We’re going to spend the summer with Tim Keller and some of my favorite sermons.
You so encouraged me with your enthusiastic response last week — he has so impacted us not only through his sermons but through his life. Nearly every one of you had wonderful things to say, and I lost track. But here are just a couple of early responses and a late one from Laura that made me smile. He left us 1,000 free sermons, and as one of you said, “His words are more precious now that there are no more.” Rebecca has been posting a new daily Keller quote on her whiteboard at work. But here are just a couple of your responses.
Missy:
I’m so happy about your choice to highlight Tim Keller’s sermons. I have been feeling so sad over his loss which is surprising to me. It just seems that this world is so full of evil men and he was a bright light amongst the darkness. I didn’t agree always with everything he said, but I adored his preaching style and his intellectualism combined with grace. He always made me think and see things from a different perspective. He showed me such a different way to deal with others instead of the fiery, often mean, fundamentalism I grew up in. I followed him on Twitter also and saw a profound difference in what he said as he neared the end of his life. He became more direct, not pulling any punches, yet he spoke the truth always with a beautiful graciousness. Many people pounced ferociously on his tweets at the end, but my heart thrilled that someone was not afraid to speak the truth even if it caused people to be angry. I marveled that people could be so angry at him when he only spoke truth with love. But they did the same to Jesus. I think it’s very interesting to see how a man behaves and speaks as he nears a certain death. Would to God I could have that boldness now, coupled with great love for God and the souls of men.
Lizzy:
Some of my favorite quotes are these that I still need to work deeper in– “If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for his mercy.” “To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known but not loved is our nightmare. Only Jesus knows us to the bottom and loves us to the sky.” “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.” “When Jesus Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane and the ultimate darkness was coming down on him and he knew it was coming, he didn’t abandon you; he died for you. If Jesus Christ didn’t abandon you in his darkness, the ultimate darkness, why would he abandon you now, in yours?”
Laura:
Boy did he have a way of picking apart scripture and making it make sense to me!
Keller made sure his sermons were all free on Gospel in Life before he died. How grateful we are! Go to this link to listen to this week’s sermon, but first, we will look at the Scripture passage on our own.
On a personal note, thank you for your prayers for my outreach preaching locally — the 1st of 3 lectures. We had a good turn-out with many unbelievers. I fear I might have been over their heads, but I must release that to the Lord. Please continue praying on the next two Fridays at 10 central. You are such a gift to me.
Sunday:
1. What comments have you on the above?
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
Monday: God’s Command and Saul’s Response
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
Tuesday: “The Ability to Know the Truth Yet Not Know It Because You Want to Do It”
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
Wednesday: Making Ourselves Big
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this?
Thursday: How To Heal
12. Listen to the end, take notes, and share highlights or anything that penetrated your heart.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?”
Friday: “Don’t talk so loud, people are watching!”
When Paige Benton Brown covered this, the above was her memorable paraphrase of 1 Samuel 15:30.
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34
A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant?
B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do. Why, do you think?
1. What comments have you on the above? Dee, the fact that unbelievers were present to hear you speak is totally of Christ! Yes, I’m confident He moved in their hearts as He always does when you speak. 2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? My son called me a few days ago, desperate and crying. I would say, I’ve experienced all three in that as easy as it would be to despair over his choices and rejection of Christ, like God has no power, and I have done this in the past, God has me where I have given him to HIM – all of it. Getting back to when he called me, God’s wisdom of remembering while he’s crying to have compassion and gentleness, and to just listen rather than to fix; His power in that His Spirit gave me self control in the moment and compassion in spite of my flesh crying out-to say, don’t you see? Don’t you see how all of your idols are failing you, and Jesus won’t? My flesh was bursting at the seams to attempt to straighten him out, but God’s helped me to see that he is lamenting to me instead of God and to just listen and show compassion as God does with me when I lament to Him, and God will give me wisdom on the timing regarding helping him see the truth. Just like God does with me!
What a wonderful illustration this is, Rebecca. It is just like God does with us. 🙂 I pray that God continues to give you such great wisdom and discernment in talking with him.
Wonderful restraint while speaking with your son and being sensitive to God’s wisdom in the situation…will be praying you will know His timing in how you can help him more.
What wisdom God gave you, Rebecca, to see that your son was lamenting to you instead of to God, and to show the same compassion to your son that God shows you when you lament to Him. Beautiful.
Oh, Rebecca! You are such a testimony and example to me! How much I fail in this same regard with my wayward son. I’m so prone to throw out Scriptures and lectures which he already knows backwards and forwards. I’m struggling with a severely broken heart but know I need to heed what you are doing and be still and know that He is God, and not me. Thank you for your example.
1. What comments have you on the above? Dear Dee, you have planted seeds and that is the beginning for an unbeliever and a stepping stone for a believer! I will pray that God will continue to touch (and open) the hearts of those who attended.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? I have experienced the Lord’s presence in so many ways recently. We were the recipients of this sweet happening: ~ My husband had a fun surprise from our son in law, Marcus. Marcus knows how much Ron loved this corvette he had when he was in college( before we met). Marcus contacted the local Corvette club and asked if they ever did “Make a Wish for Senior citizens”. 🙂 Well, they did! A nice man contacted me and we talked about a surprise ride for Ron. I was in on it and had him all ready to go~ he just thought I was taking him somewhere. These two older gentlemen roared up to our driveway in two beautiful Covettes. They took both of us for a great, long and fun ride in the country and it truly was a wonderful blessing in so many ways. The three of them had a great time sharing stories from “the good old days.”
Oh Patti! What a delightful thing to read. I’m part of that era and come from a family of men who love Corvettes. What a gracious blessing for you and your husband and precious demonstration of God’s delight in us his children.
1. What comments have you on the above? I agree I felt a sense of loss at the passing of Tim Keller On nights I have difficulty sleeping I listen to his teaching. I had to take a break from that because it was hard to process the loss of this man. I’m glad you had a good turnout, Dee, I’ll continue to pray and that the unbelievers return Thankful God s word does not return to Him void but it accomplishes what He pleases.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? God s mercy in a family get together. It went well. Everyone travelled safely and enjoyed the time. To God be all the glory, there are so many ways things could have gone sideways.
Sunday 1. What comments have you on the above?
So thankful that you had a good turn out for your first lecture. Those unbelievers heard the truth and I pray the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts and open their eyes of understanding. 2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
My sister, who is Buddhist moved here a month ago from Hawaii to be close to me and our family. God in all His wisdom, power and mercy used honey bees to bring someone to share Christ with her. We had an old birdhouse that we noticed had bees flying in and out of it and all around. I called a local beekeeper to come out and rescue them. It was an older gentleman and his wife and he walked right up to the birdhouse to investigate (no protective gear on) and started educating us all about honey bees while they’re flying all around him! He had a captive audience in my sister, who loves nature, me and my husband. He then shifted from talking about bees to sharing what Jesus Christ meant to him and I smiled inside thinking, God orchestrated all of this as I knew my sister wouldn’t just leave…she heard the gospel from a personal perspective and there was no arguing with it. I had been praying and prayed while he was sharing and I continue to pray that her heart will be softened to the truth. He never ceases to amaze me…His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness!Oh, and just so you know after they got the bees home they sent us a picture of what was inside the birdhouse and there were already 3 combs the bees had made which indicated there was a queen inside!
Oh, my goodness, Sharon! This gives me God Hunt Chills!! Great Is His Faithfulness!! At the most unexpected time and place, His time !His place of choice! Amen to Dee. I will pray that his words impact her heart.
Sharon, thanks for sharing! A beautiful story of how God orchestrates circumstances that are way beyond our imagination! It puts us in awe, doesn’t it?
1. What comments have you on the above?
When we heard Tim Keller had died, I remember thinking how timely his decision to make his sermons free had been. It was such a generous, Spirit-led decision. It felt like a personal gift from him to all of us as he knew he would soon be leaving.
I love what Patti said to me “His outlook has helped me see that this earth is a tiny speck in God’s eternal beautiful heaven where we will see the face of Jesus.”
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
I have been reminded that while we cannot know the truth of every situation or others’ minds, God knows the truth and that is enough. Truth has always been my safety net, my security. I grew up in a home where the truth was hidden and covered up, the “under the rug” so it looks good to others approach. All my life I have been the one to pull back the rug. But I’ve learned we can’t always do that, we can’t always know everything. But He does. And I can trust Him.
And then there are times when He pulls back the rug, He brings the dark to light. And even when the revelation brings pain, we know it is His hand because the enemy keeps things hidden. Only the Spirit brings dark things to light, So even in the pain, we can rest in the security of knowing it is the Spirit at work.
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11 A. What does God tell Saul to do?
‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
Saul killed the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, but spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs. He only destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
He says He regrets having made Saul King because he did not obey. The Lord regrets having given Saul power because Saul did not submit to what the Lord asked him to do. Saul was his own King over the Lord’s command.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was angry and cried out to the Lord all night. He was angry at Saul for not listening to God’s word. 4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23 A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
He is seeking his own glory, making a monument for himself. B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He says he has carried out the Lord’s commands and acts happy as if he’d done nothing wrong. C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
Samuel questions him about the sounds of bleating sheep and lowing cows. D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
He blames the soldiers: “(they) brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Samuel stops Saul from continuing and rebukes him for disobeying the Lord who made him King. F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
Saule defends himself by saying he plans to make a sacrifice to the Lord with the animals he spared. G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
The Lord wants obedience rather than sacrifice. Saul has rejected the word of the Lord so the Lord has rejected him as King.
1. What comments have you on the above?
I have similar thoughts as Missy’s comments on Timothy Keller. He did show a different way of approaching others. I was first introduced to Keller through Dee’s blog when we were beginning to study idols, as she was writing her book, Idol Lies. His sermons on idolatry helped me so much to begin to understand what idols are and how they operate in my life. As to that different approach, I remember him saying something to the effect that “everybody worships something”, and when I felt discouraged, I remember in one of his sermons he said that when you begin to see your idols, don’t despair – it means you’re awake! I remember him using the movie Rocky as an example: Rocky said, “If I can just go the distance, then I’ll know I’m not a bum.” Keller said we all have something that we think, “If I can just do or have ____, I’ll know I’m not a bum.”
2. How have you experienced wisdom, power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
My sister, daughter and I spent a day together this past week. We went out to breakfast and did some other fun things together. However, on our way to breakfast, I was in the car’s backseat, and the two of them were in lively conversation. I tried several times to jump in without success, but finally got in a few words, only to have my sister say, “She always interrupts”. Well, that made me mad! When we arrived at the coffee shop, I got out and didn’t wait for them and marched off towards the place. But then I had a check in my spirit; “Is this how you want this day to go? Your daughter is moving away soon. Do you want to ruin this day and set a bad tone?” No, I did not. So when they caught up with me as I was waiting by the door, I just said that I’d hurried because there were only 2 or 3 tables left in the outdoor seating area and I sent them inside to order while I got us a table, saying I hurried because I was afraid there’d be no more tables left outside for us.
Also, I had the gift of seeing my mom’s beautiful peonies, which I have from her garden and replanted at my home, bloom so beautifully this year that I just sat and looked at them one day. I took some to the cemetery to place on her grave, and also cut some to bring inside.
And, (and this was actually 2 weeks ago) I bought Dee’s book The God of All Comfort for my friend who just recently lost her husband. Before I gave it to her, I re-read my own copy in 2 days, and was surprised that I cried through most of the book. But the tears were healing as I was reminded of the beautiful Psalms that Dee talks about in the book and the imagery they contain that helps me long to run to God. It helped me to find a release for some of my own grief and sorrow at this time in my own life. In reading from Dee’s journal entries in the book, I cried reading about Steve, and felt that it helped me to ponder what my friend is going through. (If anyone here hasn’t read this book, I highly recommend you do.)
Susan! Your story of your outing with your sister and daughter was so relatable! And how you dealt with those very justifiable hard feelings was such an example to me. I tend to get so hurt and caught up in my feelings and it is so destructive. It never helps. Thank you for showing me another way. God knows the hurt and He reached down to help YOU! He can deal with the offenders , but how sweet that He wants to deal with you (and me) in gentle rebuke and help because He loves you (and me)! I will have to remember how God helped you and try it the next time I’m hurt by the unkind words of another. You’re such a blessing!
Thank you for sharing this story of your hurt, love and frustration~ and how your heart was open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I love that you share from your heart, Susan.
I agree with your recommendation for everyone to read “The God of all Comfort”. My cousin and a dear friend, both recently lost their husbands and I sent each of them a copy of Dee’s book. Then, I re-read my copy and cried through the book too. So thankful for this book, Dee. It always speaks to my heart and soul of God’s great comfort, goodness, grace and mercy. He is available anytime day or night, as Lizzy mentioned in one of Tim Keller’s quotes: “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”
I’m so thankful for the opportunities God continues to give you, Dee. I’m sure He sees such a willing vessel when He sees you. I’m reminded that so many your age are living self-centered lives, enjoying themselves and not thinking about the needs of others. I love that I see the joy you radiate as you live for Him and for others instead of yourself. Reminds me of John Piper’s hedonism – the only true happiness is found in glorifying God. You’ve been such an example to me in this!
I am SO excited for the summer with TK! 2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
Oh my goodness….have I got a story to tell! This is what NOT to do when the Holy Spirit speaks to you.
The colleague who had surgery is gone for the rest of the school year. The others in my team (3 of us total) were asked to take on her responsibilities 2 Wednesdays ago. I was trying to decide whether I should do the extra work, but also trying to listen for what God thought I should do. My inkling was that I shouldn’t take on the work. I couldn’t find my director on Thursday to give her an answer, and Friday morning I woke up with a weird thought. It was that I shouldn’t take the work on because of my health. Hmmmmm….I didn’t really understand that. I went to the verse of the day:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Something told me that I should listen to that strange thought I had upon awakening, and not take the work on.
Unfortunately, I felt the pressure and caved. I didn’t listen to the Spirit. I felt like I should be collegial and a team player.
Do you know that both me and my granddaughter have been very ill this week?? I missed 2 days of work! It’s crazy. I should have listened so I would not be so “harried” in the last couple weeks of school. UGH! Boy did I learn a lesson! I will listen next time I ask God to reveal His will for me.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23 A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
His own.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He believes he has done what the Lord asked him to do.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
There are cattle from the Amalekites alive.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
The army.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
He tells him the Lord said the following to Samuel during the night….He says that Saul was anointed king and given a mission to completely destroy the Amalekites, but he did not obey and carry out the order correctly. Did he not recognize his importance?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
He says the cattle and sheep were the sacrifice to “Samuel’s God.”
Samuel says that obedience is better than sacrifice and that submission is better than the offering of the fat of lambs.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
“Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.””
1 Samuel 15:23 NLT
I added the transcript for Keller’s sermon above for those who like to have it. I can only do this for sermons my church has done as we have a gal providing the transcripts for us, but I will whenever I can.
It’s a great idea to spend the summer listening to your favorite sermons of Tim Keller’s. Even though I don’t post on here very often, I still see your emails each week and am so glad that you are carrying on in sharing the gospel, Dee.
For those of you who still recognize me (your Canadian friend) on this blog, would you please keep me and my hubby in your prayers this summer. He is taking the summer off and we are (mostly) all set to travel all across Canada and back. We leave the last week of June. I live on the east coast (in the province of New Brunswick, east of Maine) and my older brother lives on Vancouver Island on the west coast (north of the state of Washington). We plan to take our time and see this vast country at a fairly slow pace, camping along the way, staying with my brother for a while and then returning. This is a huge and quite stressful undertaking for me because I like to play it “safe” and have things in (what I perceive as) “control”. Even as I prepare, my trust in God to protect and provide is being put to a strong test. God is showing me how I have made an idol of my “competency” as I drop balls and make errors due to my stress and distractedness with too many things on my mind. God has much to teach me!
Diane, of course we recognize you!! Wow – what an adventure you’re undertaking! It’s going to be quite an experience for you and your husband. Prayers for a safe and exciting journey across Canada! I think I’ve told you before that I have a very dear friend who is from Grand Falls, which may be somewhat near you.
Diane, Good to see and hear your plans. Actually I envy your trip of going on a slow pace across the country. When we travel my husband likes to get from point A to point B and I would love to take a slower pace and rabbit trail to see unplanned places. But truthfully I need people like you who bring planning and order. Guess there needs to be some of both. 😊
Praying God blesses your travels and time with family.
How nice to see you here Diane and I will be praying for you and your husband to have a safe journey across Canada. Would love to hear from you on here from time to time to let us know how it’s going and what God is teaching you along the way…enjoy!
It is so nice to see you back, Diane. I will join the others in praying for you and your husband, as you travel this summer. Praying for good health, safe travels and a spirit of peace and joy for you both. I am in Washington state, so you will be a few hours north of us, when you are on Vancouver Island. You will see lots of God’s beautiful creation on this long drive.
Yes Diane — may it be a really sweet time together and visiting those you love. I do pray for the Lord to be with you, keep you safe, and for to be able to rest in Him!
Diane, before you posted I had been thinking of you and Aubrey because of the fires. I was wondering if you had the smoke from the fires in NS, being inland and west. We don’t have much, but NYC, NJ, and PA have terrible air quality. I ran across the picture of you and me at our house when you stopped in a few years ago. I hope you have a sweet time on your adventure! I’m jealous 😉!
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
Verse 3: Saul was told to go and strike Amalek and “utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” This was because Amalek was against the Israelites when they were coming up out of Egypt.
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience”?
Saul defeated the Amalekites, but he captured their king, Agag, alive. He did not kill Agag, though he did kill all the other Amalekites. When it came to the livestock, Saul and his people spared the best of the sheep, oxen, and lambs, and anything else they deemed good. But they destroyed everything they deemed worthless. Saul made his own exceptions to what God had clearly told him to do.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this.
The Lord said that He regretted making Saul king, because he did not carry out God’s commands. In not carrying out God’s commands, God equated that with turning back from following God. I’m getting a mental picture of following in God’s footsteps as long as I am obeying Him, but not following directly, or veering to the left or the right, when I choose to disobey or only partially obey. God should be able to turn around and see me right behind Him, not having to say where did she go? Maybe that’s why Jesus always used that phrase, “Follow Me.”
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was very distressed and cried all night after the Lord told him that He regretted making Saul the king, as Saul had disobeyed. I think Samuel expresses God’s heart when His children disobey Him. Yes, He brings consequences, but His heart is broken. I don’t think it’s so much about God wanting us to “follow the rules” so He will love us or that it makes Him happy when we do. What delights Him is when we love Him and so we want to obey Him, and when our heart is like that, even when we fail, He has compassion on us. I’m thinking of the episode of The Chosen when Mary returns to her old way of life, going back to the bar, drinking and gambling. She is feeling unworthy, with an “I don’t care attitude”, and wallowing in self-pity. But when she returns to Jesus, He tells her that He and the Father want her heart, which she has already given to them. She did love Jesus, and she had a failure, but she was still His.
I caught in verse 12 that it says that after the battle, Saul came to Carmel and set up a monument for himself. That’s a pause. Where is Saul’s heart? You’d kind of expect that he would set up a monument to God, acknowledging that God gave him the victory over the Amalekites.
—I was just thinking about the value of what we have with over a 1,000 sermons by Tim Keller and the comment “His words are more precious now that there are no more.”. I so appreciate our taking time to consider his words and teaching. We live in a (this is harsh) lying culture. Liars abound and lying is completely acceptable in our world today. The world uses lying to serve its own ends. But like a beacon of light in the darkness Tim Keller has taken the truth of God’s Word and shined it out as a source of life and hope to others.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
—Wisdom comes from God’s Word. It is the only source for true wisdom. Here are some nuggets of truth and wisdom pulled out from my devotional reading yesterday.
___
If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.
ISAIAH 7:9
….our experience is often determined by what we believe is possible. When Jesus was in His hometown, “He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58).
To move toward living the life of the Spirit in our everyday lives, we must first desire it.
The next essential step is to trust, to begin to know deep down it’s possible to have a daily life of walking with God, living in the Spirit, having love, joy, peace, patience, and all the fruit of the Spirit—because you already have Him inside you.
We’re meant to breathe, feed on, and live from the righteousness of Christ, Christ Himself inside us, every single moment.
Major Ian Thomas wrote, “When you and I received Christ as our Redeemer, He gave us, through His Holy Spirit, the fullness and power of His resurrection. He has given us everything we could ever need at any time, under any circumstance.
Our beliefs don’t create reality, but the lies we hold in our heart eventually come into our attitudes and out through our actions. Biblical truth is reality, and it works out in us the same way.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
Saul set up a monument to himself. It’s such a contrast, that poor Samuel has been awake, crying all night on behalf of Saul, and Saul is clueless; he’s patting himself on the back.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul, in verse 13?
I see it in verse 12, too, in that Saul is taking all the credit for the victory and giving none to God. In verse 13, Saul tells Samuel that he has carried out the command of the Lord. But in truth, not entirely.
C. What is the evidence, in verse 14?
The bleating of the sheep that Saul was supposed to kill, but did not, and the lowing of oxen that he was also supposed to kill, but did not.
D. Who does Saul blame, in verse 15?
Those who were with him. “The people” spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice them to the Lord. Saul could have told the people no; God told us not to spare anything.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
He tells Saul, in effect, “Who made you? And who made you great?” Samuel reminds Saul that it was God who made him king over the tribes of Israel, and sent him on a mission with a clear command to exterminate the Amalekites, because God was bringing judgment upon them for their sins. He then asks Saul why he didn’t obey God and instead do evil?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
Saul rationalizes and explains his actions, saying that he did obey God in destroying the Amalekites – he only brought back Agag, their king. He further points to “the people” for taking the choicest sheep and oxen, bringing them back to sacrifice to God at Gilgal. After all, weren’t they supposed to offer God sacrifices?
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
Samuel tells Saul that God delights more in obedience than in sacrifices, and to obey is better than sacrifice. Jesus said sort of the same thing when he said that if you are up there at the altar, but realize you’re at odds with someone, leave immediately and go and be reconciled to your brother.
Samuel then says that rebellion is like the sin of divination, and disobedience is sin and idolatry. Because Saul rejected God’s commands, God has now rejected him as king. We must’ve read this and listened to Keller on idolatry before, because in my margin I wrote that the idolatry here is power/control.
You made a great point about the contrast in verse 12, Susan. Samuel is up all night crying out to the Lord while Saul is happily patting himself on the back. It reminds me of times when my kids were teenagers.
Monday 3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11 A. What does God tell Saul to do?
To go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation – men, women, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys because they opposed Israel when they came from Egypt. B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He slaughtered them from Havilah all the way to Shur. BUT… captured Agag the king, kept the best sheep, goats and cattle – destroying only what was worthless and kept what appealed to them.
His selective obedience was keeping and doing what appealed to him…what he wanted. C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
”I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey My command.”
This took me back to the garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve by saying, “Did God really say…?” He made Eve question the truth of God’s Word and then appealed to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This is the spiritual battle we are in…we’re no different than Saul but so thankful for God’s grace, as Paige says, “Grace is the very doctrine that tells us how messed up we are, not a doctrine that keeps us from needing to see how messed up we are. Grace is the answer for a sin problem not a self esteem problem.” D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
He was “deeply moved”. The KJV says “grieved” which means “to burn with anger,” and he cried out to the LORD all night.
I see deep remorse, hurt and anger…I feel he’s taking on the emotions God had and spends all night talking to Him about it, working through the disobedience of Saul. 4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23 A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
Saul is honoring himself by setting up a monument to himself. B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He greets Samuel cheerfully and then says “I have carried out the LORD’S command!” C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
I just love Samuel’s response here 😊…”what’s all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
His army. E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Stop talking Saul and listen to what the LORD told me last night (we get to hear what came out of the all night conversation). “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?” The Lord anointed you king, sent you on a mission to completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites until they were all dead. But you disobeyed. Why did you rush the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’S sight? F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
By making a sacrifice to God with the animals. G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
”What’s more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
I love this point you make, Sharon: This is the spiritual battle we are in…we’re no different than Saul but so thankful for God’s grace, as Paige says, “Grace is the very doctrine that tells us how messed up we are, not a doctrine that keeps us from needing to see how messed up we are. Grace is the answer for a sin problem not a self esteem problem.”
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11 A. What does God tell Saul to do? God wants to punish Amalek for what he did to Israel. God told Saul to destroy Amalek and all the people, animals and all that he has. B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?” Saul destroyed “most” of what God told him to destroy, but decided he knew better than God and captured Agag and kept the valued animals for himself. C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this! The Lord says; “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me ad has not carried out My commands.” D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him? Samuel is distressed and cries out to the Lord all night. Samuel’s heart grieved Saul’s behavior. 4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23 A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12? Saul is not honoring the Lord, God. He set up a monument to honor himself. B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13? Saul is speaking as if he has followed the God’s commands, yet he has twisted the truth in his own mind and turned against God’s will by his own disobedience and greed. C. What is the evidence in verse 14? Samuel hears the bleating of the sheep and the low of the oxen that Saul has taken for himself. D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15? Saul blames his people for sparing the best animals and says they were spared to sacrifice to the Lord. E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20? Samuel reminds Saul that the Lord made him head of the tribes of Israel and anointed him king; then sent him on a mission to exterminate the Amalekites. Yet, Saul did not listen to the voice of the Lord, but did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. (He did it his way) F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21? Saul now decides to sacrifice the choicest things (“his sinfulness”) to the Lord. G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23? The Lord desires obedience over burnt offerings. Rebellion is a sin of divination; insubordination is idolatry; “Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” I like this footnote in my Bible: A king who sets his own will above the command of the Lord ceases to be an instrument of the Lord’s rule over His people.
A. What does God tell Saul to do? Attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Put to death men, women, children,infants, cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, the fat calves and lambs everything that was good. He chose to spare part of the everything God told him to destroy.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this! I regret I have made Saul king because he has turned from me and was not obedient. Saul chose disobedience rather than complete obedience thus doing what he wanted to do and the way he wanted to do it. He came up with his own plan rather than subjecting himself to God s plan.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him? Anger and he cried out to the Lord all night.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12? Himself He’d put a monument in his own honor.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13? “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions” though there was only partial obedience.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14? Bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15? “The soldiers”
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20? Although you were once small in your own eyes, you became king over Israel. You were sent on mission to totally destroy the Amalekits, why didn’t you obey? Why did you plunder and do evil in eyes of the Lord.
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21? He was going to sacrifice the sheep and cattle to the Lord your God.
Sunday:
1. What comments have you on the above?
1,000 sermons for free! Keller made sure his sermons were all free on Gospel in Life before he died. What a gift he bequeathed to us. And praise God for the good turnout at your outreach, Dee, with many unbelievers attending! The presence of the Lord was surely there, and God has used you, Dee, to plant gospel seed in people’s hearts.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
I was at a women’s convention from Friday to Sunday this weekend. I roomed with a former nurse colleague whom I had not seen for ages. We had a great time together sharing and learning from one another about our organization.
One of my prayer requests for the convention was for me to enjoy the women I would encounter without having to “censor” my words and actions unnecessarily but to be wise and be a woman of a few words only (smile).
My insecurities often surface when I am with many articulate, sophisticated, and accomplished women. God was so gracious in allowing me to just be comfortable in my own skin and to really enjoy the women’s company. My roommate and I were greeters for about 3 hours and had so much fun directing others to where they should go or answering questions.
A special kiss from the King was meeting a young woman pursuing her Ph.D. here in the U.S. who was from the Philippines. She was one of the recipients of one of the scholarships our organization sponsors. It was a thrill for me to visit with her and to know what she is doing on behalf of Filipinos.
I realize the above is not really a direct answer to the questions Dee is asking for. But I do feel that the weekend’s details were gifts of His mercy, power, and wisdom through His presence in the moments of the past 3 days.
Oh, Bing! So many blessings from our Abba Father during your weekend convention. I loved reading all of the details, especially about the sweet connection with the young Ph.D. student, who was the scholarship recipient from the Philippines.
Bing, thank you for sharing your wonderful weekend with us and how God answered your prayer…”God was so gracious in allowing me to just be comfortable in my own skin and to really enjoy the women’s company.”
1. What comments have you on the above? Almost all of the Keller quotes that Lizzy had I have heard in the last couple of weeks. I listen to his sermons on my morning commute. He certainly was given wisdom.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? It has been a lot of little things this week. One example is leaving for work and realizing that I am low on gas and don’t have my debit card so I have to go back home which now makes me potentially late, yet still making it to work on time. I’m starting to learn that getting stressed out and frustrated are not the way to react. I’m finding myself more able to go with the flow, trusting that the Lord is Lord of everything. Even if I’m late to work.
Monday: God’s Command and Saul’s Response
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
God told Saul through Samuel to go and attack the Amalekites and destroy everything, men, women, children and all
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He took Agag alive and the best of the sheep and cattle.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
I regret that he has turned away from me and did not follow the instructions.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was angry and he cried out to the Lord all that night. He was the one who anointed Saul and he must have struggled through the night. Feelings of betrayal, and deep disappointment, perhaps crowded his mind. He might have thought he was partly responsible? I am not sure. It must be like what god feels when we disappoint Him. Samuel’s love and God’s love for Saul did not negate the need for Saul to suffer the consequences. And so do we.
And several years later, Samuel would have to confront David as well.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
He went to Carmel and honored himself.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He said he had carried out the Lord’s instructions.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
There was still the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
He blamed the soldiers.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Samuel reminded him of what the Lord has said of Saul being anointed by God to be king and had specific instructions to destroy the Amalekites and everything of theirs. But Saul pounced on the plunder and did evil in God’s eyes.
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
He was going to sacrifice the best of the sheep and cattle to God.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
The Lord delights in obedience rather than sacrifice. Saul rebelled and was arrogant against God. Saul has rejected God therefore he was rejected by God as king.
This week we are in Tennessee with our youngest daughter’s family and her in-laws so my posting will be some what sporadic. Some of you asked and I will say we enjoyed seeing the Ark Encounter. It is very interesting and well done. It is a nice venue and the crowds are basically polite people but it was crowded. That would be the only thing that made it a bit hard at times to navigate through and if you like reading all the info available you can get hung up quite a bit. But overall it was worth our time to visit it. We are in Pigeon Forge and spent time at Dollywood. We have a crew that loves roller coaster and there are plenty of them. 😊 We attended a couple of really well performed shows as well. But the highlight for me was the Titanic Museum. It is very interesting and a well done museum. We gave it high marks. This afternoon I have some alone time to read and pray. I’ve really needed it. After 4 days of crowds I needed time alone with Jesus to be refreshed in my own spirit. He did not disappoint.
Bev, thanks so much for sharing. I may have to find a time of year the Ark isn’t so crowded, if there is such a time🤷♀️…don’t handle crowds well!!
I would have been with the crew of roller coaster riders, I love the thrill.
—In thinking about this passage of scripture and Saul’s response to Samuel. When Samuel challenges him and says in essence “What is going on here?” we see him very full of himself and then blaming others for his own failure to do what God required of him. Saul tries to justify his actions but God will have none of it. Saul was to be God’s messenger serving as God’s representative to the people. He failed miserably in his role by not obeying God and it cost him to lose the power of his position as King and to be rejected by God.
Self deception creates blind spots in our thinking and our lives. I’m reminded of the need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading so as to keep short accounts with my sin and obey God’s leading in my life.
. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. Self deception isn’t the worst thing we can do, but it’s the reason we can do the worst things.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception? I just deceived myself that I could set a lunch date with a long time friend and tell another friend I hope you can make it and not hurt feelings. It was insensitive and I should have communicated with both before confirming with first friend. Because I was tired I deceived myself it was okay to handle the matter in such a way. Self deception is sneaky and it’s about self and what I want and not about what is the best way to handle something. In the case of Saul it’s also glossing over disobedience because what I want
Tuesday 5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. ”…all of our sociological and psychological problems are theological problems. And the on answer that possibly gets underneath all of these other semi answers (race and poverty), the real problem is sin.”
I also liked how Keller explained why God didn’t want Saul to take any plunder and to leave no one alive as this was a battle of justice and truth, not an act of imperialism. 6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
I do this with my weight. I know I need to lose weight but if I don’t weigh myself then I can just ignore it but in reality it’s not healthy. It’s funny because I get to a point that I face the self-denial and start eating better and work at losing weight. It seems like a vicious circle.
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
*What’s wrong with us? What is the answer to this question? Why are we capable of atrocities and genocide? Why are we capable of murder? The sociological explanations are not the answer. It is not due to racism and poverty. The Bible says our real problem is sin.
*Keller examined one aspect of sin in this sermon: the self-deception of sin. This is the almost infinite ability of the human heart to hide the truth from itself when that truth is unpleasant. Self-deception is the reason we can do all manner of terrible things.
*The fact of self-deception as shown in the story of Saul: Saul was sent to destroy the Amalekites in battle and commanded not to take any of the plunder or livestock, because Saul was sent on a mission of justice, not imperialism. However, Saul spares Agag the king and brings back the best of the livestock. In Saul’s mind, he did 99% of what God told him to do, when in fact, he did 0%. God tells Samuel that this is the “last straw”, and He is going to remove Saul as king. The fact here is Saul acts oblivious to what he’s done, when in fact, he is not oblivious. Self-deception is the ability to know the truth, but not know the truth because you don’t want to know the truth. It’s the ability to rationalize and justify things you know are wrong.
6. Keller defines self-deception as: The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
Well, it happens in my relationship with my husband. I can point to his behavior as the problem and the cause of all of our difficulties. But every once in a while, I get an internal a-ha moment (which makes me uncomfortable just like Keller said, and is often painful to really look at) when I see my contribution to our difficulties. I see my selfishness, my hard heart, my resentment, my unwillingness to cooperate because of holding a grudge, my lack of care. I even will have a hard time in prayer when confessing to God, saying things like “I probably did this” or “Likely I…” and then I ask myself why can’t I just say “I did this or said that or have this attitude?”
That’s a good question, Dee. His job creates a lot of stress for him, and I often get the brunt of it. I think I am growing in that I am seeing more and more that he cannot fill the emotional void in me that is there because of the stage of life I am now entering. I am seeing that I must let go of that expectation and look to God.
That’s both a good and hard thing to realize. I certainly have seen growth in you, and he obviously wants to stay with you despite your faith. It is so hard not to take that rejection of Christ personally, and I pray for you to see that.
Judy Liddle
June 7, 2023
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. We don’t deceive ourselves about all truths, only the painful ones Saul’s problem he thought himself small and he was trying to make himself great. Don’t you see in God s grace He will make you great. Saul was going to the world for something only God could give. He’d rejected the grace of God. The reason we do self deception is we try to hide from ourselves we are sinners that we are small inadequate and flawed. Truth that reveals us as the sinners we are causes us to try to make ourselves big. The rebellion is idolatry.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault? He blamed them for keeping the best of the livestock. Sometimes I get agitated with my husband and I blame his behavior as the cause instead of recognizing my lack of gentleness and self control.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot? That we should not excuse our disobedience by “look at the good thing I am doing” Obedience is God s priority not sacrifice.
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this? We want to make ourselves big in our own eyes because we want people to have a good opinion of us and not the mess we sometimes are. I think when there is an authority figure or someone I want to have a high opinion of me I can allow myself to take full credit for something instead of pointing out God s help and the help of others
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do You Heal”? Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
Keller outlined 3 techniques we use to avoid the truth of our sin: blame others, focus on the good things we’re doing that outweigh the bad things we do, and we take what we’ve done wrong but say it’s just a little thing.
Several rights can atone for the wrong that I do – that is another technique we use to suppress the truth. Saul used this when he said, about the sheep he brought back that God had told him not to bring back, that he was going to sacrifice them to the Lord.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
Verse 15: Saul says (about the sheep) “the soldiers brought them”. He blamed them for bringing back those sheep. I can blame others for my being overwhelmed and having too much to do, when the truth is I’m overwhelmed because I’ve not been diligent to get my work done, I’ve been simply lazy, or I have put things off until the last minute.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
Tom had left the paper bags strewn all over the kitchen floor and went to play the piano. When reprimanded by his parents, he explained that he was singing to Jesus. But his father said there’s no point in singing to Jesus when you’ve been disobedient. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
I do this with my weight. I have this thing about getting on a scale. I guess it’s because I really was probably anorexic when I was a teen. It’s about the mind, not the actual body (unless you take it to the limit). I know what I weigh by the clothes that fit/don’t fit me. I love dentists because they don’t make you get on a scale! I’m lying to myself though…
When you lie to yourself, it’s detrimental in the long run. You create a cycle that is difficult to break. Facing the truth is best to fix the problem and move forward in your life.
AMEN to the dentist! 🙂 This is a great truth, Laura: When you lie to yourself, it’s detrimental in the long run. You create a cycle that is difficult to break. Facing the truth is best to fix the problem and move forward in your life….. I can procrastinate when I fear a confrontation or facing a truth I need to address.
Wednesday 8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
The stories that Keller told of self-denial got worse and more extreme but in God’s eyes they’re all extreme because sin is sin. This is where I get into trouble and I think a lot of Christians do because I compare. “My self-denial isn’t as bad as ___ and therefore I look pretty good. Just like Saul, we justify and try to put it in a “not so bad light.”
Three techniques in self-denial are, 1) blame somebody else, 2) look at the good things I’m doing and 3) we take the thing we’ve done wrong and say, but it’s a little one. 9. How did Saul blame others?
By saying the soldiers did it. How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
Yes 10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
If we’re disobedient and we think going to church, helping the poor or acting religious makes it all right, we’re in self-denial.
“To obey is better is better than offering burnt sacrifices.” 11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes?
We’re trying to hide our sin. How have you done this?
See Tuesday
Thursday 12. Listen to the end, take notes, and share highlights or anything that penetrated your heart.
How do we heal? 1) look for evidence. 2) force yourself to see the truth underneath all the other things that you must do not to see the implications of. He owns us. 3) you have to come to grips with grace.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?”
By understanding that the grace of God will make you big. Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice and that delighted God and if we believe in Him, He delights in us.
So good to have wise Sharon back. This is golden:
By understanding that the grace of God will make you big. Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice and that delighted God and if we believe in Him, He delights in us.
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. This so speaks to my heart and how I need to search my heart and mind for the truth of my motives. It is so easy to become obsessed with an opinion or even something we falsely perceive as a need. I often want to put off something painful or inconvenient, only to later pay the price for not addressing the problem right away.
12. Listen to the end, take notes, and share highlights or anything that penetrated your heart. You ve got problems but you don’t want to tell anyone about them. Don’t talk to Christian counselor or Christian friend. I can overcome it myself. You underestimate the power of self deception.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?” Understanding how great God s grace is and that it is God who will lift us up and make something of us.
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
We have to acknowledge that we have a problem first.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
He blamed the soldiers. Later in the passages he blames the people! He says he was afraid of them (?).
I make excuses about why my weight is how it is; no time to cut veggies, kids food doesn’t get eaten so I eat it (chicken nuggets, etc), no time to cook, etc.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
He was deflecting from the issue at hand (chores) by “using” playing the piano (about Jesus). He was trying to look good instead of doing his work.
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this?
Someone has to! We crave attention from someone and if no one is there, we can be the provider to ourselves. It makes us feel good about ourselves. Yes, I have done this. Every time I pass a mirror I get either a vote of approval or disapproval. It makes me feel good or bad about myself.
Thanks for praying for me last Friday. I speak again today and next Friday. Many of my unsaved pickleball friends came but I know some are not coming back for they felt uncomfortable. I know I need to let it go and just trust God. Please pray for anointing, for hearts and for tech ad there will be a tech person there to help in case of trouble. Thanks so much.
Thanks so much for your prayers — they were needed. The tech would not work for the hour before, and began to work right at 10.
I felt the talk went well though mixed reception — believers loved it, some unbelievers were critical. So I’m trying to discern if I am suffering for Christ or was offensive in a bad way. We made the topic The Friendships of Women to draw unbelievers in, which it did, but I think they were surprised when I got into God and the gospel. So I’m processing that — and so very thankful for your prayers.
Sharon Leach
June 10, 2023
Dee, as I read your response all I could think of was John 17:14-18.Your obedience is such an encouragement to me.
Patti Lynch
June 10, 2023
Dee, you are sowing the seeds of God’s Word and demonstrating the Love of Jesus. I am praying for those who are hearing your words. I pray that the Lord will cause these words to penetrate their minds and their hearts, that they may want to know more and that they may want to know Him. I will pray for softened hearts; only our Abba Father knows each life and each heart. You are planting His words and that can be nothing but good. It is so hard to know the hearts of those who are coming to hear you, but they must have some desire to know more about you and about your Father God. And, I agree with Sharon. You are being obedient to God.
Ernema T. Boettner
June 10, 2023
Dee, my alarm went off at 10 last Friday as a reminder to pray for you. So glad technology worked for you at the right time. I believe God is using you to speak to the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike. As you said we must leave and trust the work in the hearts of our listeners to the Holy Spirit. Your obedience is an encouragement to me just as it is for many here.
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34 A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant?
He is saddened by his actions, but more so that God is rejecting him. He still thinks he should be acknowledged by his people. If he were truly repentant he would beg God for forgiveness and not want anyone to know that he disobeyed and thought he knew better than God. B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do. Why, do you think?
He had Samuel kill King Agag. To make sure he didn’t find a way to repopulate his people and to show Saul what he should have done. C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel?
Samuel loves the Lord. He would do anything God asked. He obeyed God.
Friday 14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34 A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant?
He’s sorry he got caught, he admits to Samuel that he sinned but He continues to blame the people…”I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.” And he still wants recognition…”I know I sinned but at least honor me before the elders of my people and Israel. And he minimizes the sin by wanting to make himself look religious…”so that I may worship the LORD your God.” Saul is still in self-denial mode, there’s no brokenness, no sorrow over the fact that he broke the heart of God!
Oh Lord, search my heart, reveal any sin that I’m in denial of and may I sincerely seek Your forgiveness, not just be remorseful but have a repentant heart. B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do.
He has Samuel execute Agag. Why, do you think?
In verse 33 it says Samuel did this “before the LORD”, not Saul or Israel…he wasn’t seeking the approval of man but of God! C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel?
Total obedience to the LORD.
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34
A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant? Saul admitted he had sinned and had violated the Lord’s command and Samuels instructions, but he took no steps to correct his disobedience. King Agag was still alive
B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do. Why, do you think? Samuel executed Agag and it showed obedience to God s command
C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel? I see strength and courage and compassion
15. What is your take-a-way and why? Try harder to let Christian friends know struggles when I have them. May even return to Sunday Morning women s Bible study. Why. So I don’t live in self denial that I can handle things.
I listened To Tim Keller’s message again and reflected on the three ways that we can smother the truth. I am guilty of all three at one time or another, blaming others, looking at the good things I am doing to atone for the wrong, and minimizing my sin. And Keller brings it home when he said that Saul did these things because he wanted to be somebody big. He wanted to be like the other kings.
I continue to feel God’s work in my life in giving me the word” emptied” for this year. There is such a temptation to keep up with the Joneses, to want to be acknowledged, to be ahead (just a little bit, Lord?) I have started asking myself, “Yeah, Bing. you want to glorify God through what you do, but do you really?”
Keller’s analysis of how we do self-deception made me think hard about what I am doing now with my life. Am I trying to prove that I am something or am I pointing others to God through what I do because of His grace and mercy given to me?
I am so thankful that God does not leave us hopeless and helpless. I need to be reminded that the God who made me wants all of me. Not just part of me. I am to give myself fully to Him. I know it is a process and thank God, He has not given up on me. Jesus, though He was “big” became small so that I can be “big” in the eyes of God. What I am is all grace, I don’t deserve it at all. Yet, I have received it. And nothing can take it away. As Tim Keller has prayed, “Give us, Father, the power to wipe off all of the masks, to break through the self-defenses, to see the ways in which we deceive ourselves.” Empower us, Lord.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?”
We have to realize that Christ gave Himself, made Himself small, so that we could be big in Gods eyes. The grace we are given is what makes us big inside, not ourselves and our idols.
A question I meant to ask but never got around to, was why Saul refers to God as “your God,” at least twice in the passage? Wasn’t He Saul’s God also?
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this?
I think because we do not truly believe that we are the Beloved of God, or we may believe it, somewhat, but then we look around and feel the pressure of what our culture says makes one “big”, and we feel inadequate, so we start turning to other things to prop ourselves up. It is painful for me when I feel “less than” as a mother, or in my marriage, or at my job, or in my appearance, or in just being me. I may then try to win the approval of others by trying to be someone I’m not.
Susan–this was so good “I think because we do not truly believe that we are the Beloved of God”. It all comes back to that, doesn’t it? Really believing He loves us so.
13. What did Keller mean by come to grips with grace?
He said he’s tried to help many people come out of self-deception. The only way they can is to understand grace. He talked about how God will make you big….not sure I liked that explanation as much as believing that before God, you can admit you are a sinner, a coward, or anything else. You are with someone who is safe and therefore, you can take off your mask and be honest without fear of rejection or condemnation. God will not stop loving you even when He sees the worst in you.
I understand your hesitation at “God will make you big,” but we know from other things Keller had said that is a metaphor for God will show you how beloved you are. Did you hear about the last message he taped for pastors? He quoted Jeremiah – -all he said was:
Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.
130 comments
1. What comments have you on the above? Dee, the fact that unbelievers were present to hear you speak is totally of Christ! Yes, I’m confident He moved in their hearts as He always does when you speak.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? My son called me a few days ago, desperate and crying. I would say, I’ve experienced all three in that as easy as it would be to despair over his choices and rejection of Christ, like God has no power, and I have done this in the past, God has me where I have given him to HIM – all of it. Getting back to when he called me, God’s wisdom of remembering while he’s crying to have compassion and gentleness, and to just listen rather than to fix; His power in that His Spirit gave me self control in the moment and compassion in spite of my flesh crying out-to say, don’t you see? Don’t you see how all of your idols are failing you, and Jesus won’t? My flesh was bursting at the seams to attempt to straighten him out, but God’s helped me to see that he is lamenting to me instead of God and to just listen and show compassion as God does with me when I lament to Him, and God will give me wisdom on the timing regarding helping him see the truth. Just like God does with me!
He definitely gave you all three, Rebecca!
What a wonderful illustration this is, Rebecca. It is just like God does with us. 🙂 I pray that God continues to give you such great wisdom and discernment in talking with him.
Wonderful restraint while speaking with your son and being sensitive to God’s wisdom in the situation…will be praying you will know His timing in how you can help him more.
What wisdom God gave you, Rebecca, to see that your son was lamenting to you instead of to God, and to show the same compassion to your son that God shows you when you lament to Him. Beautiful.
Oh, Rebecca! You are such a testimony and example to me! How much I fail in this same regard with my wayward son. I’m so prone to throw out Scriptures and lectures which he already knows backwards and forwards. I’m struggling with a severely broken heart but know I need to heed what you are doing and be still and know that He is God, and not me. Thank you for your example.
1. What comments have you on the above? Dear Dee, you have planted seeds and that is the beginning for an unbeliever and a stepping stone for a believer! I will pray that God will continue to touch (and open) the hearts of those who attended.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? I have experienced the Lord’s presence in so many ways recently. We were the recipients of this sweet happening: ~ My husband had a fun surprise from our son in law, Marcus. Marcus knows how much Ron loved this corvette he had when he was in college( before we met). Marcus contacted the local Corvette club and asked if they ever did “Make a Wish for Senior citizens”. 🙂 Well, they did! A nice man contacted me and we talked about a surprise ride for Ron. I was in on it and had him all ready to go~ he just thought I was taking him somewhere. These two older gentlemen roared up to our driveway in two beautiful Covettes. They took both of us for a great, long and fun ride in the country and it truly was a wonderful blessing in so many ways. The three of them had a great time sharing stories from “the good old days.”
Oh Patti, what a loving gesture from Marcus to make this happen…I know your husband must of really enjoyed it!
I love Marcus!
How sweet and how fun!! What a thoughtful son in law!! Memories!
Oh Patti! What a delightful thing to read. I’m part of that era and come from a family of men who love Corvettes. What a gracious blessing for you and your husband and precious demonstration of God’s delight in us his children.
1. What comments have you on the above? I agree I felt a sense of loss at the passing of Tim Keller On nights I have difficulty sleeping I listen to his teaching. I had to take a break from that because it was hard to process the loss of this man. I’m glad you had a good turnout, Dee, I’ll continue to pray and that the unbelievers return Thankful God s word does not return to Him void but it accomplishes what He pleases.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? God s mercy in a family get together. It went well. Everyone travelled safely and enjoyed the time. To God be all the glory, there are so many ways things could have gone sideways.
So glad your family get together went well and all stayed safe! Yes, to God be the glory!
A good family get together that could have turned sideways in so many ways is a big God hunt!
Amen! To God be all the glory!! Thanking Him.
The good family get together that didn’t go sideways is indeed a blessing!
Sunday
1. What comments have you on the above?
So thankful that you had a good turn out for your first lecture. Those unbelievers heard the truth and I pray the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts and open their eyes of understanding.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
My sister, who is Buddhist moved here a month ago from Hawaii to be close to me and our family. God in all His wisdom, power and mercy used honey bees to bring someone to share Christ with her. We had an old birdhouse that we noticed had bees flying in and out of it and all around. I called a local beekeeper to come out and rescue them. It was an older gentleman and his wife and he walked right up to the birdhouse to investigate (no protective gear on) and started educating us all about honey bees while they’re flying all around him! He had a captive audience in my sister, who loves nature, me and my husband. He then shifted from talking about bees to sharing what Jesus Christ meant to him and I smiled inside thinking, God orchestrated all of this as I knew my sister wouldn’t just leave…she heard the gospel from a personal perspective and there was no arguing with it. I had been praying and prayed while he was sharing and I continue to pray that her heart will be softened to the truth. He never ceases to amaze me…His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness!Oh, and just so you know after they got the bees home they sent us a picture of what was inside the birdhouse and there were already 3 combs the bees had made which indicated there was a queen inside!
Oh wow — what a story — what a personal God we have, Sharon. May his words impact your sister’s heart.
Oh, my goodness, Sharon! This gives me God Hunt Chills!! Great Is His Faithfulness!! At the most unexpected time and place, His time !His place of choice! Amen to Dee. I will pray that his words impact her heart.
Sharon, What a delightful story. It’s fun to hear how God is moving in wonderful ways.
Sharon, thanks for sharing! A beautiful story of how God orchestrates circumstances that are way beyond our imagination! It puts us in awe, doesn’t it?
1. What comments have you on the above?
When we heard Tim Keller had died, I remember thinking how timely his decision to make his sermons free had been. It was such a generous, Spirit-led decision. It felt like a personal gift from him to all of us as he knew he would soon be leaving.
I love what Patti said to me “His outlook has helped me see that this earth is a tiny speck in God’s eternal beautiful heaven where we will see the face of Jesus.”
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
I have been reminded that while we cannot know the truth of every situation or others’ minds, God knows the truth and that is enough. Truth has always been my safety net, my security. I grew up in a home where the truth was hidden and covered up, the “under the rug” so it looks good to others approach. All my life I have been the one to pull back the rug. But I’ve learned we can’t always do that, we can’t always know everything. But He does. And I can trust Him.
And then there are times when He pulls back the rug, He brings the dark to light. And even when the revelation brings pain, we know it is His hand because the enemy keeps things hidden. Only the Spirit brings dark things to light, So even in the pain, we can rest in the security of knowing it is the Spirit at work.
I love this Lizzy: But I’ve learned we can’t always do that, we can’t always know everything. But He does. And I can trust Him. Amen
“Truth has always been my safety net, my security.” A good thought. Jesus said I am the Way, the TRUTH and the light. He is the ultimate safety net.
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11 A. What does God tell Saul to do?
‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
Saul killed the Amalekites from Havilah to Shur, but spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs. He only destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
He says He regrets having made Saul King because he did not obey. The Lord regrets having given Saul power because Saul did not submit to what the Lord asked him to do. Saul was his own King over the Lord’s command.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was angry and cried out to the Lord all night. He was angry at Saul for not listening to God’s word.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23 A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
He is seeking his own glory, making a monument for himself.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He says he has carried out the Lord’s commands and acts happy as if he’d done nothing wrong.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
Samuel questions him about the sounds of bleating sheep and lowing cows.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
He blames the soldiers: “(they) brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Samuel stops Saul from continuing and rebukes him for disobeying the Lord who made him King.
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
Saule defends himself by saying he plans to make a sacrifice to the Lord with the animals he spared.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
The Lord wants obedience rather than sacrifice. Saul has rejected the word of the Lord so the Lord has rejected him as King.
Lizzy — I bet you were always a joy to your teachers. I know you were!
Thank You for This! What an Encoragment For Summer! God Bless!
So glad you are here, Barbara. Hope you will dig in and share with us.
Welcome, Barbara!
Welcome Barbara!
Hello, Barbara!
Wishing to join. Thanks!
Welcome Pat!
Welcome, Pat!
Welcome Pat!
Welcome, Pat!
1. What comments have you on the above?
I have similar thoughts as Missy’s comments on Timothy Keller. He did show a different way of approaching others. I was first introduced to Keller through Dee’s blog when we were beginning to study idols, as she was writing her book, Idol Lies. His sermons on idolatry helped me so much to begin to understand what idols are and how they operate in my life. As to that different approach, I remember him saying something to the effect that “everybody worships something”, and when I felt discouraged, I remember in one of his sermons he said that when you begin to see your idols, don’t despair – it means you’re awake! I remember him using the movie Rocky as an example: Rocky said, “If I can just go the distance, then I’ll know I’m not a bum.” Keller said we all have something that we think, “If I can just do or have ____, I’ll know I’m not a bum.”
2. How have you experienced wisdom, power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
My sister, daughter and I spent a day together this past week. We went out to breakfast and did some other fun things together. However, on our way to breakfast, I was in the car’s backseat, and the two of them were in lively conversation. I tried several times to jump in without success, but finally got in a few words, only to have my sister say, “She always interrupts”. Well, that made me mad! When we arrived at the coffee shop, I got out and didn’t wait for them and marched off towards the place. But then I had a check in my spirit; “Is this how you want this day to go? Your daughter is moving away soon. Do you want to ruin this day and set a bad tone?” No, I did not. So when they caught up with me as I was waiting by the door, I just said that I’d hurried because there were only 2 or 3 tables left in the outdoor seating area and I sent them inside to order while I got us a table, saying I hurried because I was afraid there’d be no more tables left outside for us.
Also, I had the gift of seeing my mom’s beautiful peonies, which I have from her garden and replanted at my home, bloom so beautifully this year that I just sat and looked at them one day. I took some to the cemetery to place on her grave, and also cut some to bring inside.
And, (and this was actually 2 weeks ago) I bought Dee’s book The God of All Comfort for my friend who just recently lost her husband. Before I gave it to her, I re-read my own copy in 2 days, and was surprised that I cried through most of the book. But the tears were healing as I was reminded of the beautiful Psalms that Dee talks about in the book and the imagery they contain that helps me long to run to God. It helped me to find a release for some of my own grief and sorrow at this time in my own life. In reading from Dee’s journal entries in the book, I cried reading about Steve, and felt that it helped me to ponder what my friend is going through. (If anyone here hasn’t read this book, I highly recommend you do.)
Susan-
How I love how you responded to the Spirit’s gentle “Is this the way you want the day to go?” And thank you so for your encouragement.
Susan! Your story of your outing with your sister and daughter was so relatable! And how you dealt with those very justifiable hard feelings was such an example to me. I tend to get so hurt and caught up in my feelings and it is so destructive. It never helps. Thank you for showing me another way. God knows the hurt and He reached down to help YOU! He can deal with the offenders , but how sweet that He wants to deal with you (and me) in gentle rebuke and help because He loves you (and me)! I will have to remember how God helped you and try it the next time I’m hurt by the unkind words of another. You’re such a blessing!
Thank you for sharing this story of your hurt, love and frustration~ and how your heart was open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I love that you share from your heart, Susan.
I agree with your recommendation for everyone to read “The God of all Comfort”. My cousin and a dear friend, both recently lost their husbands and I sent each of them a copy of Dee’s book. Then, I re-read my copy and cried through the book too. So thankful for this book, Dee. It always speaks to my heart and soul of God’s great comfort, goodness, grace and mercy. He is available anytime day or night, as Lizzy mentioned in one of Tim Keller’s quotes: “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00 a.m. for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.”
I LOVE everything that IVE heard or read by Tim Keller. He as so gifted in explaining concepts and doctrine 🙌
Diane Marie — welcome to your Keller fan sisters! 🙂
Welcome, Diane Marie!
Welcome Diane Marie!
I’m so thankful for the opportunities God continues to give you, Dee. I’m sure He sees such a willing vessel when He sees you. I’m reminded that so many your age are living self-centered lives, enjoying themselves and not thinking about the needs of others. I love that I see the joy you radiate as you live for Him and for others instead of yourself. Reminds me of John Piper’s hedonism – the only true happiness is found in glorifying God. You’ve been such an example to me in this!
Awww Miriam — thanks!
Amen, Missy!!!
1. What comments have you on the above?
I am SO excited for the summer with TK!
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
Oh my goodness….have I got a story to tell! This is what NOT to do when the Holy Spirit speaks to you.
The colleague who had surgery is gone for the rest of the school year. The others in my team (3 of us total) were asked to take on her responsibilities 2 Wednesdays ago. I was trying to decide whether I should do the extra work, but also trying to listen for what God thought I should do. My inkling was that I shouldn’t take on the work. I couldn’t find my director on Thursday to give her an answer, and Friday morning I woke up with a weird thought. It was that I shouldn’t take the work on because of my health. Hmmmmm….I didn’t really understand that. I went to the verse of the day:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
Something told me that I should listen to that strange thought I had upon awakening, and not take the work on.
Unfortunately, I felt the pressure and caved. I didn’t listen to the Spirit. I felt like I should be collegial and a team player.
Do you know that both me and my granddaughter have been very ill this week?? I missed 2 days of work! It’s crazy. I should have listened so I would not be so “harried” in the last couple weeks of school. UGH! Boy did I learn a lesson! I will listen next time I ask God to reveal His will for me.
Awww Miriam — thanks!
Laura — that’s quite a story! Hope you are better!
Laura, that’s a very clear example you gave in your story of listening, or not listening, to the Spirit! I hope you feel better soon!
Oh, Laura. Wow! I pray that you and your granddaughter are doing better.
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
He was to completely destroy everything of the Amalekite nation.
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He destroys everything that wasn’t of pure quality.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
He was sorry He made Saul king, because Saul was not loyal to Him and refused to obey His command.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
He cried out to the Lord all night. He is bound to the Lord.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
His own.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He believes he has done what the Lord asked him to do.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
There are cattle from the Amalekites alive.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
The army.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
He tells him the Lord said the following to Samuel during the night….He says that Saul was anointed king and given a mission to completely destroy the Amalekites, but he did not obey and carry out the order correctly. Did he not recognize his importance?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
He says the cattle and sheep were the sacrifice to “Samuel’s God.”
Samuel says that obedience is better than sacrifice and that submission is better than the offering of the fat of lambs.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
“Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.””
1 Samuel 15:23 NLT
I added the transcript for Keller’s sermon above for those who like to have it. I can only do this for sermons my church has done as we have a gal providing the transcripts for us, but I will whenever I can.
It’s a great idea to spend the summer listening to your favorite sermons of Tim Keller’s. Even though I don’t post on here very often, I still see your emails each week and am so glad that you are carrying on in sharing the gospel, Dee.
For those of you who still recognize me (your Canadian friend) on this blog, would you please keep me and my hubby in your prayers this summer. He is taking the summer off and we are (mostly) all set to travel all across Canada and back. We leave the last week of June. I live on the east coast (in the province of New Brunswick, east of Maine) and my older brother lives on Vancouver Island on the west coast (north of the state of Washington). We plan to take our time and see this vast country at a fairly slow pace, camping along the way, staying with my brother for a while and then returning. This is a huge and quite stressful undertaking for me because I like to play it “safe” and have things in (what I perceive as) “control”. Even as I prepare, my trust in God to protect and provide is being put to a strong test. God is showing me how I have made an idol of my “competency” as I drop balls and make errors due to my stress and distractedness with too many things on my mind. God has much to teach me!
Diane, of course we recognize you!! Wow – what an adventure you’re undertaking! It’s going to be quite an experience for you and your husband. Prayers for a safe and exciting journey across Canada! I think I’ve told you before that I have a very dear friend who is from Grand Falls, which may be somewhat near you.
Diane, Good to see and hear your plans. Actually I envy your trip of going on a slow pace across the country. When we travel my husband likes to get from point A to point B and I would love to take a slower pace and rabbit trail to see unplanned places. But truthfully I need people like you who bring planning and order. Guess there needs to be some of both. 😊
Praying God blesses your travels and time with family.
How nice to see you here Diane and I will be praying for you and your husband to have a safe journey across Canada. Would love to hear from you on here from time to time to let us know how it’s going and what God is teaching you along the way…enjoy!
It is so nice to see you back, Diane. I will join the others in praying for you and your husband, as you travel this summer. Praying for good health, safe travels and a spirit of peace and joy for you both. I am in Washington state, so you will be a few hours north of us, when you are on Vancouver Island. You will see lots of God’s beautiful creation on this long drive.
Yes Diane — may it be a really sweet time together and visiting those you love. I do pray for the Lord to be with you, keep you safe, and for to be able to rest in Him!
Diane, before you posted I had been thinking of you and Aubrey because of the fires. I was wondering if you had the smoke from the fires in NS, being inland and west. We don’t have much, but NYC, NJ, and PA have terrible air quality. I ran across the picture of you and me at our house when you stopped in a few years ago. I hope you have a sweet time on your adventure! I’m jealous 😉!
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
Verse 3: Saul was told to go and strike Amalek and “utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” This was because Amalek was against the Israelites when they were coming up out of Egypt.
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience”?
Saul defeated the Amalekites, but he captured their king, Agag, alive. He did not kill Agag, though he did kill all the other Amalekites. When it came to the livestock, Saul and his people spared the best of the sheep, oxen, and lambs, and anything else they deemed good. But they destroyed everything they deemed worthless. Saul made his own exceptions to what God had clearly told him to do.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this.
The Lord said that He regretted making Saul king, because he did not carry out God’s commands. In not carrying out God’s commands, God equated that with turning back from following God. I’m getting a mental picture of following in God’s footsteps as long as I am obeying Him, but not following directly, or veering to the left or the right, when I choose to disobey or only partially obey. God should be able to turn around and see me right behind Him, not having to say where did she go? Maybe that’s why Jesus always used that phrase, “Follow Me.”
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was very distressed and cried all night after the Lord told him that He regretted making Saul the king, as Saul had disobeyed. I think Samuel expresses God’s heart when His children disobey Him. Yes, He brings consequences, but His heart is broken. I don’t think it’s so much about God wanting us to “follow the rules” so He will love us or that it makes Him happy when we do. What delights Him is when we love Him and so we want to obey Him, and when our heart is like that, even when we fail, He has compassion on us. I’m thinking of the episode of The Chosen when Mary returns to her old way of life, going back to the bar, drinking and gambling. She is feeling unworthy, with an “I don’t care attitude”, and wallowing in self-pity. But when she returns to Jesus, He tells her that He and the Father want her heart, which she has already given to them. She did love Jesus, and she had a failure, but she was still His.
I caught in verse 12 that it says that after the battle, Saul came to Carmel and set up a monument for himself. That’s a pause. Where is Saul’s heart? You’d kind of expect that he would set up a monument to God, acknowledging that God gave him the victory over the Amalekites.
Yes, that is a pause!
Sunday:
1. What comments have you on the above?
—I was just thinking about the value of what we have with over a 1,000 sermons by Tim Keller and the comment “His words are more precious now that there are no more.”. I so appreciate our taking time to consider his words and teaching. We live in a (this is harsh) lying culture. Liars abound and lying is completely acceptable in our world today. The world uses lying to serve its own ends. But like a beacon of light in the darkness Tim Keller has taken the truth of God’s Word and shined it out as a source of life and hope to others.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
—Wisdom comes from God’s Word. It is the only source for true wisdom. Here are some nuggets of truth and wisdom pulled out from my devotional reading yesterday.
___
If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.
ISAIAH 7:9
….our experience is often determined by what we believe is possible. When Jesus was in His hometown, “He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58).
To move toward living the life of the Spirit in our everyday lives, we must first desire it.
The next essential step is to trust, to begin to know deep down it’s possible to have a daily life of walking with God, living in the Spirit, having love, joy, peace, patience, and all the fruit of the Spirit—because you already have Him inside you.
We’re meant to breathe, feed on, and live from the righteousness of Christ, Christ Himself inside us, every single moment.
Major Ian Thomas wrote, “When you and I received Christ as our Redeemer, He gave us, through His Holy Spirit, the fullness and power of His resurrection. He has given us everything we could ever need at any time, under any circumstance.
Our beliefs don’t create reality, but the lies we hold in our heart eventually come into our attitudes and out through our actions. Biblical truth is reality, and it works out in us the same way.
So what the Lord has been working in my heart. It is more about Him, making Him known and not validating myself. He is the one who validates.
That’s so key, Leslie! Reminds me of Keller’s last words to pastors from Jeremiah: Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
Saul set up a monument to himself. It’s such a contrast, that poor Samuel has been awake, crying all night on behalf of Saul, and Saul is clueless; he’s patting himself on the back.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul, in verse 13?
I see it in verse 12, too, in that Saul is taking all the credit for the victory and giving none to God. In verse 13, Saul tells Samuel that he has carried out the command of the Lord. But in truth, not entirely.
C. What is the evidence, in verse 14?
The bleating of the sheep that Saul was supposed to kill, but did not, and the lowing of oxen that he was also supposed to kill, but did not.
D. Who does Saul blame, in verse 15?
Those who were with him. “The people” spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice them to the Lord. Saul could have told the people no; God told us not to spare anything.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
He tells Saul, in effect, “Who made you? And who made you great?” Samuel reminds Saul that it was God who made him king over the tribes of Israel, and sent him on a mission with a clear command to exterminate the Amalekites, because God was bringing judgment upon them for their sins. He then asks Saul why he didn’t obey God and instead do evil?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
Saul rationalizes and explains his actions, saying that he did obey God in destroying the Amalekites – he only brought back Agag, their king. He further points to “the people” for taking the choicest sheep and oxen, bringing them back to sacrifice to God at Gilgal. After all, weren’t they supposed to offer God sacrifices?
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
Samuel tells Saul that God delights more in obedience than in sacrifices, and to obey is better than sacrifice. Jesus said sort of the same thing when he said that if you are up there at the altar, but realize you’re at odds with someone, leave immediately and go and be reconciled to your brother.
Samuel then says that rebellion is like the sin of divination, and disobedience is sin and idolatry. Because Saul rejected God’s commands, God has now rejected him as king. We must’ve read this and listened to Keller on idolatry before, because in my margin I wrote that the idolatry here is power/control.
You made a great point about the contrast in verse 12, Susan. Samuel is up all night crying out to the Lord while Saul is happily patting himself on the back. It reminds me of times when my kids were teenagers.
Monday
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
To go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation – men, women, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys because they opposed Israel when they came from Egypt.
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He slaughtered them from Havilah all the way to Shur. BUT… captured Agag the king, kept the best sheep, goats and cattle – destroying only what was worthless and kept what appealed to them.
His selective obedience was keeping and doing what appealed to him…what he wanted.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
”I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey My command.”
This took me back to the garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve by saying, “Did God really say…?” He made Eve question the truth of God’s Word and then appealed to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This is the spiritual battle we are in…we’re no different than Saul but so thankful for God’s grace, as Paige says, “Grace is the very doctrine that tells us how messed up we are, not a doctrine that keeps us from needing to see how messed up we are. Grace is the answer for a sin problem not a self esteem problem.”
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
He was “deeply moved”. The KJV says “grieved” which means “to burn with anger,” and he cried out to the LORD all night.
I see deep remorse, hurt and anger…I feel he’s taking on the emotions God had and spends all night talking to Him about it, working through the disobedience of Saul.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
Saul is honoring himself by setting up a monument to himself.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He greets Samuel cheerfully and then says “I have carried out the LORD’S command!”
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
I just love Samuel’s response here 😊…”what’s all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?”
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
His army.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Stop talking Saul and listen to what the LORD told me last night (we get to hear what came out of the all night conversation). “Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel?” The Lord anointed you king, sent you on a mission to completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites until they were all dead. But you disobeyed. Why did you rush the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’S sight?
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
By making a sacrifice to God with the animals.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
”What’s more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
I love this point you make, Sharon: This is the spiritual battle we are in…we’re no different than Saul but so thankful for God’s grace, as Paige says, “Grace is the very doctrine that tells us how messed up we are, not a doctrine that keeps us from needing to see how messed up we are. Grace is the answer for a sin problem not a self esteem problem.”
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do? God wants to punish Amalek for what he did to Israel. God told Saul to destroy Amalek and all the people, animals and all that he has.
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?” Saul destroyed “most” of what God told him to destroy, but decided he knew better than God and captured Agag and kept the valued animals for himself.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this! The Lord says; “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me ad has not carried out My commands.”
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him? Samuel is distressed and cries out to the Lord all night. Samuel’s heart grieved Saul’s behavior.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12? Saul is not honoring the Lord, God. He set up a monument to honor himself.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13? Saul is speaking as if he has followed the God’s commands, yet he has twisted the truth in his own mind and turned against God’s will by his own disobedience and greed.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14? Samuel hears the bleating of the sheep and the low of the oxen that Saul has taken for himself.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15? Saul blames his people for sparing the best animals and says they were spared to sacrifice to the Lord.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20? Samuel reminds Saul that the Lord made him head of the tribes of Israel and anointed him king; then sent him on a mission to exterminate the Amalekites. Yet, Saul did not listen to the voice of the Lord, but did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. (He did it his way)
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21? Saul now decides to sacrifice the choicest things (“his sinfulness”) to the Lord.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23? The Lord desires obedience over burnt offerings. Rebellion is a sin of divination; insubordination is idolatry; “Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” I like this footnote in my Bible: A king who sets his own will above the command of the Lord ceases to be an instrument of the Lord’s rule over His people.
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do? Attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Put to death men, women, children,infants, cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He spared King Agag and the best of the sheep, cattle, the fat calves and lambs everything that was good. He chose to spare part of the everything God told him to destroy.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this! I regret I have made Saul king because he has turned from me and was not obedient. Saul chose disobedience rather than complete obedience thus doing what he wanted to do and the way he wanted to do it. He came up with his own plan rather than subjecting himself to God s plan.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him? Anger and he cried out to the Lord all night.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12? Himself He’d put a monument in his own honor.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13? “I have carried out the Lord’s instructions” though there was only partial obedience.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14? Bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15? “The soldiers”
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20? Although you were once small in your own eyes, you became king over Israel. You were sent on mission to totally destroy the Amalekits, why didn’t you obey? Why did you plunder and do evil in eyes of the Lord.
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21? He was going to sacrifice the sheep and cattle to the Lord your God.
Sunday:
1. What comments have you on the above?
1,000 sermons for free! Keller made sure his sermons were all free on Gospel in Life before he died. What a gift he bequeathed to us. And praise God for the good turnout at your outreach, Dee, with many unbelievers attending! The presence of the Lord was surely there, and God has used you, Dee, to plant gospel seed in people’s hearts.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week?
I was at a women’s convention from Friday to Sunday this weekend. I roomed with a former nurse colleague whom I had not seen for ages. We had a great time together sharing and learning from one another about our organization.
One of my prayer requests for the convention was for me to enjoy the women I would encounter without having to “censor” my words and actions unnecessarily but to be wise and be a woman of a few words only (smile).
My insecurities often surface when I am with many articulate, sophisticated, and accomplished women. God was so gracious in allowing me to just be comfortable in my own skin and to really enjoy the women’s company. My roommate and I were greeters for about 3 hours and had so much fun directing others to where they should go or answering questions.
A special kiss from the King was meeting a young woman pursuing her Ph.D. here in the U.S. who was from the Philippines. She was one of the recipients of one of the scholarships our organization sponsors. It was a thrill for me to visit with her and to know what she is doing on behalf of Filipinos.
I realize the above is not really a direct answer to the questions Dee is asking for. But I do feel that the weekend’s details were gifts of His mercy, power, and wisdom through His presence in the moments of the past 3 days.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend full of His kisses!
Oh, Bing! So many blessings from our Abba Father during your weekend convention. I loved reading all of the details, especially about the sweet connection with the young Ph.D. student, who was the scholarship recipient from the Philippines.
Bing, thank you for sharing your wonderful weekend with us and how God answered your prayer…” God was so gracious in allowing me to just be comfortable in my own skin and to really enjoy the women’s company.”
Thanks for starting this study and highlighting the most memorable sermons for us.
So glad to have you with us, Rachel!
Welcome, Rachel!
1. What comments have you on the above? Almost all of the Keller quotes that Lizzy had I have heard in the last couple of weeks. I listen to his sermons on my morning commute. He certainly was given wisdom.
2. How have you experienced wisdom, or power, or mercy from the Lord this last week? It has been a lot of little things this week. One example is leaving for work and realizing that I am low on gas and don’t have my debit card so I have to go back home which now makes me potentially late, yet still making it to work on time. I’m starting to learn that getting stressed out and frustrated are not the way to react. I’m finding myself more able to go with the flow, trusting that the Lord is Lord of everything. Even if I’m late to work.
That’s huge, Dawn!
Monday: God’s Command and Saul’s Response
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
A. What does God tell Saul to do?
God told Saul through Samuel to go and attack the Amalekites and destroy everything, men, women, children and all
B. What does he actually do? How do you see “selective obedience?”
He took Agag alive and the best of the sheep and cattle.
C. What does the Lord say and why? Think about this!
I regret that he has turned away from me and did not follow the instructions.
D. What does Samuel do? What do you see in him?
Samuel was angry and he cried out to the Lord all that night. He was the one who anointed Saul and he must have struggled through the night. Feelings of betrayal, and deep disappointment, perhaps crowded his mind. He might have thought he was partly responsible? I am not sure. It must be like what god feels when we disappoint Him. Samuel’s love and God’s love for Saul did not negate the need for Saul to suffer the consequences. And so do we.
And several years later, Samuel would have to confront David as well.
4. Read 1 Samuel 15:12-23
A. Whose honor is Saul after according to verse 12?
He went to Carmel and honored himself.
B. How do you see self-deception in Saul in verse 13?
He said he had carried out the Lord’s instructions.
C. What is the evidence in verse 14?
There was still the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle.
D. Who does Saul blame in verse 15?
He blamed the soldiers.
E. What does Samuel tell him in verses 16-20?
Samuel reminded him of what the Lord has said of Saul being anointed by God to be king and had specific instructions to destroy the Amalekites and everything of theirs. But Saul pounced on the plunder and did evil in God’s eyes.
F. How does Saul plan to make this up to the Lord in verse 21?
He was going to sacrifice the best of the sheep and cattle to God.
G. What does Samuel tell him in verses 22-23?
The Lord delights in obedience rather than sacrifice. Saul rebelled and was arrogant against God. Saul has rejected God therefore he was rejected by God as king.
This week we are in Tennessee with our youngest daughter’s family and her in-laws so my posting will be some what sporadic. Some of you asked and I will say we enjoyed seeing the Ark Encounter. It is very interesting and well done. It is a nice venue and the crowds are basically polite people but it was crowded. That would be the only thing that made it a bit hard at times to navigate through and if you like reading all the info available you can get hung up quite a bit. But overall it was worth our time to visit it. We are in Pigeon Forge and spent time at Dollywood. We have a crew that loves roller coaster and there are plenty of them. 😊 We attended a couple of really well performed shows as well. But the highlight for me was the Titanic Museum. It is very interesting and a well done museum. We gave it high marks. This afternoon I have some alone time to read and pray. I’ve really needed it. After 4 days of crowds I needed time alone with Jesus to be refreshed in my own spirit. He did not disappoint.
I smiled at “we have a crowd that loves roller coasters” — obviously not you — and not me! I didn’t know about the Titanic Museum.
Bev, thanks so much for sharing. I may have to find a time of year the Ark isn’t so crowded, if there is such a time🤷♀️…don’t handle crowds well!!
I would have been with the crew of roller coaster riders, I love the thrill.
Thank you for sharing about The Ark Encounter, Bev! I have not known anyone who has been there! Sounds like a great trip.
Monday: God’s Command and Saul’s Response
3. Read 1 Samuel 15:1-11
—In thinking about this passage of scripture and Saul’s response to Samuel. When Samuel challenges him and says in essence “What is going on here?” we see him very full of himself and then blaming others for his own failure to do what God required of him. Saul tries to justify his actions but God will have none of it. Saul was to be God’s messenger serving as God’s representative to the people. He failed miserably in his role by not obeying God and it cost him to lose the power of his position as King and to be rejected by God.
Self deception creates blind spots in our thinking and our lives. I’m reminded of the need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading so as to keep short accounts with my sin and obey God’s leading in my life.
. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. Self deception isn’t the worst thing we can do, but it’s the reason we can do the worst things.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception? I just deceived myself that I could set a lunch date with a long time friend and tell another friend I hope you can make it and not hurt feelings. It was insensitive and I should have communicated with both before confirming with first friend. Because I was tired I deceived myself it was okay to handle the matter in such a way. Self deception is sneaky and it’s about self and what I want and not about what is the best way to handle something. In the case of Saul it’s also glossing over disobedience because what I want
Good you saw it and were a good repenter. I’ve done things just like that.
Tuesday
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
”…all of our sociological and psychological problems are theological problems. And the on answer that possibly gets underneath all of these other semi answers (race and poverty), the real problem is sin.”
I also liked how Keller explained why God didn’t want Saul to take any plunder and to leave no one alive as this was a battle of justice and truth, not an act of imperialism.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
I do this with my weight. I know I need to lose weight but if I don’t weigh myself then I can just ignore it but in reality it’s not healthy. It’s funny because I get to a point that I face the self-denial and start eating better and work at losing weight. It seems like a vicious circle.
Oh Sharon, How I identify with with your last comment.
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
*What’s wrong with us? What is the answer to this question? Why are we capable of atrocities and genocide? Why are we capable of murder? The sociological explanations are not the answer. It is not due to racism and poverty. The Bible says our real problem is sin.
*Keller examined one aspect of sin in this sermon: the self-deception of sin. This is the almost infinite ability of the human heart to hide the truth from itself when that truth is unpleasant. Self-deception is the reason we can do all manner of terrible things.
*The fact of self-deception as shown in the story of Saul: Saul was sent to destroy the Amalekites in battle and commanded not to take any of the plunder or livestock, because Saul was sent on a mission of justice, not imperialism. However, Saul spares Agag the king and brings back the best of the livestock. In Saul’s mind, he did 99% of what God told him to do, when in fact, he did 0%. God tells Samuel that this is the “last straw”, and He is going to remove Saul as king. The fact here is Saul acts oblivious to what he’s done, when in fact, he is not oblivious. Self-deception is the ability to know the truth, but not know the truth because you don’t want to know the truth. It’s the ability to rationalize and justify things you know are wrong.
6. Keller defines self-deception as: The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
Well, it happens in my relationship with my husband. I can point to his behavior as the problem and the cause of all of our difficulties. But every once in a while, I get an internal a-ha moment (which makes me uncomfortable just like Keller said, and is often painful to really look at) when I see my contribution to our difficulties. I see my selfishness, my hard heart, my resentment, my unwillingness to cooperate because of holding a grudge, my lack of care. I even will have a hard time in prayer when confessing to God, saying things like “I probably did this” or “Likely I…” and then I ask myself why can’t I just say “I did this or said that or have this attitude?”
Would you say, Susan, that as you have grown your relationship with your husband has improved despite his continued unbelief?
That’s a good question, Dee. His job creates a lot of stress for him, and I often get the brunt of it. I think I am growing in that I am seeing more and more that he cannot fill the emotional void in me that is there because of the stage of life I am now entering. I am seeing that I must let go of that expectation and look to God.
That’s both a good and hard thing to realize. I certainly have seen growth in you, and he obviously wants to stay with you despite your faith. It is so hard not to take that rejection of Christ personally, and I pray for you to see that.
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. We don’t deceive ourselves about all truths, only the painful ones Saul’s problem he thought himself small and he was trying to make himself great. Don’t you see in God s grace He will make you great. Saul was going to the world for something only God could give. He’d rejected the grace of God. The reason we do self deception is we try to hide from ourselves we are sinners that we are small inadequate and flawed. Truth that reveals us as the sinners we are causes us to try to make ourselves big. The rebellion is idolatry.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault? He blamed them for keeping the best of the livestock. Sometimes I get agitated with my husband and I blame his behavior as the cause instead of recognizing my lack of gentleness and self control.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot? That we should not excuse our disobedience by “look at the good thing I am doing” Obedience is God s priority not sacrifice.
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this? We want to make ourselves big in our own eyes because we want people to have a good opinion of us and not the mess we sometimes are. I think when there is an authority figure or someone I want to have a high opinion of me I can allow myself to take full credit for something instead of pointing out God s help and the help of others
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do You Heal”? Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
Keller outlined 3 techniques we use to avoid the truth of our sin: blame others, focus on the good things we’re doing that outweigh the bad things we do, and we take what we’ve done wrong but say it’s just a little thing.
Several rights can atone for the wrong that I do – that is another technique we use to suppress the truth. Saul used this when he said, about the sheep he brought back that God had told him not to bring back, that he was going to sacrifice them to the Lord.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
Verse 15: Saul says (about the sheep) “the soldiers brought them”. He blamed them for bringing back those sheep. I can blame others for my being overwhelmed and having too much to do, when the truth is I’m overwhelmed because I’ve not been diligent to get my work done, I’ve been simply lazy, or I have put things off until the last minute.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
Tom had left the paper bags strewn all over the kitchen floor and went to play the piano. When reprimanded by his parents, he explained that he was singing to Jesus. But his father said there’s no point in singing to Jesus when you’ve been disobedient. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
6. Keller defines self deception as: “The ability to know the truth yet not know it because you don’t want to do it.” If you are willing, share where you tend to do this, or an example from your past. What have you learned from this about the danger of self-deception?
I do this with my weight. I have this thing about getting on a scale. I guess it’s because I really was probably anorexic when I was a teen. It’s about the mind, not the actual body (unless you take it to the limit). I know what I weigh by the clothes that fit/don’t fit me. I love dentists because they don’t make you get on a scale! I’m lying to myself though…
When you lie to yourself, it’s detrimental in the long run. You create a cycle that is difficult to break. Facing the truth is best to fix the problem and move forward in your life.
Laughed out loud: I love dentists because they don’t make you get on the scale.
AMEN to the dentist! 🙂 This is a great truth, Laura: When you lie to yourself, it’s detrimental in the long run. You create a cycle that is difficult to break. Facing the truth is best to fix the problem and move forward in your life….. I can procrastinate when I fear a confrontation or facing a truth I need to address.
Wednesday
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
The stories that Keller told of self-denial got worse and more extreme but in God’s eyes they’re all extreme because sin is sin. This is where I get into trouble and I think a lot of Christians do because I compare. “My self-denial isn’t as bad as ___ and therefore I look pretty good. Just like Saul, we justify and try to put it in a “not so bad light.”
Three techniques in self-denial are, 1) blame somebody else, 2) look at the good things I’m doing and 3) we take the thing we’ve done wrong and say, but it’s a little one.
9. How did Saul blame others?
By saying the soldiers did it.
How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
Yes
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
If we’re disobedient and we think going to church, helping the poor or acting religious makes it all right, we’re in self-denial.
“To obey is better is better than offering burnt sacrifices.”
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes?
We’re trying to hide our sin.
How have you done this?
See Tuesday
Thursday
12. Listen to the end, take notes, and share highlights or anything that penetrated your heart.
How do we heal? 1) look for evidence. 2) force yourself to see the truth underneath all the other things that you must do not to see the implications of. He owns us. 3) you have to come to grips with grace.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?”
By understanding that the grace of God will make you big. Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice and that delighted God and if we believe in Him, He delights in us.
So good to have wise Sharon back. This is golden:
By understanding that the grace of God will make you big. Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice and that delighted God and if we believe in Him, He delights in us.
Amen, Dee! So good to have you back Sharon! And I agree that is golden!!
5. Listen and take notes through Keller telling the story of not wanting to believe anything is wrong with his car. Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart. This so speaks to my heart and how I need to search my heart and mind for the truth of my motives. It is so easy to become obsessed with an opinion or even something we falsely perceive as a need. I often want to put off something painful or inconvenient, only to later pay the price for not addressing the problem right away.
12. Listen to the end, take notes, and share highlights or anything that penetrated your heart. You ve got problems but you don’t want to tell anyone about them. Don’t talk to Christian counselor or Christian friend. I can overcome it myself. You underestimate the power of self deception.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?” Understanding how great God s grace is and that it is God who will lift us up and make something of us.
8. Listen up to his final point: “How Do Your Heal?” Share highlights and anything that penetrated your heart.
We have to acknowledge that we have a problem first.
9. How did Saul blame others? How have you done this and then been shown your fault?
He blamed the soldiers. Later in the passages he blames the people! He says he was afraid of them (?).
I make excuses about why my weight is how it is; no time to cut veggies, kids food doesn’t get eaten so I eat it (chicken nuggets, etc), no time to cook, etc.
10. What was his point with the story of Tom Howard, the brother of Elisabeth Elliot?
He was deflecting from the issue at hand (chores) by “using” playing the piano (about Jesus). He was trying to look good instead of doing his work.
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this?
Someone has to! We crave attention from someone and if no one is there, we can be the provider to ourselves. It makes us feel good about ourselves. Yes, I have done this. Every time I pass a mirror I get either a vote of approval or disapproval. It makes me feel good or bad about myself.
Thanks for praying for me last Friday. I speak again today and next Friday. Many of my unsaved pickleball friends came but I know some are not coming back for they felt uncomfortable. I know I need to let it go and just trust God. Please pray for anointing, for hearts and for tech ad there will be a tech person there to help in case of trouble. Thanks so much.
Praying for receptive hearts to the message God has given you Dee🙏
May He be glorified!
Amen, Sharon!!!
Thanks so much for your prayers — they were needed. The tech would not work for the hour before, and began to work right at 10.
I felt the talk went well though mixed reception — believers loved it, some unbelievers were critical. So I’m trying to discern if I am suffering for Christ or was offensive in a bad way. We made the topic The Friendships of Women to draw unbelievers in, which it did, but I think they were surprised when I got into God and the gospel. So I’m processing that — and so very thankful for your prayers.
Dee, as I read your response all I could think of was John 17:14-18.Your obedience is such an encouragement to me.
Dee, you are sowing the seeds of God’s Word and demonstrating the Love of Jesus. I am praying for those who are hearing your words. I pray that the Lord will cause these words to penetrate their minds and their hearts, that they may want to know more and that they may want to know Him. I will pray for softened hearts; only our Abba Father knows each life and each heart. You are planting His words and that can be nothing but good. It is so hard to know the hearts of those who are coming to hear you, but they must have some desire to know more about you and about your Father God. And, I agree with Sharon. You are being obedient to God.
Dee, my alarm went off at 10 last Friday as a reminder to pray for you. So glad technology worked for you at the right time. I believe God is using you to speak to the hearts of believers and unbelievers alike. As you said we must leave and trust the work in the hearts of our listeners to the Holy Spirit. Your obedience is an encouragement to me just as it is for many here.
Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement Sharon, Patti, Bing — and all who prayed. One more Friday to go!
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34
A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant?
He is saddened by his actions, but more so that God is rejecting him. He still thinks he should be acknowledged by his people. If he were truly repentant he would beg God for forgiveness and not want anyone to know that he disobeyed and thought he knew better than God.
B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do. Why, do you think?
He had Samuel kill King Agag. To make sure he didn’t find a way to repopulate his people and to show Saul what he should have done.
C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel?
Samuel loves the Lord. He would do anything God asked. He obeyed God.
Friday
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34
A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant?
He’s sorry he got caught, he admits to Samuel that he sinned but He continues to blame the people…”I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.” And he still wants recognition…”I know I sinned but at least honor me before the elders of my people and Israel. And he minimizes the sin by wanting to make himself look religious…”so that I may worship the LORD your God.” Saul is still in self-denial mode, there’s no brokenness, no sorrow over the fact that he broke the heart of God!
Oh Lord, search my heart, reveal any sin that I’m in denial of and may I sincerely seek Your forgiveness, not just be remorseful but have a repentant heart.
B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do.
He has Samuel execute Agag.
Why, do you think?
In verse 33 it says Samuel did this “before the LORD”, not Saul or Israel…he wasn’t seeking the approval of man but of God!
C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel?
Total obedience to the LORD.
14. Read 1 Samuel 15:24-34
A. What evidence is there that Saul is remorseful but not repentant? Saul admitted he had sinned and had violated the Lord’s command and Samuels instructions, but he took no steps to correct his disobedience. King Agag was still alive
B. How does God finish was Saul failed to do. Why, do you think? Samuel executed Agag and it showed obedience to God s command
C. What do you see in the heart of Samuel? I see strength and courage and compassion
15. What is your take-a-way and why? Try harder to let Christian friends know struggles when I have them. May even return to Sunday Morning women s Bible study. Why. So I don’t live in self denial that I can handle things.
Oh, Judy! Excited to read that you may return to your Sunday morning Women’s Bible study!
Sounds like God is calling you back to that study and be vulnerable — I pray you will know and be bold if He gives you that peace.
I listened To Tim Keller’s message again and reflected on the three ways that we can smother the truth. I am guilty of all three at one time or another, blaming others, looking at the good things I am doing to atone for the wrong, and minimizing my sin. And Keller brings it home when he said that Saul did these things because he wanted to be somebody big. He wanted to be like the other kings.
I continue to feel God’s work in my life in giving me the word” emptied” for this year. There is such a temptation to keep up with the Joneses, to want to be acknowledged, to be ahead (just a little bit, Lord?) I have started asking myself, “Yeah, Bing. you want to glorify God through what you do, but do you really?”
Keller’s analysis of how we do self-deception made me think hard about what I am doing now with my life. Am I trying to prove that I am something or am I pointing others to God through what I do because of His grace and mercy given to me?
I am so thankful that God does not leave us hopeless and helpless. I need to be reminded that the God who made me wants all of me. Not just part of me. I am to give myself fully to Him. I know it is a process and thank God, He has not given up on me. Jesus, though He was “big” became small so that I can be “big” in the eyes of God. What I am is all grace, I don’t deserve it at all. Yet, I have received it. And nothing can take it away. As Tim Keller has prayed, “Give us, Father, the power to wipe off all of the masks, to break through the self-defenses, to see the ways in which we deceive ourselves.” Empower us, Lord.
13. What did Keller mean by “Come to grips with grace?”
We have to realize that Christ gave Himself, made Himself small, so that we could be big in Gods eyes. The grace we are given is what makes us big inside, not ourselves and our idols.
A question I meant to ask but never got around to, was why Saul refers to God as “your God,” at least twice in the passage? Wasn’t He Saul’s God also?
Very interesting observation I missed, Laura! I would say Saul is realizing he doesn’t have a genuine relationship with God.
11. Why do we want to make ourselves big in our own eyes? How have you done this?
I think because we do not truly believe that we are the Beloved of God, or we may believe it, somewhat, but then we look around and feel the pressure of what our culture says makes one “big”, and we feel inadequate, so we start turning to other things to prop ourselves up. It is painful for me when I feel “less than” as a mother, or in my marriage, or at my job, or in my appearance, or in just being me. I may then try to win the approval of others by trying to be someone I’m not.
Susan–this was so good “I think because we do not truly believe that we are the Beloved of God”. It all comes back to that, doesn’t it? Really believing He loves us so.
It really does all come back to that Susan and Lizzy — we are His beloved.
13. What did Keller mean by come to grips with grace?
He said he’s tried to help many people come out of self-deception. The only way they can is to understand grace. He talked about how God will make you big….not sure I liked that explanation as much as believing that before God, you can admit you are a sinner, a coward, or anything else. You are with someone who is safe and therefore, you can take off your mask and be honest without fear of rejection or condemnation. God will not stop loving you even when He sees the worst in you.
I understand your hesitation at “God will make you big,” but we know from other things Keller had said that is a metaphor for God will show you how beloved you are. Did you hear about the last message he taped for pastors? He quoted Jeremiah – -all he said was:
Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not.