Since the garden of Eden, human beings have had a problem with authority. The first authority any of us resist is that of our parents - so that's where this commandment starts. Like all the commandments however, it has a wider application than we might think | Exodus 20:12
Like Father, Like Son?
The differences we see in this chapter between Saul and Jonathan are just an outworking of the one great contrast the Bible is all about - between Adam and Jesus Christ.
In the lives of Saul and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14:24-52 we see:
- The contrast between outward religion and true faith
- The contrast in their view of God
- The contrast in the legacy they leave behind
Call the Sabbath a Delight
In the second of two sermons on the fourth commandment, we see that the Lord's Day is:
- A day for celebrating the freedom that we have in Christ
- A day where unnecessary work is to cease so we can focus on God
- A day for turning from our own pleasures and delighting in God
(Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Isaiah 58:13-14)
Nothing can hinder the LORD
As we think about taking the gospel to a hostile world, 1 Samuel 14:1-23 calls us to:
- Have faith despite the circumstances
- See people as they really are
- Act based on what we know God is like
- Stick close to God's chosen deliverer
God's Day
Famous Scottish sportsmen such as Eric Liddell (of Chariots of Fire fame) and Euan Murray have refused to participate in sport on Sunday. Were they sincere but misguided in their belief that Christians should keep Sunday special? | Exodus 20:8-11
Fear or Faith?
We don't just need a king to rescue us from our enemies, we need a king to rescue us from ourselves | 1 Samuel 13
What's in a name?
What do we mean by God's name? What does it mean to take his name in vain? What happens if we have taken his name in vain? | Exodus 20:7
The Need to Finish Well
In the Christian life it's important not just to get off to a good start, but also to finish well. This chapter warns us about dropping out, but also gives us some encouragements to keep us going | 1 Samuel 12
Seeing God
In the second commandment God forbids us from making images of him, because one day he was going to send us his perfect image - Jesus Christ | Exodus 20:4-6
The Messiah and the Serpent
In 1 Samuel 11, God's anointed king does three things:
- He strengthens his people to fight back against the serpent
- He brings hope where all other options fail
- He depends on God's word and is filled with God's Spirit