These are my notes on the Sunday morning sermon by Dr. David McKinley at Prestonwood Baptist Church for 20 August 2006.
Focal passage: 1 Samuel 17
There are three types of learning styles: auditory (hearing it), visual (seeing it), and kinesthetic (doing it). To reach all these styles, the message today will be told as scenes.
This is the story of David and Goliath. As Dr. McKinley began, a 9.6 foot tall figure of Goliath in his armor carrying a spear began to appear on the alter. The figure was lifted up slowly using the sunken platform that used to move the organ on and off the alter. It was an incredible illustration to see Dr. McKinley (David) next to this life-sized model of the great champion of the Philistines.
Five Scences We Need To See In The Story Of David And Goliath
1) Goliath’s Intimidation
Super-sized being.
He was imposing.
He issued a winnder-takes-all challenge.
He was intimidating (size, strength, presence)
What are our Goliath’s today = peer pressure, conformity, ?
2) David’s Conviction
verse 13 = Jesse’s other sons
verse 20 = David went to support brothers
verse 29 = David responds to Goliath’s challenge. David says, “I believe there is a cause. We must stand in the name of the Lord our God.
(personal note: I have heard it preached that the army of Israel looked and Goliath and said, “He is too big to hit,” but when David saw Goliath he said, “He is too big to miss.”)
Conviction is required for us to be strong.
The world is about positioning, not conviction.
Don’t downsize God. Live for His glory.
In a July 10, 2006 Time Magazine article, Katharine Jefferts Schori, who is the Presiding Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A., responded to several questions. Time asked Schori the following question, “Is belief in Jesus the only way to get to heaven?” Here is her response:
“We who practice the Christian tradition understand him as our vehicle to the divine. But for us to assume that God could not act in other ways is, I think, to put God in an awfully small box.”
(personal note: This makes me cry inside. To picture my savior hanging from that cross for religious leaders that claim to follow Him one day make the types of statements like this. Read the entire article here).
While we cannot limit God we also cannot redefine God.
David stood and spoke in the name of God. David had convictions.
3) Saul’s Suggestion
1 Samuel 17:38-39
Saul tried to make David a mini-warrior. It ended up burdening David.
David knew who he was and what he could do. (personal note: I would say that David knew he was IN THE LORD and what GOD could do through him). David knew his source of strength was in the Lord. He did not try the armor and the weapons of Saul. Instead he used what he was familiar with; a sling and a small stone.
4) God’s Intervention
1 Samuel 17:40, 45-49
Psalm 20:7
4) Your situation
Romans 15:4, 13
Five Smooth Stones That You Will Carry
1) Adversity
John 16:33
Realization that we face adversity
2) Availability
2 Chronicles 16:9
People who will say, “God I am available.”
3) Activity
Book of Zechariah
Small battles i life prepare us for the big ones
4) Authority
We struggle with authority issues
David had surrendered and submitted to God
2 Corinthians 10:3,4
5) Almighty
David understood the almighty power of God.
You are limited, but God isn’t.
