How do we listen to God? There are many ways. We listen through studying God’s word, the Scriptures. God’s word is living and active, and he speaks through the Bible. The Bible is inspired by God, which means that God’s Spirit was at work in the lives of the authors, so that when we readContinue reading “How God speaks – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 5”
Tag Archives: samuel
How humility is the foundational posture to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 4
As we saw in the previous post, God speaks directly to Samuel. But why? God does not speak directly to the priests Hophni or Phineas. God does not speak to their father, the priest Eli. In today’s post, we learn how Samuel put himself in a position to hear directly from God. But first, weContinue reading “How humility is the foundational posture to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 4”
Putting yourself in a position to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 3
There was evil in the tabernacle. All the people knew it. God was also taking notice. Read 1 Samuel 2:27-36 here, and then return to the post. Those verses are brutal, right? God sends an unnamed prophet to give a dark, dark message for Eli. He is saying, “Eli, what your sons are doing isContinue reading “Putting yourself in a position to hear from God – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 3”
The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2
What do you think is the primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus? Think about it a moment. There are numerous potential answers. You might even think of biblical passages that might provide some answers. I think the story that we’ve been following this week on the blog, a story found in 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a,Continue reading “The primary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 2”
Are our lives so noisy we cannot hear the voice of God? – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 1
Microsoft has the Guinness World Record for the quietest room. It is located at their headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It is so quiet that people are said to only be able to stand a few hours in it. They first hear their heart beating. Eventually they can hear their blood flowing and bones moving. Eerie.Continue reading “Are our lives so noisy we cannot hear the voice of God? – 1 Samuel 2:12-4:1a, Part 1”
True or False: When you’ve heard from God, it wasn’t actually God – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1, Preview
A couple years ago I taught a theology course for Lancaster Bible College, and one of the books students were required to read is Good News for Anxious Christians: 10 Practical Things You Don’t Have to Do by Philip Cary. As I read the book in preparation for the class, at times I was nodding in agreement,Continue reading “True or False: When you’ve heard from God, it wasn’t actually God – 1st Samuel 2:12-4:1, Preview”
A prayer that reveals God’s heart for the hurting – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 5
When we are going through difficulties in life, we wonder if God sees or cares. When our difficulties are prolonged and our prayers seem unanswered, we can really doubt God. This week on the blog, we’ve been studying 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, the story of a woman, Hannah, who was battling infertility, and it seemed toContinue reading “A prayer that reveals God’s heart for the hurting – 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 5”
How to pray when God doesn’t give us what we want – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 4
Last year my son and daughter-in-law excitedly gave us the news that they were pregnant with their second child! We rejoiced with them. A few months later, routine testing revealed the baby likely had a significant heart defect. Through the fall, I prayed for my granddaughter to be born and have no heart issues. IContinue reading “How to pray when God doesn’t give us what we want – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 4”
How and what to pray when you have reached a breaking point – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 3
Have you ever observed a stranger weeping? Did you approach them and ask, “Are you okay?” Typically when someone is weeping, we have sympathy for them. Maybe even empathy, because most of us know what it feels like to be so distraught that we are weeping bitterly. Similarly, in our story this week, 1st SamuelContinue reading “How and what to pray when you have reached a breaking point – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 3”
When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2
Hannah is in a precarious situation. She can’t bear her husband an heir, and yet her rival wife, Penninah is quite fertile. Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, could kick Hannah to the curb. What will Elkanah do? In 1st Samuel 1, verses 4-5, we learn that, “Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would giveContinue reading “When life is painful, do people make stupid comments to you? – 1st Samuel 1:1-2:11, Part 2”
Engaging Scripture 