You are loved deeply by God. Because of this love, He wants you to bring your desires and struggles to Him. All too often, He’s the last resort for us. You may see your needs as being too petty for the God of the universe, but they’re not. As Pastor Mike will challenge us in today’s message, we should bring everything to God in prayer. He’s listening and He’ll meet your needs. Frequently, His response will look different than what you may be expecting, but He’s good and He always comes through.

We may like the idea of a provident, benevolent Creator who cares for, guides, and provides for us, but if that comes at the cost of our own will, it suddenly loses its appeal. Israel had directly experienced that benevolence and guidance in very tangible ways. God chose them to be an example for the world of a God-centered and ruled nation. But, as Pastor Mike will explain in today’s message, they chose their own will over God’s and the consequences have been harsh through the centuries.

We live in a culture that provides ample opportunity for us to either give in to wickedness or stand up in righteousness. What do you choose? As Pastor Mike continues our study in the book of 1st Samuel, we’ll witness Samuel’s demonstration of what it looks like to boldly stand for God, even in the face of great opposition. Will you follow that example or will you be intimidated into passively allowing the lost around you to continue on the destructive path of sin?

Do you ever struggle with doubt when you feel like God just isn’t blessing you and working in your life in the way you think He should? Many of us find ourselves at that place at some point in our Christian journey. But, as Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, as quick as we are to question God and wonder why He’s not coming through, how often do we take that opportunity to evaluate our own hearts and determine whether our focus is on our own will more than His?

Have you ever had someone much younger than you talk to you as though they’re your peer? Maybe they’re using slang or it’s just in their tone, whatever it may be, it doesn’t feel right. As the older, and hopefully wiser, person, you may lovingly and firmly use the moment to model respect to them. As Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, as we approach God, we need to come with the utmost humility and respect. He’s the Creator of the Universe and He loves you deeply – keep that in mind while you pray.

Those who hate the idea of submitting to a being higher than themselves and relinquishing their false sense of control will do their best to attack the very idea of God. You may feel a desire to lash out with apologetics and your best human defense for Him, but that often is counterproductive. You certainly should stand strong in your faith, but as Pastor Mike will remind us in today’s message, God defends Himself. Leave it to Him. He’s got it all under control, all you need to do is devote yourself to serving Him.

God designed us with an amazing ability to reason and create. This can be a blessing, but when we put our own intelligence on a pedestal and lean on it more than on the One who gave it to us, it can become dangerous. This is what we’ll witness in the Israelites in today’s passage. As Pastor Mike will explain, they put their trust in the Ark of the Covenant to serve their purposes, even when their purposes didn’t align with God’s plan. The consequences of their poor judgment were devastating.

This broken world is full of suffering. That’s not what God wanted. He knew this would happen, yet because of His love for mankind, He wanted us to experience the love, joy, and purpose that can only be found with free will. Even when you’re choosing to live in obedience to Him, you’ll experience the indirect effects of our sinful nature. And, as Pastor Mike will warn in today’s message, if you choose to live in disobedience to Him, you’ll experience the direct consequences of that choice.

As we study the book of 1st Samuel, our focus naturally shifts to Samuel and his inclination towards obedience to God and the great ways that God used him. But, as Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, there are two very important people in Samuel’s life who maybe don’t get as much acknowledgment as they’re due. His parents, Hannah and Elkanah weren’t perfect – no parents are – but the way they surrendered their son over to God sets a great example for all of us.

Samuel’s mentor Eli had faced a lot of resistance to the message God had given him. The culture around him was hostile to God and the truth He wanted to reveal. Eli just couldn’t seem to get through to the people. But, as much as he may have failed to have the direct impact on society that he may have hoped, as Pastor Mike will point out in today’s message, Eli’s heart was open to seeing the way that God wanted to work in Samuel. In him, he was able to take part in God’s bigger, better plan.