Finding Strength in the Lord
1 Samuel 30:1-6 30:1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire,…
Responding to God’s Grace
1 Samuel 25:1-35 25:1 Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his…
Waiting on God
1 Samuel 21-26 21:1 Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?”2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men…
The Gospel and Race
Here is some reading material to help provoke thought. These articles are not meant persuade you. Each should examine his or her own conscience and lead you into prayer. https://9marks.org/article/race-grace-and-the-church/ https://9marks.org/article/how-do-we-respond-to-cultural-crises-over-race/– http://gracemosaic.org/2014/12/ferguson-fruitful-dialogue/ http://gracemosaic.org/2014/11/ferguson-a-way-forward/
Following Jesus into politics
Here is some reading material to help provoke thought. These articles are not meant persuade you. Each should examine his or her own conscience and lead you into prayer during this political season. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2016/march-web-only/should-christians-vote-for-lesser-of-two-evils.html?start=1 https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/thabitianyabwile/2016/06/07/on-abortion-and-racism-why-there-is-a-greater-evil-in-this-election/ http://townhall.com/columnists/waynegrudem/2016/07/28/why-voting-for-donald-trump-is-a-morally-good-choice-n2199564 https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/evangelical-history/2016/08/02/wayne-grudem-evangelicals-and-the-trump-option/
Courage for Cowards Like Me
1 Samuel 17:1-11 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between…
What Do I Really Look Like?
1 Samuel 16:1-13 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come…
God Wants Your Heart, Not Your Religion
1 Samuel 13-15 13:1 Saul was . . . years old when he began to reign, and he reigned . . . and two years over Israel. 2 Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it.…
A Method in Madness
2 Chronicles 20:1-23 20:1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities…
The God of New Beginnings
1 Samuel 12 12:1 And Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have obeyed your voice in all that you have said to me and have made a king over you. 2 And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.3 Here I am; testify against me before theLord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose…