Sermon - Lander Free Church

The Fourth Sunday of Advent, we take one final familiar image from the Advent story, the miraculous virgin birth, and strive to see it through Old Testament eyes, examining other miraculous births in Scripture for what they might reveal about the coming of Jesus. Read Luke 1:26-38 and thanks for listening! 

In the Third Sunday of Advent, we turn to the image of Wisdom, the Word or Logos made flesh and dwelling with us. Perhaps the most abstract of the Advent accounts, John's Gospel is also profoundly beautiful. Read John 1:1-18 and thanks for listening! 

For the Second Sunday of Advent, we turn to the image of shepherds, some of the first to worship Jesus, and who recall rich imagery in the Old Testament from Psalm 23 to Ezekiel 34. Read Luke 2:8-20 and thanks for listening.

As we begin the season of Advent, we try to better understand this familiar story by exploring what some of the images of Advent meant in the Old Testament, to see the Advent story through Old Testament eyes, beginning with the Bethlehem Star. Read Psalm 19 and thanks for listening! 

We finish the book of 1 Samuel with a victory and a defeat that recall the unity of the book and reminds us of the importance of story and trusting in God. Read 1 Samuel 30-31 and thanks for listening. 

In probably the strangest story in Samuel, we meet the Witch of Endor, but why is she here, does she summon the real Samuel, and how does this story fit with the themes of the book? And how will David get out of his jam? As we contemplate God's strange mercy, read 1 Samuel 28-29 and thanks for listening! 

Suffering from deja vu, we again see David's mercy toward Saul, and David again flee from the Promised Land. Read 1 Samuel 26 and 27 and thanks for listening! 

Our story turns from the main plotline to a side story featuring a Fool, a King, and a Wise Woman, and David shows yet again that he is not perfect, but far better than Saul in listening to correction. Read 1 Samuel 25 and thanks for listening!

David continues on the run, but in the midst of all his challenges, still chooses righteous action, even when it makes things harder, and refuses to do evil, even when it would make things easier. Read 1 Samuel 23-24 and thanks for listening! 

David goes on the run, makes mistakes, pretends to be crazy, and writes several Psalms. Read 1 Samuel 21-22 and thanks for listening!

In a story of profound importance for today, Jonathan and David work through a disagreement and lovingly support one another as they must go their separate ways. Read 1 Samuel 20 and thanks for listening.

Though not as famous as the last chapter, we continue with stories well known but often not in their context as we examine the aftermath of David's victory. Read 1 Samuel 18 and thanks for listening.

In the meeting of David and Goliath, we try to look deeper at a story so famous and familiar that it can sometimes be hard to see for itself apart from all the Sunday school retellings. Read 1 Samuel 17 and thanks for listening! 

As the implications of God rejecting Saul as king play out, we meet our third and final main character, David. Read 1 Samuel 16 and thanks for listening! 

The failure of Saul comes to an epic confrontation between him and Samuel as Saul yet again values sacrifices over obedience, outward appearence over heart. Read 1 Samuel 15 and thanks for listening

Saul and Samuel appear to go from strength to strength as we see another beautiful moment of liberation, victory, and grace. Read 1 Samuel 11-12 and thanks for listening! 

The story of Saul goes rapidly downhill as we look at two different battles and two different failures.  Read 1 Samuel 13 and 14 and thanks for listening.

We resolve the cliffhanger from last week as we see the message and anointing Samuel has for Saul, who more and more looks like an unlikely choice, yet one God elevates. Read 1 Samuel 10 and thanks for listening. 

We continue to see God's sovereignty in the midst of different situations as Saul comes on the scene through the most ordinary of events. Read 1 Samuel 9 and thanks for listening! 

We return to 1 Samuel as we transition from the final leadership of Samuel to Israel asking for a king. Read 1 Samuel 7:2-8 and thanks for listening. 

Imagine the opportunity of joining all creation in blessing our God, who is always worthy! Let's continue looking at 'blessing' the Lord and how our daily lives are impacted.  Pslam 103:7-22

The Blessing We Don't Talk About - Let's talk about a difficult topic we seldom discuss as it comes to following Jesus. What does the Bible say about 'blessing' and how does it affect my daily life?

Jesus doesn't leave us in the dark—He shows you and I what authentic faith looks like in our everyday  life . The way we live day to day reveals who we're really following; so we don't have to wonder, "Am I getting this all wrong?"

We continue to follow the ark of the covenant in a story strangely lacking Samuel, Saul, or David. Read 1 Samuel 5-7:1 and thanks for listening!

The repeated warning of judgment comes to fruition as the ark is lost along with Eli and his two sons when Israel tries to control God. Read 1 Samuel 4 and thanks for listening!