Seven Mile Road

We can be engulfed in fear when circumstances are stacking up against us. We can feel pressed on all sides, and our default response will be either trying to make a quick change ourselves to our circumstances or trusting God through this. It is the time when fear and faith are in conflict that the wrong move can lead to far reaching damaging results. Will we double down on fear or faith? In our study in 1 Samuel this week, we get a tragic tale to drive home the truth that God’s faithful provision is what we must trust. Hard circumstances reveal what we truly are trusting in. Turning to the wrong solution can have lasting consequences for us, so it isn’t a trivial issue.1 Samuel 14:24-52

With God's people outmatched numerically and technologically against a tough opponent, Jonathan's radical but simple faith in God proves pivotal in God saving his people. We'll see the faith of one leading to many people following the Lord.

Have you ever been in a bad situation with no tools and little hope? This is how God’s people felt after King Saul disobeyed God, the Philistines invaded their land, and they don’t have anyone to sharpen their plows or make them swords. This particular situation is new to them, but the story is not. God’s people are often weak, but they always have a great God who makes a way for them.
1 Samuel 13.15-23

Saul is tall, Saul is strong, Saul is handsome, Saul is King. But here we see Saul is small, Saul is weak, Saul needs the strength of Someone better. As the war rages and the walls close in around him, we see in Saul an example of someone who wanted the blessing of God, but without the obedience to God. Where Saul should have trusted in the Word of the Lord, he wavered, and he misses the blessing. But for those who wait in faithful obedience to God, it’s kingdom blessing.

1 Samuel 13

Sometimes when we mess up, there's a tendency in us to want to give up. This can be true whether at home, work, or the gym, and also when we are following Jesus. This isn't just true of us in our day.This Sunday, we're returning to our sermon series in the Book of Samuel. As Saul becomes king, God's people realize they have messed up big. They have disobeyed him. With fear set in, Samuel instructs the people, "Do not turn aside." Then, he gives them great news that will help them walk in faith: God will not forsake his people.

1 Samuel 12

This Sunday, Pete Rennie from Living Hope Church in Inverness, Scotland, will preach on Jesus’ Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

Living Hope is one of our church planting partners, so it’s very exciting to host Pete and hear the story of God’s grace to our brothers and sisters across the pond.

Yahweh has chosen a king for Israel - Saul, son of Kish.
He provides him with both personal and public signs confirming his calling.
Yet, Saul hides from what the LORD is calling him to be for his mission.
Rather than step forward in faith, in weakness he hides.Often in our own lives we are full of weakness and sin and hide from God’s calling on our lives.
What Israel needed, and what we need, is God’s true king who never hid from doing God’s will - even when that led to his own death for the sins of his people.

There are times in our lives we find ourselves lost. Searching and unsure of our place. Though we start lost and sometimes can’t seem to find our way or what we are looking for, God is at work.Followers of Jesus do not remain lost, because they are forever found by the Lord. Through the circumstances and details of the good & the bad in this life, we are never lost from the watchful care of our good and loving God.1 Samuel 9-10:8