Sermons on Sauls Failure:

Don't Tell Me What To Do Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Oct 14, 2003

This sermon uses David’s experience with King Saul to teach biblical attitudes toward authority that God places over our lives. The limitations of scope in such authority and the basis of our respect for authority are discussed.

Don’t Tell Me What to Do! Submission to Human Authority I 2/17/02 Follow with me as we read I Samuel 24. This incident occurred during a very difficult time in David’s life. King Saul had listed him as #1 in the “Ten Most Wanted” fugitives in Israel. David had been running for his ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1-22, Romans 13:1-5

Denomination: Charismatic

The Awakening Series

Contributed by Doug Johnston on Sep 20, 2001

Just as Saul was called out of fear to take his place of leadership, so we too are being called by God to awake from slumber and take our place in these days crying out for leadership.

Introduction: Saul’s personality was energized when the Spirit of God gripped him. He changed from the cowardly king hiding in the baggage (10:20-22) to a bold man of action (11:5-7). Just as he awoke and took his place, we too must awake to God’s hand on our lives. These difficult days in our ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Expect Casualties

Contributed by Jack Warford on Oct 2, 2001

We must expect casualties while doing the work of the LORD! It makes no difference whether we are a Samuel or a Saul, we will have casualties, and too often they are caused by friendly actions. It comes with the territory and the ministry.

We must expect casualties while doing the work of the LORD! It makes no difference whether we are a Samuel or a Saul, we will have casualties, and too often they are caused by friendly actions. It comes with the territory and the ministry God has given each of us. Some are killed in action and some ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:10-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How Can I Survive When I Am So Lonely

Contributed by Michael Stark on Jun 26, 2010

When our feelings tell us we are alone, how shall the Christian respond. Reviewing David’s life when he was fleeing from Saul provides insight into a godly response to loneliness.

“With my voice I cry out to the Lord; with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him. “When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see: there ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 142:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

Kingdom And Chaos - God Chooses David

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Feb 21, 2019

The first time, Samuel anointed a king, he found Saul, who was the most handsome, strongest man in the nation. This time, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, who has eight sons.

Kingdom and Chaos 1st Samuel 16 – God Chooses David February 24, 2019 The first time, Samuel anointed a king, he found Saul, who was the most handsome, strongest man in the nation. This time, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, who has eight sons. 1 Samuel 16:10-13 NIV Jesse ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:10-13, Isaiah 50:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Kingdom And Chaos - God Chooses David

Contributed by Brady Boyd on Feb 21, 2019

The first time, Samuel anointed a king, he found Saul, who was the most handsome, strongest man in the nation. This time, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, who has eight sons.

Kingdom and Chaos 1st Samuel 16 – God Chooses David February 24, 2019 The first time, Samuel anointed a king, he found Saul, who was the most handsome, strongest man in the nation. This time, God sends Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, who has eight sons. 1 Samuel 16:10-13 NIV Jesse ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:10-13, Isaiah 50:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

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

The Ones “go” And The Ones Who Don’t “go”

Contributed by Kelly Durant on Apr 2, 2016

Some say they will obey God and don't, Others resist, then go. The Jews in Jesus day did not think they had to obey Jesus so they did not go to work in the vineyard. No serving when you should is a failure.

The Ones “Go” and The Ones Who Don’t “Go” Kelly Durant Matthew 21:28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:28-32

Denomination: Salvation Army

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

Come Home Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Jul 8, 2020

Count the cost and make the commitment to come home to the Lord to find victory in the place of defeat.

Gary Smalley tells the story of two moose hunters in northern Canada, who shot an unusually large moose. The two hunters had a problem, however. They couldn't pack this trophy animal out of the woods; it was just too big for their packhorses. But they had a solution. Using a cell phone, they ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22, Mark 8:34

Denomination: Evangelical Free

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

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