The Blessing of Character
Sermon Notes
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.”
9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.”
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.
1 Samuel 16:4-13
Table Group Resources
Mixer
What are three things that you are grateful for?
‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional
To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.
In Pastor Harry’s 10/26/21 entry, The Gap, he reminds us that we are all alike, stuck in the gap between what God’s Word promises and what you are actually going through today. How do you find hope that God will provide? How do you know that God is with you? How do you know He is already at work before you even asked? Write these thoughts down and read them to yourself in those moments of waiting on God.
In Pastor Pam’s 10/30/21 entry, Best Kind of Provision, she reminds us that God does provide...because we are His adopted children. Are you still waiting for His provision? What do each of these strategies look like in your waiting: Trusting God, Surrendering “your” desired outcome to God, and Putting God first in your life?
Sermon Questions
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16: 4-7, 8-13
What impacted or challenged you in today’s message?
Read the story in 1 Samuel 16. Why wasn’t David there in the line up with his brothers? Why was he chosen - by God’s standards or worldly standards?
Where do you feel the world’s pressure (personally, professionally, spiritually)? Are you exhausted from playing the charade?
We see in the Scriptures that weakness is what the Spirit of God runs to. What if you were to ask the Spirit of God to fall upon you in your current circumstance? Are you willing to believe that as you sit in your weakness, God will meet you there and use you right where you are at?
Do you have any people in your life where you can come be just who you are - share your weaknesses with, and not feel judged?
How does God develop character in you? And then as a parent, how do you help your children develop their character over appearance and talent?
When your head hits the pillow at night, can you say, “Ahhhh, I know who I am?” In your quiet time this week, sit down with God and go through these questions. Then sit with a trusted friend and ask them what they see:
Am I less self-indulgent than I was a year ago?
Do I have a deeper, quieter joy about me than I did a year ago?
Am I less anxious?
Am I less greedy?
Am I more compassionate?
Go Deeper - with Goodbook
Dr. Mark Strauss and Pastor Ken Ingold
Sermon on the Mount | Session 8 | Judgment and Generosity (Matthew 7:1-12)
Should Christians ever judge others? If so, under what circumstances? 2 What are some examples of good judgment, or discernment?
What should be the goal of this kind of judgment?
What is Jesus’s main point when he says, “Ask and it will be given to you...”?
What are some necessary qualifications about what we can ask God for?
What is the “Golden Rule”? In what way does it sum up the Law and the Prophets?
For the Zoom link to join the Tuesday Night 7:30pm online Q & A sessions: ken@thechurchrb.org
Serve
Serve Day is Saturday, November 20th! Sign-ups are now available online and in-person on Sundays!
Pray
Please lift up all of those fighting the worldly battles of a cancer/health diagnosis, serious injury, emotional distress, relationship loss or breakdowns, worldly pressures, and more. Pray for God to come close and that each will feel strengthened knowing that God sees them, and that right now He is at battle in the Heavenly realms for each of them. And has already WON! Thank you Jesus! Amen.
