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Weekend Recap – A New Hope

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My 3/31/19AM sermon, A New Hope (1 Samuel 11), is now online. The sermon continued our work in the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, specifically dealing with some chapters showcasing the rise of Saul.

The sermon dug into what might be the one shining moment in Saul’s kingship. The Ammonites attack and upon hearing it, the Spirit rushes upon Saul and enables him to lead the nation to defeat the enemy. The passage ended with Samuel “renewing the kingdom” at Gilgal.

This story helped to show how we can respond when our enemies pridefully gloat over us, how the Spirit encourages us, and leads us to focus on God. I hope it encourages you.

Weekend Recap – Providence

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My 3/17/19AM sermon, Hand of Providence, from 1 Samuel 9, is now online. In this sermon, I was curious about all the ordinary things, the perfect coordinated timing, and simplicity of a meal as they related to Saul’s connection with Samuel. And, this served to be a good example of God’s providence, His ordering of ordinary things to accomplish His will. I hope the sermon encourages you. Further, I hope the reality of God’s providence causes you to trust Him in deeper ways. Have a great week.

Weekend Recap – Like All The Nations

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My 3/10/19AM sermon, Like All The Nations, unpacked 1 Samuel 8 with a view toward how it relates to us today. And, quite simply, as the nation of Israel is crying out for a king (and rejecting God as their King and Protector), we see how we tend to do the same things they did. Specifically, sometimes we don’t believe God is enough, we ignore God’s clear wisdom because we want something, and we think that holiness isn’t worth living. I hope this sermon encourages you.

Song for March 2019

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This month at Crestview, we’re learning the song O Lord, My Rock and My Redeemer written by Nathan Stiff. CCLI: #7096627

Lyrics: 

VERSE 1
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Greatest treasure of my longing soul
My God, like You there is no other
True delight is found in You alone
Your grace, a well too deep to fathom
Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach
Your truth, a fount of perfect wisdom
My highest good and my unending need

VERSE 2
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Strong defender of my weary heart
My sword to fight the cruel deceiver
And my shield against his hateful darts
My song when enemies surround me
My hope when tides of sorrow rise
My joy when trials are abounding
Your faithfulness, my refuge in the night

VERSE 3
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Gracious Savior of my ruined life
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders
In my place You suffered bled and died
You rose, the grave and death are conquered
You broke my bonds of sin and shame
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
May all my days bring glory to Your Name

Music and Words by Nathan Stiff © 2017 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP) Sovereign Grace Music, a division of Sovereign Grace Churches. All rights reserved. Administrated worldwide at www.CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK which is adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family. www.SovereignGraceMusic.org

Weekend Preview – Ebenezer

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This weekend, at Crestview, Lord-willing, we’ll look at 1 Samuel 6-7. In 1 Samuel 7, we’ll be honing in how God comes to help His people. Here’s the connection that Tim Chester makes:

The hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson (1735-1790) contains the lines:

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

We do not always sing these lines because most people do not know the origin of the meaning of “Ebenezer”. But this (1 Samuel 7:12) is where it comes from. For Christians our Ebenezer is the cross. At the cross, we see the seriousness of sin, the weight of glory, and God’s generous help to sinners. We raise up the cross and say: “Thus far the Lord has helped us”. And if he has helped us by giving his own Son, then surely he will bring us safely home to glory: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). When you feel overwhelmed by your problems, or when you feel God has abandoned you, or when you feel threatened by the circumstances of your life, look to the cross. The cross is our Ebenezer, the great declaration of God’s help. The way we truly take the glory of God seriously is by raising up the cross.

He’s Good – Thank Him

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I was thinking of how much my gratitude to God is due to life’s circumstances. This morning, I remembrered that no matter what happens, God’s been awfully good.

February 2019 Song – Lord, I Need You

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Many months throughout the year, we try to teach a new song to the people of Crestview. This may or may not be familiar to anyone. But, we got some great feedback for the song we chose in February, so I thought I’d put it online to remember it.

Let’s Think About 1 Samuel

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As you may have picked up reading the blog, I’m currently teaching through 1 Samuel. And, I thought it might be profitable to point out how once I land on a book, I try to get a sense of that book.

  1. Read the Book — When I started leaning toward preaching through this, I began reading this book regularly. Using my Bible reading software, I’m able to generate custom plans and read through 1 and 2 Samuel weekly out of a different translation. This helps give you a lay of the land, hear repeated themes, and be thinking about what this book is saying.
  2. Use tools – the ESV Scripture Journal on 1/2 Samuel just came out. Had this been around in the Fall, I probably would have used it more. I simply gather notes on what I’m reading. Related to this, I find videos like the excellent help at the Bible Project:

Related to tools, I try to find some good resources that help me get a sense of the structure. So, I use notes from the Simeon Trust Course, notes from seminary courses, Bible handbooks, and Bible overviews. These are big picture things that help me be aware of some parts of the book to be aware of.

So, that’s it: lots of engagement, reading, listening, and trying to get a sense of what God’s up to in this part of the Bible. I hope this helps your study of the Bible as well.