 When faced with a crucial moment of testing at the moment of Jesus' arrest, his disciples failed and failed miserably - because they had not heeded Jesus' exhortation to pray, and thus they failed to prepare. Join us this morning as we learn to prepare by praying. Video of Message  One of the childhood memories etched in my mind is that of my granddad out in his corn field with a hoe. Hoes can be used for many things but my granddaddy mainly used a hoe to pull up weeds. He knew what all farmers (and gardeners) know - if you don’t pull up the weeds in your crops or garden, they will choke out the life of what you have planted. A weed is such a small and seemingly insignificant thing and yet, if left unstopped, it can ruin very big things. In our continuing study through 1 Samuel, we read how Israel’s first king, Saul, refused to deal with the weeds growing in his heart. We learn how these weeds, over time, eventually cost him something much bigger - his kingdom. It is a reminder for all of us to pay attention to our hearts on a daily basis. 1 Samuel 14 Video of Service  Maintaining a life of integrity in Christ is not without its challenges. That the Christian life is sometimes best described as a battle or a struggle is not far off the mark. Not every day is a battle-not every week is a battle and not every season of life is a war. But there are seasons, days and weeks when it is just that- a battle. We are not without divine help however. The Bible gives us specific stories that illustrate eternal principles in this regard. 1 Samuel provides just such stories-a reservoir of illustrations to help us get a grip on how to wage war and win. We pick up our study in 1 Samuel 13 1 Samuel 13:15-14:15 Video of Service  In her book, War on the Saints, Jesse Penn Lewis explains that one of the ways the devil deceives the world and the church is when he comes in the guise of somebody or something which apparently causes them to go God-word and good-ward. When the Devil tempted Eve in the Garden, he said, “you shall be as gods.” He did not say, “you shall be like demons.” His true objective in deceiving Eve was to get her to disobey God but his scheme was, “you shall be like God.” Had she reasoned, she would’ve seen that the deceiver’s suggestion exposed itself… disobey God to be more like God. As we resume our study in 1Samuel today, we read how Saul, the first king of Israel, did just that. He disobeyed God in order to be more like God. He allowed pride to set the pace for his life rather than humility. Saul’s downfall reminds us that pride is a very real problem in the Christian life. Conversely, that humility is a key component to spiritual growth. 1 Samuel 13 Video of Service  1 Samuel 12 marks the significant transition from the age of Judges to the age of Kings in Israel. Samuel marks this transition with parting words still relevant and life-giving for us today. Join us and learn what it means to retire well, remember well, and repent well. 1 Samuel 12:1-25 Video of Service  Most farmers hate insects. To a farmer, “insect” is a bad word. Insects eat crops and threaten harvests. By contrast, entomologists love insects. Entomologists make a living by studying insects and see them much differently than the farmer. To an entomologist, insect is a good word. Perspective makes all the difference. How we see something determines how we relate to it. With that in mind, how do you see adversity? Is it friend or foe? Is it a gift from God or something to be avoided at all costs? As we resume our study of 1 Samuel today, we find God visiting Israel with adversity…but adversity with a good purpose. 1 Samuel 11 Video of Service  While Paul was in Rome awaiting trial before Nero, he was a prisoner in a home due to orders from the local authorities. Stuck at home. Sounds familiar, right? Well then why was his letter to the Philippians filled with such joy and praise and confidence? Today Charles goes through Philippians (like, actually goes through it, reciting it from memory) and shows us how we too can have joy and freedom, even when life is not what we expected. Philippians. All of it. Video of Service  But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. Psalm 115:3 If the God of this world was cruel and evil, these words would not be very comforting! What hope could there be for us if the God who does as He pleases was evil? But God is not evil! No, He is love and good and always has our best interests at heart. And no matter what choices we make in life, ultimately God uses all of that for His glory. We see this truth highlighted in 1Samuel 10 where God sovereignly provides for His people in ways much better than they deserve. 1 Samuel 10:17-27 Video of Service  It was the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, who said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” In some ways, it might be much easier to change the world than ourselves. We’ve been this way for so long, changing ourselves seems almost impossible, especially when it involves dying to self. Of course, we are helpless to bring about true change until God’s grace transforms us and we are born again. Once that happens however, every day becomes an opportunity to become conformed to the image of His Son. And by changing us - He changes the world. The changes that happen within the human heart are important for all of us-it is especially important for those in positions of leadership. As we jump back into the OT Book 1 Samuel, we find Israel’s first king needing a heart change-a transformation of character critical for Israel’s growth and health in the days to come. The events surrounding Saul’s appointment to the kingship of Israel provide important insights related to internal heart change and following Jesus today. 1 Samuel 10:1-16 Video of Service  Ever been inspired by a story of lost donkeys? Perhaps not yet, but 1 Samuel 9 has much more to teach us than we may initially see on the surface. Come explore this passage with us and witness the greatness of God, his faithfulness toward his unfaithful people, as well as a timely warning for us today. Video of Service  In his book, Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller defines an idol as "anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living." His definition reminds us that idols are not necessarily wood and stone images we bow down to- they can also be good things that take the place of the One true God. Idols are especially prevalent during days of stress when our soul’s peace of mind is threatened. Such was the case many years ago when God's people looked to a King to give them what only He could-security in the midst of trouble. The lessons of 1 Samuel 8 are especially relevant during these days of pandemic pressure. 1 Samuel 8 Video of Service  Food manufacturers have taken great strides in the last several decades to remove the guesswork from food spoilage issues by stamping an expiration date on their products. The stamp usually says something like “Best if used by" or "Please use by.” The further ahead or on that expiration date, the safer the food, usually. If you are eating food after its expiration date, however, well you are asking for trouble. In a similar way, every living thing has an expiration date, including you and me. The challenge comes when we use human wisdom to attach expiration dates to our lives rather than God’s. Such was the case with the Israelites who attached an expiration date to Samuel’s usefulness to their country and missed it by a country mile. We resume our study of 1 Samuel today by examining one of the misguided reasons the Israelites wanted to replace Samuel with a King- his old age 1 Samuel 7:15-8:9 Video of Service  Before the world is in the grip of a global pandemic, it is first and foremost in the grip of a loving God. That this God loves us without measure is revealed in the death of His Son. Yet, believing that Jesus died won’t bring one ounce of peace or joy today- his death is historical fact. It is believing that He died for you that makes the difference! Our ultimate joy today is not rooted in the hope that a vaccine will soon be made, our lives returned to normal and the economy restored. Our joy is rooted in the God who loved us enough to send His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. In today's message from Ephesians 2, we consider why Christ's sacrifice for our sin is far more important than anything happening in our world today. Ephesians 2:13 Video of Service  Stressed over the challenges of working from home? Concerned about your retirement in light of stock market losses? God cares about the fears we face, and His Word gives us hope. In today's message, we look at two truths in Scripture - God's sovereignty and God's provision. We then see how these truths lead us to submit to Him and trust Him. Listen and experience His peace. Hebrews 12:3-12 Video of Service  Some of us may remember the ketchup commercial many years ago where two small boys are waiting for the ketchup to make its way from the bottle to the hamburger. In the background is the song “Anticipation” which draws upon the value of waiting for a good thing. The commercial was updated several years later with the same song, also using a hamburger, but the two boys were gone. Instead, it begins with the song playing then a hand holding a plastic bottle of ketchup appears. We get the first few bars of the song and then we get the sound of ketchup burping out of a plastic bottle. These two commercials might well represent two kinds of people today: one patiently waiting for God to fulfill His purposes, the other impatiently trying to force matters along. Waiting is not easy, especially when it involves uncertainty, hardship and pain but it is one of God’s most effective tools in bringing about spiritual life. As we resume our study in 1 Samuel 7, we find important truths that help us face the long days of uncertainty in our own time. 1 Samuel 7 Video of Service  Like any landscape picture hanging in our home, the Christian life has both a foreground and a background. The foreground are the objects right in front of us - things we easily see and feel from day to day like Pandemics and earthquakes. The background of life however is the invisible, spiritual realities beyond us. They are not as easy to see and appreciate but just as important because they give context to the foreground. The question I put to you today is this: If COVID-19 is in the foreground, what is in the background? What is happening in the unseen realm of the spirit that gives understanding, strength and hope for a world filled with earthquakes and virus infections? To help us answer that question, we return to the inspired Word of God in 1 Samuel 6 where we receive important reminders about God's justice and the purpose of pain. 1 Samuel 6:13-7:2 Video of Service  For the first time in Mountain View’s nearly 70-year history, 3 consecutive weeks of Sunday services have been canceled. Not since the Spanish Flu swept across our nation in 1918 have churches and other organizations had to cancel their public meetings. These are unprecedented days in our world, and as a result there are heightened fears and anxieties. We see those fears manifested in grocery stores and stock markets. In the midst of these global, national, and local crises, how should God’s people react? Though fear is a formidable threat to our peace of mind, we need not surrender to it and in Philippians 4, Paul gives godly counsel on how to overcome its stranglehold. Philippians 4:4-9 Video of Service  For many years, Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys. For most of those 3 decades, he held to this view of coaching “The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.” In a similar way, Christians are exhorted to submit themselves to the power of God’s Spirit and Word in order that they might be what they have always wanted to be but could not naturally do. In today's message from 1 Samuel 6, we continue to examine the power of fleshly instincts and how to overcome them through God's grace. 1 Samuel 6 Video of Message  Have you ever noticed how animals have very little self-control? Our oldest daughter has a toy poodle named Simon who is a perfect example. Simon cannot control his instinct to bolt through an open door or fence gate when given the opportunity. Recently, he saw his chance to escape while the front door was open. No matter how loudly he was called or coaxed back, he was not going to listen. He could not help himself. His instinct to run out the door and away from the house was too strong. Though humans are not without self-control, we too can become slaves to our instincts. We too can become so influenced by “genetically hardwired behaviors” that listening and responding to our Master’s voice is all but impossible. That our basic human instincts need divine rewiring is a truth found in today's message from 1 Samuel 6. Video of Message In his book, Remember Death, Matthew McCullough writes, “Most Americans enjoy a quality of life that would have been unimaginable for even the wealthiest Americans 200 years ago. But after all this time, even with all this progress, happiness hasn’t risen in tandem. Why is it that no matter how much we have, no matter how good we have it, we struggle to feel satisfied?” The reason why more stuff doesn’t satisfy is because we were not created to get our life from stuff but from a Person. The only thing that can truly satisfy the deepest longings of our soul is in fact not a thing, but a Person-His name is Jesus Christ. In today’s service, we celebrate Christ’s soul satisfying life through the testimonies of two fellow believers, followed by observance of the Lord’s Supper where we remember Christ’s broken body and shed blood for our sin. Video of Message  If we are the only Bible some people will ever read, what story are we telling people about God? There are things about God no one will ever know unless we, the church, communicate those things. As glorious as creation is, it cannot compare to the glory of the story of Jesus and only the church can tell that story. That is why the New Testament pays particular attention to those responsible for leading and undergirding the work of displaying Christ’s glory to the nations. In today's message, we break from 1 Samuel to consider the important role deacons play in the life of God's people. 1 Timothy 3; Acts 6 Video of Message  Martin Licis, a Latvian born American, was crowned the world’s strongest man in June of last year. Martin is 6’2”, weighs 331 pounds and can squat 750 pounds. He is one powerful dude! As powerful as Martin is however, he does not have the authority to pull people over for speeding. He does not have the authority to arrest people who commit crimes. He has great power but very little authority. Our God-the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ has both power and authority, as we see illustrated in the temple "takedowns" of Dagon, the Philistine god. We conclude our study of 1 Samuel 5 today by celebrating God's sovereignty over the false gods of our world. 1 Samuel 5 Video of Message  Lon Chaney Jr. was an actor best known for his roles in horror movies including The Wolf Man. In that movie, Chaney portrays Larry Talbot, a very tender, caring and soft-spoken person who is a really nice guy for most of the time. Every so often however his personality changes when the full moon comes out and a monster is unleashed from inside. In a sense, Larry was basically a good person but with one or two character flaws. That story line sounds a lot like how many describe human nature today. A secular worldview says we are inherently good people most of the time but every so often the wolf comes out and we do things we should not do. God’s Word says just the opposite about human nature and declares that we are inherently corrupt individuals with bad hearts who every so often have good moments. It is only by the grace of God that we can see and respond to His truth. This is one of the truths highlighted in today's message from 1 Samuel 5. Video of Message  Today we heard from Jeff Winters, pastor of Sojourn Church, on Psalm 32. Video of Message  Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on September 11, 2001? I was in our church office in Alabama when I got a call from a member asking me if I had seen the news. She told me to get to a television and turn it on. When I turned it on, I watched with millions of other Americans as the Trade Centers burned and collapsed. In the days to come, shock waves of this earth shattering event would rock our nation. When our lives are turned upside down, we begin asking why. And it’s in those seasons that we are most susceptible to both truth and error. We see it either through the lens of God’s eternal sovereignty or the lens of human depravity. We are not the first to wrestle with these temptations. Many years ago, God’s people experienced a similar national tragedy and in 1 Samuel 4, we read about their response. Their story reminds us that we should not put a period where God puts a comma. 1 Samuel 4:10-22 Video of Message |
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