Sermon Notes From Pastor Greg Williams

If you were unable to join us for Sunday's sermon, below are a few brief notes highlighting the key points of the message and  related Bible verses.  Feel free to reach out if you have questions, and we hope to see you next Sunday.

July 27, 2025 1 Samuel 10:23-27

1.  Ignore Them.  1 Samuel 10:26-27. I have learned with people like this that no matter what you do, it's the wrong decision.  You want to make them happy?  Gripe back at them.  Nothing will put a smile on their face quicker than jumping in the mud with that hog (Proverbs 29:8-9 (LSB), "a man who is an ignorant fool").  Do what Saul did: hold your peace.  

2.  Prove Them Wrong.  1 Samuel 11:1-2, 9-12.  By the way, that will never happen to them.  You don't care what the scoffer thinks of you.  This is for two people: you and the people who can hear the griper.  1 Samuel 31:1-13.

1.  Ignore Them.  1 Samuel 11:12-13.  He had the opportunity for vengeance.  But what would that accomplish?  Christ's commandment to turn the other cheek is about moments just like this one.

July 20, 2025 1 Samuel 8:1-5 & 1 Corinthians 1:1

1.  Admit When You Are Wrong. One of the most important things we can do is also one of the hardest things we can do: admit we are wrong. When we can admit we are wrong, we can start fixing the areas where we are imitating the wrong people.  1 John 1:8-9.

2.  Get Rid of Bad Influencers.  We are a chronically online society.  The influencers we watch who constantly complain about their spouses and their jobs are contagious.  Get rid of things that fill your mind with negativity.  Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 5:1-12.  

3.  Surround Yourself with Good Influences.  "Abstain from the appearance of evil" means you are listening to good influences in your life who will tell you something appears evil.  The easiest way to do this is to be a regular at church.  1 Thessalonians 5:9-22.

July 13, 2025 1 Samuel 

1.  Presence of a Good Father.  Eli not only could not recognize someone praying at the Tabernacle during a High Holy day, but he shooed her away with a flippant promise that God did, in fact, honor.

Eli was a fraud.  Let me be clear here.  Dads, how you act in front of your kids will be judged in contrast with what you say in front of them.  1 Samuel 2:12

2.  The Discipline of a Father. Verse 3:13 of 1 Samuel hits hard.  "He knew his sons had been bringing a curse on themselves, but he did not rebuke them" (LBS).  The question is why?

We can think of many excuses today: no time, more important things to worry about, I'll get someone else to do that, I'm the cool parent, whatever you want to call it.  The truth is that Eli did not care.  

1 Samuel 2:22-25, 3:13

3.  The Salvation of a Father.  Fathers, our job is to make sure our kids know the Lord.  Acts 11:12:15, 16:30-32 and Ephesians 6:4 show us that Fathers are responsible for the salvation of our kids.  

1 Samuel 2:12, 26.

June 29 and July 6, 2025    Ruth

A two part series, these sermons focus on the book of Ruth, specifically Ruth 1:15-17.

1.  Be Awkward.  Loyalty is a lost art in America, even in the American Church, and we need to regain it.  My challenge for this week, actually for the month of July, is to allow the awkwardness to come and stick up for someone.  Ruth 1:14-19, 2 Kings 2:1-6, 1 Samuel 20:27-33.

2.  Be Protective.  Ruth made sure that Naomi was fed.  Solomon tells us that when adversity comes, family should be the first ones you can depend on, and Paul tells us that loyalty requires our strength and determination.  Ruth 1:22 - 2:3, Proverbs 17:17, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

3.  Be Ready.  I noticed in Ephesians that the family passage is sandwiched with "Redeeming the times" and the "Armor of God."  If we are to redeem our town, we need to stick together.  Ruth 2:8-12, Ephesians 5:15-21, 6:10-13.

June 1, 2025    Judges

Today's sermon focused on the book of Judges, specifically verses 8:29-35.

1.  Remember Who We are Not. Gideon told the Lord that he was from the smallest son from the smallest family in the smallest tribe.  Once the fight is finished, he acts like a big-shot.  Gideon forgot where he came from.  Genesis 3:19, Judges 6:11-15.

2.  Remember Whose We Are.  It is a lot easier to keep a mindset of gratitude and stay on that narrow path when we remember we are not our own.  Paul said, "for you were bought with a price ..." in Corinthians 6:20.

3.  Remember Our Testimony.  The most important thing you own is to reach the lost is your reputation.   If you mess that up, you ruin a whole lot of opportunities.  Judges 8:22, 32, 1 Peter 2:11-15.

May 18, 2025     Revelation

Today's sermon focused on the book of Revelation, specifically verses 13:15-18.

1.  Not a Physical Mark. Looking for a physical mark can distract us from what the Devil is actually trying to do.  Revelation 13:16, Deuteronomy 6:7-8, Ezekiel 9:3-6, Jeremiah 3:1-3, Psalm 144:6-8, Ecclesiastes 10:2, Revelation 20:4, Revelation 22:3-4, Revelation 7:1-4, 5-8, 9-12, Revelation 14:1-5.

2.  A Sign of Our Devotion.  Head and Hand is symbolic for our attitude and actions.  What do our head and hands tell us about who our Lord is?  Revelation 13:4-9, Revelation 20:4, Matthew 12:25-30, 1 John 2:4-7, 15-17, Psalm 2:10-12, John 14:15, 23.

Message related Bible reading: Revelation 13:15-18.

May 11, 2025     Luke

Today's sermon focused on the book of Luke, specifically verses 17:3-4.  To begin, read Leviticus 19:17-18.

1.  Forgiveness as a Bludgeon.  Pharisaical Christians often use Christ's words to badger others, hurting people and making themselves feel superior. Don't let that happen to you.  Read what Christ said and forgive when it is right to forgive.  Matthew 18:21-22, 35.

2.  Forgiveness as a Duty.  Christians indeed have a duty to forgive when asked.  When the offender doesn't come, the time will come when it is better for us to forgive.  Luke 17:3-4, 1-2

Message related Bible reading:  Proverbs 17:9-10, Matthew 18:15-22, James 5:19-20.

May 4, 2025     Judges

Today's sermon focused on the book of Judges, specifically verses 2:1-5.

1.  Determine to Stay In Church.  The Church keeps us grounded and protects us from the infiltration of Baal and Ashera.  Judges 2:1-3, 8-13 and Psalm 23.

2.  Know & Invest in Your Family.  The Family is the greatest weapon God uses to defend His Kingdom.  Remember: arrows are a long-range weapon (Psalm 127).  Judges 2:10-12.

3.  Stay in the Game.  Now is not the time to become idle.  Now is the time to build.  Judges 2:20-23.

Message related Bible reading:  Judges 1:4-7, 8-9, 21, 22-26, 27-28, 29-33.