Sermons on Sauls Failure:

To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice

Contributed by John Gaston on Feb 11, 2021

We look at the fall of King Saul. We see how he rationalized his sins by selective obedience, shifting blame, and subterfuge. Then we study the true nature of obedience and end with an enlightening story.

TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE 1 Sam. 15:1-30 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: KNOWING IS NOT DOING 1. United Press International (UPI) reported that termites had eaten through a large stack of documents entitled, “Control of Termites” in the mail room of the University of California at Berkley. 2. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-30

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Trusting Or Fleeing Series

Contributed by Joseph Marshall on Oct 9, 2022

This Psalm is thought to have been written during the times when David was in the courts of Saul and he was being tempted to flee; and not trust in God but to believe that his safety was only dependent upon his actions.

I. FACING THE TEMPTATION TO FLEE A. People may be used to advise us wrongly (v. 1-3). 1. They were undermining David’s confidence in the Lord. 2. Just like Rabshakeh did to Jerusalem in Hezekiah’s day. 3. People who cannot see things from a spiritual perspective will advise us from their point of ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

There Is One Baptism Series

Contributed by John Dobbs on Jun 6, 2025

The Apostle Paul was once a persecutor of Christians known as Saul of Tarsus. It was only during an encounter with the Risen Savior that he experienced a turnaround and began to tell everyone about Jesus. (Acts 22:6-16)

There Is One Baptism Ephesians 4:4 Introduction The Apostle Paul was once a persecutor of Christians known as Saul of Tarsus. It was only during an encounter with the Risen Savior that he experienced a turnaround and began to tell everyone about Jesus. (Acts 22:6-16) In our series on Seven ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Evil Disguised PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 27, 2023

Encourage the church to confront evil, understand the reality of spiritual warfare, and pray for discernment to distinguish between God's truth and the enemy's lies, using the example of King Saul's disobedience in 1 Samuel 28:8.

Good morning, church family. Today, we're gonna dive into a passage that's a bit of a tough one, but it's crucial for our understanding about how evil can creep into our midst, the reality of spiritual warfare, and our need for discerning hearts and prayerful spirits. We're going to be looking at 1 ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:8

Topics: Evil, Church

Becoming A Giant Killer

Contributed by John Gaston on Oct 10, 2021

All of us face giants of debt, abuse, rejection, troubled children, battle fears, health issues, habits, failure, or depression. They seem impossible to overcome. But David shows us how to trust in God to save us. Jesus, our Champion, won the victory!

BECOMING A GIANT KILLER 1 Sam. 17:2-51 INTRODUCTION A. HUMOR: You have to know…“HOW TO GET HELP” 1. One day Jacob, a Jew living in Russia, slipped on the wet riverbank and fell into the water. Unfortunately, Jacob couldn’t swim and was in serious danger of drowning. 2. Two Communist ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:2-51

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Patience Of God As Salvation Series

Contributed by Robert Higgins on Nov 14, 2006

We must learn to regard God’s patience as salvation because it is exactly that. Without it we would be doomed to His wrath after our first failure or sin.

1. Kid quotes about God’s patience – It seems they understand Him better than most adults do. a. "God waits until he gets his turn," says Savannah, age 5. b. God has patience with us "by waiting in line," says Ashton, 5 c. "God has patience with me and everyone else because we all mess up a lot," ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:14-15

Denomination: Baptist

Nine Things To Learn From Trouble

Contributed by Jerry Falwell on Apr 12, 2002

The book of II Corinthians is about trouble, Paul’s physical weakness, and overcoming failure. Principles of this sermon are for those who are facing a new marriage, a new business, or a new venture.

NINE THINGS TO LEARN FROM TROUBLE By Jerry Falwell II Corinthians 4:8-18 (References are from the Old King James.) INTRODUCTION The book of II Corinthians is about trouble, Paul’s physical weakness, and overcoming failure. Principles of this sermon are for those who are facing a new marriage, ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

What Does The Church Do? Series

Contributed by Charles Wilkerson on Oct 21, 2003

The world today sees the church as powerless and irrelevant in our culture and the reason is due in great part because of our failure to live life differently than the world around us.

In the play, My Fair Lady, Eliza is being courted by Freddy, who writes to her daily of his love for her. Eliza’s response to his notes is to cry out in frustration: Words! Words! I’m so sick of words!... Don’t talk of stars Burning above, If you’re in love, Show me! Don’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-5, Acts 2:41-47

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How Do You Recognize Faith?

Contributed by William Mouser on Mar 11, 2005

The "Faith Hall of Fame" shows us how we recognize faith -- not by the success or failure of those who have it, nor by their joy or sadness, but by the way they clothed their faith in works.

18th Sunday in Trinity Hebrews 11:1-39 "How do you recognize faith?" Many years ago, a pornography case came before the United States Supreme Court. Justice Potter Stewart said this: “I shall not today attempt further to define [obscenity]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Don't Give Up

Contributed by Rick Gillespie- Mobley on Jul 20, 2007

This sermon encourages us not to give up in the face of failure. You can see it and/or hear it at our website at www.glenvillenewlife.com under Sermons--Pastor Rick

Don’t Give Up Genesis 21:14-21 Matthew 26:69-75 Have you ever been in a situation in which things were going pretty good, and then you did something to screw things up. You find yourself in a jam and don’t know exactly what to do? Has there ever been a time in your life, in which you were ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:69-75

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Reclaiming Your Passion Part 2 Series

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Jul 22, 2009

And so at a point in history… Christ came to reclaim our destinies… by providing for the forgiveness of our failures and wanderings… and freeing us / allowing us… to hear the Father’s voice again…

Movie Clip: LION KING – IDENTITY AS GOD’S CHILD - A young lion runs away after being led to believe he is to blame for his father’s death. As such he is refusing to return as the new new king who could help his fellow clan to battle their now impending enemy. In this scene the rather strange ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Best Player In The Game

Contributed by Jason Winters on Sep 15, 2007

Talk about best atheletes. They fail forward until they succeed. God wants us to go forward through our failures to be all He would have us to be.

The Best Player In The Game being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) So What does God expect from Me? I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-6

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Genesis 9 – Part 3 – If I Call My Dad An Idiot, Am I Cursed? Series

Contributed by Ross Cochrane on Jan 25, 2010

It’s interesting that the first time wine is mentioned in the Bible, it is connected with drunken behaviour. BUT IT IS HAM’S DISRESPECT, NOT NOAH’S FAILURES THAT FEATURE IN THIS STORY.

Genesis 9 – Part 3 – IF I CALL MY DAD AN IDIOT, AM I CURSED? Here’s the story – Noah gets drunk and gets naked in his tent. He behaves badly. He fails in terms of his witness to his family. He fails God in that he’s way out of control. It’s interesting that ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 9:22-29

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What Easter Meant To Peter

Contributed by Chuck Sligh on Apr 8, 2012

Easter was intensely personal to Peter because of his massive failure in denying the Lord. His post-resurrection encounter with the risen Lord on the Sea of Galilee shows the incredible love of Jesus.

What Easter Meant to Peter Chuck Sligh April 8, 2012 TEXT: Mark 16:1-8 – “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Holy Spirit Fire Or Hell Fire

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on May 5, 2016

Pentecost Sunday - Contrasting the Fires of Hell and the Fire of the Holy Spirit. The Fires of Hell point to a Failure, An agony of Remembrance and are Eternal. The Fire of the Holy Spirit brings a Fullness, Renewal and are Everlasting!

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21; Genesis 11:1-9 and Luke 16:19-31 Theme: Holy Spirit Fire or Hell Fire Proposition: One of the greatest images of Pentecost is the image of Fire. Today we can choose between the Fire of Hell or the Fire of Heaven. 1. The Fire of Hell points to a Failure while the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: Nazarene