1 Samuel on Abundance

liturgy

Heavenly Father, You shower Your love

Author

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 1:9-20, Acts 2:1-4, John 4:1-26, Luke 15:11-32, Psalm 23:6, Galatians 5:22-23

Heavenly Father, You shower Your love on us throughout every stage of life. We praise You for Your steadfast love. Through Your Son we see the extent of that love while through Your Spirit we experien...

lectionary

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6, Mark 2:23-28, Mark 3:1-6, Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Acts 15:37-39, Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11, Philemon 1:24, 1 Peter 5:13, Mark 1:14-15, Mark 2:1-22, Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Exodus 34:21, 1 Samuel 21:1-6, Luke 11:37-54, Mark 2:1-17, Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:1-2, Genesis 3:null, John 19:30

Preaching Commentary Context Authorship of Mark Mark’s account of the story of Jesus is commonly held to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels. Early church tradition identifies the author...

Quote

Author

Karl Barth

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:46-55, Acts 9:, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, 2 Samuel 7:18-22, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 100:4-5

Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder lightning.

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The Connection Between Grace & Gratitude

Author

Diana Butler Bass

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 16:4, 1 Samuel 1:27–28, Isaiah 55:1–2, Luke 17:15–16, Romans 5:8, Psalm 100:4

The words “gratitude” and “grace” come from the same root word, gratia in Latin and kharis in Greek, as mentioned earlier. In addition to being the name of a goddess, “grace” is a theological word, on...

Quote

Author

Socrates

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 16:7, Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 , Proverbs 22:1, Matthew 6:19-21 , Luke 12:15-21 , Psalm 37:16

Be less concerned with what you have than with what you are.

Quote

Author

Martin Luther

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 127:1, Proverbs 16:3, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 1 Samuel 17:, Matthew 14:13-21, John 15:5

Work and let him give the fruits therefore! Rule, and let him prosper it! Battle, and let him give victory! Preach, and let him make hearts devout!”

Quote

Author

Gordon T. Smith

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 16:7, 2 Chronicles 2:7-8, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 5:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Psalm 33:3

It is more helpful to recognize that God is looking for people of ability who will make their ability available to God.

Quote

Author

Jean Pierre de Caussade

Keywords

Scripture

Mark 15:21-39, John 4:4-42, 2 Kings 5:1-14, 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Luke 2:1-7, John 9:1-3, 2 Corinthians 12:9

[God’s grace is] always hidden under the strangest appearances.

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Envy’s Wish

Author

Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung

Keywords

Envy

Scripture

1 Samuel 18:10-16, Proverbs 14:30, James 3:16, Mark 7:20-23

A Poem by Victor Hugo recounts an opportunity granted to Envy and Avarice to receive whatever they wished, on the condition that the other receive a double portion. Envy replied, “I wish to be blind i...

lectionary

Pentecost

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:1-21, Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, Acts 1:15, Exodus 20:null, Acts 2:9-11, 1 Samuel 10:10, Ezekiel 7:1-14, 1 Kings 19:11-12, Joel 2:28-32, Genesis 11:7-9

Preaching Commentary Clothed with Power I have a daughter who cannot acquire enough clothes. Every birthday, Christmas, or special occasion is an opportunity to shop online for something new. Fashi...

Quote

Author

Philip Yancey

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 2:23–25, 1 Samuel 1:10–11, Jonah 2:1–2, Matthew 5:3, Luke 18:13–14, Psalm 34:18

Human beings do not readily admit desperation. When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near.

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The Worship of the god "Success"

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 15:10-23 , 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 , Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Mark 10:35-45 , Luke 18:9-14 , Psalm 49:16-20

William James, in a famous letter to H. G. Wells in 1906, credited what he called American “moral flabbiness” to “the exclusive worship of the bitch-goddess Success. That—with the squalid cash interpr...

lectionary

Third Sunday of Advent

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:46b-55, Luke 1:26-38, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Matthew 5:null, Matthew 19:24

AIM Commentary “Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ has been banned from public proclamation in many countries due to the revolutionary nature of these verses. ‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones’? Just...

Quote

Author

F.B. Meyer

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 1:9-20, Job 42:1-6, Jeremiah 31:15-17, Psalm 55:22 , Philippians 4:6-7 , Matthew 11:28-30

As we pour out our bitterness, God pours in his peace.

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Gratitude: It Makes Everything Taste Better

Author

The Pastor's Workshop

Keywords

Scripture

Proverbs 22:7-11, 1 Samuel 8:10 , Mark 16:9-20, Psalm 60:, 1 Kings 17:8-16, Daniel 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Luke 17:11-19, Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 136:1

Charles Fulton Oursler Sr. (1893–1952) was an American journalist, playwright, editor, and writer. Like many Southerners of means, he was cared for as a boy by a nurse who had been born into slavery. ...

Quote

Author

Garrison Keillor

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 11:4 , Ecclesiastes 4:4, 1 Samuel 18:6-9 , Matthew 6:1-2 , Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 127:1-2

I lust after recognition, I am desperate to win all the little merit badges and trinkets of my profession, and I am of less real use in this world than any good cleaning lady.

liturgy

Make Us Wise

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 18:2, 1 Samuel 30:, Ephesians 4:15, Luke 17:15-19

Glorious One, you alone are our Rock and Redeemer. We trust you, your Holy Word, your Holy Wisdom, to put all things in right relationship. Make us wise. Let the words of our mouths be acceptable to ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Luke 1:46-55, The Magnificat

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 1:46-55, Luke 1:26-38, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Matthew 5:null, Matthew 19:24

“Mary’s ‘Magnificat’ has been banned from public proclamation in many countries due to the revolutionary nature of these verses. ‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones’? Just imagine this plas...

liturgy

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 17:11-19, Job 1:21, Acts 16:25, John 6:11

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery ...

Quote

Author

Eddie Rickenbacker

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 23:13-17 , Judges 7:2-7, 1 Samuel 18:6-7, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Luke 10:17-20, Psalm 133:1

There is a peculiar gratification in receiving congratulations from one’s squadron for a victory in the air. It is worth more to a pilot than the applause of the whole outside world.

Quote

Author

John Stott

Keywords

The Kingdom of God

Scripture

Matthew 28:20, Philippians 2:12-13, John 15:14, James 1:22, 1 Samuel 15:22, Luke 6:46

Greatness in the kingdom of God is measured in terms of obedience.

Quote

Author

Leo Tolstoy

Keywords

Scripture

John 11:1-44, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Samuel 18:1-4, Ruth 1:16-17, Mark 12:30-31, 1 John 4:7-8

“I think... if it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts.”

liturgy

A General Thanksgiving

Scripture

1 Samuel 2:1-10, Luke 17:11-19, Job 1:21, Acts 16:25, John 6:11

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery ...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16

Author

Scott B. Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, 1 Samuel 4:11, Psalm 89:3-4, Luke 1:31-33, Matthew 2:null, Micah 5:2, Psalm 127:1, Mark 1:14

Ancient Lens What can we learn from the historical context? Ark of God The ark of God traveled with the people of Israel on their journey through the wilderness, accompanied them on their conques...

illustration

The Aroma of that Room

Author

Dallas Willard

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 3:1-6, Isaiah 6:1-8, Acts 9:1-9, Matthew 4:18-22, 1 Samuel 3:1-10

Sometimes, of course, the sense of God with us becomes much more distinct. My oldest brother, J. I. Willard, served for over thirty years as a minister under the blessing of God. But his entry into th...

Quote

Author

John Ortberg

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 4:8, 1 Samuel 18:20, Luke 15:11-32, John 4:1-26, Jeremiah 31:3, 1 John 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 8:3

To be fully known and fully loved is the most healing gift one human being can give another.

Quote

Author

John Fowles

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 29:15-30 , Exodus 32:1-8 , 1 Samuel 13:8-14, Luke 15:11-32 , James 5:7-8, Psalm 27:14

“He wanted Everest in a day; if it took two, he lost interest.”

illustration

We are people of desire. We want things

Author

Curt Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 32:22-32, Exodus 33:18-23 , 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Psalm 42:1-2, Mark 10:46-52, John 4:7-26

We are people of desire. We want things. We long for things. It is primal to our nature to yearn. As Saint Augustine reflected, “The whole life of the good Christian is a holy longing. . . . That is o...

Quote

Author

Henry Ward Beecher

Keywords

Scripture

2 Kings 6:8-23, Luke 23:34, Genesis 50:15-21, Acts 7:54-60, 1 Samuel 24:1-22, Proverbs 25:21-22

Every time your enemy fires a curse, you must fire a blessing, and so you are to bombard back and forth with this kind of artillery. The mother grace of all graces is Christian good-will.

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The True Test of Faith

Author

Brennan Manning

Keywords

Scripture

1 Samuel 16:7, Micah 6:8, Proverbs 22:2 , James 2:1-4, Luke 14:12-14 , Psalm 146:3-7

Impostors draw their identity not only from achievements but from interpersonal relationships. They want to stand well with people of prominence because that enhances a person’s résumé and sense of se...

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