God Raises A Prophet (1 Samuel 2:12-3:21)

blog, sermons

Me: Story about unfaithful pastor at church in Augusta

We: Have you heard of stories of pastors and churches who serve themselves rather than God?

Church leaders must give an account to God for how they cared for His church according to Hebrews 13:17, because God, through Christ is the one who purchased them with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

What does God do when people are unfaithful to Him? How does He call people to serve Him and how does He keep them?

MPS: God calls and raises His people to fulfill their purpose in serving Him faithfully and fervently.

How does God deal with unfaithful servants? (2:12-36)

• God curses those who abuse their authority. (12-17; 34)
• God blesses His people who serve Him earnestly. (20-21)
• God prepares His people to serve Him faithfully. (26)
• God rebukes those who don’t take their responsibility seriously. (27-34)
• God raises faithful leaders for His people. (35-36)

What does this look like eternally?

“31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.” (Matt. 25:31-33)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

App: Habitual unfaithfulness, which is the rejection of God and His will, is the fruit of this world and not the Kingdom of God.

What does God do in times of spiritual turmoil? (3:1-21)

• God prepares leaders to serve Him. (3:1; 19-21)
• God calls leaders to serve Him. (2-9)
• God makes His presence known. (10)
• God uses His leaders to speak uncomfortable truths to people and power. (15-18)

Do we have a picture of this in the New Testament?

Acts 9 (The calling of Paul)

App: God prepares us to serve Him, follow Him, and carry out His will. He raises up His people to serve Him and know Him forever.

You-Next Steps

• Know what God teaches
• Obey God’s commands
• Follow God’s calling

We-What does it look like to be a community that knows, obeys, and follows God?

“42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)