REDEEMER INTERNATIONAL
CONGREGATION
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
1 SAMUEL SERMON SERIES
November 20, 2022: 1 Samuel 28:3-25
Preacher: Bob Glahn
We end our preaching series, looking at character and leadership in 1 Samuel, just as King Saul comes under the worst pressure he has yet faced. Deep in fear and uncertainty about the military battle he will face the next day, Saul loses the spiritual battle and makes a tragic choice. How do we respond under intense pressure? Are we or those we are working with tempted to seek guidance from dangerous evil powers? Or do we cling to God's word, look to Jesus, and stand firm in the spiritual battle? How do we seek to develop character and demonstrate leadership, especially when facing trouble in our personal life or ministry?
​
November 13, 2022: 1 Samuel 25
Preacher: Rob Glahn
David is on the run, and continually confronted with injustice. King Saul just keeps hunting him down to kill him. Rich Nabal refuses to share provisions with David's men, even when David has faithfully protected his flocks. In righteous anger, David is ready to put Nabal's entire household to the sword, when an unlikely hero, Abigail, appears to transform the story. Through this episode, we see that the Lord's leaders creatively communicate truth with grace to those who wrong them, in an effort to bring about repentance and transformation. Furthermore, the Lord's leaders respond with truth and grace to those who reveal to them their wrongdoing.
​
November 6, 2022: 1 Samuel 24
Preacher: Paul Mosley
​
In this passage we find Saul in continued pursuit of David hoping to kill him and prevent his divinely ordained ascension to the throne. Saul and his army of 300 pursue David's band into the craggy region of En Gedi where Saul turns aside into a cave to 'relieve himself', the very cave where David and his men are hiding. David passes up this opportunity to kill his enemy instead allowing God's ends to be accomplished through God's means.
October 30, 2022: 1 Samuel 21
Guest preacher: Steadman Harrison
​
In fear for his life at the hands of King Saul and in grief at losing his dearest friend Jonathan, David flees to Nob. He goes to the right place (the temple) and to the right person (the priest) to seek provision and protection. But somehow, David's spiritual eyes are blinded to truths he himself once knew: that the battle belongs to the Lord. In his fear and grief, David has hit fallback. His star had been rising as a leader, but now he takes matters into his own hands, lying to the priest about his situation. He leaves with bread and a sword, but without having met with the God who longed to fellowship with him. And then he does something totally insane-- he takes the sword of Goliath as a trophy back to Goliath's hometown, where he has made many widows and orphans. His stupidity lands him in prison, pretending to be actually insane. We, too, find ourselves overcome by circumstances in our lives. How can we avoid fallback? How can we avoid stupid decisions that land us in even more trouble? How can we continue to fix our eyes on Jesus, our example?
​
October 16, 2022: 1 Samuel 18
Preacher: Mari-Anna Stålnacke
As David fully enters into prominence in Saul's court, King Saul and his son Jonathan paint contrasting pictures of character. Jonathan shows his humility and love for David. Saul grows more and more paranoid as David rises in esteem in the eyes of the people. Fear and hatred drive all love from his heart. We need to watch ourselves and our responses when those around us are competing for attention.
October 9, 2022: 1 Samuel 17:1-50
Dealing with Giants
Preacher: Rebecca Mosley
Israel is facing big trouble when Goliath shows up. How about your giants? How much mental space do they take in your life? David is called by God to be the one to rescue Israel, armed not with sword and spear but with skill, smarts and deep faith. The interplay between God's power and human agency gives us insight into what it looks like to be one "after God's own heart."
​
October 2, 2022: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
What does God look for in a l
Preacher: Fredrik Hector
​
Saul has failed as a leader. Samuel is in mourning, but God encourages him to get up and move on to anoint the next king. Even leaders struggle with depression, and Samuel's example urges us to be honest but not get stuck. The story that unfolds surprises us, as the future king of Israel turns out to be someone unexpected. Humans favour those with beauty, age and status, but God examines the heart.
September 25, 2022: 1 Samuel 14
Preacher: Samuel Tedder
We watch Saul as a leader, always reactive, always on the back foot, not spiritually prepared for each next crisis, ready to lay heavy burdens on his people to try to win God’s favor. A deep fear and insecurity seems to drive him. By contrast, his son Jonathan demonstrates a calm confidence in God, along with humility to allow that God will act as he sees fit. Preacher Samuel Tedder unpacks this complex narrative with helpful insights for us as leaders: how do we live from fear to boldness?
​
September 18, 2022: 1 Samuel 13
Preacher: Rob Glahn
Saul tries to establish himself as king, taking on the Philistines, and winds up facing an impossible enemy. He takes matters into his own hands, and this is the beginning of his end. When we face problems, do we remember the transcendence and imminence of God? How do we fight first on the battlefields of our own hearts?
​
​
September 11, 2022: 1 Samuel 12
Preacher: Rebecca Mosley
God has been faithful to us, his people, saving us a hundred times. But at the 101st trial, we panic and "demand a king." This is a sermon to guide and comfort faithful but rejected leaders, and to call all of us to hold tight to monuments of God's past faithfulness in whatever hard situation we face today.
​
September 4, 2022: 1 Samuel 11
Preacher: Paul Mosley
We continued our series of sermons on Character and Leadership in 1 Samuel. Paul Mosley preached a sermon about the high point of King Saul's career, as he unified the nation of Israel against her enemies and finally won the hearts of his people. If only this great moment was the end of Saul's story.
​
August 28, 2022: 1 Samuel 10
Preacher: Bob Glahn
God allows his people the freedom to reject him and put their hopes in a king. Saul seems an unlikely candidate for kingship, but his anointing is confirmed by Samuel before the whole gathering of Israel. Yet the means of his selection for kingship contains echoes of God's judgement on Israel in the past. Foreshadowing of future trouble hangs heavy.
​
August 21, 2022: 1 Samuel 8
Preacher: Rebecca Mosley
This past Sunday, we started a new sermon series on Character and Leadership in 1 Samuel at Redeemer International Congregation in Addis Ababa. Here is the first sermon in the series from 1 Samuel 8. The audio recording is linked below for any who would like to hear it. In this sermon, we are introduced to Samuel, Israel's faithful (and rejected) leader, as well as the character of the people of Israel. And we encounter God, who stuns us with his patience as he allows us to make bad decisions.
​
​