What is God doing here? God has sent the prophet Samuel to anoint the new king of Israel. The king will be a son of Jesse from Bethlehem. When Samuel sees Jesse’s son Eliab, he’s ready to call off the search.
Connections 11.14.2021: Misunderstandings and Understandings
November 7, 2021 by
Hannah’s story is filled with misunderstandings. First, Peninnah thinks that Hannah’s inability to have children grants her license to torment Hannah for her childlessness.
Crossroads: God Knows
June 7, 2021 by
Talk about a time in your life when you felt invisible, when you felt like no one else knew your pain and it seemed like you were on your own. Did you turn to God?
Flame: David and Goliath Balloon Inflation Trick
October 13, 2020 by
We acted out the story of David and Goliath, focusing on the fact that, though others thought that David had no chance against Goliath, David trusted God and God was able to use him and the skills he had.
Connections 07.29.2018: Will this Be on the Test?
July 22, 2018 by
We can’t help being fascinated by stories like David’s. A handsome, admired man with a bright future, beloved of God, giant slayer, powerful leader, conqueror of Saul, adored friend of Jonathan.
Connections 07.15.2018: Containing Your Excitement
July 8, 2018 by
I grew up in the so-called Bible Belt, that strip of the South where church is king and good religious folks are expected to adhere to a certain set of standards. In many churches, dancing was (and in some places still is) forbidden.
Connections 07.01.2018: Journeying through Grief
June 24, 2018 by
“Grief Is Complicated.” My first thought when I read the title for this lesson was Well, that’s an understatement! Anyone who has experienced grief—no matter the cause—knows that it is more than complicated.
Formations 06.03.2018: Overcoming Defensiveness
May 27, 2018 by
We all know what it’s like to see someone behaving defensively. Something has challenged a person’s values, perceptions, or belief system, and he or she responds by giving off a defensive vibe. They aren’t interested in dialogue.
Connections 01.14.2018: Samuel and Eli
January 7, 2018 by
Sometimes we picture ancient stories in black and white. They are old, removed, and distant. And even when the characters are vivid and exciting, they are almost superhuman to us. They don’t seem real. I’ve always felt closest to Bible characters when the storyteller portrays them as human beings who could be people I know—or even me!
Formations 02.19.2017: Tension and Resolution
February 12, 2017 by
In the first few months of my freshman year, the university orchestra played a concert at the opera house downtown. I went and somewhere between Brazilian samba, Argentinian tango, and Aaron Copeland, they played Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings.”
Formations 08.23.2015: Leaving Isn’t Easy
August 16, 2015 by
About a year ago, author Beverly Gooden started a movement that went viral. She was frustrated and saddened by a popular argument that criticized victims of domestic violence, and she wanted to help the world understand.
Crossroads: When It Seems As If There’s No Hope – Hannah
July 28, 2014 by
When I was 11, my world came crashing down. My mother and stepfather were divorcing, my church was breaking, and I didn’t have any friends at school. I felt as if things would always be this way—that there was no hope of anything being different.