Valley Hope Church

Christ is Risen! Happy Easter everyone! Join us this Easter as we look at the story of Easter through the lens of David's friendship with Jonathan.

In light of yesterday's marches across our nation, Anthony shares some thoughts on how we, as followers of Christ, are to be active peacemakers in our community.

From the highest of highs when he killed Goliath, David sinks into a much darker place, as Saul decides to use him for target practice. David's enemies are not just found in the Philistine's camp. Now they're coming from Israel as well.

David and Goliath is maybe the most famous story in the Bible. Boy meets giant. Boy throws rock. Boy takes down giant. It has become just another way to call something an underdog story. But is it really? David doesn’t seem to think so.

After several chapters of disappointment from Saul, the narrative of 1 Samuel looks for a hero of some kind. 1 Samuel 16 is the introduction of the new king, is found in an unlikely place. Just the kind of place God likes fo work.

It does not take long for the story of Saul as the first king of Israel to turn dark and gloomy. 1 Samuel 15 is the announcement that the gloom will not lift; the gloom is the future. 1 Samuel 15 is a tricky, sad chapter of the Old Testament that shows God as the supreme Judge who is within his rights to bring judgment. How can there be any good news in 1 Samuel 15?

Samuel has concluded his role as Israel's leader in 1 Samuel 12. In the two chapters that follow, we get a comparison of the new king and his son. Things seem to be lined up to go the way of the ominous warning given by Samuel. How does Saul fail the test that his son passes?

Do you have a hard time remembering God’s promises and nature in times of struggle and doubt? If so you are not alone, the nation of Israel were a forgetful people too. The good news is we serve a God who does not forget and is faithful to his faithless people. Samuel reminds us of the God we serve as we continue our series, The Search for a Better King.

Israel demands a king, so God lets them have their king. Where do they find their valiant hero? Faithfully, almost obsessively, tending his herd of donkeys. And he's not sure he wants to switch jobs.

1 Samuel 8 stands in contrast to the victory we saw in 1 Samuel 7. Many years after their victory, Israel turned to a much older Samuel to ask for a king. God laid out parameters for a king for Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. So why is this request not greeted warmly? What's the bad news in Israel's request?