Study Questions | 1 Samuel 22

These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage that will be preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Read 1 Samuel 22:1–2.

1.      Where is David?

2.      Who joins David in this hiding place?

3.      Read the following passages in your Bible: Matthew 9:9–13, Matthew 11:28–30, 1 Corinthians 1:26–31, Ephesians 2:11-13, and Acts 4:13. Do you see a pattern?

4.      Looking at 1 Samuel 22:2, how does David’s reception of the marginalized point us to Jesus?

5.      How should this pattern of welcoming the marginalized affect the way we live as individual Christians and as a church together?

6.      What would it look like for Hope Church to be a refuge for people who are in distress, in debt, or bitter in soul (see v. 2)? What steps could we take to pursue this goal?

Read 1 Samuel 22:3–5.

1.      Why did David bring his parents to Moab? Read Exodus 20:12 and 1 Samuel 17:12 for more context.

2.      Read Ruth 1:1–5 and compare it with Ruth 4:13–17. Do these passages help illuminate why David chose Moab as a home for Jesse?

3.      What does this action of David reveal about his character?

4.      How are we called to honor our parents today?

5.      Speaking through the prophet Gad, God told David to leave his stronghold (possibly Masada) and to return to Judah. Why?

6.      How does God sometimes call us to leave “safe places” to pursue our calling in the Lord?

Read 1 Samuel 22:6–19.

1.      Why is Saul so angry in vv. 6–8? Why does he refuse to speak David’s name, calling him simply the “son of Jesse”?

2.      What does Doeg report in vv. 9–10?

3. How does Ahimelech, the priest, attempt to defend himself in vv. 11–15?

4.      Why do Saul’s men refuse his orders in vv. 16–17?

5.      Why was Doeg willing to commit the atrocities of vv. 18–19?

6.      What do these atrocities show about Saul and the nature of evil?

Read 1 Samuel 22:20–23.

1.      What do we learn about David’s character in these verses?

2.      How is David a model of repentance?

3.      David was a place of refuge for the priest of God. What are ways you need to take refuge in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, today?

Study Questions | 1 Samuel 21

These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage that will be preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Read 1 Samuel 21:1–9.

1. Looking at the context in chapter 20, why is David a fugitive?

2. Why is the priest afraid in v. 1?

3. In v. 2, why does David lie? What is his motivation in your view?

4. Do you think his lie is justifiable or unjustifiable?

5. What does David ask of Ahimelech?

6. Look at v. 4. Why was the bread considered holy? Turn in your Bible to Leviticus 24:5–9 for more context.

7. Was it wrong for the priest to give holy bread to David? Why or why not? How can you apply your answer to Christian living today?

8. Turn in your Bible to Matthew 12:1–8. How does Jesus apply our text from 1 Samuel?

9. What does v. 7 foreshadow? Skim 1 Samuel 22:6–23.

10. Does the outcome of David’s lie affect your answer to question 4?

Read 1 Samuel 21:10–15.

1. Who else was from Gath? See 1 Samuel 17:4.

2. Of all places, why do you think David fled to this city?

3. What happens to David in Gath? Why was David afraid?

4. How does David escape?

5. Read Psalm 34.

   • According to the preface, what is the setting for this psalm?

   • How does David reflect on his fears (vv. 8–9)?

   • How does David reflect on his lies (vv. 11–14)?

Study Questions | 1 Samuel 20

These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage that will be preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Read 1 Samuel 20:1-11.

1. How do Jonathan and David disagree in vv. 1-4?

2. How is their dialogue helpful for us today as we experience disagreement with others?

3. Look at the word “covenant” in v. 8. According to The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, a covenant is “a mutual commitment of an intensely personal kind.” If you have a concordance in the back of your Bible, look up the references to “covenant” in the Bible.

4. What is a covenant in your view?

5. Can you think of other “covenants” in the modern world?

6. How do you see Jonathan’s covenant faithfulness to David?

7. How do you see David’s Covenant faithfulness to Jonathan? 

Read 1 Samuel 20:12-23.

1. What plan do Jonathan and David concoct in the field?

2. How does Jonathan show covenant faithfulness to David?

3. How does Jonathan seek covenant faithfulness from David?

Read 1 Samuel 20:24-34.

1. Try telling the story in your own words.

2. How do we see the depravity of Saul?

3. What does Jonathan’s covenant faithfulness lead him to do? What is the result?

4. What can we learn from Jonathan’s bravery today?

Read 1 Samuel 35-42.

1. Try telling the story in your own words.

2. Look at the word peace in verse 42. The Hebrew word is shalom. What is the connection between covenant faithfulness and peace?

3. Is this outward peace or some other form of peace?

4. God enters into a covenant relationship with his people. How does God’s covenant faithfulness produce peace?

Study Questions | 1 Samuel 19

These questions are designed to help you read and study the Bible passage that will be preached next week. Our prayer is that these questions will assist you in growing deeper in God’s Word as you examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

Read 1 Samuel 19:1-10.

• Who are the main characters in this section?

• How did God protect David?

• What do Jonathan’s words reveal about his theology and character in vv. 4-5?

• Looking at your own life, what practical lessons can you learn from Jonathan’s theology and character?

• What does Saul’s oath in v. 6 and his subsequent actions in vv. 8-10 reveal about his theology and character?

Read 1 Samuel 19:11-17.

• Who are the main characters in this section?

• How did God protect David?

• Look at v. 13. The word translated “image” can also be translated “household god” (Gen. 31:19). What does this tell us about Michal’s theology and character? Does this verse help explain 1 Samuel 18:21?

• What does the support of Saul’s children, Jonathan and Michal, tell us about David’s character?

• Read the preface to Psalm 59. When was Psalm 59 written?

• Read Psalm 59. What does David’s poetic reflection on this story teach us?

Read 1 Samuel 19:18-24.

• Who are the main characters in this section?

• How did God protect David?

• Read Psalm 59:17 again. How does 1 Samuel 19:18-24 display the truth of David’s words?

• How can this story about God’s protection help you trust him more in your own life?

• How does Jesus' work for you on the cross help you trust God more in your own life?

Crosspointe Joins Hope

Dear Friends,

At their congregational meeting on Sunday, Crosspointe Church unanimously voted to dissolve as a particular church and to transfer their building, assets, and membership to Hope Presbyterian Church, subject to the approval of Philadelphia Metro West Presbytery and the approval of Hope's provisional session. Since 96% of Hope Church's active members and attendees indicated that they thought absorbing Crosspointe Church would or could be helpful for the mission of Hope and since 0% indicated that they would leave the church if we moved forward, Hope's provisional session unanimously voted to receive the members, building, and assets of Crosspointe, uniting as one church under the leadership, vision, mission, and values of Hope Presbyterian Church.

In one sense, this change involves a sense of loss for both churches. Crosspointe will no longer exist as a particular church of the Presbyterian Church in America after Philadelphia Metro West Presbytery approves their decision. Likewise, Hope will miss our location at the Darlington Arts Center and the sweet fellowship we enjoyed there through the launch of our church and the COVID-19 pandemic.

But in another sense, this change is exciting for both churches. As a unified church, we have the opportunity to grow, reach new people, and pursue the Great Commission from a permanent facility. We have the opportunity to see people brought to faith in Christ and to see people recommit their lives to Jesus. We have the opportunity to see God raise up elders and deacons from one unified church so that we can become self-governing. Ultimately, we would love to see missionaries sent out and new churches planted through the ministry of Hope Presbyterian Church in the coming years.

What are the next steps?

• First and foremost, don't forget prayer. Give thanks for all God has done and for the Spirit of unity and peace on both sides. Pray that continues. But also, remember that "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Please pray that God will build this house for his glory! Let us claim the promise of Jesus, who said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

• Second, I'll be working with the leaders of Crosspointe to schedule our first service as a unified church. It will most likely be on be August 13 or August 20. We are still waiting on formal approval from Philadelphia Metro West Presbytery, but we don't foresee any roadblocks that would prevent us from beginning to meet and to form an identity together as one church.

• Third, we will still meet for worship this coming Sunday (July 30) at the Darlington Arts Center at 10:30 AM. 

Please be on the lookout for more information soon, and don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.

In Christ,
Pastor Will

Thankful for a great first service with Crosspointe

Dear Hope Church,

We had a wonderful preview service with Crosspointe this past Lord's Day as we explore the possibility of joining to become one church under the leadership, vision, mission, and values of Hope Church. It was also a blessing to have prayer before the service and a meal afterward. 

As a reminder, here's our schedule for the next few weeks:

• We will hold two more 10:30 AM preview services at Crosspointe's building (July 2 and July 9), with prayer before the service at 9:30 AM and a meal afterward.

• On July 16, we will meet separately for worship at the Darlington Arts Center, followed by a Q&A to reflect and ask questions as a congregation.

•  On July 23, we will meet separately for worship at the Darlington Arts Center, followed by a meeting of the congregation.

As we explore this exciting possibility together, prayer should be our number one priority.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

In Christ,
Pastor Will  

Raspberries

When we moved into our home, the neighbor knocked on our door to welcome us.  Babs introduced herself by saying that she owed me an apology.  This is not a normal introduction, and I was not certain what to expect.  Babs explained that 30 years earlier she had planted raspberries. They had gone wild and were plentiful in my lawn and garden as well as hers.

I thought of Babs recently when I read a Washington Post article, “The Ghosts in My Garden Keep Giving Year After Year” by Kristin van Ogtrop.  Besides Babs’ raspberries, we have rudbeckias from my mother-in-law, tall pines that were seedlings our sons planted on Earth Day, and hosta gifted by another neighbor.  The author paid homage to people whose plants, intentionally or not, appear in her garden every spring. 

As I pulled the persistent raspberries from our garden again this year, I thought of how our actions, intentionally or not, impact others far longer than we anticipate. We continually spread seeds in others’ lives as well as in their gardens.  This gives me pause. It is daunting and fraught with responsibility. 

Jesus used seeds and plants in his parables, most notably in Matthew 13. The first is called the Parable of the Sower in the English Standard Version (v. 1-9 and 18-23). The Sower scatters seeds with varying results. Some fall on the path and are immediately devoured.  Others fall on the rocks and appear to take but wither quickly. Still others fall among thorns and are choked.  Finally, seeds fall on good soil and flourish. Jesus went on to explain that the demise of the first three sets of seeds fell prey to the evil one, tribulation, and cares of the world. The seeds that flourished received the gospel and grew in faith. As believers we are called to be Sowers in every aspect of our lives to deliberately share the seed of the gospel. This is a privilege and a joy when God grants growth.

The Parable of the Weeds in captured in v. 24-30.  Here good seeds are sown in good soil but the enemy deliberately plants weeds in the same soil.  This is the parable that challenges me the most. While I may deliberately work to plant good seeds, I know that I may unintentionally plant weeds. Sharp words, dismissive remarks, or gossip undermine my good intentions. As James 3:8 reminds us: “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Daily cares coupled with a sinful nature have sometimes led me to plant weeds.

The final parable in Matthew 13 describes the smallest of seeds, the mustard seed (31-32). Even the diminutive mustard seed grows large and strong, clearly demonstrating the power of planting and nurturing seeds. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” It is God who gives the increase and blesses any seeds we sow. This is our work and our joy. 

Exciting New Opportunity for Hope

Dear Hope Church,

God has placed an exciting opportunity in our path that could help us advance the gospel and move to the next stage as a church plant. Crosspointe is a PCA church that meets 8 miles from the Darlington Arts Center toward Media (601 South New Middletown Road, Media, PA 19063). Like many churches, they lost momentum throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and are now down to 20 people in worship most Sundays. Therefore, when their beloved pastor announced that he is leaving in late July, they were grieved but also saw hope for continued gospel witness in our region. They reached out to us about joining Hope Church, coming under our leadership to proclaim Christ in their space.

Hope’s provisional session and I believe that this opportunity should not be ignored. The advantage would be boosting our size from 30 to 50, securing a debt-free building in good condition, and opening up new opportunities for gospel-outreach in their space. The downside could be the distance for many of our people, the reorientation of our community outreach, and the risk of taking on a building, which, though in excellent condition, would certainly require maintenance.

Therefore, here’s our plan to prayerfully explore this opportunity together:

• We will hold three joint preview services at Crosspointe's building (June 25, July 2, and July 9). These services will be our worship service in their space (Hope’s bulletin, preaching, liturgy, music, etc.). I will preach a three-week sermon series on Hope's vision, focusing on the "up" (worshiping God), the "in" (living in community), and the "out" (sharing hope) with a biblical text for each theme. Crosspointe will provide a meal after each of these services, giving us an opportunity to build community.  During the meal, I will also offer a brief teaching time on the vision, mission, and values of Hope Church.

• On July 16, we will meet separately for worship at the Darlington Arts Center, followed by a Q&A for us to reflect and ask questions as a congregation.

•  On July 23, we will meet separately for worship at the Darlington Arts Center, followed by a congregational meeting.

Our prayer should be that, if it is God's will and will glorify Him, he will open doors and make it clear. Likewise, if it is not God's will, pray that God will make it clear as well.  

I know this is a lot of change for both churches. So, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. In the meantime, keep praying for wisdom and discernment for all involved.

In Christ,

Pastor Will                          

Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)

God Wins!

I watch way too much sports. But, I enjoy the competition. I like watching athletes who have great strength, agility and teamwork demonstrate excellence. The unscripted drama of a game or match brings genuine surprises and suspense. Lately, I’m doing better to not let sports dictate my schedule. Often, I record sporting events, and avoid anyone telling me the score, so I can fully enjoy the game when it’s convenient. For example, the 2022 World Cup final began at 11am on a Sunday morning, so I recorded it. After worship, I had a leisurely lunch, cleaned up, and then watched the match. Argentina had already won before I started watching, but since I didn’t know the outcome, I could be just as excited and filled with anticipation as if I were watching the match live. But, no matter how hard I try, there are times when I record a sporting event, and someone tells me the final score before I can watch the game. I can still enjoy the surprise of great individual plays but the suspense of not knowing the outcome is ruined because I know the final score.

At times, life is really hard for us and the people we love. There are times of darkness and hopelessness including divorce, death, illness, financial setbacks, persecution, loneliness, temptation, and other tragedies of living in a sinful, fallen world. It can seem that our enemy is on a winning streak with no sign of losing any time soon. We can become filled with worry, tension, and concern. It can seem like God and His people will never win. But God has repeatedly told us the final score…and He wins!

·       God’s people will persevere; protected by Jesus Himself. (Matthew 16 ; John 10)

·       Jesus will return and take us to be with Him. (John 14 ; Acts 1)

·       There will be a resurrection of the dead to new life. (Acts 24)

·       There will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Isaiah 65 & 66 ; Revelation 21)

·       We will rejoice at the marriage supper of the Lamb as Christ’s bride. (Revelation 19)

·       We will be made fully Christ-like. (1 John 3 ; Philippines 3)

·       We will see God face-to-face and be with Him forever. (Psalm 23 ; 1 Corinthians 13)

These are just a few of God’s great promises which should fill us with hope and take away the suspense and anxiety about the future, so our individual moments of darkness don’t stress or trouble us so much because God wins!

As you know, one way to grab people’s attention and start a spiritual conversation is to ask, “if you could ask God one question, what would you ask Him?” I’ve thought a lot about what I would like to know from God directly. In the Bible, God has revealed so much about Himself, about us, about the world, and about the future that there is almost nothing important that He has not already told us. In the struggles of life, I often don’t need more information, but I need encouragement. So I would ask God, “will everything be OK?” I know that God will work everything for our good in a way that is so much better than I can imagine, but it would be a blessing to hear it directly from Him. 

There was no darker moment in human history than Jesus’ death on the cross. All seemed lost. The Messiah, the Son of God died. For three days Jesus’ disciples lost all hope in God’s promises. Then Jesus rose from the dead, spent time with His disciples, and hope in God’s promises was restored which changed everything. They were reminded that God controls the final score … and He wins!

Marks of True Revival

Marks of True Revival

What are the marks of true gospel revival? What’s the difference between a temporary emotional experience and a true work of God Spirit?  I would like to suggest four marks of true revival:

Genuine Repentance 

From the very beginning of his public ministry, Jesus preached a gospel of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is at the very heart of the Christian message. As Martin Luther said in his first thesis in 1517, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent,’ he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Therefore, any true work of the Spirit should lead to mass repentance as people turn from trusting in themselves to trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is exactly what we see in Old Testament examples of revival, such as the renewal under King Josiah in 2 Kings 22-23.

Love for Christ

Repentance alone is not a mark of true revival. If people simply see their sin and feel bad about it, they could end up in the same position as Judas Iscariot who committed suicide after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:5). That’s why this mark of true repentance is so important. True gospel renewal and revival should always have Jesus Christ’s as the center, just as the apostle Paul chose to know nothing but “Jesus Christ and him crucified” in his preaching to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2).

Interest in God’s Word

the next mark of true repentance is a sincere love for God’s Word. In church history, true gospel with dual and revival has always been accompanied by a renewal of biblical preaching. This is what happened in the ministry of John Hus in the 14th century and John Calvin in the 16th century. You see the same pattern in the First Great Awakening of the 18th century and the Second Great Awakening of the 19th century. People increasingly longed for faithful biblical preaching as the revival took hold. Therefore, if there are claims of revival without a corresponding longing for biblical preaching and teaching, then reports may be exaggerated. 

Lasting Fruit

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus says that you can identify true and false teachers by their fruit. True teachers will “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). But we can say the same thing about revivals. True gospel renewal and revival will bear fruit in keeping with repentance. In other words, as time goes on, it will be clear that it wasn’t a mere emotional experience in the heat of the moment. Rather, there will be a change in the way people love one another in the church. There will be a change in the way people interact at work. There will be a change in the way families conduct themselves at home and abroad.

But in all, we should continue to pray for renewal and revival in our country and in Garnet Valley. It may seem impossible or too good to be true. But as we look at the history of God’s people, we should be optimistic, expecting renewal and revival as a work of God’s Spirit in his good timing.