2 Samual 23–24 – The Godless will hurt those who get too close to them. Do not associate closely with those who do evil. David’s mighty warriors were courageous men who accomplished great feats. Great leaders know the value of having high capacity leaders around them and are able to lead them without feeling threatened or intimidated. David loved and respected the men and they were willing to make sacrifices to serve him. David grew prideful and called for a census. When he realize his sin, he repented and received the consequences in humility. However, his consequences didn’t only affect him. It is important for us to remember that our sin will always impact others negatively.

Psalm 118 – God‘s faithful love endures forever. Because he is for me, there is nothing to fear. God is my refuge. "The stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone" is a prophecy about Jesus. His faithful love is shown in his plan to rescue and redeem mankind through Jesus.

Mark 16 – Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would and there were many eyewitnesses to this event. He told all who believed in him to share this message throughout the world.

Galatians 6 - We should care for and help each other in our struggles with sin. We should find our strength in the spirit of God, not our own ability and allow him to guide our lives so that we will experience the blessing of obedience. We need the Holy Spirit to do this. Don’t give up on doing what is right. Trust God and his ways and in the right time you will reap what you sow.

2 Samual 22 – David celebrates in this passage all the ways he had experienced God in his life. The part that stands out to me is that he rescues the humble and humiliates the proud. David celebrates the character of God. He accomplished what no other ruler, leader, judge, or king ever had. He conquered all the enemies in the land and drove them out. He recognized his victory was from God.

Psalm 117 – God‘s love never fails and his faithfulness never ends.

Mark 15:42–47 - There were multiple people who saw Joseph take down Jesus' body and lay it in the tomb. These witnesses are important because they prove that Jesus' body was actually put in the tomb and not taken away or hidden.

Galatians 5:13–26 – Use your freedom in Christ to serve others in love, not to pursue lustful desires of your flesh. When you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life, it is seen in the way that you live. You won’t live to satisfy your flesh but you will live to glorify God.

2 Samuel 20–21 - The wise woman in the town where Sheba was hiding spoke up and prevented the town from being destroyed. Many times conflict can be avoided through having reasonable discourse. When there was a famine, David asked the Lord about it and the Lord gave a reason. When we faced circumstances out of our control, we should stop and ask God about it because he may want to use it to show us something.

Psalm 116 – God hears our prayers for mercy. He is kind, compassionate, loving, and merciful. He has rescued me and redeemed me for his good. He cares deeply for us. I want to honor him with every day he gives me.

Mark 15:33–41 – When Jesus breathed his last breath it was different than any other crucifixion. It was so different that the Roman guards who had seen many crucifixions said this must have been the son of God. Also the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom symbolically saying that what once separated us from God’s presence had been removed.

Galatians 5:1–12 – Our faith in Jesus alone leads us to righteousness, not our good behavior. Genuine faith should be seen in the way we love God and love others.

2 Samual 18–19 - David mourned the loss of his son likely because he blamed himself for the rebellion. Nathan had told him that his children would rebel because of his sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah. Also when Absalom came home, he did not treat him well. We should always live in such a way that we don’t look back and regret the way we treated someone we love. David’s commander told him that his mourning was hurting the morale and causing his troops to feel bad about their victory. The leader always sets the tone. The people of Israel decided they wanted David to come back and be their king. People can be fickle. Don’t get your worth and identity from the approval of people.

Psalm 115 - God alone gets all the glory for any good that he uses us to do. As long as I am living, I want to praise God through the way I live my life.

Mark 15:16–32 – Even the details of Jesus‘s death fulfilled the prophecies from the hundreds of years prior. His charge was that he claimed to be the Messiah. He died because he was the one God promised to send to pay a penalty of sin. Jesus didn’t meet expectations of the religious leaders and Jews, but he met our greatest need - a savior.

Galatians 4:21–31 – When we put our faith in Christ, we enter into the new covenant with God and experience righteousness that is not based on our own effort but based on what Jesus did on the cross. When we truly put our faith in him, we trust him with our lives and follow him and he will lead us into righteous living. Righteous living isn't from our own effort but by allowing Jesus to change who we are from the inside out.

2 Samuel 16–17 – God used Hushai to lead Absalom to his own destruction using his own pride. Don’t allow flattery to blind you to truth. God used Hushai to defeat the council of Ahithophel who later took his own life.

Psalm 114 – God's power was on display in creation when he led Israel through the wilderness. He is lord over all creation and there is nothing he cannot do.

Mark 15:1–15 – Pilot is part of the crucifixion story because he convicted an innocent man in order to make the crowd happy. He isn’t known today for his courageous decision, but rather for his cowardice behavior. God promises to bless those who do what is right but doing what is right will require courage.

Galatians 4:1–20 - Paul is urging the Galatians to live in the freedom found in following Jesus, and not to get trapped by the false teachers who are trying to deceive them into following religious rules of the world. They did not like Paul’s rebuke, but no one loves correction. We must recognize that correction from someone who is on our side is better than praise from someone who isn’t for us.

2 Samual 14–15 - David brought Absalom back but had no intention of reconciling the relationship. His lack of reconciliation fueled Absalom‘s rebellion. When David heard of Absalom‘s conspiracy, David fled the city in order to spare the innocent living in the city. David sent Zadok the Priest and Hushai back to Jerusalem to contradict the advice of Ahithophel in order to create chaos within. Absalon used manipulation to gain a following. Manipulation is a form of deception and is evil. Manipulation has your best interest in mind while true leadership has in mind what is best for those you lead.

Psalm 113 – God is above all things and worthy of all praise. He can take people from poverty and obscurity and put them in place is a great influence. He is the one who gives a child to the childless. Praise his name.

Mark 14:66-72 - Peter denied Jesus three times just as Jesus said he would even though Jesus warned him. Our ability to resist sin does not come from leaning on our own streangth but by learning to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit within us.

Galatians 3:15–29 - Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. The law was there to protect us until Jesus arrived. The law could not make us right because no one could be good enough. Our blessing of new life does not come from following the law but through following Jesus.

2 Samuel 13 - Ammon lusted after his own sister, leading him to violate her by raping her. After he satisfied his lust, his lust turned to hate. He did not love her, but merely wanted to use her for his own pleasure. Absalom plotted revenge for his sister and later killed Ammon for raping his sister. While Ammon may have thought he got away with it, it finally caught up to him. Sin will always find you out.

Psalm 112 - I believe I get to enjoy the blessing of my parents obedience to God. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous - just as verse four describes. God will pour out your blessings on the next generation if you obey.

Mark 14:53-65 - Jesus was unjustly convicted because he claimed to be the Messiah which they rejected.

Galatians 3:1–14 - Paul tells us that we received the Holy Spirit because we believed the message of the gospel. We can’t follow Jesus on our own effort but only through yielding to the Holy Spirit's power inside of us. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to fully follow Jesus and allow him to change us.

2 Samuel 11-12 - David was not where he should’ve been when he first saw Bathsheba. He was no longer leading among the people by going to battle with them. Davidson begin with a series of unwise decisions. Sometimes a decision can be “not sin", but can still be unwise. David tried to cover his sin but Uriah had more honor than David. He believed it wasn’t right for him to be at home while others were in battle. He knew where he was supposed to be and wanted to be there. Although David thought he got away with his sin by having Uriah killed in battle, God did not allow him to get away with it. It is important for us to remember that our sin will find us out. God forgives, but there are always consequences. David mourned for his baby when it died, but he did not stay in the morning once the baby had passed away. He knew he would see the baby again in eternity.

Psalm 111 - We can live without fear when we fully follow God. He will provide and protect. His ways are right and in him we find true wisdom.

Mark 14:43-52 - Just after all his disciples said they would never abandon him, they all deserted him when he was arrested.

Galatians 2 - We have been saved by Grace through faith alone. Now instead of working to satisfy the religious requirements, we simply need to follow Jesus completely. This is more simple than the religious deeds yet more difficult for us because it requires total surrender.

2 Samuel 8-10 - The Lord made David victorious wherever he went. He defeated the Philistines, the Edomites, the Moabites, Amorites, and Amalekites. He gave all the glory to God. Twice in chapter 18 it says the Lord made David victorious wherever he went. David’s secret to success was being fully surrendered to God. David kept his word to Jonathan by caring for his remaining family. David’s attempt at kindness toward the Ammonites was met with contempt. The Ammonites gathered troops from other countries to fight against Israel. Joab had to divide his troops to fight on both sides so he put his brother in charge of one side and he took the other. They would help each other if the battle became too difficult. This is a picture of why we need a strong Christian community and how it should work. We should be eager to fight for each other in our battles. Their battle cry was to be courageous and trust God.

Psalm 110 - This is a prophecy of the coming Messiah. He will reign eternally and remove all evil. It is significant that this prophecy occurred hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth.

Matthew 14:32-42 - The human nature of Jesus is seen in this passage. Because he knew what was ahead, his soul was crushed. He acknowledged that all things were possible for God. He recognized that even though God could change what was next, he accepted that he might not, because God‘s plan and purpose was most important. Jesus brought Peter James and John with him to pray. We might think it was for support, but it seems as if it was to try to prepare them for what was ahead so that they would respond in faith. They continued falling asleep which meant they were not ready when the time came for Jesus to be led away. They responded in flesh rather than in faith. Prayer prepares us and strengthens us to respond in faith as God‘s plan plays out.

Galatians 1 - Many who had trusted in Jesus were falling away because they had been deceived by people who twist the truth. Paul wasn’t preaching to win the approval people but to please God. The proof of his authority and what he preached was in his changed life. The way God changed his life caused many to praise God because only God could have made the change.

2 Samuel 5-7 - God anointed David as a child but he didn’t become king until he was 37. When God gives you a dream, if you simply remain faithful, you will see God fulfill it. David asked God before he went to battle if God wanted him to fight. Then he would fight the way God told him to and God gave him victory while David gave God credit. David’s power grew because the Lord was with him. When David moved the ark to Jerusalem, some men died. They died because they touch the ark trying to steady it. This made David mad so he left it in Obed-Edom. When David saw that the town where the ark was, was being blessed, he decided to move it again but this time they went very slow, making sacrifices to God all along the way. It took much longer, but we should not try to rush the things of God and not give him the honor he deserves. As they brought the ark into Jerusalem, David’s wife got mad at him for dancing in an undignified way. He said he was willing to become even more undignified than this to honor God. David then wanted to build a house for God, but God told him that his son would be the one to do that.

Psalm 109 - Even when those around us curses or want bad things to happen to us, our hope and joy is in the Lord. He will protect us from evil. We can trust in him.

Mark 14:12-31 - Jesus told the disciples what would happen to him at the last supper. He told them he would die and rise again. Peter said he would never desert Jesus and Jesus told him that he would deny him. Then all the disciples vowed they would not let Jesus be killed, even if they had to die with him. That obviously did not happen. 

2 Corinthians 13 - Paul tells them to test their own faith by looking at their life to see if there’s evidence of genuine faith. A good question to ask as we examine our own lives is this – am I becoming more like Christ?

2 Samuel 3-4 - Even though Abner had been commander of Saul's troops, he turned and supported David when David became king again and David accepted him. He held no ill will toward him and even mourned for him when he was murdered. David believed that God would avenge his enemies and accepted those who would join him. He even accepted Ishbosheth, Sauls son, and avenged his death when he was murdered. He was not a leader who lead with fear, but with grace.

Psalm 108 – Our faith in God is fueled by the way we have seen God move in the past and because of his unfailing love. “With his help we will do mighty things.“ 

Mark 14:1-11 - The woman who anointed Jesus his head with the expensive perfume would be remembered because she was preparing him for burial ahead of time. It was from this very act that Judas went and made an arrangement to betray Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:11-21 - The Corinthian‘s resisted Paul’s leadership, possibly because they didn’t like what Paul told them. He confronted their sin and it sounds like the other teachers and leaders either ignored it or excused it. Sometimes leading means you won’t be liked because you have to tell people the truth and often it is truth that they don’t want to hear. God give us wisdom and courage to speak truth and love regardless of how people respond.

2 Samuel 1-2 - David shows to respect and honor to the king God had put in place even though the king was evil and trying to kill him. Asahel’s Death is a result of his stubbornness and pursuit of personal honor. Persistence is good when doing what God has told you to do, but stubbornness over a personal agenda is damaging.

Psalm 107 – God has demonstrated that those who turn away from following him and trusting him will experience disaster, but when they turn back and call out to him, he will answer.

Mark 13:32-37 - No one knows when Jesus is coming back so we need to be ready.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 - We should not bost about what we have done, but about what Christ has done. Our weaknesses are opportunities for his power and strength to shine. His grace is enough.

1 Samuel 29-31 - David was not allowed to fight with the Philistines because of his reputation as a mighty Israelite warrior. When they return to find his town raided and destroyed, many of his men were angry and began to turn on him. David was strengthened by God in that moment. When life gets challenging especially while serving and following God, we can find strength in God. God led him to the Amalekites and they recovered all that was lost. God can restore and return what the enemy has taken. As the Philistines attacked the Israelites, they defeated them and killed Saul and his three sons including Jonathan. David was upset that he could not go fight with them, but God kept him from being in the battle where the king was killed as well as his friend Jonathan. We must trust God‘s path for us even if we don’t understand it.

Psalm 106:24-48 - Because Israel did not trust God, they failed to receive his promise and instead grumbled against him.

Mark 13:14-31 - We need to remain ready for Jesus‘ return. No one knows the day he will come back.

2 Corinthians 11:16-33 - While Paul could boast about his strengths, he would rather boast about his weakness because in his weaknesses is where Gods power is most seen.

1 Samuel 26-28 - David once again spared Saul's life because he refused to harm God's anointed one. That is what it looks like to trust God‘s way over your own way and trust that God will defend and avenge you. David lied to Achish about his activities. Lying is wrong for sure, but Achish was king of his enemies. David was able to hide from Saul while fighting his enemies. Saul consulted the spirit of the dead through a medium because God had not answered him. God did not answer him because Saul had failed to do what God told him to do. We should not look to God for answers if we are not willing to do what he tells us to do.

Psalm 106:1-24 - God’s love is never ending and he is faithful even though we are not.

Mark 13:1-13 - Jesus tells us to expect persecution, earthquakes, false Messiah’s, and wars and threats of war in the end times. We see all of this in the world right now. The end could be close, but it may take longer. Either way our responsibility remains the same and that is to be faithful witness for him as long as we live.

2 Corinthians 11:1-15 - Don’t believe people who teach just because what they say makes sense. The best way to guard against a false teacher is to grow in your own knowledge of scripture. Any message that contradicts scripture is false teaching.

1 Samuel 24-25 - David had an opportunity to kill Saul in a cave, but he only cut off a piece of his robe. David did not take matters into his own hands or his own power as his men urged him to do, but trusted God to deal with Saul in time. The Lord struck Nabal for his evil response to David. In both cases, the Lord took care of David and protected him from evil people.

Psalm 105 - This traces the promise to Abraham to its fulfillment. The part that stands out most is that it says God sent Joseph ahead of them into Egypt. He did this by allowing him to be sold into slavery by his own brothers. It also said that God tested Joseph’s character until the time came for his dream to be fulfilled. What the enemy intends for evil God uses for good.

Mark 12:35-44 - Jesus warns us to be leery of religious leaders who lack humility and want celebrity status. He also points out that the widow gave more because her gift required more faith that God would provide for her.

2 Corinthians 10 - As we minister to others and share the gospel, we must recognize that our power isn’t in human logic but in the spiritual realm.  

1 Samuel 21-23 - David went on the run to save himself from Saul. He lied to Ahemalek about why he was there and no and was able to get food and a sword from Ahemalek. At first glance it may seem like the lie was harmless but it led to the deaths of 85 priests. Others began joining David, most of which were running from their own problems, but they formed an army for David. Before David attacked the Philistines, he consulted God and God told him to go. It is important to seek God before making major decisions. Even while David was hiding in the wilderness, God continue to give him favor by protecting him and growing his army.

Psalm 104 - All of creation has been made by God and for God. He gives all things life and he is the one who sustains life.

Mark 12:28-34 - Jesus summed up all the commands with two things – love God and love others. No religious behavior is more important than that.

2 Corinthians 9 - When talking about giving generously, Paul compares it to planting seeds and harvesting. When you give generously, you will reap a harvest of generosity. Remember that it takes time and care for the seeds to produce the harvest.

1 Samuel 19-20 - Even the Godhead anointed David King, he still went through trials and struggles. God used others to protect him from Saul and even God spirit intervened. When we are doing what God wants he will protect us from those who want to harm and hurt us.

Psalm 103 - because of God‘s unfailing love, does not punish us for all our sins or give us the punishment we deserve. He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. He forgives my sins and heals my diseases.

Mark 12:13-27 - Even though even the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus, he had a wise response this disarmed the religious leaders and exposed the error in their understanding of Scripture. They believe they knew the truth but Jesus showed their error. It is possible to be very educated but yet miss what is actually true. Real truth is found in Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 8 - let your giving reflect the generosity of Jesus who gave his all for us.

1 Samuel 18-19 - David was the unlikely hero of the Goliath story. He did not take the conventional approach, his brothers resented him, and the king doubted him. What made him different was his confidence and what God could do and would do. He understood his victories in the past came from God and believed God could do it again. After he won, Saul wanted to keep him around, but as God gave David favor, he grew jealous and tried to kill David. God protected David and continued to give him victory and success against the philistines. David’s brothers didn’t like David’s questions at the battle with Goliath because of their pride and Saul's pride made him jealous of David. Pride will cause you to resent God‘s goodness in other people's lives. David’s humility continued to position him to be used by God. David remained faithful to God and continued to serve Saul even though Saul was trying to harm him.

Psalm 102 - When we are in despair and cry out to God we find peace and comfort knowing that one day God will wipe away evil. He will restore us in our faithfulness to him and will bless generations after us.

Mark 12:1-12 - Jesus told a story predicting that the religious leaders would one day kill him. The rejection of Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 118 that said the stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone. A cornerstone symbolized the beginning of something new – a new covenant.

2 Corinthians 7 - we should get rid of anything in our lives that leads us to sin. The pain of sin and correction is intended to turn us back to God.

1 Samuel 15-16 - Saul did not obey God‘s command to completely destroy the Amalekites. He and his troops kept whatever appealed to them. Then he lied about it to Samuel and tried to make an excuse by saying they were going to sacrifice the best livestock to God. Samuel‘s reply was that God desires obedience over sacrifice. Because Saul was disobedient and disloyal to God, God removed his blessing from Saul and rejected him as king. He sent Samuel to anoint a new king from the family of Jesse in Bethlehem. They went through all the brothers before they came to the youngest - David - who was watching sheep in the field. God told Samual not to judge by the outward appearance because God looks at the heart. They brought David in and God told Samuel to anoint him. He was the least likely and the least prepared at that moment, but when Samuel anointed him the spirit of the Lord came on him in power. After this, the Spirit of God left Saul and a tormenting spirit came upon him. His servants looked for a musician who could play soothing music and they found David was very good with a harp and when he played Saul would feel better. Even though David was anointed king his first role in the palace was to serve the king that God had already rejected.

Psalm 102 - When we are in despair and cry out to God we can find peace and comfort knowing that one day God will wipe away evil. He will restore us and our faithfulness to him will bless generations after us.

Mark 12:1-12 - Jesus told a story predicting that the religious leaders would one day kill him. Their rejection of Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 118 it said the stone rejected by the builders has become the corner stone meaning he was the beginning of something new.

2 Corinthians 7 - We should get rid of anything in our lives that leads us to sin. The pain of sin and correction is intended to turn us back to God.

1 Samuel 14 - Jonathan and his armor bearer trusted that if God was with them he would fight for them. They knew gods might was greater than the size of their enemy. While others were living in fear, they were walking in faith. Saul made a careless foul without thinking through the implications of how it might affect those he was leading. His pride hurt and almost killed his own son. We should think before we speak and seek God before making a vow.

Psalm 100 - We have reason to sing for joy because of God‘s unfailing love, his faithfulness, and his goodness.

Mark 11-12-26 - The fig tree did not have fruit on it so Jesus cursed it and it withered and died. There is no excuse for not producing fruit in our lives. Lack of faith leads to a lack of fruit. Jesus was mad that people weren’t using the religious sacrificial system as a way to get rich. He wants the church to be known for prayer.

2 Corinthians 5 - We are not afraid of death because of our faith. We know this life is temporary, but real and lasting life is found with God in eternity. I look forward to the day I get to be with him. As long as I am on earth I want to work hard to help others know and follow Jesus. My old life is gone. I am new in Christ.

1 Samuel 11-13 - The Spirit of God came on Saul and he rallied people for battle by cutting two oxen up and telling people that if they didn’t come to fight that would happen to them. After he defeated the Ammonites he was anointed King of Israel just as Israel had wanted. The name Saul actually means asked for. Samual reminded the people of how God had rescued them from oppression each time they would turn back to him and reminded them that they now have a King because they wanted a king like everyone else rather than accepting God as their King. He warned them that they would be swept away if they continued to sin against God. The Lord wouldn’t abandon them but he would allow them to be conquered so they would realize their need for him.

Psalm 99 - The Lord is King of all the earth. He is a forgiving King and answers us when we call out to him.

Mark 11:1-11 - Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from the Psalm when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and people celebrated his entry.

2 Corinthians 4 - we want people to see Jesus the way we have. Our goal is not to trick them but to share truth. The enemy has blinded them. I pray God will open their eyes and they will get to experience God in the same way I have. Even though we experience trials and troubles, they are an opportunity for our faith to shine as we focus on Christ for comfort and lean into the hope that we have that is beyond this world.

1 Samuel 9-10 - God chose Saul to be the first King to rescue the Israelites from the Philistines. He was a very good looking man but also very insecure. He didn’t feel like he was from the right tribe to be selected and during the selection process he hid, but God appointed him none the less. Most of the time when God calls us to do something we won’t feel like the right person but if God is calling we can trust him.

Psalm 98 - Sing praise to God for all he has done. Keep praising him regardless of your circumstances so you can remember his faithfulness and allow his faithfulness to comfort and encourage you.

Mark 10:35-52 - James and John wanted the seats of honor for following Jesus. They wanted to be important or seen as great. This made the other disciples mad probably because they all wanted that as well. Jesus said that if you want to be great you must become a great servant.

2 Corinthians 3 - God alone qualifies us to do what he has created us to do. When we believed in Jesus the veil that separated us from his presence was removed so that we can know and understand God’s truth that sets us free. Now the more we know God the better we can reflect his glory in our lives.

​1 Samuel 6-8 - If you are serious about returning to God you must get rid of the idols and false gods - the things that get in the way off you fully following Jesus. Obey only the Lord and turn to him and he will rescue you. The Philistines got rid of the ark of the Lord because the tumors it was causing in the towns that kept it. They made gold tumors representing the Philistine rulers and five gold rats that represented the five towns in afflicted as an offering and sent it with the arc when they sent it back to Israel. They strapped cows that had never pulled a cart before to the cart that carried the art and let them wander. When the cows return to the Israelite town, it proved the plagues were from God. 70 Israelite men died simply because they looked inside the ark. They did not handle the ark of God with the reverence it required. Samuel gathered all of Israel to pray for them and confess their sins. While they were gathered the Philistines came to attack but God fought for them and defeated the Philistines. Even so, Israel still rejected God as their king and demanded Samual give them a king so they could be like all the other nations. Even with all that God has done for us often we so quickly abandon him in our pursuit to be like those around us, even though only Jesus offers a full and satisfying life.

Psalm 97 - God is supreme over all the earth. All that is seen and unseen is beneath him. He alone is God. He has conquered evil and will one day remove it completely. In the meantime, let your light shine on us for the glory of your name, O God.

Mark 10:17-34 - The rich man was not willing to forsake all to follow Jesus. Jesus wants full and total devotion. God will restore all that we have to give up in order to follow him and even more. The greater reward is eternal life with him.

2 Corinthians 2 - We should rebuke people in love and be quick to forgive them. We get to share in Christ Victory, but as captives of his love. We get to spread the message of salvation which is good news to those who will receive it!

1 Samuel 3-5 - When Samuel was young, he heard God speak to him.  He told Eli that God was going to hold he and his sons accountable for their sins.  God continued to speak to Samuel at Shiloh.  God can speak to you if you will be still and listen.  Do you have a "shiloh" where you hear God speak to you?  While Israel was at war with the Philistines, they were being defeated so they decided to take the ark of the Lord with them into battle to try to force God to fight for them.  Instead of seeking God, they trying to manipulate and used God.  The Philistines defeated Israel in this battle and captured the Ark.  Eli's sons were killed in this battle and when Eli heard the news, he fell backwards, broke his neck and died too.  Wherever the Philistines took the Ark, a plague of tumors spread to those in that town so the people begged the Philistine rulers to send it back to Israel.  God doesn't need anyone to defend him.  He can defend himself. 

Psalm 95 - God is our Rock, our fortress, our maker, and he holds all things in his hands.  All things belong to him and he protects and provides for us, his flock.

Mark 10:1-16 - Jesus explained that divorce wasn't God's design but a concession to the sinfulness of man.  Jesus welcomed the children to himself.  His desire is that God we would all receive the Kingdom of God with the same innocent heart of a child. 

2 Corinthians 1:12-24 - God has fulfilled all his promises with Jesus.  Because of Jesus, we can have faith God will do in us and through us all that he has promised because of his spirit in us.  We simply have to say yes to him and act on our faith. 

1 Samuel 1-2 - Hannah cried out to God for many year, and God answered her prayer. Persistent prayers often lead to powerful results.  Don't quit! Eli had served the Lord in the temple but failed to discipline his sons.  As a result, God told Eli that he was going to hold him accountable because he allowed them to to do things in the temple that should not be allowed.  As a pastor, my first ministry and responsibility is my family.  It doesn't matter how the church does if I don't lead my family well.  

Psalm 95 - God is our Rock, our fortress, our maker, and he holds all things in his hands.  All things belong to him and he protects and provides for us, his flock

Mark 9:33-50 - Jesus told the disciples not to criticize those who were doing ministry in Jesus name even though they weren't part of the disciples group.  Right before this they were arguing about who the greatest is and Jesus said the greatest in God's kingdom is the greatest servant. The way to be great is to serve others.  We should not criticize other Christ - Centered ministries just because they do ministry in a different way.  Jesus then tells them to deal severely with sin.  Don't tolerate it, but instead remove it.  As they live, they should live in a way that causeless people to want what they have and they should work to live in peace with others.

2 Corinthians 1:1-11 - God is the source of all comfort.  The trouble they went through taught them to trust God instead of themselves.  Also, the prayers of the others strengthen them and were a testimony of how God answers prayer.