ATTENTION: No one sets out to fail. A recent series of
advertisements for an Internet company
portrayed children speaking facetiously
about their mediocre aspirations for the
future. As much as we laugh at these
absurdities, the sad reality is that a lot
of folks live this way in their Christian
lives.
NEED: Believers must determine early if they will
succeed in faith or simply dabble in
mediocrity.
TEXTUAL IDEA: Samuel succeeded as a servant of God
because he was available to God.
SERMON IDEA: We can succeed as God’s servants when we
make ourselves available to God.
TRANSITION: The Bible shows us four areas of
availability that God can use.
DIVISION ONE: We can be available by being in the
right place (vv.1-2).
DIVISION TWO: We can be available by being willing to
serve (vv.3-8a).
DIVISION THREE: We can be available by being prepared
to listen (vv.8b-14).
DIVISION FOUR: We can be available by being obedient
in spite of the consequences (vv.15-21).
CONCLUSION: God calls believers to follow him and
serve him today. It may be in areas of high
visibility or virtual invisibility. It may
be a calling to praise and respect, or it
may be a calling to ridicule and scorn.
Regardless of the outcome, success is
defined in terms of faithful obedience. It
means being in the right place, being
willing to serve, being prepared to listen,
being obedient no matter what the
consequences. Samuel learned these lessons.
We can learn them, too.
