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What this episode covers:

·         How 1 Samuel bridges the eras of the Judges and the Kings

·         The key literary structure built around Samuel, Saul, and David

·         Why Samuel is the “hinge” of Israel’s history — last judge, first prophet

·         How Israel’s demand for a king reveals the tension between human desire and divine will

·         The spiritual themes of leadership, calling, obedience, and kingdom identity

·         What 1 Samuel teaches us about God’s way of ruling through imperfect people

Key takeaway:

Before Israel had a king, they had a calling. God’s kingdom is never built on human strength, but on His covenant faithfulness — then and now.

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In this episode, we explore one of the most pivotal turning points in Israel’s history — the moment they demanded a king. What looked like a political request was actually a spiritual crisis: impatience, fear, conformity, and a refusal to wait on God. We trace Israel's request, God’s warning, and the consequences that followed, and we draw out six core lessons for believers today — especially the call to wait on the Lord rather than force His hand.

 Key Themes:

•  Wanting the right thing at the wrong time
•  The danger of looking at circumstances instead of Scripture
•  What happens when God lets us have our own way
•  The spiritual cost of impatience: "He gave them their request, but sent leanness to their souls" (Ps 106:15)
•  The blessing and strength found in waiting on the Lord

 Questions for Reflection:

 Where am I tempted to demand rather than discern?

 What is one area of life where I need to slow down and wait on God’s timing?

 Am I seeking to be like the world — or to be set apart for God?

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In this episode, we watch Israel return to the Lord under the leadership of Samuel — and witness how repentance, prayer, and wholehearted devotion bring supernatural deliverance and lasting peace.

After twenty years of spiritual drifting, God’s people finally respond to Samuel’s call: “Return to the Lord with all your hearts.” What follows is a model for spiritual renewal that still speaks to us today:

1. Return to the Lord
2. Put away the idols
3. Prepare your heart
4. Serve Him alone

What happens next is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Old Testament:

A pagan army gathers for battle, Israel panics, Samuel prays — and God answers with thunder from heaven.

The result?

A victory Israel did not win by force… but by faith.

A memorial stone is then raised and named Ebenezer — “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

And forty years of peace that came not through a king, not through strategy, but through returning to God.

This episode explores:

Why spiritual renewal must come before spiritual action

The danger of using God rather than trusting God

How prayer leads to deliverance even when fear remains

What it means to say “The Lord has helped us — thus far”

If your life feels like a battlefield — or if you’re trying to serve God without first giving Him your heart — this passage is a needed reset.

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In this episode, we follow the remarkable story of the Ark of the Covenant’s return from Philistine captivity — a moment that revealed both the foolishness of human superstition and the sovereignty of God. Through this ancient account, we discover a simple truth: God will not be mocked, and what is holy must be treated as holy.

But the lesson doesn’t stop in 1 Samuel. We can also trace a parallel to the New Testament church at Corinth, where Paul warns believers not to dishonour the Lord’s Table. What connects these two moments — separated by a thousand years — is the same call to reverence, humility, and love in the presence of a holy God.

Join us as we explore:

Why the Philistines’ “experiment” revealed their ignorance of true worship.

How Israel’s curiosity led to disaster — and what it teaches us about reverence.

The striking parallel between the Ark and the Lord’s Supper.

What it means today to honor Christ in our worship and relationships.

This is a call to remember that holiness is not a relic of the past — it is the heartbeat of a life lived with God.

Key Scriptures:

1 Samuel 6:1–21; & 1 Corinthians 11:17–34

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What happens when a nation tries to live without God?

In this powerful new episode, we explore how moral confusion and cultural decline begin when we push God out — and how believers today can stand firm, think biblically, and live godly in the midst of it all.

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Today, we’re asking one of the hardest and most human questions anyone can ever ask:

Why did the Lord allow this to happen?

Now, let’s be honest — we’ve all asked that question at some point.

The truth is, there’s rarely just one answer.

Scripture gives us many different reasons why the Lord allows hardship, difficulty, or even disaster. But today, I want us to focus on just one particular possibility that’s revealed in 1 Samuel chapter 4.

It’s not the only explanation, and perhaps not even the most common one, but it’s an important one — and it’s something we all need to face….

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And so, friends, what we look at today, in a sense, is the heart of the Christian life. We are called to walk worthy of our calling. To live in a way that reflects the One who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Paul says: Don’t walk like the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. Don’t drift back to what you once were. Instead, put off the old self, be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, created according to God in true righteousness and holiness.

That means walking in righteousness — doing what is right because it’s right, because it pleases the Lord.
It means walking in love — seeking the highest good of others, speaking the truth in love.
And it means walking in wisdom — bringing together righteousness and love in a way that reflects the mind of Christ.

And when you live like that, when you walk in that way, it will have an impact. On your family. In your workplace. In your church. Even on the people who happen to be sitting next to you in a waiting room, because light cannot help but shine.

So, as you go about your week, remember this simple calling:
 Walk in righteousness. Walk in love. Walk in wisdom.
 That’s what it means to walk worthy of your calling in Christ.

And may the Lord strengthen you to do just that.

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In this episode, we continue one of the most tender and powerful moments in Israel’s history — the story of Hannah, her prayer, her obedience, and her son Samuel, who would become a prophet and kingmaker.

From Hannah’s barrenness to her blessing, from her vow to her victory, we see the truth that anchors the entire book of 1 Samuel: “Those who honour Me, I will honour.”

We’ll reflect on what it means to raise godly children in a godless age, how the influence of a praying parent can shape history, and how faithfulness to God always brings fruit — even when it seems the world has forgotten what honour means.

Key Themes:

• The power of godly influence in a corrupt culture.
• The call to honor God in every season of life.
• The faithfulness of God to those who keep their vows.
• How prayer shapes both generations and destinies.

Takeaway Verse:

“Those who honour Me, I will honour.” – 1 Samuel 2:30

Challenge for Listeners:

Ask yourself this week — in what part of my life is God calling me to honour Him more fully? Is it in my words, my work, my worship, or my relationships? Take one step of obedience and watch how the Lord honors it in His time.

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In this episode, we explore how Hannah’s praise moves from personal gratitude to profound theology. From the pain of waiting to the joy of revelation, she discovers that God is sovereign — over life and death, over blessing and loss, over every turn of the human story. Her song anticipates the coming King, pointing forward to the Messiah Himself.

 Takeaway:

 True praise doesn’t just thank God for what He’s done — it trusts Him for what He’s doing and worships Him for who He is 

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To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

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In this episode, we consider the story of Hannah—a woman whose sorrow turned into song. Through her perseverance, prayer, and surrender, we learn how God uses human weakness to display His power. This is a story about the faith that prays through tears, the peace that comes through surrender, and the God who remembers His people.

Key Takeaways:

God answers prayer in His time and His way.

True worship flows from gratitude, not just need.

The Lord of Hosts is unlimited in His power and personal in His care.

When you surrender your pain, God can turn it into purpose.

Reflection Question:

What is one burden you need to pour out to the Lord today—and what would it look like to leave it with Him in peace?

Support the show

To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

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