Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 6:21-24

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

We are a church family
All sisters and brothers
Know each one in the Body
And love one another
Together serve faithfully
Always encouraging
And from our hearts prayerfully
Offer our Lord’s blessing

We are the Lord’s family
All children of the King
He pours out His grace freely
Great love of which we sing
Peace with our God and Savior
And with His one Body
To Jesus all our hearts pour
Our love eternally

(To the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation”)

Reflections on I Samuel 10-12

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Samuel anoints Saul to be the first King of Israel.

  • Heart for God – Again this theme comes up. God gives Saul a new heart (10:9).  Samuel instructs the people to serve God with all their hearts (12:20, 24).  Are you serving God with all your heart?  Or is your heart divided?
  • Empty things – Samuel warned the people not to “turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver” (12:21). What are some empty things that our world chases after?  What empty things do you chase after?
  • Prayer – Samuel pledges to continue praying for people (12:23). How is your prayer life?  Who have you pledged to pray for?  Who do you need to pray for today?

Reflections on I Samuel 7-9

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Samuel judges Israel, but as he grows old, Israel demands a king to rule over them.

  • Heart for God – Elkanah, Hannah, and Samuel have all shown a heart for God. Now Samuel tells the people: “direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only” (7:3).  Have you directed your heart to the Lord?  Is your heart still with the Lord or has it wandered after other things?  Is your heart for God leading you to serve him?
  • “Like all the nations” – Twice Israel gives the reason they want a king – so they can be like the other nations (8:5, 20). Rather than be distinct as God’s people, they want to be like those around them.  Why do you do what you do?  To live for God or to be like those around you?

I Samuel 7-12: Where Is Your Heart?

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(7) What three instructions does Samuel give in v3?  How are they related to each other?

What commentary does this verse give to our culture’s obsession with the call to “just follow your heart”?

How does God respond to their repentance to further woo their hearts in this chapter?  How has God wooed your heart?

(8) On what are the hearts of Samuel’s sons set?

On what are the hearts of the people of Israel set in this chapter?  Why (v5, 20)?

How are we tempted in similar ways?

Samuel’s warnings of what a king will mean for them falls on deaf ears.  What are some examples of people whose hearts are set on something and so refuse to accept warnings?

(9-11) What characteristics does Saul have that might seem to make him a good choice for a king?  What concerns might there be?  How would you describe his heart?

God’s Spirit comes upon Saul making him a new man with a new heart to lead the people and fight their enemies (10:6, 9; 11:6).  So God is ultimately responsible for their victory over the Ammonites, as Saul himself recognizes (11:13).  Why is that important for the people to remember?  For us?

God touches the hearts of many men of valor to fight with Saul.  What has God placed on your heart?

(12) What instructions does Samuel give in v20-25?  What incentives are provided?

What are some empty things the world chases after that we might be tempted to also chase after?

What would it look like to serve God with all your heart?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

3 Motivations to Hate Sin – Erik Raymond
Until sin is actually hated for its odious and repulsive character we will not make true progress in godliness.

Kindness Changes Everything – Stephen Witmer (DG)
We open ourselves to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when we ask him to produce in us kind hearts that overflow through kind lips.

18 Prayers to Pray for Unbelievers – Tim Challies
A friend asked the question: How do I pray for unbelievers? How do I pray effectively? I trust that every Christian regularly prays for family or friends or colleagues or neighbors who do not yet know the Lord. And while we can and must pray for matters related to their lives and circumstances, the emphasis of our prayers must always be for their salvation. Here are some ways the Bible can guide our prayers.

Why We Desperately Need the Body of Christ – Paul David Tripp (Crossway)
Your walk with God is a community project. The isolated, separated, loner, Jesus-and-me religion that often marks modern church culture is not the religion that is described in the New Testament.

Sermon Songs: Ephesians 6:18-20

On By BrianIn Ephesians Hymns

MusicNotes

Dear Christian now commit to pray
To stand against the devil
Pray in the Spirit and always
Alert and ever watchful
Persevere – do not faint
And pray for all the saints
For courage ev’ry day
And the right words to say
To tell the gospel message

 (To the tune of “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”)

Reflections on I Samuel 4-6

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Israel was fighting the Philistines, so they brought the ark to the battlefield thinking it would help them.  Instead they lose the battle…and the ark.

  • Good luck charm – Rather than seek the Lord’s help with the battle, they bring the ark to the battle. They treat it as a good luck charm.  Are there objects in your life that you treat as good luck charms?  Not only does Israel treat the ark like a good luck charm, but since the ark represents God’s presence, they also treat God that way.  They thought they could manipulate God.  If they brought the ark, God would have to perform for them.  Do you treat God that way?
  • God’s Sovereign Power – The Philistines take the ark, but they soon learn that God is not one to trifle with. They place the ark in their temple only to find their idol bowing down to the ark.  Then God sends a plague upon them.  They are so hard-pressed that they finally send it back to Israel.  What powers do you see in this world?  How does this reminder of God’s sovereign power encourage you?  Will you trust in God’s sovereign power?

Reflections on I Samuel 1-3

On By BrianIn OT Reflections1 Comment

Like Ruth, the beginning of I Samuel is set during the period of the Judges.  Again we see examples of faithfulness amidst the corruption.  Note:

  • Worship – Elkanah faithfully brings his family to worship and sacrifice before the Lord each year. Three times in chapter one, we find the word worship – an obvious theme of the chapter.  Is it an obvious theme of your life?
  • Prayer and Praise – Another theme in chapter one is prayer. Hannah pours out her heart to the Lord.  God wonderfully answers her prayer, and the first part of chapter two records Hannah’s praises.  About what do you need to pour out your heart to God?  What answered prayers do you need to praise God about?  Do you regularly respond to answered prayers with praise?
  • Judgment for Sin – Eli’s sons did not follow the Lord. They treated God’s offerings with contempt, and slept with the women who served at the tent of meeting.  God sent a man to warn Eli that judgment was coming.  God spoke to Samuel to warn Eli again that judgment was coming.  We may look at those around us doing wicked things and apparently prospering, but remember – God’s judgment is coming.