Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Are you feeling overwhelmed and fearful?

Pastor Shon Lundberg reads through David’s lowest point in fear where he was overwhelmed by Saul’s threats, by his own fear, and when his faith eluded him. Pastor Shon explained where God provided, fear led astray, and God taught David to trust Him, and exhorted the students to trust God when fear rises.

Scripture Text

1 Samuel 21:1-22:1

Main Points or Ideas

1. When life overwhelms you, God provides what you need
   • David fled to Nob where the priest Ahimelech gave him the bread of the presence (normally reserved for priests) and Goliath's sword. God does not promise luxury but promises enough to sustain even when you feel overwhelmed.
2. When fear overcomes you, it will always lead you astray
   • Fear drove David into enemy territory at Gath, the hometown of Goliath. In his panic, David feigned madness by scratching at doors and letting spit run down his beard to escape. Fear overrides reason, narrows vision, and drowns faith, causing believers to do things they never thought they would do.
3. When faith eludes you, God teaches you to trust him again
   • Though David's circumstances didn't immediately change (he was still on the run for ten years), his heart changed. Psalms 34 and 56 show David's transformation from fear to faith. These psalms reveal David's confession that fear had ruled his life, but now he was choosing to trust God. His low point became his turning point, and out of fear came faith and worship.

ConclusionGod allows difficult circumstances to test and refine our faith, shaping us into the people He needs us to be, and when we succumb to fear, God faithfully teaches us to trust Him more fully, turning our low points into turning points.

Because it is Spirit Week, Dr. Senn talked about some things from Scripture that should encourage us and keep us in good spirits.

He covered the distinction between soul and Spirit, and how when a believer physically dies, their spirit goes to heaven.

He also describes what heaven is like with Revelation 21-22.

Seth Grotzke shares about his ministry in Spain, including church planting in Galicia and engaging with pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. He uses Psalm 131 to address the universal human search for hope and meaning, drawing parallels between ancient pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem and modern pilgrims seeking spiritual answers on the Camino.

Scripture Text

Psalm 131

Main Points or Ideas

• Recognize Our Finiteness - David acknowledges his limitations by confessing that his heart is not lifted up in pride, his eyes are not raised in arrogance, and he does not occupy himself with things too great for him. Despite David's experiences with pride, arrogance, and ignorance throughout his life, this psalm represents a place he has come to where he recognizes his human limitations before God.
• Rest in Our Lord - David compares himself to a weaned child with its mother, illustrating a relationship with God that goes beyond merely seeking provision to simply desiring God's presence. A weaned child (around three years old) comes to the mother not out of demanding need but out of contentment and desire for closeness. This demonstrates the strength it takes to acknowledge dependence and find rest in God, especially for leaders and warriors like David who might be tempted to self-sufficiency.
• Hope in the Lord - The psalm concludes with the call for Israel to hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. This hope is connected to Psalm 130's themes of forgiveness, redemption, and God's steadfast love. As believers living post-cross, we can read this psalm recognizing that Christ has made this hope fully possible, and we are called to live as pilgrims whose citizenship is in heaven.

Conclusion

God uses solitary places and seasons of obscurity to train believers not to become great spokesmen but to become like little children again before Him, resting in His presence and boasting only in Christ rather than in ministry accomplishments or positions.

We should live counterculturally with our focus on Christ.

Scripture Text

Philippians 3:15-21

Main Points or Ideas

1. We are to imitate mature believers (v. 15-17)

2. Beware of those that draw away from Jesus (v. 18-19)

3. Our Citizenship is in Heaven, not Earth (v. 20-21)

Conclusion

We are able to agree in the Lord when we boast in the Lord.

Audiaphora, a word that denotes the things that do not really matter, is used to describe the issue of Christian liberty. Dr. Doug Brown explains what Christian liberty is and how Christians should use it.

Scripture Text

Romans 14:1-3

Main Points or Ideas

Four Principles

1. Welcome one another (14:1-3; 15:7)

• Jews in a predominantly Gentile church
• Five common gray areas: worship style, Bible versions, school choices, modesty, and alcohol
• If Christ has accepted your fellow Christian, so should you.

2. Stop judging others (14:4-9)

• Judging others develops discord
• We all have the same master - Jesus

3. Choose love over liberty (14:13-22)

• The freedom to be flexible for the sake of the gospel
• The lack of love and consideration for one another leads to quarrels and disputes

4. Follow Christ’s example (15:1-6)

• Jesus is the ultimate example
• Jesus served us for our good and His Father’s glory

Conclusion

Does using your Christian liberty bring glory to God?

Dr. Tillotson charges the students to live as a godly example in churches and workplaces.

Scripture Texts

Titus 2:9-10

Main Points or Ideas

1. Submissive (9a)

2. Well-pleasing (9b)

3. Not argumentative (9c)

4. Not pilfering (10a)

5. Showing all good faith (10b)

Conclusion

God always answers prayer, and sometimes it is no.

Scripture Text

Romans 12:12

Main Points or Ideas

Common responses to God’s no:

1. Internal

• Bad: Unbelief, Anger, and Hurt/Offense
• Good: Humble trust

2. External

• Bad - stop praying
• Good - keep praying

Three People, Three Lessons on Faithful Prayer:

Conclusion

Just keep praying! Sin is no excuse to stop praying.

Recently retired missionary Ron Self shares how he and his wife sought God’s will when they first landed in Argentina. He then talks about how others can do the same.

Scripture Text

Mark 10:32-34

Main Points or Ideas

3 Observations of Reasons Why We Need to Follow God’s Will:

1. Follow God’s will when you know it will require sacrifice

2. Follow God’s will even when you are perplexed and afraid

3. Follow God’s will when you don’t want to miss the blessings of God

Conclusion

It is worth it to follow God’s will.

Wade Whiteley talks about the importance of building on a strong financial foundation.

Scripture Text

Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Main Points or Ideas

1. Foundation of Selfishness (v. 18-19)

• Have you surrendered it all back to God?

2. Foundation of Control (v. 20-23)

• Your life is not your own.
3. Foundation of Pleasing God (v. 24-26)
• God gives to whomever He chooses.

Conclusion

What financial foundation are you building on?

Students from the Argentina, Micronesia, Dominican Republic, and Chile teams shared how they were able to serve on their trips last summer.