"God Never Leaves"

The characteristic of God we are diving into today is that He NEVER leaves. He will not abandon us, even when we are messed up. In chapters 21 and 22 of 1 Samuel, we are on the run with David, and we watch how he processes faith through real fear and doubt, leading to a conclusion that changes his perception of his circumstances and his God.  

"Covenant Maker"

In episode #9 of our "GOD?" series, we are diving into the characteristic of God as a covenant maker. Through portions of 1 Samuel chapters 18-20, we read about the the relationship between King Saul's son, Jonathon, and God's next king, David. What we find is that the bond they share with one another is founded upon God's nature as a God Who keeps His word. We unearth what a covenant is, how its origin is founded upon God, and why it should matter to us today.

There are two major sources I leaned upon to help with this teaching. I would encourage you take a look at them and read what they have to say:

• Dr. Eiton Bar: https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-covenant-brit/ 
• The Bible Project:  https://bibleproject.com/articles/covenants-the-backbone-bible/ 

"Through Opposition to Opportunity"

The character/nature of God that we explore in this episode is that of a perfect Father Who wants His sons and daughters to grow and mature in health. We explore the process God employs to lead us into opportunity through overcoming opposition, using David's famous confrontation with Goliath as a roadmap. 

Come along on a ribbon chase of discovery!

Still chasing down the character of God as revealed in the life and times of David. Today's episode covers the account of David's anointing as a young man by the prophet Samuel, some 15-20 years before he would become Israel's most famous king.

Entitled "The God-Cycle", episode 7 describes a sort of Kingdom-law (like a law of nature) that anyone who is in relationship with Father God experiences time and time again over the course of a lifetime, and it is rooted in the character of a loving Father. 

Come along and check it out! 

We're taking another look at Israel's first king, Saul, in 1 Samuel 15 as we continue on in our ribbon chase through the character of God as revealed in the Old Testament of the Bible. We discover a major breakdown in Saul's priorities when it comes to follow-through with God, and we expose our own failings in this arena too. The challenge is to take what we learn and apply it so that we can grow.

In this episode, we delve into the character of God as revealed to two sword-wielding men, King Saul and his son, Jonathon. The God they know has a major impact on how they use the weapons they carry, and it has significant implications for you and for me as well.

Take a listen to "The Tale of Two Swords."

Chasing down what God wants to say to us about His character  in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. In Episode 4 of our GOD? series, we track down the nature of God through the rise and fall of Israel's first king, Saul. 

One of the things we discover through this ribbon chase is the motive behind chasing donkeys, and it's worth taking the time to let what's revealed sink deep into our hearts. 

Taking a deep dive into the in's and out's of God's character, specifically in regards to the Ark of the Covenant. See how even this representation of God's presence reveals Who God really is through the thoughts and actions of the people and nations who come into contact with it. What do YOU know about the God of the Old Testament? 

Continuing on in our GOD? series in which we explore the character and nature of God as revealed through the lives of the men and women discussed in King David's generation. In this episode, we also tackle the issue of God's involvement with humankind and introduce a different perspective on some common theological ideas that just might challenge the "norm."

Grab your Bible and join me on a Ribbon Chase through the Old Testament!

Inspired by the new television series "House of David," this is the first episode in our new "GOD?" teaching series in which we explore the character of God through the eyes of David and his contemporaries in the Bible. This series is more like a traditional Bible study in which we read the Bible and then discuss it. The goal is to look for descriptors of God's character/nature as revealed in the Old Testament through the stories of peoples' lives. How did they know God? What did they believe about Who God was/is? Has God changed?

We begin in 1 Samuel chapters 1 & 2 where we learn Who God is through the eyes of the prophet Samuel's parents (Elkanah and Hannah), and the high priest, Eli. Samuel becomes a key figure in David's life, so it's important to know who he is and where he comes from; to learn about his roots. 

Let's get into this...