“David & His Wives – Family Train Wreck”
The news over the past year has reported on several train wrecks. Many of them resulted in huge pile ups of cars due to faulty track or taking a curve to sharply or caused for unknown reasons. Despite the cause, a train wreck is always a huge mess and takes days and more often than not weeks to clean up. We have been studying the life of David these past months. We now come to his family and what we…
“Enthusiastic Worshipper: Does It Describe You?
There is much that has been written on the subject of worship. We talk often about worship music, worship choruses, places of worship. We have worship styles that have become hotly debated topics and the center for some very sad divisions among Christians. Looking back to the life of David though, we see a glimpse of how he worshipped God. We can learn much form his example and the practical applications we draw from 1 Chronicles 15-17. Spend some time…
“The Lord Is My Shepherd”
Psalm 23 is a favorite among many people. We hear it read at funerals often. The Psalm is not for the dead though. It is for the living and it reveals much to us about the character of our God. The Lord, the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God is our Shepherd. That simple statement in and of itself should leave us on our knees before God praising Him, because that word, shepherd, communicates in wonderful picture of care, protection,…
“Who Is Like Our God?”
Ever had one of those moments when you stand back in total amazement at what God has just done? David had more than one of those moments in his life I am sure, but we see one specifically in 2 Samuel 6. David wants to build a house for God. God’s answer and we find David sitting before the Lord in total amazement essentially asking this question–who is like our God?
“Doing Right Things in Wrong Ways”
Ever quote the old saying – “well at least they had good intentions”. I don’t recall its origins, but we don’t see that phrase quote in Scripture by God. David in 2 Samuel 6 moved the Ark of the Covenant in the wrong manner though he had good motives. God had prescribed a very detailed manner in which the Ark of the Covenant was to be moved and even though David had good intentions, he disobeyed God. Take a few…
“Between a Rock & a Hard Place”
Crisis. We know the word. We see it all around us. Often we equate it to finances and the state of a nation. But crisis affects us all and takes many different forms. Shortly after time began, there was a spiritual crisis. Man thought he knew better than God and thus the downward spiral began and the continual increasing distance of the relationship between God and man. We face crisis in our families with the death of a loved one,…
“When You Are at the End of Your Rope, God Is Still There”
Have you ever had that kind of moment in your life? I think in some respects it is a silly question because everyone has. We all have had moments in our lives when we are at the end of our strength. We are at our wits end about what do do next. We feel as if there is no where else to turn and all hope is lost. But we have an amazing promise, comforting words from Scripture, peace for…
“Even Our Heroes Mess Up”
The title itself may recall to your mind the shortcomings of any number of heroes. Perhaps you are thinking of the superheroes from movies and how they have failed. Heroes aren’t just those with superpowers though as we see depicted by Hollywood. Heroes more often than not are everyday people who do extraordinary deeds. They are people who we look up to. Due to sin though, none of us are perfect and we all (even heroes) mess up from time…
“Extreme Contrasts: Foolishness & Wisdom”
We live in world of great contrasts. In the realm of colors: black & white. In the realm of geography: mountains & plains. In the realm of temperature and climate: fridgid cold/snow & sweltering heart/sun. In 1 Samuel 25, we find an extreme contrast as well: foolishness & wisdom. We see how the foolish response of one man leads to the foolish reaction of another and the outcome from these foolish decisions is dim. But wisdom finds its ways into…
“Trusting & Praising God in a Cave”
David was a man on the run for many years. Saul’s attitude toward him often changed at the drop of a hat. Saul was glad to have him around one minute and then wanted to kill him the next. On two particular occasions, David sought shelter in a cave as he was running from King Saul. We are unsure which instance this Psalm refers to but we do have a court side seats to the spiritual life of this young…
“The Jealous King Searches for God’s Anointed”
We continue on in our series on the Life of David. If you remember back to 1 Samuel, you will recall that the relationship between Saul and David was rocky. While Jonathan and David were great friends, King Saul more often than not despised David. We are going to talk about that very fact and why Saul had such a hatred for David and made it his goal to see David’s life ended. As we do, you will be challenged…
“Invitations to the Weary, the Curious, & the Thirsty”
This sermon is part two of a short serious started last week focusing on Advent and its definition. Journey with us as we continue to explore the invitations within the gospels that Jesus extends to those around him. You will be encouraged by the Word of God.
“Invitations – Will You Come?”
Ever considered what the word ADVENT actually means? I think so many people see it simply as a time or celebration or tradition around Christmas time. Perhaps you think of the candles at the front on a Sunday morning. Let’s look at the word itself though. Take some time and learn what the word means and what applications and challenges we can find from Scripture as we look at its definition.
“New Battles, But Old Enemies” (Part 2)
This is part #2 of a sermon that Pastor Paul did some weeks ago on David & Goliath. Here he finishes those thoughts, challenges, and principles up from 1 Samuel 17. If you need to refresh your memory or catch up with the first part of this sermon, see the one on November 8th – “It’s Not the Children’s Version of David & Goliath” (Part 1).
Ukraine Missions Trip Report
We read in Acts 14 that when Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria that they gave a report of their work. In fact it says in v. 27 of that chapter “When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles” (NET). Here at GBC it is our custom as such to take time to hear the reports from…
“True Friends – Defining Biblical Friendship”
We continue with the life of David. After the account of David & Goliath, the next major part of David’s life that we find is the friendship between Jonathan & David. The bond between these two men was like that of brothers. Think about the friends that you have in your life. Think about their qualities, characteristics, what makes them who they are. As we look at the friendship between Jonathan & David, we are going to look at what…
“It’s Not the Children’s Version of David & Goliath” (Part 1)
Many will remember the story of David and Goliath, most likely from their time in Sunday School. In Sunday School though the key focus was often on the fact that the little man overcame the giant. There is much more to the biblical account than that though and many more lessons that we can learn that will challenge our personal walk with God. So what else can we learn? What might you have missed in the past? Tune in to…
“Bitter Roots Yield Bitter Fruit”
If you have ever planted a garden, you know that the care you put into it and what you feed the plants determines a lot about the outcome later on–how much the plants yield and the quality of the produce. This sermon looks at the beginning of the story of David–King Saul. It looks at his start and what he yielded.
“Three Simple Reasons Why We’re Here”
It is always a pleasure to hear from the missionaries that Grace Bible Church supports. This week, Justin Kron was with us. Justin and his family serve with Chosen People Ministries, sharing the gospel and that the Messiah has come to Jewish people in the Chicago-land area. Justin also often leads trips to Israel. Take a few moments to listen to his update and encouragement.
“Fellowship with the Living God”
As you read various psalms that David wrote, you see the intimacy of his relationship with God. He was not afraid to speak his mind before the Lord and share the struggles he was going through and tell God that it was down right awful and asking God when He was going to show up. We also see him praising God for His character and various qualities and even the Law itself which was worth innumerable value to David. In…