Vertical Church Teaching

In 1 Samuel 15, Saul doesn’t completely reject God’s command. He simply decides which parts he will obey.

That’s what makes selective obedience so dangerous.

In “The Price of Pride,” we continue our A Tale of Two Kings series by looking at Saul’s failure to fully surrender to God. Saul obeys when it’s convenient, justifies what he wants to keep, blames others when confronted, and ultimately becomes more concerned with protecting his image than truly repenting.

Samuel’s question cuts through every excuse: “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears?”

Sooner or later, whatever we refuse to surrender will make noise.

This message challenges us to ask some difficult questions: What have I kept? What have I justified? What have I renamed? Where has God already spoken clearly, but I’m still trying to negotiate?

Because if Jesus is truly King, He gets the final word.

BIG IDEA: Selective obedience is still disobedience.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1–35

If God is calling you to take a next step, don’t keep putting it off. Whether it’s surrendering an area of your life, turning from sin, or following Jesus in baptism, let today be the day the excuses stop.

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What happens when fear takes over?

Saul looked like everything Israel wanted in a king—strong, impressive, and capable. But beneath the surface was a heart increasingly controlled by insecurity and fear. When the pressure mounted and God asked him to wait, Saul chose control over trust.

In Week 2 of A Tale of Two Kings, we look at Saul’s rise to power and the moment that exposed what was happening inside his heart. His story confronts us with an important question: What are we trying to protect because we’re afraid to trust God with it?

Fear tells us that if we don’t take control, everything will fall apart. Faith reminds us that even when everything appears to be falling apart, God is still on His throne.

Big Idea: Fear will always tempt us to seize control when trust requires us to wait on God.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 9:1–2; 10:20–24; 13:5–14

The contrast ultimately points us to Jesus—the King who never grasped for control, never acted out of fear, and trusted the Father completely, even when obedience led Him to the cross.

We don’t have to live controlled by fear. We have a King we can trust.

What if the most terrifying thing God could say is, “Okay. Have it your way”?

In 1 Samuel 8, Israel demands a king so they can be “like all the other nations.” Their request seems reasonable, but underneath it is a deeper problem: they are rejecting God as their King and looking somewhere else for the security, peace, and control that only He can provide.

In this first message of A Tale of Two Kings, we trace Israel’s story from Genesis through the Judges and discover a pattern that still exists in us today. When trusting God becomes difficult, we are tempted to replace Him with something visible. We take good things and turn them into god things. We begin measuring our lives by what everyone else has, and eventually we stop asking what God wants and start asking why He won’t give us what we want.

Sometimes God’s “no” is an act of love—and sometimes His judgment is allowing us to experience the consequences of the very thing we demanded.

As we begin the story of Saul and David, we’ll discover that neither earthly king is ultimately the hero. Their stories point us toward the true King we need: Jesus. Because the greatest battle isn’t over who sits on Israel’s throne. It’s over who sits on the throne of our hearts.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8
Series: A Tale of Two Kings

What does faith look like when God doesn't change your circumstances?

In the final message of our Habakkuk series, we discover that biblical faith isn't pretending everything is okay—it's choosing to trust God even when life gives you every reason not to.

Habakkuk's journey mirrors so many of ours:

As Habakkuk recalls God's faithfulness throughout history, his perspective changes. Babylon doesn't get smaller—God gets bigger. And when our view of God gets bigger, our circumstances get smaller. Not because they become insignificant, but because they're no longer ultimate.

In this message we'll explore:

Whether you're facing uncertainty, grief, anxiety, unanswered prayers, a difficult diagnosis, financial pressure, or a season of waiting, Habakkuk reminds us that our hope isn't built on explanations—it's built on the unchanging character of God.

"The righteous live by faith."

Scripture: Habakkuk 3

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Work Your Wait | Habakkuk 2:1–4

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of following God.

When life feels stalled, prayers seem unanswered, and God's timing doesn't make sense, it's tempting to take control ourselves. But what if waiting isn't wasted? What if it's where God does some of His deepest work in us?

In this message from Habakkuk 2:1–4, we discover three biblical truths for every waiting season:

Habakkuk never receives the explanation he hoped for. Instead, God gives him something greater—a promise. While Babylon represents pride, control, and self-reliance, God calls His people to a different way of living:

"The righteous will live by faith."

No matter what you're waiting on—a job, healing, direction, restoration, or an answered prayer—this message is an invitation to trust that the throne is occupied and God is still at work.

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1–4, 5–20

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What do you do when God doesn't make sense?

In Week 2 of our Habakkuk series, Nick walks through Habakkuk 1:5–2:1, where the prophet wrestles with one of the hardest questions in Scripture: How can a holy God use an even more wicked nation to accomplish His purposes?

Habakkuk cries out over the violence and injustice around him, only to discover that God's plan is far bigger—and far more surprising—than he expected. This message reminds us that God is always working, even when His work confuses us, and that faith is often formed while we wait for answers.

In this message:

Whether you're wrestling with unanswered prayers, confusion, or difficult circumstances, this message will encourage you to trust God's character even when you can't fully understand His plan.

Scripture:

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Habakkuk 1:1–7

God isn't afraid of your honest questions. Faith isn't pretending everything is okay—it's bringing your pain to God and choosing to stay close, even when His answers are difficult.

Habakkuk doesn't hide his frustration.

He brings his questions directly to God.

Real faith includes honest prayer.

Key Passage: Habakkuk 1:1–4

We all have ways of escaping:

Success

Sports

Humor

Work

Entertainment

Relationships

Busyness—even church activity

God invites us to bring our wounds to Him instead of hiding them.

Prayer isn't presenting a polished version of yourself.

God already knows your heart.

He wants your honesty more than your performance.

Like grappling in jiu-jitsu, creating space leaves us vulnerable.

The safest place is staying close to God, especially when life is confusing.

Distance from God rarely produces healing.

Habakkuk asks God to deal with injustice.

God responds by raising up Babylon.

Sometimes God's plan is harder than we imagined, but His purposes remain trustworthy.

Key Passage: Habakkuk 1:5–7

"Wrestle with God. Don't run from Him."

"Prayer isn't presenting a polished version of yourself; it's bringing the real condition of your heart into God's presence."

"When God tells you something you don't want to hear, will you create distance—or stay close?"

"God isn't asking for perfect faith. He's inviting honest trust."

What difficult questions have you been afraid to ask God?

What do you typically run to instead of wrestling with God?

Where have you been creating distance between yourself and God?

Can you identify a season when God's answer didn't make sense until later?

What would it look like this week to stay close instead of running?

Bring your real thoughts, fears, and frustrations to God this week. Instead of escaping, choose to stay close. Trust that even when you don't understand His ways, His character remains faithful.

Daniel 12 | Hope That Endures

How do you keep trusting God when life doesn't make sense?

The book of Daniel closes not with every question answered, but with a call to remain faithful. Daniel sees visions of suffering, spiritual warfare, resurrection, and the end of history—but God's final words to him are surprisingly simple: "Go your way."

In this final message of the Daniel series, we discover that biblical hope isn't about escaping hardship or predicting every detail of the future. It's about enduring with confidence because we know who holds the future.

In this message you'll discover:

No matter what kingdom rises or falls, no matter what suffering we face, our hope remains secure because Christ has defeated sin and death and will one day make all things new.

Scripture: Daniel 12

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In Daniel 6, we meet an elderly Daniel who has faithfully served God through changing kings, collapsing empires, and shifting cultures. His circumstances have changed, but his character has not. The message challenges believers to understand that bold faith is not about being loud or confrontational—it is about steadfast obedience to God regardless of the cost.

Daniel’s integrity was so evident that his enemies could find no fault in him except his unwavering devotion to the Lord. When a royal decree outlawed prayer to anyone but the king, Daniel continued praying just as he always had, demonstrating that public courage is built through years of private faithfulness. His example teaches that small acts of obedience over time produce unshakable conviction when trials come.

Thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to compromise, Daniel experienced God’s presence in the midst of suffering rather than exemption from it. His story reminds us that following God does not guarantee an easy life, but it does guarantee that He is with His people through every trial. Ultimately, the schemes of Daniel’s enemies were overturned, illustrating that vengeance and vindication belong to God alone.

The account also foreshadows Jesus Christ, who was falsely accused and condemned through manipulated legal proceedings. While Daniel was delivered from death, Jesus defeated death itself through His resurrection, transforming apparent defeat into eternal victory. The central call of the passage is clear: remain faithful no matter how cultures, governments, or circumstances change, trusting that God is sovereign and that bold faith refuses to compromise.

Daniel 10 marks a major shift in the book of Daniel as God pulls back the curtain and gives us a glimpse into the unseen spiritual realities taking place around us.

After three weeks of mourning, fasting, and seeking understanding, Daniel encounters a heavenly messenger whose appearance leaves him overwhelmed and weak. What follows is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of spiritual warfare, revealing that while God hears our prayers immediately, answers may unfold in ways we cannot see.

This chapter reminds us that faithfulness doesn't exempt us from waiting. Daniel's prayer was heard from the first day, yet spiritual opposition delayed the messenger's arrival for twenty-one days. Through this encounter, we learn that prayer is not merely a religious activity—it is a powerful weapon God uses in the midst of spiritual battles.

As Daniel struggles with fear, weakness, and uncertainty, God repeatedly strengthens him, encourages him, and reminds him that he is deeply loved and precious in His sight.

In this message, we explore:

• The significance of Daniel's final vision

Key Scriptures:

Key Truths:

Join us as we continue our journey through the book of Daniel and discover how God's sovereignty extends even into the unseen battles of life.

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