Principles-4-Progress 2

Principles-4-Progress (2 of 3) Objective… To plant seeds of healthy spiritual rhythms, that create a rich and fulfilling relationship with God.

Service: It Pleases God

I Samuel 2:11-13a NLT Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest. Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord ¹³ or for their duties as priests.

Introduction: There is an abrupt shift in the scenery. Praise is the precursor to perversion.

Hannah is praying again, but this time it’s not anguish but adoration. Her prayer is a song, similar to David’s song in II Samuel 22, and Mary’s song (The Magnificat) in Luke 1. Hannah’s song praises God for his providence; the Divine sovereign’s ability to cause a reversal of fortune.

Transition: Service is the paradigm that Jesus prescribed for us. Mark 10:43-45 “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Overwhelming Observations from the example of Jesus:                                                                    

-Every member is a minister/servant

-The way up is down                                     

-The point of it all is people not power

Exposition: Notice how service bookends Samuel’s life…

Major Movements of the text:                                                                                                   

verse 11… Then Elkanah returned home to Ramah without Samuel. And the boy served the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.   Service is a way of life and it started with a commitment by his mother in 1:28.                                                                                                                      

verse 26… Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.   When you serve you grow physically, spiritually, and socially.

verse 35… Then I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire. I will establish his family, and they will be priests to my anointed kings forever.   Our response to God’s selection is faithfulness (not until but unto).                                                               

chapter 3:1… Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.   The bottom line is stressed creating a bookend. In an era of darkness, let your light shine!

Challenge: Make it a priority to do something good this week that costs you. If you want to be great, then do something good! Don’t do it for what you could get, but for someone’s benefit in God’s name, because you were blessed to be a blessing!