Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, it is indeed a joy to gather together today, to stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, in our shared love for the Lord. We are here to delve into His word, to seek His wisdom, and to draw strength from His promises.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the powerful story found in 1 Samuel 17. It's a tale as old as time, yet as fresh as the morning dew. A tale of a young shepherd boy named David, who would rise to be a king. A tale of a giant named Goliath, who would fall to his knees. A tale of faith, courage, and the power of God.

This passage, my friends, is a testament to the power of faith, the strength of determination, and the might of our God. It's a testament to the incredible journey of a young shepherd boy, who, with a simple sling and a few smooth stones, defeated a giant and became a king.

As we reflect on this passage, let us remember the words of the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, who once said, "The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration." Our lives, like David's, should be rooted in our awe and adoration of God. Our faith, like David's, should be unshakeable. Our courage, like David's, should be unwavering.

So, let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, for the opportunity to gather together in Your name. We thank you for Your word, for the wisdom it imparts, and the comfort it provides. As we reflect on the story of David and Goliath, may we be reminded of Your power, Your love, and Your promise to be with us always. Strengthen our faith, Lord, and guide us in our daily walk with You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today, we will be focusing on three main points from this story: Preparing for the Future, Persevering through Failures, and Progressing beyond Success. As we delve into these points, may we open our hearts and minds to the lessons God has for us.

May this time of reflection and learning bring us closer to God, and may His word guide us in all that we do. Amen.

Preparing for the Future

In the story of David and Goliath, we see a young shepherd boy, armed with nothing but a sling and a few smooth stones. Yet, he was not unprepared. He had spent his days in the fields, tending to his sheep, protecting them from lions and bears. He had honed his skills with the sling, he had developed his courage and his faith. He was ready for the future, even though he might not have known what it held.

David's had a deep and abiding faith in God. He trusted in God's power and promise to deliver him. This faith was not something that came overnight. It was cultivated over time, through prayer, through worship, through experiences of God's faithfulness. We too need to prepare for the future. We do not know what it holds, but we can trust that God is with us. We can develop our skills, our knowledge, our character, so that we are ready for whatever comes our way. But how do we do this? How do we prepare for the future?

Firstly, we need to recognize that preparation is a process. It's about continual growth, continual learning, continual development. David didn't stop preparing once he had learned to use a sling. He didn't stop preparing once he had faced a lion or a bear. He kept growing, kept learning, kept developing.

Secondly, preparation involves both the physical and the spiritual. David was physically prepared to face Goliath. He was skilled with the sling, he was brave, he was strong. But he was also spiritually prepared. He had a deep faith in God, a faith that gave him courage and strength. We need to prepare both physically and spiritually. We need to develop our skills and abilities, but we also need to cultivate our faith and our relationship with God.

Next, preparation requires action. David took action! He didn't just sit around and wait for things to happen. He practiced with his sling, he fought off lions and bears, he stood up to Goliath. In our own lives, we need to take action. You have to put in the time, put in the work. We can't just sit around and wait for things to happen. We need to make them happen.

Lastly, preparation is rooted in trust. David trusted in God. He trusted in God's power, in God's promise to deliver him. This trust was the foundation of his preparation. In our own lives, we need to trust in God. We need to trust that He is with us, that He will guide us, that He will provide for us. This trust is the foundation of our preparation.

Persevering through Failures

David, although he was prepared for the future, also faced significant failures ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO