Bible Text: 1 Samuel 10Preacher: Phil PoppingSome people are constantly trying to catch us out. They always find glee in our failure. If God acted like people so often do, we’d be constantly under the thumb of a God who loves to see us fall. Thankfully, this is the opposite of the God we find in Samuel.

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 9Preacher: Jono DeenickLast week we saw that the people of Israel rejected God as their king and asked for a king so they could be 'like the other nations.' This week we see God begin the process of giving them a king, but He does so in a surprising way. Quietly through ordering of events to bring the king He has chosen to His prophet Samuel. As He does so, we learn an important lesson about the way God often acts in this world to bring about His purposes, and to protect and grow His people.

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 8Preacher: Phil PoppingThese days it seems odd to want a king; they don't really seem to do a lot. But for Israel, they wanted a king to lead them. What does this say about how they viewed their existing king, God?

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 7:2b-17Preacher: Jono DeenickTowards the end of our section last week we saw the Israelites asking, 'who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?' It seems that the Israelites took that to heart because as we begin chapter 7 they mourn their rebellion and seek to turn back to God. As they do we see not only a wonderful example of repentance, but the blessing that it is to turn back to the living God.

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2aPreacher: Jono Deenick

Last week we witnessed disaster as the Israelites carried the Ark of the covenant into battle as if it were a magical relic that would guarantee victory. At the end of the chapter the ark as been captured and the line of priests lies dead. So who will rescue God's ark? How will it be restored to Israel? In chapters 5 and 6 we see that God needs not human to rescued Him. Indeed, Israel herself is taught a serious lesson about treating God lightly. So that in the end they ask, "who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?"

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 4:1-22Preacher: Ben RingMany times throughout the Old Testament, God shows that he is powerfully present among his people. In our text this week, Israel seeks the powerful presence of God, but they seek it wrongly. As a result, they come to the tragic realisation that they have forsaken God and forsaken his presence. Although God departs from Israel, we will come to see that his powerful presence is not lost forever.

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1aPreacher: Phil PoppingIn the last chapter in Samuel, God protected his people by removing evil leaders. This week we see him raising up a new leader for the health of his people. We can learn a lot about godly leadership here, and also how God speaks to us!

Text: Philemon

Preacher: Ben Peletier

The book of Philemon is somewhat of a hidden gem. Buried away towards the back of our New Testaments, this short letter gives us a window into the world of the early church. The letter itself focuses on the somewhat strained relationship of three men, Paul, the Apostle, Philemon, a seemingly successful and faithful man and Onesimus, a slave. While the letter itself is about dealing with a very real and practical issue, it gives us a foundation to understand what working together for and in the gospel can and should look like. What does it mean for us today to be partners in the Gospel?

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 2:​12-36Preacher: Phil PoppingCorrupt leadership is a big problem when it occurs. This week we're shown a pretty awful picture of what this can look like in the priesthood of Israel. God's solution might seem a little over the top to us. Why does God clear house so thoroughly? What is he hoping to achieve?

Bible Text: 1 Samuel 2:1-11Preacher: Jono DeenickLast week we saw the way God worked in Hannah as she came before him to pour out her heart to Him. She asked that God would give her a child, which she would in turn give back to God. Having received that child and given him to serve God, we now have her song of praise. In it we see the joy that we can have with God when we too humble ourselves before Him.