Sermon Tone Analysis

Spiritual review - Dave from 3rd February 2019 sermon.

“Vain Things”

In Samuel’s discourse with Israel after they had anointed Saul as king, he reminds the nation of their disposition in times past to follow after vain things.

He admonishes the people of Israel not to turn aside from following the Lord and to completely follow the Lord with all their heart.

Because here’s what will happen when you do turn aside you’ll follow vain things - things that cannot profit or deliver.

You’ll follow vain things - things that cannot profit or deliver.

So my focus here tonight will be on this topic of vanity - how will I know if I’ve turned unto vain things?

How will I know if the vain things in my life are becoming the main things?

So my focus here tonight will be on this topic of vanity - how will I know if I’ve turned unto vain things?

How will I know if the vain things in my life are becoming the main things?

We live in a society today who likes to pride themselves on their technological advances.

We can communicate with people on the opposite side of the globe, we can carry the entire internet in our pocket, and we can automate many manual and mundane tasks.

Technology is amazing.

But sadly with great power comes great responsibility.

It can be very easy for us to get ourselves sucked into many vain things these days, all because it’s a lot easier for us to access than it was 20 years ago.

But let’s take a step back before pointing the finger at technology and ask - what causes us to seek vain things?

Why do we turn to vain things?

In our passage we see the reason why the nation of Israel turned to vain things - they turned aside from following the Lord fully.

What causes us to turn aside from following the Lord?

We forget.

Samuel here reminds Israel one reason why Israel faced such turmoil at the hand of their enemies when they were brought into the land - they simply forgot and forsook the Lord.

Forgetfulness

We forget because:

Our regular schedule becomes busier than normal and encroaches on things of the Lord.

We could also get burnt out and need prolonged rest; or

We slowly diminish our regular attendance in something such as being involved in church, reading God’s Word, regularly praying (etc).

Those things which should be regular

Out of sight, out of mind.

When we then do forget, something more alluring tends to take its place.

Forsaking & Replacing

Forgetting is one thing, and we can restore a right relationship with the Lord if we get back into our regular routine, however, as is shown in our passage with Israel they sadly replaced their routine with the wrong type of godly things.

Instead of returning back and fully following the Lord they instead shared in the practices of their neighbouring cultures and followed after Baalim and Ashtaroth.

However, th

Overt Desire

The other issue with Israel was that they wanted a king.

We have outright rebellion by being overtly desirous of what you want without consulting the Lord.

And Israel justified their reasons by saying Samuel’s sons were perverting justice that they had “turned aside” after lucre and took bribes ().

It can be very easy to desire something such as money.

Samuel’s sons had turned away from the Lord by placing their desires for money higher than their desire for the Lord.

And even today we need to be wary of our desire for money.

Especially in the “Lucky Country” of Australia which has one of the highest standards of living in Australia today (recent GDP per capita rating had Australia around 10th in the world).

We’ve probably all heard the popular verse in Scripture:

other than the Lord, especially when we can point the finger at someone directly and make them the scapegoat for why you no longer fellowship.

And you yourself may have tendency’s towards this type of behaviour.

Have you ever for someone’s opinion and where they’ve gone contrary to your opinion you’re quick to dismiss it?

Or if you are asking someone a genuine question, but they give an answer you don’t really want?

While we have seen many great achievements through technology

What causes us to follow after vain things?

What caused Israel to follow after vain things?

Not turn aside from following the Lord

Personal Testimony

Introduction

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In society today we have labels for each generation and with each label we associate characteristics that we attribute to people within that generation.

Throughout the last 4-5 years I have been through the book of 1 Samuel with my Young Adults Sunday Class who I co-lead with my brother Kingsley Cheung.

Introduction

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In society today we have labels for each generation and with each label we associate characteristics that we attribute to people within that generation.

Introduction

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* What is this sermon about?

Introduction

In society today we have labels for each generation and with each label we associate characteristics that we attribute to people within that generation.

And some of these labels do have some vailidity because each generation had it's differences and therefore it's own unique opportunities, challenges and problems.

And some of these labels do have some validity because each generation had it's differences and therefore it's own unique opportunities, challenges and problems.

In our passage this evening we read of Samuel speaking unto the congregation of Israel a history of their nation.

And some of these labels do have some validity because each generation had it's differences and therefore it's own unique opportunities, challenges and problems.

During those years several things changed:

For example, radio was invented in 1895, but wasn't really mainstream until the 1920's.

Television was invented in 1927, but began to flourish after the second world war.

And then there was computers, which were invented back in 1938, but personal computers weren't invented until the 1970's.

And then there was the internet which was invented back in 1983, but wasn't really popular until the 1990's.

For example, radio was invented in 1895, but wasn't really mainstream until the 1920's.

Television was invented in 1927, but began to flourish after the second world war.

And then there was computers, which were invented back in 1938, but personal computers weren't invented until the 1970's.

And then there was the internet which was invented back in 1983, but wasn't really popular until the 1990's.

For example, radio was invented in 1895, but wasn't really mainstream until the 1920's.

Television was invented in 1927, but began to flourish after the second world war.

And then there was computers, which were invented back in 1938, but personal computers weren't invented until the 1970's.

And then there was the internet which was invented back in 1983, but wasn't really popular until the 1990's.

Sophia and Ethan were born

As we see our own nation turning further and further away from godly values and the bible we know and can relate to the heart of Samuel with his discourse.

In our passage there are several obvious things which we'll discuss in greater detail here tonight:

1.

The people's forgetfulness

2. The people's eagerness to turn away

3. The people's disposition to run to vain things

So we can see even with this brief look at technology that each generation had it's differences.

And unfortunately what can happen with new generations is that because technology has changed since their fathers it can be easy to claim that previous generations don't simply understand the issues of today and any such opinions are redundant and/or irrelevant.

So we can see even with this brief look at technology that each generation had it's differences.

And unfortunately what can happen with new generations is that because technology has changed since their fathers it can be easy to claim that previous generations don't simply understand the issues of today and any such opinions are redundant and/or irrelevant.

So we can see even with this brief look at technology that each generation had it's differences.

And unfortunately what can happen with new generations is that because technology has changed since their fathers it can be easy to claim that previous generations don't simply understand the issues of today and any such opinions are redundant and/or irrelevant.

I had a career change

But God certainly provides a warning to every generation, regardless of what around us may be different to preceding generations.

In our passage Samuel shows us a pattern which has been common to not only the nation of Israel, but to all those who profess Christ.

I became

However, also during this time I grew more as a husband and father, all from my studies throughout this little book of 31 chapters in the Bible.

Many of whom when going through this book would gloss over many of it’s precious gems seeing it more as historical narrative - which it certainly is as it helps us to see how the kingly throne was established in the nation of Israel, and the development of David as king - but I could relate so much to a failed man in King Saul.

But God certainly provides a warning to every generation, regardless of what around us may be different to preceding generations.

But God certainly provides a warning to every generation, regardless of what around us may be different to preceding generations.

In our passage tonight Samuel warns Israel on the new generational shift, where Israel has now sought to be relevant, like their surrounding nations, in demanding a king.