Sunday, July 21, 2024 Psalm 42 When you feel a despair in your soul…what do you dwell on? What do you turn to? There are a plethora of negative paths to take…none of which are helpful. Some help can be had by modern solutions of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. But again, it falls short of our […]
Sunday, July 14, 2024 Psalm 146 Psalms 146-150 are known by some as the “Hallelujah Psalms” because the first and last word in the original language is “Hallelujah.” Translated to modern day, the Psalms start and end with “Praise the Lord.” The reason for praise differs by Psalm, and in chapter 146 the reason the […]
Sunday, July 7, 2024 Psalms 2024 – Psalm 110 In the Old Testament, David’s kingship is divided into two parts. Most of David’s accounts (18 chapters) are about when he was anointed king and found himself on the run, hiding in caves and being a king in exile. It was a time when the only […]
Sunday, June 30, 2024 Psalms – Psalm 7 I love the Psalms. There are times when I feel things, but I can’t quite put those feelings into words or into prayers. In those moments, the Psalms can give me the vocabulary to say things I otherwise can’t express. It’s comforting to know that people of […]
Sunday, June 16: Baptism & Baby Dedication Romans 6 Happy Father’s Day! Break out the grill and tell someone your favorite dad joke as we celebrate the dads in our life this weekend. Thank you, dads, for all you do! This Sunday, we are celebrating two major events in the life of our congregation: baptisms […]
Sunday, May 20, 2024 Glory – Acts 2 We continue to look at that how the early Christians lived in a post-Jesus-resurrection society. This week we turn the page from Acts 1 to Act 2 (and beyond!) In Acts chapter two, we see an amazing fulfillment of God’s promise. Pentecost is the Jewish Festival of […]
Sunday, May 12, 2024 Mother’s Day and Baby Dedications 2024 This Sunday will be a break from our Glory series as we set aside Mother’s Day for some baby dedications. Dedicating a child to the Lord is so much more than hoping the baby “grows up right.” It’s a commitment from the family, from the marriage, and […]
Sunday, May 5, 2024 Glory – Acts 1:1–11 We may be done with the book of John, but we continue our Glory series this week as we turn the page from John 21 to Acts 1! What exactly happened after the gospel accounts? What are we to do with this life-changing event of the risen […]
Sunday, April 28, 2024 Glory – John 21:19–25 This week we are wrapping up the book of John and as we learned last week, chapter 21 is more of an epilogue to this wonderful story. Last week we left off with Peter and Jesus having this conversation filled with forgiveness and assurance. This week’s passage […]
Sunday, April 21, 2024 John 21:1–19 Last week, we talked about John’s purpose for writing the Fourth Gospel. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,” John wrote in 20:30–31 (ESV), “which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the […]
Sunday, April 14, 2024 John 20:30–31 The Gospel of John has some incredible reminders for us. Jesus has the power to turn water into wine. He has the power to heal with merely a word. He creates—when he is invited to the table, five loaves and two fish can feed a multitude. He opens our […]
Sunday, April 7, 2023 John 20:19–29 We live in a cancel culture. If a public figure says the wrong thing at the wrong time…forget about any future in that field. In the final chapters of our Glory series we see a similar “rush to conclusions and labels” as we do today. This week in John 20, […]
Sunday, March 24, 2023 John 19:17–30 This Sunday marks the beginning of Passion Week, when we give special attention to the cross. It culminates on Easter, on which we celebrate Christ’s resurrection in glory! We’re all excited for Easter, but let’s not rush there. Crucifixion comes before resurrection. Throughout the first 18 chapters of John, […]
Sunday, March 17, 2023 John 19:1–16 In 1 John 2:17 (ESV), the apostle tells us, “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” We have to remind ourselves of this truth daily, lest we take our eyes off Jesus! We are in a sermon series […]
Sunday, March 10, 2023 John 18:28–40 Jesus’ path to Glory is filled with curves and U-turns. Jesus is in a trial for his life, and he is getting bounced around from one leader to another. From the former high priest to the current high priest. From one Roman authority to another (Pilate is in charge […]
Sunday, March 3, 2023 John 18:12–27 In the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus taught his disciples about the importance of abiding in him. “Abide in me,” he said, “and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am […]
Sunday, February 18, 2023 John 17:20–26 If you have been with us the past couple of weeks you know we are on the last lap of our study series in the Gospel of John. This final section, called Glory, will take us to Easter and beyond. At this point Jesus has wrapped up his final instructions to the disciples in what we […]
Sunday, February 11, 2023 John 17:6–19 We have the privilege of seeing how and what Jesus prayed for the night he was arrested. And guess what? He prayed for us! When Jesus prays for his disciples, and the ones that come after them, we see his desire for us. His desire for us is to […]
Sunday, February 4, 2023 John 17:1–5 As a church, we should be excited to get back into John! We are going to finish the Gospel of John over the next few months, and will celebrate together through Easter and beyond! As we turn the page on vision, hopefully you know our mission as a church. […]
Vision 2024 – Worship God in Spirit and Truth What is worship? How are we uniquely called to express it? What on Earth is a fizzy? All of these questions and more can be answered as Matt Edwards continues our Vision series by detailing how we, at Believers Fellowship, live out our mission through worship. […]
Vision 2024 – Mission What do we mean when we say vision or mission? This week, Johnny lays the groundwork through a brief history lesson to share the mission for every church; setting the stage for how Believers Fellowship will follow through with Vision. If you’d like to Volunteer or are looking for a way […]
Sunday, December 17, 2023 Jonah – Jonah 4 Merry Christmas! I hope you are having a blessed Advent season. At my house, the lights are up, the tree is decorated, and the house is filled with the sound of Christmas music and the smell of Christmas cookies. It has been a wonderful season of reflecting […]
Sunday, December 10, 2023 Jonah 3 One of the best known second chances in literature is given to a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, in a story called “The Christmas Carol.” (My favorite version is “The Muppet Christmas Carol.”) We find early on that Scrooge’s greed has earned him the same punishment as his former business […]
Sunday, December 3, 2023 Jonah 2 One of my earlier memories is a tale of summertime loss, and a quick rescue. I vividly remember a moment of panic, followed by all the sadness a four-year-old could feel when I tripped and slammed a McDonald’s ice cream cone onto the ground. I had been running without […]
Sunday, November 26, 2023 Jonah 1 Three verses into reading the Book of Jonah, and you know that it is a book unlike any other in the Bible. The Lord speaks to the prophet Jonah and tells him to go to the Assyrian city of Nineveh and speak against it. The first odd thing we notice […]
Sunday, November 19, 2023 Exodus 34:6, Jonah 1:1 At Believers Fellowship, we believe that we should be teaching a healthy diet from the Bible. We have been in the Gospel of John, and because it’s such a long book we occasionally take breaks. Well, we are taking another break, and will pick back up next […]
Sunday, October 29, 2023 John 15:26–16:15 In Acts 6–8, we read about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stephen preached in the streets and at the temple that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He performed signs and wonders and a great number of people came to faith through his ministry. But not everyone […]
Sunday, October 22, 2023 Remain – John 15:18–25 It can be a hard thing to be associated with someone who isn’t that popular, or worse, who is outright hated. Growing up in a 49ers household, it was made incredibly clear to me that we were the good guys, and the Dallas Cowboys were the worst […]
Sunday, October 15, 2023 John 15:1–17 Pruning is an act that requires knowledge of the plant, a vision for the future, and an understanding of what it takes to get there. From the outside, a gardener at work can look more like someone attacking a plant than a strategist with an intimate knowledge of their […]
Sunday, October 8, 2023 John 14:15–31 In Exodus 33, God commands Moses to lead the people of Israel away from Mount Sinai and toward the Promised Land. Moses was overwhelmed by the task before him: leading over a million former slaves into combat would be no small feat! Moses was willing to follow God in […]
Sunday, October 1, 2023 John 14:1–14 On our way back from visiting my parents in Virginia this past summer, my family got off the plane at SeaTac and one of my kids said, “I love the way Washington smells.” I agree. I had thought it, too. I don’t know if it’s the evergreen trees or […]
Sunday, September 24, 2023 John 13:31–38 This Sunday we finish out John chapter 13. Judas has left the dinner to betray his Lord. Immediately, Jesus shows us that He understands his assignment. The clock is now ticking. He is going to Glorify God by being lifted up in Glory. It’s something only He can do. […]
Sunday, September 17, 2023 John 13:18–30 Judas’ story is so scandalous that he has become a by-word, for betrayal even outside of the church. He’s the insider who sits at the foot of Jesus, who has access to God in the flesh, and chooses to give him over to be killed. He’s the perpetual villain, […]
Sunday, September 10, 2023 John 13:1–17 With summer in the rear-view mirror, we look ahead to the fall. We are picking back up in the Book of John for part two of three. Together, we studied the first 12 chapters of John, we called Signs. We saw how all of what Jesus did and said […]
Sunday, September 3, 2023 Romans Come join us this Sunday as we conclude our series on Paul’s letters to the churches by looking at the well-loved book of Romans. Paul’s letter to the Romans takes about an hour to read aloud and you are invited to read it ahead of time and pray for our […]
Sunday, August 27, 2023 Philemon In several of his letters to the churches, Paul talks about the ministry of reconciliation. “In Christ,” Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV, “God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” In other words, the world […]
Sunday, August 20, 2023 2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians continues Paul’s teaching and discipleship of the young church in Thessalonica. His letter provides important encouragement and hope that speaks to believers throughout human history. Paul encourages the believers to stand firm in their faith despite persecution and to trust that Jesus will come again bringing justice […]
Sunday, August 13, 2023 1 Thessalonians What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? The best encouragement that you’ve ever been given? Was it a coach, or a parent, or a friend? First, it’s just a good exercise to remember the ways that you’ve been recognized from time to time, and second, you may notice the […]
Sunday, July 30, 2023 Philippians Without a blueprint you can find yourself getting into trouble real fast when you’re building. Doubly so if you’ve got a couple people trying to direct the job site. Somebody might want a bigger garage, or a front porch instead of a back porch, and even if you’ve got some […]
Sunday, July 23, 2023 Ephesians The book of Ephesians is a pastoral letter from Paul to the church at Ephesus. It is not written for a specific occasion or issue, rather, is written out of his love for the people of Ephesus as he sits under house arrest. Paul’s writing is in hopes of reminding […]
Sunday, July 16, 2023 Galatians 1:1–10 There are some things that you can improve on over time, things that need to be shored up, sharpened, or need a fresh coat of paint now and then. There are some things that are pretty easy to destroy by messing around with. In the Navy there’s a constant cycle […]
Sunday, July 9, 2023 2 Corinthians If you were to take a moment to brag about your accomplishments, what would you say? In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul brags about his resume, but he doesn’t say the things you might think. He says he did more time in prison than any other apostle. He got beat […]
Sunday, July 2, 2023 1 Corinthians 1:1–31 What do you think of when you hear the word weakness? Is it a positive word or a negative one? How does weakness relate to faith? This week, we are starting a summer series called Letters to the Churches. Every week this summer, we will cover one of […]
Sunday, June 25, 2023 Joel 3:17–21 Many stories and experiences only make sense looking backwards. Whether it’s because the things in front of us are too big to see around, or we can’t fathom how God could make something good out of something so bad, it’s often hard for us to understand how God is […]
Baptisms June 18 Baptisms are an outward expression of an inward change. They are a public declaration of a Christian’s decision to receive the grace that is freely offered to us through Jesus. They are a demonstration that we have died with Christ, and have been raised again with him. Join us this Sunday for […]
Sunday, June 11, 2023 Joel 3:1-16 If you’ve ever been caught slacking off or cutting corners at work, you know it’s not a great feeling. If you get caught by your boss’ supervisor it’s even worse. Continue up the chain and your day just gets worse and worse. But if the CEO or the founder […]
Sunday, June 4, 2023 Joel 2:28–32 In Romans 4:17, Paul tells us that God “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” God is the giver of life. He created Adam from the dirt. He called Lazarus out of the tomb. He gives life to the lifeless. What […]
Sunday, May 28, 2023 Joel 2:18–27 When I was in Bible college, I had a friend I’ll call Jason. Jason was on fire for God. He had devoted his life to ministry, he was up early every day studying the Scriptures, he was disciplined—guarding his heart from things that might take his eyes off Jesus, […]
Sunday, May 21, 2023 Joel 2:1–17 There are plenty of times in life where we feel like we “missed our exit.” You’re traveling along, making fine time, and suddenly you realize (or are reminded) that you’re now making fine time in the wrong direction. Which, as it turns out, is not great time at all. […]
Sunday, May 14, 2023 John 19:26 This Sunday is Mother’s Day! I am grateful for all the things my mom taught me about life and faith. I am also grateful for my wife—especially for the way she loves our children and for all the time she puts into teaching them. I am looking forward to […]
Sunday, May 7, 2023 Joel 1:1–20 This week we start a new sermon series in the book of Joel, which is a short, three-chapter book of prophecy from the Old Testament. The prophet Joel gave a warning to the people of God, that even as bad as things had been (plague of locust and a […]
Sunday, April 30, 2023 John 12:37–50 The end of the twelfth chapter in John’s gospel is the conclusion of Jesus’ public ministry. In his final remarks, he reminds us that all that he has done and spoken was from God the Father. If we believe in him, we will also have believed the Father. But Jesus’ […]
Sunday, April 23, 2023 John 12:27–36 If you had one chance to share a message with the entire world, what would you say? What if you were chosen to be a colonist on Mars—sent off on a one-way trip with no future contact with earth. Before boarding the rocket, with television cameras and microphones in […]
Sunday, April 16, 2023 John 12:20–26 New Year’s resolutions in January generally seem like a great idea, but there’s a big difference between agreeing to something and actually doing it. Of the people who make resolutions, 55% last less than a year. It turns out signing up for the gym is a lot easier than […]
Sunday, March 26: Signs John 11:45–12:11 Imagine for a moment you received an insider stock tip (don’t worry, you won’t go to jail for this exercise!). A small pharmaceutical company has recently discovered a cure for a debilitating disease, and your insider tip is that this drug will receive FDA approval and the value of […]
Sunday, March 19: Signs John 11:1–44 John 11 is one of the most memorable stories in the whole Bible. In it, Jesus finds out that one of his dear friends (Lazarus) is sick and on the brink of death, but John tells us: “when [Jesus] heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer […]
Sunday, March 12: Signs John 10:34–42 Sometimes helping someone understand the truth is as important as telling them the truth in the first place. Jesus has spent more than a little bit of time in the book of John trying to explain clearly that he is the Son of God. Results have varied. Last week […]
Sunday, March 5: Signs John 10:22–33 As Jesus continues to preach and teach in the temple, our passage this week finds him talking with some very direct folks. They ask him point blank, “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus responds with a reminder, as well as a response; “I already told you, and the answer is […]
Sunday, February 26: Signs John 10:1–31 How do you keep your faith when you have been hurt by a church? How do you regain trust? How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when you are hurt or discouraged? I’ve heard countless stories of people encountering Jesus, getting excited about their faith, plugging into a […]
Sunday, February 19: Signs John 9:1–41 In John 9, we are introduced to a man born blind. Presumably, he has been begging by the temple for a long time. Everyone in Jerusalem seems to know his story, and a theological debate has arisen at his expense: Who sinned that he was born blind, him or […]
Sunday, February 12: Signs John 8:48–59 I was in my twenties when I attended my first real debate. A professor of mine was invited by the University of Indiana to debate on the existence of God. My impressionable young Moody mind was intrigued by my current philosophy professor taking on the anthropology professor of a […]
Sunday, February 5: Signs John 8:37–47 If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “He’s a chip off the old block” or “He’s his daddy’s son” you know that context is important. Just accomplished something incredible? Compliment. Just fell-tripped over your own two feet? Probably not a compliment. In either case, the idea is “You’re just like […]
Sunday, January 29: Signs John 8:31–36 Freedom is a concept that’s near and dear to the heart of America. We’re proud to dump that tea in the harbor, and just as proud to exercise our freedom to drink tea every day, should we so desire. We value the freedom to choose our elected officials, to choose […]
Sunday, January 22: Signs John 8:12–30 God can be frustratingly difficult to see sometimes. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork,” the psalmist tells us (Psalm 19:1 ESV). But, for every beautiful sunset that inspires, there is a terrible hurricane that destroys. It is difficult for us to […]
Sunday, January 15: Signs John 7:53–8:11 In The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Tozer was right. What comes into our minds when we think about God colors everything about us. If we think that God […]
Sunday, January 8: Signs John 7:40–53 Following Jesus’ explosive announcement in John 7:37 and 38 that he is the source of life that the people are celebrating, an announcement which was made at the height of the festival and in the middle of the temple itself, there is some division about who he is. The […]
Sunday, January 1: Signs John 7:28–39 Sometimes the best way to teach something new is to build off an existing idea. You set a foundation, and brick by brick, work with people to build up something new. Whether it’s mathematics, writing out letters, or growing our crops, we start simple and move into the profound. […]
Sunday, December 11: Signs John 7:1–36 In chapter 7 of John, we read through a bit of a pause in the action part of Jesus’ ministry. People have an opportunity to consider all the things that they’ve seen this Jesus person do, and even potentially come to some conclusions as to how it affects their lives. […]
Sunday, December 4: Signs John 6:22–71 What do you want for Christmas? Have you made your list yet? It is so fun to give and receive gifts on Christmas. I love to see my children’s faces light up as they open their presents on Christmas morning. But it is also important to remember that not […]
Sunday, September 11: Signs John 6:1–21 In John 6, Jesus takes his disciples up on a mountain. He sits down (presumably to teach), but when he looks out over the crowd, he notices that they are weary from the journey. He turns to Philip and he asks him, “Where can we buy bread to feed […]
Sunday, November 13: Signs John 5:19–47 The conversation between Jesus and the people who want to follow rules for the sake of rules continues this week as Jesus takes the time to explain to them what is happening. Which, to be honest, we all need from time to time. Seeing something from a certain angle […]
Sunday, November 6: Signs John 5:1–18 This Sunday we’re reading a passage of scripture in which a man who has been an invalid for 38 years is asked a critical question: “Do you want to be healed?” That’s the sort of question we might assume is a ridiculous question, until we know that it’s Jesus […]
Sunday, October 30: Signs John 4:43–54 Sometimes, the life of faith feels like following Jesus through a corn maze. We see him turn the corner ahead, but we’re not told what lies beyond. We follow and we trust. How much easier would faith be if we had a map of the corn maze? If only […]
Sunday, October 23: Signs John 4:1–45 There is more to life than what is obvious to our senses. Deep in our bones, we sense that there is Someone out there; that we are not alone and that there is purpose and meaning to existence. Every Sunday, we gather to recognize the invisible reality. We acknowledge […]
Sunday, October 16: Signs John 3:22–36 The maps app on my phone is a lifesaver for me, because I (Jeremiah) have next to no sense of direction driving around town. I do ok wandering through the woods but cities are a blur for me. As my wife can attest, I go on a lot of […]
Sunday, October 9: Signs John 3:1–21 A Pharisee is probably not the nicest name to be called these days. For us, it has an almost exclusively negative connotation (if it’s used at all.) People who outwardly kept the rules while harboring inward corruption were the people that Jesus had some of the harshest rebuke for. […]
Sunday, September 25: Signs John 2:1–12 Last week, we saw Jesus call his first disciples. Andrew and another unnamed disciple (I think it was probably John himself) were disciples of John the Baptist before they left to follow Jesus. Imagine what this transition must have been like for them. John was bold and eccentric. He […]
Sunday, September 18: Signs John 1:35–51 St. Augustine once said about the Gospel of John: “It is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim in it.” This is certainly true of John 1:35–51! In the latter verses of John 1, the evangelist recounts the story of […]
Sunday, September 11: Signs John 1:19–34 We continue our series through the gospel of John this Sunday. In our passage, we get our first witness to the light of the world, John the Baptist. John lived a unique life, set apart from the world around him for a specific purpose. He had one job: To prepare […]
Sunday, September 4: Signs John 1:1–18 This week we’re beginning a new series in the first 12 chapters of John that we are calling “Signs.” In his gospel, John tells us, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so […]
Sunday, June 12: Living Stones 1 Peter 5:1–14 Peter is one of the most beloved people in the Bible. People love his boldness, his passion, and his bravado. Peter was a man who drew swords first and asked questions later. He said out loud what everyone else was thinking but afraid to say. There are […]
Sunday, June 5: Living Stones 1 Peter 4:12–19 Ezekiel 8 is a crazy story. The prophet Ezekiel is minding his own business, hanging out in his Babylonian home, when all of a sudden, this angel grabs him by the hair and whisks him off to Jerusalem to see what has happened in his homeland during […]
Sunday, May 29: Living Stones 1 Peter 4:1–11 As we’ve moved through our series, Peter’s letter has picked up a familiar cadence. After an instruction regarding who we are in Christ, he quickly makes it practical. (“Therefore” seems to be one of his favorite words.) Since this is the case, therefore we live this way. Because […]
Sunday, May 22: Living Stones 1 Peter 3:8–22 I’m not sure when the expectations of our culture started, but we somehow think that “we are all supposed to be happy all the time” and if we are not, then try to fix it so the pain goes away. No one is living a life absent […]
Sunday, May 15: Living Stones 1 Peter 3 First Peter was written to Christians who were experiencing hostility for their faith. Christianity was a new religion. The Greco-Roman world didn’t understand it and looked upon it with suspicion. I think we have all come to accept that at times we will experience misunderstanding for our faith. […]
Sunday, May 8: Baby Dedication and Mother’s Day This Sunday is Mother’s Day. I am grateful for all the ways my mom sacrificed for me and for the things that she taught me about life and faith. I am also grateful for my wife—especially for the way she loves our children and for all the time […]
Sunday, May 1: Living Stones 1 Peter 2:11–25 Theodore Roosevelt is credited with having said, “Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” Jesus said something similar in Matthew 7: “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good […]
Sunday, April 24: Living Stones 1 Peter 2:1–10 The series we’re in is called “Living Stones” and this week we’ll be covering the verse that gave us that title. Peter uses the metaphor of the Living Stone to describe Jesus, and describes us as being like living stones as well. But what are we building? […]
 Sunday, April 10: Living Stones 1 Peter 1:13–25 So far in the book of 1 Peter we’ve heard some strong theological reminders about who we are in Christ, and the hope we have in Jesus. Peter gave us some good reasons for our hope, and this week he’s turning the corner with a “therefore…” It’s […]
Sunday, April 3: Living Stones 1 Peter 1:1–3 The world is changing. Advances in technology, communication, and transportation have brought global cultures together in ways previously unimaginable. I think we all feel the changes. Cultural change isn’t limited to language, food, and customs, we have also noticed a shift in values. Sometimes it feels like our […]
Sunday, March 27: Samuel 1 Samuel 28 This week we say goodbye to our friend Samuel. It’s been a great series, but this Sunday it comes to an end. We’ve learned a lot from Samuel—he taught us how to pray and trust God. He taught us how to listen for God’s voice and he showed […]
Sunday, March 20: Samuel 1 Samuel 16:1–13 The way things look on the outside isn’t always how they appear the whole way through. If you’ve ever bitten into a piece of fruit that wasn’t quite as fresh as it looked, or stepped on a patch of ice that wasn’t quite firm enough to bear your […]
Sunday, March 13: Samuel 1 Samuel 15:1–35 The Old Testament can sometimes be a source of confusion for people who have only ever read the New Testament. When read in an off-hand sort of way, without considering the full scope of the Bible, the Old Testament God can sound like God’s younger, angrier years, or […]
Sunday, March 6: Samuel 1 Samuel 11:12–12:25 Sometimes in life we make mistakes. Other times in life we make big mistakes. Some mistakes rock your life. They make you question your identity and doubt the future. They shake your confidence and make you fear the worst. What do we do when we make mistakes? What […]
Sunday, February 27: Samuel 1 Samuel 10:1–27 Do you know what it means to be “anointed?” During the time when our passage takes place, the practice of anointing was the act of pouring out oil over the head. There were several applications of anointing, some to demonstrate the establishment of a particular ruler, and some […]
Sunday, February 20: Samuel 1 Samuel 9:1–27 In our passage this week we are introduced to Saul, who will one day be King Saul, but at this point in his life he’s just Saul who got sent to find the lost donkeys. Not exactly the most exciting hero origin story. Saul is just the son […]
Sunday, February 13: Samuel 1 Samuel 8 Last week, we saw the culmination of the judges system in Israel. After hundreds of years of failure, Samuel finally got the office right. He fully trusted in God and got Israel to put away their idols and pray. God worked through him and delivered Israel from the […]
Sunday, February 6: Samuel Samuel 7 Last week, we saw Israel in a hard place. Defeated by the Philistines in battle, the future was unsure. Had God abandoned them? Would they fall back into slavery? What was the path forward? In that passage, the elders conclude that the reason they lost the battle was because […]
Sunday, January 30: Samuel Samuel 4 What has been the most glorious moment of your life so far? A game-winning touchdown? A scholarship or award? A big promotion? A wedding proposal? Looking back on your life so far, when would you say you “peaked?” In 1 Samuel 4, Israel loses its glory. First, it suffers military […]
Sunday, January 23: Samuel 1 Samuel 3:1–21 The idea of a vocation, or a calling is often somewhat abstract. It’s not always your career, but sometimes it is. It’s not always what you’re doing to pay the bills, but ideally it’s where you’re spending a good chunk of your life. It’s not the same for […]