREFUL PREPARATION
1 Samuel 17:1-58 — Spiritual Warfare
DAVID’S VICTORY OVER GOLIATH PROVIDES A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL SPIRITUAL WARFARE
1 Samuel 18:1-30 — Divine Prosperity vs Divine Rejection
PROSPERITY FLOWS OUT OF THE PRESENCE AND FAVOR OF GOD
1 Samuel 19:1-24 — Untouchable
GOD CAN USE OUR NETWORK OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO HELP PROTECT US IN TIMES OF DANGER AND PERSECUTION