You might know the words of Psalm 23 by heart. Or you might have heard it at a funeral or in a movie. But these words aren't just fodder for sentimental artwork. They are rich with truth that can sustain you through life's darkest seasons.

Come let David introduce you to the Good Shepherd--our provider, our protecter, the preparer of feasts. You'll find food for your soul and rest, no matter what you're facing right now.

----

We’re taking a short break from our series on the life of David to look at 3 of the most famous songs he wrote. These songs have been loved and cherished by billions of Jews and Christians around the world for over 3,000 years.

"Try before you buy." It's a marketing gimmick as old as time because it works. The old serpent used it to pretty good effect in the Garden of Eden. "Just one taste, and your eyes will be opened."

Sometimes it seems like faith in God is the opposite. "Just grit your teeth and believe." The oldest and wisest saints wouldn't have a bar of it. "Taste and see," David wrote. Look at God with eyes wide open, when everything else around you is pitch dark. That's when you'll know that He's good. That's when you'll find that life with Him--life under His rule--is very good.

----

We’re taking a short break from our series on the life of David to look at 3 of the most famous songs he wrote. These songs have been loved and cherished by billions of Jews and Christians around the world for over 3,000 years.

We’re taking a short break from our series on the life of David to look at 3 of the most famous songs he wrote. These songs have been loved and cherished by billions of Jews and Christians around the world for over 3,000 years.

This Sunday Joel will kick off with a look at Psalm 139. You’re not just fearfully and wonderfully made by God, you’re also totally and completely seen: But is that good news or bad news? It all comes down to the type of God doing the seeing.

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

Have you ever wanted to do something nice for somebody and they said ‘No thanks.’? What if that somebody was God? That’s exactly what happened to David.

God had a reason of course. His ‘No’ paved the way for an even better ‘Yes.’ What God promised to David all those years ago is still making a difference in the world today — in fact your own life depends on it.

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

Now that Saul is out of the picture, it's David's time to shine as king of Israel. But will he fall prey to the same temptations and sins as Saul, or will he take a different path?

David is the king after God's own heart--but what exactly does that mean and is that something we can aspire to? It's all about living for one thing. It's about living in light of how things are supposed to be. Living for the glory of God.

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

This week we'll make it to the end of 1 Samuel. We'll take a closer look at the sin that spelled the end for King Saul, which, as the subject of this email suggests, has something to do with his stubborn refusal to pray.

Saul spent his whole life chasing the wind-- looking for anything he could control without having to depend on God. In that way, he's not too different from us. The wages of Saul's sin was bound to be death-- but even in his last moments on earth, there's signs of much better things that are available for the rest of us.

We’d love you to join us at 10:00 on Sunday at Christies Beach Primary School where we gather every week to worship the One whose kindness leads us to repentance. If you're a member or regular attender, be sure to come early, grab a coffee and meet someone new. We hope to see you there!

The episode in David's life we're looking at this week introduces us to an unlikely hero-- an incredible woman named Abigail who just so happens to be married to an absolute fool of a man. Tyson will be unpacking it for us, and you'll see how the line between wisdom and foolishness, good and evil runs straight down the middle of each one of our hearts.
We’d love you to join us at 10:00 on Sunday at Christies Beach Primary School where we gather every week to worship King Jesus. If you're a member or regular attender, be sure to come early, grab a coffee and meet someone new. We hope to see you there!

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

At the end of the day, everybody does what they want to do. Whatever your heart desires gives rise to what you do. For David and Saul, their desires could not be more different. One wanted war, the other peace. One wanted his enemy to die, the other wanted his enemy to repent and live. Their actions told the story of their hearts.

How does a person overcome evil desires? Like David, it's all about facing the challenges of life with an eye to God's gracious purposes, God's protection, God's provision. What you learn in the caves of life is what shapes your heart, your conscience and ultimately, your actions.

DAVID: BELOVED // WARRIOR // KING

What's the difference between a close friend and a rival? Sometimes all it takes for the weeds of unfriendly competition to spring up is just a little bit of attention thrown somebody's way. All it took for Saul to go from loving David to trying to kill him was a poem-- two lines that made David big and him feel small.

What can we learn from Saul's descent into raving jealousy? Could it happen to us too? And if so, how do we recognise it before it gets out of control? And what about the friendship between David and Jonathan? Is there any hope for us to have deep friends like that? When the Lord is at work, there's always more hope that you think!