Call of Samuel/God's Call to our church
Notes
Transcript
Eli & Samuel
Eli & Samuel
The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.
Not many visions
Anxiety but the future
Not a surprise.
need for clarity
onion skin
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Very early in the morning/evocative image for things running down in the house of God
Elis sons/weak vision
Deep connection
too much change
Change is coming, no matter what. Will we be proactive in that change, or wait for something to happen to us?
Roller Coaster
Scary at the edge.
Don’t know when we will reach the bottom and start going up the other side
Don’t wait until it’s too late
God is with us.
A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.
The Lord called 3x
Other options
new Thing
Not an ending, but a beginning
Been on our hearts as a church for a long time.
(Need a Hannah and an Elkanah)
Sensing the Lord moving in our community facing ministries
Importance of listening - thought we might have one “new thing” seems like we’re being led towards a series of small groups that may or may not coalescse in the future
If we don’t seek this, then we will be stuck at the top of the rollercoaster
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
-seeking the Lord
Noty just for ministers, but for all of us
Two things:
It’s God who gives calrity of vision
We need to be listening to each other to hear Him clearly
Summing up
Change is coming
God is with us
We need to listen together to hear his voice
This is not an end, but a beginning
