Fellowship Presbyterian Church

Israel, ever stubborn and hard hearted, rejected God as king and asked for a human king to lead them. They wanted security and peace by seeking to be in control themselves. While God told Samuel to make them a king, he did not abdicate his throne. The Lord is king, and there is no other. Therefore, we must submit to the rule of Jesus Christ.

Asking from God.-Giving thanks to God

Hope, Thanksgiving and Love

The Ark may have returned to Israel in the opening of I Samuel 7, but faith had not. For twenty years a spiritual question mark stood over Israel. But then, the Spirit of God moved and awakened Israel through the preaching of his Word by Samuel. That awakening of faith led to repentance, victory, and peace in Israel. Here we see a physical picture of the spiritual realities taking place then, and in the hearts of believers today. Such is the timelessness of God's Word.

This passage begins with the Ark in the hands of the Philistines. But what they thought was their victory in taking the Ark turned out to be their destruction. Yahweh must be honored and glorified because he is holy. His presence is death to the wicked, but life to those who are in Christ.

This text describes the fall of the Elide priesthood and the rise of Samuel at the temple in Shiloh.

Overview-formatting-Greeting

The free gift of God is eternal life.

In this passage we see that because the Lord is holy, you need a holy priest. Eli and his sons show the shortcomings of sinful priests. In Samuel we see a better priest, but he too was imperfect and finite. Christ alone fulfills the role of priest on our behalf. As we go to him, we must repent, honor him, and live holy lives. Jesus is our perfect mediator.

When you were slaves of sin, you were -free- in terms of righteousness -Now you are free from sin and become slaves of God, your fruit leads to sanctification and to eternal life.

God is the great Creator and sustainer, whose providence over all of life is absolute. Both physically and spiritually we are entirely dependent upon his grace. Because Yahweh is the Lord of life, we must worship him. We were made to worship, and only in Christ are we enabled to worship rightly.

Just as you once presented your members as slaves...so now present your members as slaves to righteousness

The office of deacon is a high and dignified calling that allows the church to be fruitful in its ministry. Their work is difficult, but Christ rewards the faithful deacon for his service. Deacons must avoid certain sins, be tested for office, and excel in managing the family, marriage, and church duties. We need godly and faithful men to serve as deacons for the church to thrive.

you are enslaved to sin or to righteousness

Because Jesus loves his church, elders must be beyond reproach. An elder must be inwardly disciplined, outwardly respectable, and especially careful. Christ has given high standards for the office of overseer, and that is no accident. Jesus loves his church, and so he wants only godly men shepherding her. But, even the best elders will fail at times and no one will perfectly live up to these requirements. We must pursue these as the standard, while resting in the grace of Christ when we fall short. Only through grace can an elder shepherd well.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body

Paul found himself alone with time to kill in the philosophical and cultural center of the ancient world. Rather than sight-seeing or resting, he utilized his time to preach the Gospel. In this text we see that truth is restless within the believer, just as the lost are restless until they hear the truth. This restlessness led Paul to preach and apply the truth to the Athenians. Paul was essentially in an informal trial before these Athenians, but truthfully they stood under the judgement of the truth of the Gospel. They were mired in idolatry and false-worship. Paul presented the true God, who alone is worthy of our worship. The question for the idolatrous Athenians is the same as it is for us today. Will you worship the idols of your heart, or the God of truth--

Dead to Sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus

Romans 6

This passage gives us a glimpse into Paul's methodology of missionary preaching. He preached Christ in the synagogues, presenting the truth of God. That truth brings about one of two responses in the heart of mankind. When confronted with the Gospel there is the reaction of the faithful and then the world. The world rejects the Gospel while the faithful believe it. But the rejection of the Gospel does not foil God's plans. God uses even the attacks of the enemy to spread and grow his church. Christ's church is in his hand, and therefore will conquer and reign with him.