We all sin in many different ways and at different times. Perhaps this is the reason why most of us cannot really claim that our hearts are after the Lord's heart. We are very much aware of our frailty. But, like David, we must all acknowledge that our moral failures are also occasions where our hearts are tested. How should we respond when we fail morally? When God rebukes us of our sins, whether hidden or obvious, do we cover them up or do we respond to God faithfully?

A typical dictionary will define contentment as that mental state wherein we are happy or satisfied regardless of the situation. Based on that simple definition, we can say that a lot of people are not content. They are not happy with their situation. They are thinking that something else should be there or should be happening. Or maybe they are thinking of the past. Things were better in the past but not now. How can we learn the secret of being content?

We all desire to experience God's presence each and every day of our lives, not just occasionally. Often we think God's presence is found in certain places or events. But God's presence is not tied to any special place or event, no matter how spiritual it might be. It is the result of integrity in one's life before God. This is what we need to learn as followers of Christ. We can experience the presence of God if we pursue integrity in our lives. What does it mean?

A lot of people are anxious these days. Aside from the ongoing pandemic, people are concerned about the economy. Prices of basic goods and services continue to rise. The future remains uncertain. Politicians are making all sorts of promises but most people don't trust them. A lot of churches have already closed. Others are unsure whether it's time to start in-person gatherings or not. In times like these, how can we experience true peace?

Conflict is inevitable in any Christian community. We are bound to disagree one way or the other. Because of our differences, we will encounter situations where one party wants one thing and the other party wants another thing. Before long, it becomes an all-out division. Our problem is not with conflicts per se. Our problem is that we often allow them to worsen until they become unmanageable and destructive. We need to learn how to resolve conflicts immediately.

Many people start well in the Christian life but later on, they lose interest in continuing on in the faith. They may be active at first but later on, they may become inactive and disinterested in following Christ. Previously, they may be busy serving God in the ministry but later on, they may become too busy to even participate in church activities. Why do these things happen? More importantly, how can we learn to stand firm in the Lord for as long as we live or until the very end?

Character is not the basis of our calling. We are called because of God's grace and mercy alone. But our character is important in fulfilling God's purpose for our lives. We can shipwreck our faith if we do not take care of our character. It's possible that we will not finish well in the race called life if we do not pursue a heart after God's own heart. In this second sermon in our series, we want to examine what hinders us from developing a heart for God. We will base our study on the life of King Saul recorded in 1 Samuel 9 to 15.

The signs of spiritual immaturity are everywhere. Those who are spiritually immature tend to be prideful and judgmental of others. They see the sins of others but not their own. They are distracted and scattered in their daily activities. They don't know God's will for their lives and so they make choices that are foolish and unwise. They listen to sermons and bible studies endlessly but they never learn. They remain bitter and alienated toward others instead of living in love. It's time for them, and for us, to pursue the path toward spiritual maturity.

Living with a false sense of self will rob you of true joy. It will also hinder you from experiencing transformation. But discovering your true self in Christ will enable you to experience true joy in the Holy Spirit. You will be able to overcome the challenges of life because you will have a strong anchor that can give you stability. You will be able to overcome temptations of various kinds because your identity will be secure. You need to learn how to live according to your true self in Christ.

What triggers your negative emotions? What makes you upset so easily? Usually, it is because you are clinging to your false self -- the self that you have tried so hard to build and protect all your life. It is the self that you believe is worthy of respect from others. It is also the self that you try to bring before God, thinking that it is the kind of self that would impress God the most. However, it is a false kind of self.