Sermon series
Journey to the Throne: Meeting God in the Turning Points of Life (I Samuel 16 - II Samuel 1)
The End of the Beginning
I Samuel 31 - II Samuel 1 – November 19, 2000The year was 1943. Slowly the Allied forces were squeezing the Germans out of North Africa. From the east Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery’s British forces sent Rommel’s Nazi tanks reeling in retreat across the Libyan desert. From the west a little-known American general named Eisenhower rallied his men after the humiliation at Kasserine Pass. […]
The Long Road Home
I Samuel 30 – November 12, 2000This sermon is about one question and one question only: How do you come back to God? In putting the matter this way, I realize there are certain people who desperately need this message. I don’t know who you are but God does. I pray you will listen to his voice as you read my […]
Ziklag Is Burning!
I Samuel 27-30 – October 22, 2000Once upon a time the devil decided to have a garage sale. He did it because he wanted to clear out some of his old tools to make room for new ones. After he set up his wares, a fellow dropped by to see what he had. Arrayed on a long table were all the […]
The Strange Case of the Missing Spear
I Samuel 26 – October 15, 2000First Samuel 26 tells the story of how David spared Saul’s life. If you have a good memory, you may think to yourself, “I’ve heard this before.” And if you think that, you are almost right because two weeks ago we talked about a similar episode in I Samuel 24. This is not the first […]
Dear Abby
I Samuel 25 – October 8, 2000In our survey of the early years of David’s life, we have come to a little-known episode that ought to be better known. The story of David and Nabal and Abigail is riveting. It’s got it all. There is intrigue, injustice, conflict, anger, revenge, attempted murder, an impassioned plea, sudden death, and unexpected romance. All […]
How To Behave in a Cave
I Samuel 24 – October 1, 2000When last we met David, he was in the Forest of Hereth. Since then he has rescued the village of Keilah from the Philistines. In appreciation for his heroism, the citizens of Keilah report his whereabouts to King Saul who almost catches David again. David and his men move to the Desert of Ziph where […]
In the Presence of My Enemies
I Samuel 23 – September 24, 2000In our study of the early years of the life of David, we have been tracing his rise from the sheepfolds of Bethlehem to the throne of Israel. It is an unlikely story and a journey with many surprising twists and turns. Years ago I read a novel by Chaim Potok called My Name is […]
The Fugitive
I Samuel 21-22 – September 17, 2000The morning light broke through the branches and the fugitive knew it was time to move on. Without a word, he began gathering his few things. It didn’t take long, for you travel light when you’re on the road. As his mind roamed back over the last few days and weeks, it seemed like he […]
Three Arrows at Sunrise
I Samuel 18-23 – September 10, 2000Several years ago a man named David Smith wrote a book that became very popular. The title tells you everything you need to know. He called it The Friendless American Male. The thesis of the book is that most American men don’t have very many friends. And a lot of men don’t have any friends […]
The Green-Eyed Monster
I Samuel 18-19 – September 3, 2000There are two words you need to keep in mind as you read this sermon. They are almost-but-not-quite identical. One is the word jealousy, the other is the word envy. If you look up both words in the dictionary, you will find definitions that are similar but not identical. Jealousy is the fear that you […]
How To Kill A Giant
I Samuel 17 – August 27, 2000As the mist cleared from the valley, the men on both sides knew the time had come. Before this day was done, many men would die. The soldiers of the army of Israel checked their weapons, made sure their uniforms were ready, and grabbed a quick bite of bread and cheese. Older soldiers took a […]
Music For A Madman
I Samuel 16:14-23 – August 13, 2000The following story happened quite a few years ago. I was getting my hair cut at one of those places where you generally don’t know in advance who is going to do the cutting. It happened that the girl who cut my hair had done it the last two times as well. She remembered me […]
The Heart of A Champion
I Samuel 16:1-13 – August 6, 2000We are beginning a brand-new series of sermons called Journey to the Throne: Meeting God in the Turning Points of Life. Over the next few weeks we will follow the early years of David as he rises from obscurity to become the king of Israel. As he moves from one crisis to another, we will […]
