Woodland Friends Church

The Rome of Jesus’ day? It’s no more. But Jesus’ Kingdom still lives. Which one tried to sustain itself by power-grabbing, warring, and legislating? Rome tried. Which one sustained itself by the Gospel, by preaching, by loving and serving? Jesus’ Kingdom did, and it’s still here...

The Rome of Jesus’ day? It’s no more. But Jesus’ Kingdom still lives. Which one tried to sustain itself by power-grabbing, warring, and legislating? Rome tried. Which one sustained itself by the Gospel, by preaching, by loving and serving? Jesus’ Kingdom did, and it’s still here...

This is Saul’s chance! This is Saul’s chance right here, “Okay, I’m faking it! I wasn’t really sorry. But now I want to be. I see what sin does! You’ve slaughtered this animal and given to the flames, you’ve slaughtered this unrepentant Gentile, whose God’s judgment been over, how can I escape judgment, Samuel?”

This is Saul’s chance! This is Saul’s chance right here, “Okay, I’m faking it! I wasn’t really sorry. But now I want to be. I see what sin does! You’ve slaughtered this animal and given to the flames, you’ve slaughtered this unrepentant Gentile, whose God’s judgment been over, how can I escape judgment, Samuel?”

Saul here is essentially dying for forgiveness. He needs to seek forgiveness, he needs to be forgiven. However, to use the language of NT author James, he’s been lured and enticed by his own desire. That desire is giving birth to sin, and it’s growing. Sadly the rest of 1 Samuel is going to give us a picture of that sin fully growing to eventually get to death. What can WE learn?

Saul here is essentially dying for forgiveness. He needs to seek forgiveness, he needs to be forgiven. However, to use the language of NT author James, he’s been lured and enticed by his own desire. That desire is giving birth to sin, and it’s growing. Sadly the rest of 1 Samuel is going to give us a picture of that sin fully growing to eventually get to death. What can WE learn?

What kind of kingdom are you building? What kind of kingdom are you contributing to? Is your faith in an ideology? Is it faith in a political group that they see the threat we see and we trust them? Maybe it’s hope placed in a cause. maybe it’s hope placed in people who profess to be Christian, and they say they have the answers, and you haven’t noted the red flag that they’re proposing Jesus plus...

What kind of kingdom are you building? What kind of kingdom are you contributing to? Is your faith in an ideology? Is it faith in a political group that they see the threat we see and we trust them? Maybe it’s hope placed in a cause. maybe it’s hope placed in people who profess to be Christian, and they say they have the answers, and you haven’t noted the red flag that they’re proposing Jesus plus...

A lot of us do a lot of things in the Christian life out of guilt. “Gotta read my Bible. Gotta pray. Gotta go to church. Gotta perform, because then God will love me.” Good luck. God doesn’t save us or doesn’t love us because of who we are, He loves us because of who He is. What God wants with to do with Saul and what He wants to do with you is have it out about this sin problem. No charades. No t...

A lot of us do a lot of things in the Christian life out of guilt. “Gotta read my Bible. Gotta pray. Gotta go to church. Gotta perform, because then God will love me.” Good luck. God doesn’t save us or doesn’t love us because of who we are, He loves us because of who He is. What God wants with to do with Saul and what He wants to do with you is have it out about this sin problem. No charades. No t...

Things look grim. The King who would fight the wars for Israel is sitting, staring down defeat. The pagan enemies are numerous. The spiritual leadership of their nation is at odds with the King, and the King who once had a changed-heart and once prophesied, was corrupted. The Kingdom is corrupt. The so called holy-leaders that Saul is trying to rely on are corrupt. But from this corrupt King of a...

Things look grim. The King who would fight the wars for Israel is sitting, staring down defeat. The pagan enemies are numerous. The spiritual leadership of their nation is at odds with the King, and the King who once had a changed-heart and once prophesied, was corrupted. The Kingdom is corrupt. The so called holy-leaders that Saul is trying to rely on are corrupt. But from this corrupt King of a...

Saul was caught in disobedience, and it set the stage for his being denied the kingship over Israel. Instead of repenting, he chose to continue rebelling. This differs from many others who have been caught in their sin throughout the Scriptures, and in choosing repentance, they chose life abundantly.

Saul was caught in disobedience, and it set the stage for his being denied the kingship over Israel. Instead of repenting, he chose to continue rebelling. This differs from many others who have been caught in their sin throughout the Scriptures, and in choosing repentance, they chose life abundantly.

This whole passage has upped the ante for the couple. Earlier in the book we’ve had scenes that take place in the bedroom. Now we see kind of an erotic love dance and then an invitation from her to go out into the countryside and… well you know. Within these scenes have been plot resolutions The path this couple took in dealing with changes is seeing them as opportunities - maybe even to have fun....

This whole passage has upped the ante for the couple. Earlier in the book we’ve had scenes that take place in the bedroom. Now we see kind of an erotic love dance and then an invitation from her to go out into the countryside and… well you know. Within these scenes have been plot resolutions The path this couple took in dealing with changes is seeing them as opportunities - maybe even to have fun....

The CSB uses, "awe-inspiring as an army with banners." The actual word here for "awe-inspiring," in the Hebrew is more literally, “dreadful,” “terrible,” or “frightful.” I get it, the CSB and many translations want to choose a word that doesn’t have negative overtones. What’s lost though is the power of love here that the Bride has over the Groom. She is like a victorious army invading, conquering...

The CSB uses, "awe-inspiring as an army with banners." The actual word here for "awe-inspiring," in the Hebrew is more literally, “dreadful,” “terrible,” or “frightful.” I get it, the CSB and many translations want to choose a word that doesn’t have negative overtones. What’s lost though is the power of love here that the Bride has over the Groom. She is like a victorious army invading, conquering...

They’re selfish. He wants it when he wants it. She wants it when she’s finally been drawn out and thought about it. She denied him, so he’s going to deny her… Selfish. And in light of the whole story of the Book, this is just par for the course for what she’s been worried about! He’s the King. He’s getting home at some ungodly hour, “Oh nice of you to finally come home,” and this is what he wants?...

They’re selfish. He wants it when he wants it. She wants it when she’s finally been drawn out and thought about it. She denied him, so he’s going to deny her… Selfish. And in light of the whole story of the Book, this is just par for the course for what she’s been worried about! He’s the King. He’s getting home at some ungodly hour, “Oh nice of you to finally come home,” and this is what he wants?...

Jesus set up the perfect formula, if you want to use it that way, for us to follow on how to operate in marriage. He does it not based on performance. This is the Gospel. God is sacrificially forgiving. He forgives so much it hurts. Quite literally, to forgive us, His Son had to pay the price. That’s our standard in our marriages. Forgive so much it hurts. And truly forgive. Truly love. Truly say,...

Jesus set up the perfect formula, if you want to use it that way, for us to follow on how to operate in marriage. He does it not based on performance. This is the Gospel. God is sacrificially forgiving. He forgives so much it hurts. Quite literally, to forgive us, His Son had to pay the price. That’s our standard in our marriages. Forgive so much it hurts. And truly forgive. Truly love. Truly say,...

Song of Songs presents a an ideal couple - and their eyes are only for each other. When problems come up, they don’t work through the problems by dwelling on past potential spouses, or imagining life without each other, they work it out together, because love is a chosen pursuit. She’s an aggressor, she takes offense on the relationship, the romance. She voices it, “Hey, I know you’re busy, make t...

Song of Songs presents a an ideal couple - and their eyes are only for each other. When problems come up, they don’t work through the problems by dwelling on past potential spouses, or imagining life without each other, they work it out together, because love is a chosen pursuit. She’s an aggressor, she takes offense on the relationship, the romance. She voices it, “Hey, I know you’re busy, make t...

Perhaps right up there with Revelation, Song of Solomon has been debated and disagreed upon for centuries. For much of church history, the predominant view has been that this book is NOT about sexuality and married love, but about Christ and the Church. The 19th century brought overwhelming change into finally taking the Book at its word. What does it have to say about our messed up world when IT...