Sermons from August 2014
Spiritual restoration by the word of God
By the end of 1 Samuel 2, Israel (and especially it’s leadership) is in a state of spiritual disarray. How will God turn this around? The answer is found in chapter 3. God speaks his word and we see the beginning of a spiritual restoration in the nation of Israel. Listen as we explore this story and consider it’s implications for our lives as the people of God today. Let us say to our God whose word is powerful, “Speak LORD, for your servant is listening” (3:9)
When Spiritual Leaders Fail
It is a fact of life today that people are cynical about leaders. We know that we need good leaders, but we don’t want to trust them (too much!). This is specially obvious in the world of politics, but is also evident in the church. In today’s message we see how badly the spiritual leaders of Israel failed their people around 1050 BC. The nation was crying out for some godly leadership, but sadly they got opposite. For many it seemed that God had given up on them. But though He had rejected Eli and his family as priests, God was preparing a future leader in Samuel, and an even greater leader in Jesus Christ. Our human leaders will let us down, but Jesus will never fail us. You can always trust Him.
Declaring True Wisdom
Daniel knew that God is the only source of true wisdom. He found himself with the opportunity to declare God’s wisdom to a pagan king who needed to hear it. Our world is equally desperate to hear the wisdom of God – even when it won’t admit it! The question is, will we keep it to ourselves or be like Daniel and declare it to those who need to hear it?
Loving God in the daily details of life
For many people belief in God is an abstract, intellectual idea. They are happy to tick a box on a census form and identify themselves as ‘Christian’, but there is no genuine relationship. There is ‘heart experience’ and no life change. In today’s message we meet a woman whose experience of God in her life was deep and real, and it overflowed into the way she viewed every detail of life. It is wrong for us to domesticate God and expect Him conform to our limited human worldview. But when we come to appreciate how great and wonderful he really is, then our relationship with Him will be fresh and living, and Hannah’s joy will be ours, too.
Resolving to Stand for God
Listen as Pastor Dave continues our examination of Daniel chapter 1 and take a look at what it means to live for Christ in a Secular World.
God Answers A Woman’s Prayer
Does God care about the present state of the world with all its evil? Does He care about the drought affecting 70% of Queensland? Does He care about the battles we may be facing right now? For 200 years Israel had been in decline – politically, militarily, socially, morally and spiritually – and it seemed that God had abandoned the nation. They desperately needed a godly leader. Enter …. an insignificant man called Elkanah and his childless wife, Hannah. Through the heartfelt prayer of this humble woman, God showed that He did care, by giving them a son, Samuel. He would restore hope to the nation and point the way to Jesus Christ.