This week, we continued our series Longing for the Better King with a message from 1 Samuel 28:3–25 titled “Desperation Without Direction.”

In one of the darkest chapters of Saul’s life, fear drove him to the wrong voices, sin led him to counterfeit answers, and God’s Word stood firm in judgment. Saul’s desperation shows us the danger of acting without God — but it also points us to the hope we have in Jesus, the true King who satisfies where every counterfeit fails.

Key Takeaways:
1) Fear magnifies our problems and minimizes God’s power.
2) Compromise always settles for less than God’s best.
3) God’s Word stands whether we stand with it or not.

Jesus is the only real voice, the true way, and the Savior who never fails.
This was also our 5th Sunday Family Service, where kids, students, and adults worshiped together, and we sent teams into our community for Impact projects to bless schools, neighborhoods, and first responders.

Discover how to face fear with faith, stop chasing counterfeits, and follow the voice of Jesus in your life.

www.myconnectingchurch.org

What do you do when someone hurts you? When you’ve been mistreated, attacked, or falsely accused, the natural pull is to get even. In 1 Samuel 24, David has Saul trapped in a cave with the perfect chance to take revenge. Instead, he chooses mercy.

In this message, Pastor Phil unpacks three marks of godly character when we’re wronged:

1️⃣ Resist the urge to retaliate
2️⃣ Show honor where it can be shown
3️⃣ Leave justice in God’s hands

This story points us beyond David to Jesus—the true King—who when falsely accused and nailed to a cross, entrusted justice to His Father. The empty tomb proves that mercy triumphs and justice belongs to God.

If you’ve been carrying hurt, bitterness, or the need to get even, this message will show you how Jesus offers a better way.

www.myconnectingchurch.org

What makes a true friend? In this message, Pastor Phil walks through the powerful story of David and Jonathan’s friendship—a friendship marked by honesty, commitment, sacrifice, and trust in God.

We’ll see:

• Why real friends give space for honesty
• How faithful friends choose commitment over comfort
• The courage it takes to stand together when it costs something
• The beauty of grieving and rejoicing with one another
• And how trusting God shapes every friendship

Jonathan and David’s friendship points us to the greater Friend we all need—Jesus. He is honest with us about our sin, committed to us in covenant love, willing to bear the cost, entering into our sorrow, and securing our future. Because of His friendship, we can become the kind of faithful friends the world desperately needs.

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Jealousy doesn’t just make you bitter — it blinds you to God’s blessings.
In 1 Samuel 18, Saul watches David’s success with suspicion instead of joy, and it begins to unravel his life. But there’s a better way.

In this message, Pastor Phil unpacks three signs jealousy is stealing your joy — and shows how Jesus, the greater King, frees us to celebrate others, rest in God’s plan, and lean into His purposes for our lives.

 In this sermon, you’ll discover:

-Why we compete instead of celebrate — and how Jesus shares His victory
-How fear replaces trust — and how Jesus perfectly trusted the Father
-Why jealousy pushes people away — and how Jesus draws near to us in love

Whether you’re wrestling with comparison, struggling with insecurity, or feeling distant from God, this message will point you to the only King who gives you lasting peace and joy.

Join us every Sunday at 9:30 AM at Edgewood Baptist Church Building
www.myconnectingbelair.org

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We all face giants—fear, insecurity, grief, addiction—but what if the battle doesn’t depend on your strength?

In this message from 1 Samuel 17, TJ walks us through the story of David and Goliath, not as a motivational tale of self-empowerment, but as a powerful reminder that God fights for His people. David didn’t defeat Goliath by size, strength, or skill—but by faith in a faithful God.

We learned...

1) Fear grows when we forget who fights for us
2) Faith sees the battle through God’s power
3) God saves through a faithful champion
4) Jesus is our greater Champion who secures the ultimate victory

Whether you’re facing an impossible challenge or feeling forgotten in the background, this message will remind you: you’re not alone in the fight—and the victory belongs to the Lord.

www.myconnectingchurch.org

Week 11 – The King After God’s Heart | 1 Samuel 16 | Connecting Church

Not everything that looks impressive is real.

Have you seen the show Is It Cake? Bakers create hyper-realistic cakes that look like everyday objects. But there’s only one way to tell what’s real—you have to cut into it. That visual opens the door to 1 Samuel 16, where God makes it clear: He doesn’t choose leaders based on appearances—He looks at the heart.

In this message, Pastor Phil walks us through the moment David is chosen as Israel’s next king. It's not because of his resume, height, strength, or experience. It’s because of his heart. This sermon will challenge the way you view influence, leadership, and even yourself.

In this message, you’ll discover:

1. Why God looks beyond what impresses people
2. How He uses the overlooked and unlikely
3. What it means to be empowered by the Spirit for God's purpose

Whether you feel forgotten, unqualified, or just stuck in waiting—this sermon will encourage you to trust that God sees more in you than the world does.

Let’s stop living for image and start living with integrity.

www.myconnectingchurch.org

What happens when we rush ahead of God? In 1 Samuel 13, we find King Saul under pressure—afraid, impatient, and driven to disobedience. His fear caused him to forget God's promises. His impatience led him to take matters into his own hands. And ultimately, his disobedience cost him the future God intended.

This message explores how fear, impatience, and self-reliance can drive us outside of God’s best—but it also reminds us of the hope found in Jesus, the true and better King who obeyed perfectly on our behalf.

Key Takeaways:

-Fear grows when we forget God's promises
-Impatience pushes us outside of God's timing
-Disobedience robs us of God's best
-Obedience flows not from pressure but from God’s love through Christ

Let’s learn to wait well, trust deeply, and follow Jesus fully.

Where have you struggled with rushing God’s timing? What helps you wait in faith?

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Life is full of seasons—some sweet, some difficult, but none of them last forever. Even good leaders and good seasons eventually come to an end. In 1 Samuel 12, we see Samuel’s farewell and learn what it looks like to walk faithfully with God through life’s changes.

In this message, we explore:

- Why even good seasons don’t last forever
- How to see God’s steady grace in every season
- The danger of false security
- How to lean into obedience and trust no matter what changes

Big Idea: Seasons change, but God and His mission remain the same.

Whether you’re stepping into something new or saying goodbye to something good, there’s a better King we can trust—Jesus, who never fades, never leaves, and never changes.

www.myconnectingchurch.org

What happens when we’re drawn to the people who look the part but don't have the heart for God? This week, we explore the story of Saul’s rise as Israel’s first king—a man who seemed impressive on the outside and humble at first but ultimately missed what mattered most.
 
In this message, we’ll discover:

-God looks past the hype and sees the heart.
-God confirms His call through everyday, sovereign moments.
-God’s call is sustained by lasting humility.
 
Saul had the image, but not the heart. Jesus, our true King, not only looked past the part but lived it fully with humility, faithfulness, and sacrificial love.
 
Key Takeaways:
  
-God’s calling isn’t about looking the part—it’s about having the heart.
-What feels random in your life might be God’s roadmap.
-You can’t carry God’s call if you’re full of yourself.
  
Let this story challenge you to pursue integrity over image and to trust that God is working in the details of your life—even when it doesn’t feel big or impressive.
 
Join us in person at Abingdon Elementary, Sundays at 10 AM

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We’ve all been there—buying into something that promised to solve our problems but left us more frustrated than before. In this week’s message, we dive into 1 Samuel 8, where the people of Israel demand a human king to fix what only God can truly heal.
 
This sermon walks through four key truths:

1) Brokenness can stir the right desires—but lead us to wrong solutions.
2) Wanting to fit in makes us forget what sets us apart.
3) False kings offer quick fixes that cost us deeply.
4) Sometimes God gives us what we want to show us what we need.

We were challenged to examine our hearts:

• Where are you looking for quick fixes?
  
  
• Have you started chasing “lesser kings”?
  
  
• What might it look like to trust Jesus again as your true King? 

Join us each Sunday at 10:00am at Abingdon Elementary School (399 Singer Road) 

www.myconnectingchurch.org