Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | At the end of 1 Samuel 15, the prophet Samuel is depressed, disappointed, and distressed. Decades of his life, work, and ministry had been geared towards building the kingdom culture of Israel - and in no time at all, Saul's reign had ruined so much hard work. Without a plan forward, Samuel mopes. With too stringent a perspective, Samuel wrestles. But God gently corrects his course, showing His hand and hope through it all. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Deuteronomy is Moses' last words to the people before they take their last step out of the wilderness and their first step into the Promised Land. In Moses' opening address, he repeatedly emphasizes several principles to help move forward in faith: 1) Trust God to move on and move forward; 2) Trust God to fight your battles; 3) Trust God's Words and Promises for the road ahead. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The book of Deuteronomy opens as the people of God arrive at the end of their 40-year-long journey in the wilderness, and now reside along the border of Moab and the edge of the Jordan River: right on the cusp of stepping into the Promised Land. As they are right on the cusp of something new, Moses stands before them and speaks - a word of encouragement and hope to empower the people to take their next step forward.

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The wilderness is not just a place of common complaint and occasional crossroad, but also a place of subtle comprise. In chapter 22, the narrative pans away from the Israelites in the wilderness to an interaction on a hillside directly above them. A place where a prophet compromises, God shows grace, and Israel waits unaware.  

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | In 1 Samuel 11, Saul's insecurities seep out once more under pressure, but the Spirit rushes upon him and gives him a newfound preparation, power, and perspective - even forgiveness - to be the king that Israel needs. In this chapter, we're able to see defining characteristics of Spirit-led leadership versus a leadership of the natural man - and how it makes all the difference. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | The wilderness can be a place of complaint, but it will always be a place of crossroads. In fact, the complaints we choose to make in the wilderness will often impact what direction we tend to take at the crossroads. What happens at their crossroads? And what can we learn from them when we arrive at crossroads in our lives as well? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | 1 Samuel 7 marks the first time in approximately 70 years where there is national revival in Israel. After a long, slow, steady spiritual descent, their sudden drop-off perfectly aligns with God's long, slow, steady ascension of Samuel to help bring the nation back to righteousness and peace. Their national 'turning point' involved 5 critical elements that are just as true for us today as it was back then, for them. The question is, what it be for us? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Numbers 9 charts  a 'new beginning' for the people of God: namely, moving from Mount Sinai and into the wilderness. The end of chapter 9 gives an assessment of the whole journey: How did God lead in the wilderness? And how did the people respond? How should we? 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Psalm 139 features one of the most moving, emotional, and awe-inspiring prayers in all of Scripture about how fully, completely, and intimately God knows His children. How do you think God thinks about you? That may very well be the difference-maker of a faith that is happy and hopeful versus a faith that is pessimistic and weak. 

Second Baptist Church - Houston, TX | Like the proverbial Invisible Man, the reality of power is always around us, moving among us, and affecting us in different ways. In fact, we not only live in power dynamics, we also wield power as well. How does Jesus operate in power? How should we?