Sermon Central
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The Book Of 1 Samuel
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Oct 6, 2015 (message contributor)
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1. Seeing God At Work
Contributed on Oct 6, 2015
God works through our troubles and our prayers.
God’s fingerprints can be detected all through history. • At times His work is dramatically obvious - like parting the Red Sea, tearing down the walls of Jericho - but other times, it’s not noticeable to our senses. • Our lack of perception, however, does not mean God ...read more
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2. Facing Your Giants (1)
Contributed on Apr 10, 2016
By God's grace we can overcome the giants in our lives. Watch what you are focusing on. Do what you possibly can.
1 Samuel 17 records the famous story of young boy David fighting against the giant Philistine soldier Goliath. • This event likely happened after chapter 14 chronologically speaking, because at this point King Saul still does not know David. • It is likely that the author recaps what ...read more
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3. Hearing God
Contributed on Oct 25, 2015
It is possible to hear God’s voice and not know it, to hear it but reject it, and to hear it and know Him more and more.
A man was concerned about his wife’s hearing, so he consulted a doctor. “It’s getting really bad,” he said. “How bad?” asked the doctor. “I don’t know,” the man said. “Help me find out,” and the doctor suggested ...read more
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4. The Return
Contributed on Jul 31, 2016
In his return to God, David saw the providence and the grace of God in response to his prayer.
David hit rock bottom when he returned to Ziklag and found his home city burned down and everything taken away, including their families. • This was by far the greatest tragedy he had encountered, ever since he ran from Saul as a fugitive. He faced the rejection of Saul, the rejection of ...read more
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5. God Cannot Be Contained
Contributed on Nov 15, 2015
God reigns in every situation, He is present in every affliction, and His purpose prevails in every crisis.
1 Sam 5:1-12 GOD CANNOT BE CONTAINED ES 15 Nov 15 1936 Israel fought the Philistines in the first battle and lost 4000 soldiers. • Someone came up with a bright idea to bring the Ark of God with them, believing that it will bring them success. • They fought the ...read more
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6. Things We Learn About God
Contributed on Jan 25, 2016
God gives us the freedom to obey or disobey Him. When we choose our way, God does not abandon us. God directs the steps of those who delight in Him.
1 Sam 9:15-17 - THINGS WE LEARN ABOUT GOD We get to know more about God, in seeing the way He deals with His people Israel. God had a plan for Israel, but the people felt they know better. • 8:6 “Give us a king to lead us…” They wanted a king for all the wrong ...read more
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7. The Heart Of The Matter
Contributed on Feb 12, 2016
Don't let ritual rise above your relationship with God. Don't let your ways rise above God's ways.
Last week we saw the marks of a great servant in Prophet Samuel. He is a man of integrity, faithfulness and a genuine love for his people. • Today we will see the new leader Saul, and sadly, the opposite of what we see last week – the marks of a disobedient servant. Let’s ...read more
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8. Facing Your Giants (2)
Contributed on Apr 18, 2016
By God's grace and strength, we can overcome our challenges in life. Remember where your strength lies. Let the glory of God drives you
David was able to overcome Goliath even though he was smaller, younger, untrained and inexperience. He wasn’t terrified because he was not focusing on the giant. • We need to WATCH WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT because whatever we focus on affects us. We are easily overwhelmed because we ...read more
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9. Seek God
Contributed on May 29, 2016
We see David's motivation, his determination to seek God and his willingness to obey.
The Lord prepares David, His anointed one, for the Kingship. • Step by step, little by little, the young shepherd is being taught and trained to trust God and manage difficult circumstances. • God prepares him, not in a classroom but through the crucible of life – through ...read more
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10. The Fugitive
Contributed on May 16, 2016
When we are going through hardships, remember God is in you and with you. Keep the line with God open. Keep faith with Him through submission.
David is on the run for his life. He received a clear signal from his friend Jonathan that his father King Saul is bent on killing him. [Read] 1 Sam 21:1-9 – NOB David went to NOB and met a priest Ahimelech. He has nothing with him so he requested for bread and for a weapon to defend ...read more
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11. Loving Your Enemy
Contributed on Jun 27, 2016
Make choices that reflect God's will. Rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance. Trust God for the unknowns. Choose to let His love flows through us.
Let’s read it - 1 Sam 26:1-25. I believe you have this feeling that you read this before. This encounter is very similar to the one in chapter 24 when he was in the cave in En Gedi. • David got so close to Saul he could cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. In this chapter, he ...read more
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12. Envy Destroy
Contributed on Apr 21, 2016
Don't let envy ruin your life. Celebrate the success of others. Be grateful for what God has given you.
We are going to see the destructive power of ENVY in the life of King Saul. • What the difference between jealousy and envy? To envy is to want something which belongs to another person, like wanting someone’s fame and success. • Jealousy is the fear that something which we ...read more
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13. Guard Against Discouragement
Contributed on Jul 4, 2016
Discouragement distorts our perspective and leads us to compromise.
I read a story once that says Satan once held a sale and offered all the tools of his trade to anyone who would pay the price. They were spread out on the table and each one was labelled – hatred, malice, envy, gossip, lust – all the weapons that everyone knows so well. However, ...read more
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14. The Heart Of A Worshipper
Contributed on Oct 12, 2015
True worship is God-centered. It flows from the heart. It brings hope.
Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the House of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet Neil’s good friend, the Lord Hailsham, then Lord Chancellor, who was wearing his official ...read more
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15. The Disobedient Heart
Contributed on Mar 6, 2016
Avoid these pitfalls of disobedience - the temptation to rationalize it, to belittle it, to blame it, to give excuses for it, to please man rather than God.
Today we are going to touch on one topic that we can all speak with experience – disobedience. • Whether it’s disobedience to parents, to authority, or to God. We know what it is and how difficult it is, sometimes. • To obey is not easy. It takes trust, it takes faith ...read more
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16. Marks Of A Great Servant
Contributed on Feb 9, 2016
A great servant of God lives with integrity, with faithfulness and with love for his people.
Samuel anointed Saul as King in 1 Sam 10. He was selected by lot before the people. • Chapter 11 Saul, filled with the Spirit of God, led the people to their first battle against the Ammonites and rescued their city Jabesh Gilead. • The people were elated and affirmed Saul as their ...read more
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17. An Unwilling Heart
Contributed on Feb 28, 2016
A crisis is a test. It reveals our attitude towards God and faith in Him. What is the posture of your heart?
Saul showed an unwillingness to trust God. This sounds odd at first. Why would anyone not trust God? • If we think of our own experience, then we can understand. It could be pride (we think we know best), freedom (I like to do what I like), pleasure (I want some fun), or fear (sacrifices ...read more
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18. Give Us What We Want
Contributed on Dec 14, 2015
Consider the will of God in every matter. Consider the consequences of every choice.
This is not a good title; I use it to jog our mind to think. Is this our orientation to life? • We know God cares and therefore we live through life seeking God to provide what we want. He is key to a successful and comfortable life. • The needs are real, and many, no doubt about ...read more
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19. Return To God
Contributed on Dec 2, 2015
See the blessing of repentance and seek His presence in prayer.
Israel is weak, politically and spiritually. • Politically they have been suffering under the threat of the Philistines, for decades. • They are at war with them in chapters 4-6, and now 20 years later, in chapter 7 they are still at war. • How long do they need to fight ...read more
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20. The Awakening
Contributed on Jul 24, 2016
God uses a tragedy to awaken David and brought him to Himself. David was brought to the end of himself and he came to understand his need of God.
How long does it take for you to know that you’ve made a mistake? How long does it take for you to know that you’ve taken a wrong road? It can takes from a few minutes to a few years. And for some, we may still be travelling on the wrong path and not knowing it. I have this ...read more
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21. The Friendship That Matters
Contributed on Jun 6, 2016
The marks of a godly friendship is wholehearted commitment, unwavering support and spiritual encouragement.
How many friends do we really need in life? Two hundreds, or just two. • When we go through our most difficult moments, how many friends do we need by our side? Twenty, or two? (Just got to know that I’ve 226 friends on FB.) • How many of our friends today are merely ...read more
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22. The Godless Delusion
Contributed on May 23, 2016
How not to be deluded? Reflect and learn, submit to God and persevere. Listen well to what God is saying, through His Word, our loved ones and pastors.
Last Sunday we saw David’s flight from Saul. David set us an example of a man who is after God’s heart. In the midst of his hardships… • He trusts that God is present and watching over him… • He keeps up his conversations (prayers) with God, and • He ...read more
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23. Losing God In Religion
Contributed on Nov 3, 2015
We lose God when we emphasize a ritual or object over and above our relationship with God. Don't expect God's blessings without repentance.
During a service at an old synagogue, when a particular prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting. The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up. The new rabbi didn't know ...read more
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24. Walking With God
Contributed on Mar 21, 2016
Let go fo the past when God has spoken. Move on by trusting God to guide. Follow God's leading a step at a time.
1 Sam 16:1-13 WALKING WITH GOD ES 20 Mar 16 1724 Look at these bananas. Appetising? Someone passed them to me on Tuesday. They are local produce (from our church ground). • Looks good? Feels like grabbing one and eat it? Not really. In fact, you don’t ...read more
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25. God Directs Our Lives
Contributed on Feb 1, 2016
God assures Saul in 3 areas of his concerns - the lost donkeys, his material needs, and his new challenge as king-to-be. God cares for our troubles, our needs and our ministry.
1 Sam 10:1-8 GOD DIRECTS OUR LIVES ES 31 Jan 15 1537 We saw last week how God prepares a king for Israel. • He led Saul to Samuel, and prepares Samuel to anoint him king. • The two met because God made it happen. God did it out of compassion for Israel, to prepare them a ...read more
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26. Be A Peacemaker
Contributed on Jun 20, 2016
Seek to be a peacemaker, and speak to build others up.
All of us REACT when we are angry; we don’t RESPOND with wisdom and sense. When we are in a rage, we do crazy things. • We’re going to see one rare moment in David’s life when he was driven by anger, in 1 Sam 25. • It can happen to any one of us, me included. I ...read more