The downfall of Saul

• I Samuel 9:1-2 - From a worldly standpoint, Saul was to be envied. He came from a wealthy family and was a handsome young man.
• I Samuel 10:6-9 - Samuel prophesied that Saul would have the Spirit of the Lord upon him and he would become another man. Saul evidently started acting differently once the spirit of the Lord came upon him.
• I Samuel 10:24 - They wanted a king and they got what they wanted!
• I Samuel 13:8-14 - This was the beginning of Saul’s downfall.
• I Samuel 31:4-7 - Saul fell on his own sword, dying on the same day as his three sons. But his downfall started when he first disobeyed God.
• If we are not careful, we can make the same mistake as Saul by going our own way rather than obeying God.

The witch of Endor (I Samuel 28)

• Sorcery and contacting the dead is condemned in the strongest language in the Bible. Be careful of this. It is still an issue today.

Introduction

• Titus 2:11-14
• God makes it simple: one thing or the other.

Sin always comes with poison.

• Titus 3:3 - There is something pleasurable about sin.
• Hebrews 11:25
• Proverbs 5:3-5 - Adultery is only a temporary pleasure.
• Proverbs 20:17
• Ecclesiastes 2:1
• Ephesians 2:10
• Ephesians 3:14-19 - This is the life God wants for us!
• Ephesians 4:22

Temptations have always been around and always will be.

• James 4:4 - friendship with the world vs. God
• I John 2:15-17
• Ecclesiastes 1:9
• I Timothy 2:9
• Think about hte effect you are having on others.
• I Timothy 4:12
• You are already valuable as a child of God. You don’t have to seek value by dressing immodestly.
• Luke 17:1

There is tremendous joy in living God’s way!

• Galatians 5:22
• What do we gain from doing things God’s way?
  • A strong, secure family - Titus 2:3-4
  • A blissful marriage - I Corinthians 7:3-4
  • A solid reputation
• I Peter 3:3 - There’s not some better life out there!

The life God has mapped out for us is a good life. And the retirement plan is out of this world!

• Titus 2:12

Making Benchley strong

• Revelation 3:1 - It is possible to be a dead church.

Use the Bible as our guide.

• Acts 11:19-30 - All three of Paul’s preaching journeys started in Antioch.
  • Antioch was a brand new church with both Jews and Gentiles and they were doing well.
  • Acts 11:20 - “Hellenists” here is likely referring to Greek-speaking non-Jews (Gentiles).
• We must fall back to our common ground—the word of God.
• Acts 14:34-15:4
• Acts 11:26; 13:1; 15:35 - Lots of teaching was happening at Antioch!

Be devoted to Jesus above all else.

• Acts 11:20-21 - “a great number who believed turned to the Lord”
• There is one Savior and we must be converted to Him.

Live the life.

• Acts 11:27-30
• Are you using your time and money to live for Christ?
• I John 2:3-6; 1:6 - It is not enough to know the scripture - you must act.
• I John 3:7-8 - The one who practices righteousness is righteous.

Rejoice about spiritual things.

• Acts 8:3-4, 39 - The eunuch rejoiced about his baptism.
• Acts 11:23; 13:48; 16:34 - More rejoicing!
• When’s the last time you rejoiced about something spiritual?

Introduction

• Micah 6:8

Matthew 23:1-12

• Focus on self:
  • Love for:
    • Attention and praise from men
    • Being honored by men
    • Elevated and admired by men
• Focus on Christ
  • Look to, focus on God and Christ
  • Practice God’s law: not to draw praise for self
  • Give attention and praise to God
  • Humble themselves
  • Be servants

I Corinthians 1:10-2:9; 3:1-9

• Focus on self:
  • Divide into groups aligned with human teachers
  • Give undue status and authority to men
  • Worldly, physical focus
  • Impressed by:
    • Clever arguments
    • Debate tactics
    • Men’s philosophies, wisdom,
    • Charisma
    • Mighty people: wealth, renown, confidence
    • Eloquent speech, appealing voice
    • Physical attractiveness
• Focus on Christ
  • Focus on Christ and God’s message
  • Preach the gospel of Christ
  • Christ crucified = wisdom of God
  • Spiritual focus
  • Confidence, power, boast in God
  • View themselves as servants
  • Working with God
  • Give credit and glory to God

II Corinthians 1:12-14, 24

• Focus on Christ:
  • Not a “lord” over others
  • Not a person with special distinction
  • Working together with other disciples

John 3:22-31

• Focus on self:
  • Concerned about people following ME
  • Building MY following
  • Pointing people to ME
• Focus on Christ
  • Concerned about people following Christ
  • Building Christ’s following
  • Completely point people to Christ
  • Humbly doing my part in God’s work

When we focus on ourselves

• Love for:
  • Attention and praise from men
  • Being honored by men
  • Elevated and admired by men
• Concerned about people following ME
• Building MY following
• Pointing people to ME.
• Divide into groups aligned with human teachers
• Give undue status and authority to men
• Worldly, physical focus
• Impressed by:
  • Clever arguments
  • Debate tactics
  • Men’s philosophies, wisdom,
  • Charisma
  • Mighty people: wealth, renown, confidence
  • Eloquent speech, appealing voice
  • Physical attractiveness

When we focus on Christ

• Look to, focus on God and Christ
• Practice God’s law: not to draw praise for self
• Give attention and praise to God
• Humble themselves
• Be selfless servants
• Not a lord over others
• Not a person with special distinction
• Working together with other disciples
• Focus on Christ and God’s message
• Spiritual focus
• Preach the gospel of Christ
• Christ crucified = wisdom of God
• Confidence, power, boast is in God
• View themselves as servants
• Working with God
• Give credit and glory to God
• Concerned about people following Christ
• Building Christ’s following
• Completely point people to Christ
• Humbly doing my part in God’s work

Applications

• Convert people to Christ. Be careful of converting people to my church.

I Samuel 25

• I Samuel 25:1 - Samuel died. Israel assembled to mourn him. Samuel gave his own obituary in a way in I Samuel 12:1-5. How great it would be to be able to say these things about myself at the end of my life!
• I Samuel 25:3 - Nabal’s name meant “fool.”
• I Samuel 25:24 - Abigail showed tremendous wisdom and humility in intercepting David.
• I Samuel 25:26 - Abigail said that God restrained David’s hand. David agreed in I Samuel 25:34.
• I Samuel 25:28 - This was possibly a prophecy of what would come from David’s lineage.
• I Samuel 25:32 - David counted meeting Abigail as God’s providence. God helped arrange this turn of events. Don’t overlook the small events that God may be orchestrating in your life!