1 Samuel 4-7
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times A Boy Named Ichabod, A Stone Named Ebenezer SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus DATE: May 23, 2004 Introduction: Have you ever met a boy named Ichabod? I doubt it. The fictional character, Ichabod Crane, in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, is the last one I ever heard of, and he was such a despicable character that I suppose all parents since the time of Washington Irving have studiously avoided “Ichabod” when trying to find the right name for their…
1 Samuel 8
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times How to Handle Rejection SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Rejection. Is there anything in all of life that is harder to handle than rejection? I don’t know about you, but I have experienced a profound sense of rejection several times in my life. Once was in Little League. I remember it well, because my dad was there–a rare treat because he had two full-time jobs–one as a pastor and another as a Bible College administrator. I was playing right field (you…
1 Samuel 12, 13
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Difference Integrity Makes SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: 1 Samuel is a book about leadership, both positive and negative, among God’s people. We began in chapter 1 by observing the difference a godly home makes in the development of leadership. Today, in the fifth message in our series, we will look at the difference integrity makes in the exercise of leadership. Please follow along as I read portions of 1 Samuel 12 and 13: Samuel said to all Israel,…
1 Samuel 14
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times When a Leader Misuses His Authority SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: We are in the middle of a trilogy of sermons on the failed leadership of Saul, the first king of Israel, as we set the stage for his successor David, a leader worth emulating. Leadership is a topic of great relevance to all of us, for we are all leaders, and we are all followers. We may be leaders in church or in industry or at school…
1 Samuel 15
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times Partial Obedience Is Disobedience SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 15 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Let me paint a little word picture for you that will be readily identifiable to anyone with a toddler at home. “It’s almost supper time, Adam. Pick up the papers and crayons that are all over the floor and put them in your desk before supper.” “Oh, Daddy, do I have to?” “Yes, you have to.” The family gathers at the supper table, Adam…
1 Samuel 17
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Difference Stature Makes SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: Last week I saw a major news article on television on the startling increase in the use of growth hormones by ordinary Americans. Previously extremely expensive, and used only for children with pituitary deficiency, growth hormones are now made synthetically, are available cheaply, and are being used by perfectly healthy adults who want to have bigger and better bodies. Even some parents of normal-size children are giving growth…
1 Samuel 18
Jealousy, the Jaundice of the Soul SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: In our study of the OT book of 1 Samuel, we have discovered that Saul, the tall, brave, and charismatic first king of Israel, has been sliding down the slippery slope of spiritual defection. He who once had so much going for him has demonstrated an amazing lack of integrity, a narcissistic spirit of independence, and virtually no heart for God. So, God has already declared him bankrupt and has anointed the…
1 Samuel 18-23
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times Every Leader Needs a Friend SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I used to play a little game with my son Andy when he was just a toddler. I would set him on my lap and ask, “Andy, who’s your best friend in the whole world?” If he was in an ornery mood, which was almost always, he would say, “Mommy,” at which I feign great displeasure and tickle him until he changed his answer to “Daddy.” At times…
1 Samuel 21-23
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times The Wilderness: A Difficult but Wonderful Place SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Introduction: I have a strange fascination with the wilderness–whether you’re talking about the rainforest of Brazil or the barren mountains of Sinai or the Badlands of South Dakota. I love getting away from the trappings of civilization and enjoying nature as God created it. If I could spend a month anywhere in the world, I would probably choose southern Utah. There are places there where you can drive…
1 Samuel 24, 26
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times Vengeance is Mine SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 24, 26 SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus Note to David: This is from a series I did in 1988 in St. Louis. Check to see if you have the tape. Introduction: Revenge has been called life’s most subtle temptation. It’s also one of life’s most frequent temptations. It’s subtle because we are never tempted to take vengeance without provocation, and if we’re provoked it’s easy to justify our response. And it’s frequent because the provocations in life are so numerous. A guy cuts…
1 Samuel 25
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times How to Lead When You’re Not the Leader SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus For the past three or four months we have been devoting our Sunday morning Bible study time to the OT historical book of 1 Samuel. I entitled this series, “Leadership in Hard Times.” The leaders we have examined–both good and bad–have been men, but this morning we come to a passage which focuses upon the leadership of a woman. She is not well-known, even to serious…
1 Samuel 27, 29-31
SERIES: Leadership in Hard Times Leading by Grace SPEAKER: Michael P. Andrus For the sake of the children (and any guests we might have with us today), I want you to know that here in Big Church we have been studying the OT book of 1 Samuel, and particularly the lives of Saul and David, the first two kings of Israel. The children were provided a work sheet to help them benefit from this morning. Even if you haven’t been with…