The Hallows Church

Proverbs 16:9 reads, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but the Lord determines His steps.” On the journey of life, we take many steps in pursuit of many plans and intentions. Yet, Scripture tells us that the Lord determines where our feet fall. The question, then, becomes to what end? Where does divine providence intend to take us? How are we to conduct ourselves upon arrival?

In our study of 1 Samuel 9:26-10:15 today, we find that God orchestrated Saul’s mundane search for missing donkeys to have him cross paths with the prophet Samuel. There, the son of Kish would be anointed as Israel’s first king in a private ceremony. Such an anointing would come with certain expectations.

Although he would reign over God’s people, he must do so under God’s presence. The king is to be constrained by God’s Word and empowered by God’s Spirit to serve the kingdom of God–rather than the kingdom of self. Herein lies our lesson. God places people in positions of influence—stretching from parents to presidents—to serve His purposes. Upon arrival, He expects us to comply with His Word and rely upon His Spirit.

As Pastor Andrew Arthur asks in this sermon today, what is your vision of the “good life?” Does it harmonize with what the Bible reveals life to be about? Where is the dissonance and how might that be corrected? What position(s) of influence do you currently hold, and how might you leverage them in service of God’s kingdom?

Life is filled with ordinary moments of mundane movements. The Christian life is not excused from the everyday mundane. Thankfully, glimpses into the deeper work of Jesus can be found throughout our days upon closer inspection. Join Pastor Mark in today's study of 1 Samuel 9, and as we do, may you be amazed by the intricately woven chain of events displayed in the ordinary moments of this passage. Learn to identify the moment in which God’s mercy is given to a distressed people through quiet providence. May your heart be encouraged, and you feel God's love by the fact that God's providence is at work at all times–even in the mundane moments that make up much of our everyday lives.

The Christian life is marked by being different because of who we follow, including where security can be found. Yet, we tend to seek security outside of God in the things that the rest of the world tries to offer. So how do we learn not to dismiss our difference in Christ but to remember what is uniquely found in Jesus? What happens when we are willing to give away everything to be like everyone else–particularly, to be ruled by the same kings as those around us? What can we gain by doing so and what do we lose in the process? In contrast, what do we gain by worshipping our unique God who, unlike earthly things and people, gives more than He takes? Listen to this sermon on 1 Samuel 8 by Pastor Mark Smith to explore these questions and more.

Are you in need of spiritual renewal? Are you feeling spiritually lethargic? Do you feel as though sin and Satan have stolen the joy of your salvation? If so, you are not alone.

This experience as a Christian is not unique. Spiritual renewal is a need we all share at different points in our life of faith. According to God’s daily mercies, spiritual renewal is a reality we can all experience time and time again as we practice ordinary means of grace (i.e., prayer, fasting, confession of sins) and exercise utterly dependent faith in Christ.

1 Samuel 7:2-17 tells a story of spiritual renewal in the life of ancient Israel. By God’s grace, Israel reclaims territory lost to the Philistines as a result of God’s discipline in their lives. He handed them over to their enemies as a result of their sin. At the start of this passage, Israel started longing for the Lord once again. Through the prophet Samuel, God instructs Israel on how to pursue spiritual renewal and reminds them of the true power behind spiritual renewal.

In the end, Israel’s experience a renewed relationship with the Lord marked by peace and prosperity. Likewise, a renewed relationship with the Lord is readily available for each of us too–for you.

God is not common; therefore we must not approach Him in common ways–those related to moral performances, personal preferences, or cultural assumptions. So how can we approach God?

Listen to this sermon by Pastor Andrew Arthur to see how 1 Samuel 5 instructs us to listen to how God, Himself, instructs us to come and stand in His holy presence. May you leave our time of worship through study thankful that, in Christ, God has provided the way for you to approach Him AND enjoy being in His presence!

To be human means to be hardwired for the glory of God. All the beauties and wonders of creation are intended to serve as signposts drawing our gaze Godward. However, sin has caused our hardwiring to go haywire.

We now choose to worship and serve what has been created rather than the Creator; and, in the process, we seek and settle for the types of glory that inevitably self-destruct. Signposts such as nature, sex, ambition and art often become tombstones bearing witness to lives that never looked beyond them.

In 1 Samuel 4, the people of Israel, specifically Eli and his household, learn this lesson the hard way. Rather than drawing everyone’s attention to the glory of God, they treated the Lord as a signpost in service of their own glory. In the end, God handed them over not just to their enemies but to their self-destructing desires. In the sad aftermath, we witness the birth of Ichabod whose presence confirms that the glory of God has departed from Israel. But this will prove to be a temporary measure.

Many years later, the world would witness the birth of another child whose presence confirms that the glory for which we are hardwired has returned.

Why do we need God’s Word–the Bible? Into what type of life does Scripture call us? How does God’s Word minister among us?

In today’s sermon, Pastor Andrew examines important questions such as these in light of the prophet Samuel’s calling. At a time when God’s Word was scarce, His people suffered in spiritual darkness. In mercy, God raised up a prophet who would know Him personally and serve Him faithfully by administering His Word to His people. As we will see, God's Word breaks through spiritual darkness bringing with it the light of life!

SERMON OUTLINE

• The Scarcity of God’s Word (1 Samuel 3:1b-3)

• The Calling of God’s Word (1 Samuel 3:4-10)

• The Ministry of God’s Word (1 Samuel 3:11-4:1a)

Although sinful leaders are present among God’s people preying upon them, they will not prevail over His people because the solution of God’s ultimate servant leader is coming. Take a listen to this sermon on 1 Samuel 2:11-36 to explore the problem of sinful leaders in the church, as well God's solution of servant leadership and the ultimate Servant Leader.

We all have a lot in common with Hannah from the book of 1 Samuel. Just as she could not give birth to a child, Israel could not establish themselves as a nation. And, you and I cannot overcome life in a fallen world. Being spiritually barren we do not have the resources to right what’s wrong with our lives. All we can do is join Hannah in bringing our barrenness to the Lord and crying out for mercy. Borrowing Hannah’s words in 1 Samuel 2:9, we cannot prevail by our own strength.

So take a listen to Pastor Andrew Arthur to discover how Jesus makes a difference in all of life–particularly in the spaces and ways we feel barren. Worship and see how God always has and continues to save like no other while reversing the world's expectations.

In this opening message from The Hallows Church's new Sunday sermon series “When Mess Meets Mercy: the Gospel of 1 Samuel,” Pastor Andrew explains that grace means God brings salvation out of nothing. Barrenness does not exclude us from God’s eternal blessings. In fact, embracing barrenness before God seems to be the only prerequisite for “blessed are the poor in spirit for the kingdom of heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3). Take a listen to begin to explore the myriad of ways God often brings blessing out of life's barrenness.