Untitled Sermon (20)

Learning to Listen

Eugene Peterson, a pastor/theologian writes,

That God speaks is the basic reality of biblical faith. The fundamental conviction of our faith is not so much that God is, as that God speaks. The biblical revelation begins with God creating by word…It concludes with Jesus, the Word of God speaking in invitation, “Come…” (Rev 22:17). All the pages in between are packed with sentences which God speaks…The conspicuous feature in all this speaking is that God speaks in personal address…the Lord’s speaking is to persons….

Eugene Peterson, First and Second Samuel, Westminster Bible Companion (Louisville, KY.: Westminster John Knox Press, 1999) 38.

Our mission as a people of God in Winston, OR is summarized in this phrase (say it with me):

God’s Word Transforming Our World

A well known account of God’s Word transforming the world is found in 1 Samuel 3.

Samuel’s birth was a direct result of his mother’s prayer (1 Sam 1). After Samuel was weaned - about age 2-3 - Samuel was given into the care of the older priest, Eli.

Samuel was then raised by Eli and his family. Eli, a descendant of Aaron’s son, Ithamar. Eli had two sons, identified by the author of Samuel as

1 Samuel 2:12 HCSB

Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the Lord.