Victorious by Faith (David and Goliath)
(1 Samuel 17:32-58)

I. Trust God’s power (1 Samuel 17:32-37)
A. God’s strength is greater than your weakness (1 Samuel 17:32-33; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
B. Remember God’s faithfulness in past circumstances (1 Samuel 17:34-37; Deuteronomy 7:17-18; Psalm 105:5)

II. Use God’s weapons (1 Samuel 17:38-50)
A. Do not use the weapons of this world (1 Samuel 17:38-40; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
B. Put on the full armor of God (1 Samuel 17:41-44; Ephesians 6:10-18)
C. Remember the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:45-50; 2 Chronicles 20:15)

III. Rest in God’s victory (1 Samuel 17:51-58)
A. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 Samuel 17:51-54; Genesis 3:15; 1 John 5:4)
B. Be ready to testify (1 Samuel 17:55-58; Genesis 49:10; 1 John 5:11-12)

The Fear Factor (Saul and Goliath)
(1 Samuel 17:1-31)

I. You have a powerful enemy (1 Samuel 17:1-11)
A. You are in a spiritual battle (1 Samuel 17:1-3; Ephesians 6:12)
B. The enemy is strong (1 Samuel 17:4-7; 1 Peter 5:8)
C. The enemy stands in opposition to God and His people (1 Samuel 17:8-11; Revelation 12:17;13:6)

II. The fear factor (1 Samuel 17:12-24)
A. Giving in to fear will cause you to lose time and opportunities (1 Samuel 17:12-16; Ephesians 5:15-16)
B. Giving in to fear will have you simply going through the motions (1 Samuel 17:17-22; 2 Timothy 3:5)
C. Giving in to fear will make you want to give up (1 Samuel 17:23-24; Ephesians 6:13)

III. Defeating your fears (1 Samuel 17:25-31)
A. Remember the benefits of following God (1 Samuel 2:10; 17:25; Psalm 103:2-4; Revelation 3:21)
B. Have zeal for God’s honor (1 Samuel 17:26-27; Psalm 4:2-3; 119:53)
C. Don’t let anyone discourage you from following God (1 Samuel 17:28-31; Numbers 13:30-33; Joshua 1:9)

Being a Blessing
(1 Samuel 16:14-23)

I. How do we deal with distress? (1 Samuel 16:14-17)
A. Know that God is sovereign over all things (1 Samuel 16:14; Isaiah 45:7; Matthew 6:31-32)
B. Seek wise and healthy solutions (1 Samuel 16:15-17; Psalm 33:1-3; Proverbs 27:9; Ecclesiastes 11:7; Philippians 4:6-7)

II. How do we prepare for service? (1 Samuel 16:18-20)
A. Develop your talents and skills for God’s glory (1 Samuel 16:18a; Matthew 25:20-21; 1 Corinthians 10:31)
B. Maintain a good reputation with God and others (1 Samuel 16:18b; Proverbs 3:3-4; 22:1)
C. Be ready for opportunities to serve (1 Samuel 16:19-20; Luke 16:10; 2 Timothy 4:2)

III. How do we become a channel of blessing? (1 Samuel 16:21-23)
A. Serve well where God puts you (1 Samuel 16:21-22; Proverbs 22:29; 1 Timothy 3:13)
B. Be a blessing to others (1 Samuel 16:23; Proverbs 11:25; 16:24; Romans 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

The Lord Looks at the Heart (David Is Chosen)
(1 Samuel 16:1-13)

I. Samuel’s Heart for God (1 Samuel 16:1-5)
A. Mourning over sin (1 Samuel 16:1; Psalm 119:136)
B. Trusting God (1 Samuel 16:2-3; Psalm 118:6)
C. Obeying God’s commands (1 Samuel 16:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:5-6)

II. David’s brothers were not chosen (1 Samuel 16:6-10)
A. The Lord does not see as man sees (Isaiah 55:8-9; Matthew 5:3-10)
B. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Kings 8:39; 2 Chronicles 16:9)

III. David was chosen by God (1 Samuel 16:11-13)
A. David was the youngest of all his brothers (1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Corinthians 1:27)
B. David was handsome (1 Samuel 16:12; Proverbs 15:13)
C. David was anointed, then filled with the Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13; Acts 1:8)
D. David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 78:72)

APPLICATIONS
1) Don’t judge others by appearance (John 7:24)
2) Don’t neglect your own gifts for service (1 Peter 4:10)
3) Don’t overlook Jesus (John 1:10-12)

Easter Truth
(John 5:28-29)

I. Jesus is risen from the dead as both Savior and Judge. (1 Corinthians 15:1-28)

II. We all shall be raised, either to eternal life or to eternal judgment. (John 5:28-29)

A. There is a future bodily resurrection of every person. (Matthew 25:46)

B. This future resurrection divides all people into only two categories. (John 3:19-21; Romans 3:10-12; Hebrews 9:14; Ephesians 2:10)

C. A person’s eternal destiny hinges on his response to Jesus Christ. (John 5:24; 6:27 14:6)

The Ascent: Palm Sunday
(Psalm 134)

I. Behold, bless the Lord! (Psalm 134:1-2; 1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Peter 2:9; Psalm 30:5, 126:5; Psalm 24:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 10:19-22)

II. May the Lord bless you! (Psalm 134:3; Psalm 121:2; 124:8; Hebrews 7:25-26, 12:22-23)

I. David’s promise to God (Psalm 132:1-9; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; Hebrew 6:10; Genesis 28:16-22; 2 Samuel 7:1-2; Numbers 10:35-36; 2 Chronicles 6:41)

II. God’s promise to David. (Psalm 132:10-12; 2 Chronicles 6:42; 2 Samuel 7:11-13)

III. God’s promise to us. (Psalm 132:13-18; Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 21:1-4, 22-27)

I. Cry to the Lord for mercy. (Psalm 130:1-4; Psalm 69:1-3; Psalm 124:4-5; Jonah 2:2; Lamentations 3:5; Luke 18:13; Romans 3:19,23; Revelation 20:12-13; 1 Kings 8:39-40; Psalm 103:8-12; Mark 2:7; Hebrews 10:17; 1 John 2:1)

II. Wait for the Lord expectantly. (Psalm 130:5-6; Psalm 5:3; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 30:5, 126:5)

III. Place your hope in the Lord (Psalm 130:7-8; Psalm 86:15; 1 Corinthians 13:8; Romans 3:23-24, 5:20; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 103:2-4; Matthew 1:21)

I. Persevering through Pain (Psalm 129:1-4)
A. You can suffer pain without being defeated. (Psalm 124:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10)
B. Your suffering is temporary. (Psalm 124:7; 125:3; Isaiah 50:6; 53:5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
C. In Jesus you will have victory. (Jeremiah 1:19; Matthew 16:18)

II. Praying through Pain (Psalm 129:5-8)
A. Pray for persecutors to be turned back in shame. (Psalm 129:5; Genesis 12:3; Psalm 35:4)
B. Pray for the wicked to be stopped. (Psalm 129:6-7; Psalm 92:6-7)
C. Pray for discernment of evil. (Psalm 129:8; Ruth 2:4; Isaiah 5:20; Matthew 7:6; Ephesians 5:11)
D. Love and pray for your enemies. (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14; Ephesians 6:12)

“Those Who Sow in Tears Shall Reap in Joy” (Psalm 126)

I. Remember how God has helped you in the past. (Psalm 126:1-3; Ezra 1:1-4; Job 42:10; Acts 12:9-11; Genesis 21:6-7; Psalm 137:1-4; Isaiah 25:9, 52:10; Luke 1:49)

II. Trust that God will help you once again! (Psalm 126: 4-6; Lamentations 3:22-23; Isaiah 35:6; Joel 2:25; Ruth 1:20-21, 4:16-17; Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 51:11, 61:1-3; Psalm 56:8; Galatians 6:9; 1 Peter 4:19; Revelation 21:4)