The Town Church / Fort Collins

Today we unpack some of the main points from yesterday's sermon and examine patterns we've seen throughout 1 Samuel. 

Why is it significant that Samuel continues to remind the people that they sinned against God by demanding a king? How can our hearts shift toward being grieved by our sin and not just the consequences of that sin? Why must we remain steadfast in our faithfulness to God? 

AND: What is Eric's favorite ice cream/syrup flavor? 

1 Samuel 11-12 reminds us that we do have an enemy who is trying to steal our affections and allegiance away from God. However, we also have a Savior who restores us and brings us back to the Lord. 

What is our response to God's faithfulness to deliver us? How can we truly be faithful to Him? 

Today, we wrestle through our own tensions surrounding God's plan to instate Saul as Israel's king. While we see many flaws in Saul's character, we also know that he is one of the many imperfect people the Lord has used to carry out His perfect plans. 

Additionally, we hit on ways we have seen God reshape our own hearts both in the past and the present. 

BONUS: Eric gets usurped from his hosting role!!

1 Samuel 9 and 10 introduce us to Saul, God's first chosen king for Israel. Although the events of this passage seem random, we know that they are all pieces of God's plan to appoint a king. 

How do we see God directing us toward His plans in our own lives? How is He changing our hearts to prepare us for what He has before us? 

How have we demanded things of God like Israel did? What was the outcome when He provided those requests? What things are we currently longing for that the Spirit brought to mind through yesterday's sermon? 

Bonus: in a wild turn of events, Eric fails to answer today's intro question!

In 1 Samuel 8, Israel grows tired of the system of judges that God had set in place and demand a king. 

Their dissatisfaction challenges us to consider ways we may be discontent with our own lives and how that can impact our view of God. 

Today, the conversation on coincidences and the sovereignty of God continues. Do we view everyday occurrences in our own lives as under God's control? What specific ideas from these three chapters convicted our own hearts? 

This episode begs the question: will Eric ever try pogo sticking again? 

Does anything happen by coincidence? These chapters in 1 Samuel reveal God's providential hand in all things -- for His glory and for the good of His people. 

What are we expecting from God in each of our lives? How do we move forward when we feel defeated? Our discussion of 1 Samuel 4 brings about these questions, as well as recognition of God's sovereignty and His faithfulness to do all He has promised. 

TIP: don't keep your leftovers as long as Betty so you don't end up like her. 

This week's passage challenges us to remember that God's plans are sovereign, even when they don't play out in ways we expect or desire.

We are reminded this week of how vital the Word of God is to the life of the Christian. 

How do we personally engage with Scripture? What does it look like to remain in the Word even in seasons where it is more exhausting than fruitful? How have we sensed God speaking to us in our own lives?  

We live in a world where the truth of God has been abandoned, and the absence of God feels as real as it did in the opening verses of 1 Samuel 3. However, we know God desires to be known, and He graciously gives us the means to know Him. Where do we find our own hearts as we exist in this culture? How can we seek God's presence through His Word?  

Today, we flesh out some harder topics from yesterday's sermon and consider how the passage struck each of us individually. 

ALSO: Eric uses "flesh out" correctly in a sentence! 

This week's passage contrasts the rebellion of Eli and his sons with the righteousness of Samuel and his family. How does God respond to unrepentant hearts? What hope can we find in the midst of a dark story? 

This week we flesh out some big questions from the passage, including the Lord's role in closing Hannah's womb, her heart behind her prayer, and...polygamy? 

We begin our sermon series on 1 & 2 Samuel by exploring some important context of these books and how they point to the coming of the True King. Additionally, the beginning chapters of 1 Samuel show us the pain of Hannah and how the Lord met her in that pain.  

In this episode, we tackle some difficult questions surrounding prayer, especially those that arise in seasons where prayer feels particularly hard. How do our own prayers interact with the sovereignty of God? Should we avoid praying when we have the wrong heart posture? What are personal examples of prayers that have not been answered in ways we expect?

Also, who was most likely to be a pastor in high school? Who was most likely to follow the rules? 

Oftentimes, our prayers are filled with questions that appear to be met with silence. Prayers from Paul and Jesus Himself challenge us to see what is revealed when God answers our prayers, even if it is in ways we do not expect. 

This week, we look at Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 as an example of how to pray. It leads us to ask a few important questions: how do we approach God in prayer? What can we be seeking Him for in prayer? What is the ultimate end goal of prayer? 

Today, we consider what it looks like to seek God for inner transformation rather than only the fulfillment of physical needs. Is it wrong to bring practical supplications before God? How do we each personally approach God in prayer?