CD Individual Messages

As Goliath assumed his battle position, he was insulted by what he saw: his opponent clearly lacked both experience and equipment. Standing in one corner of the metaphorical ring, the giant cursed David by his gods, unaware that the unassuming shepherd boy in the other corner was empowered by the one true and living God. Alistair Begg ... Continue Reading 

As Israel stood paralyzed with fear before Goliath, David’s words put this defiant enemy in his rightful place before God. When David volunteered to go and face the giant, though, Saul doubted the young shepherd. Making his case for confronting Goliath, David expressed trust not in weapons, armor, or himself but in the Lord. Alistair Begg ... Continue Reading 

After forty days of Goliath’s taunting, David was dismayed to find Saul and his army still paralyzed by fear. He had no concern for the king’s reward or his brother’s approval. Rather, emboldened by a zeal for God’s glory, he asked the important question: Who can defy God? As Alistair Begg teaches, God ... Continue Reading 

The dramatic encounter between David and Goliath is a familiar, though often misunderstood, story. Taunted and challenged by the heavily armored giant, Israel was dismayed and afraid until an­ unlikely champion stepped up—a “man in between,” armed with just a slingshot! This story’s central message, though, is not a call to emulate David’s heroic ... Continue Reading 

God chooses to use unlikely people for unlikely tasks in unlikely places. To serve the Lord, we’re not expected simply to muster up adequate inner strength. Rather, God Himself enables us through His Spirit. We see this illustrated in 1 Samuel when the Holy Spirit descended upon David and departed from Saul, radically altering both lives ... Continue Reading 

Those familiar with the story of 1 Samuel know King David as “a man after God’s own heart.” Alistair Begg helps us consider how this description speaks more to God’s character than to David’s. David was not anointed as king because of his personal qualities. Rather, God chose him according to His electing love ... Continue Reading 

When Saul’s disobedience prompted the Lord’s rejection of his kingship, Samuel was sent to anoint a new king over Israel. This time God, not the people, chose the king. Paraded before Samuel, Jesse’s older sons were impressive to the human eye—yet God rejected them in favor of the youngest, David. Although we see ... Continue Reading 

Burdened by his works-based religion, Martin Luther knew no peace until God’s Spirit revealed the Gospel’s message of grace. At his conversion, Luther acknowledged that salvation is not based on merit; rather, it comes by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone. In this Reformation Sunday sermon, Alistair Begg highlights the grace and ... Continue Reading 

Partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul learned this lesson the hard way when he failed to execute God’s judgment against the Amalekites, sparing the king and the best of the sheep and cattle. Instead of a victorious celebration, he met with Samuel’s anger and the Lord’s regret. Our responses matter to God, teaches Alistair ... Continue Reading 

God’s command was clear: Israel was supposed to destroy the Amalekites. King Saul, blinded by his own sin, failed to complete this task; seeking to justify his actions, he replaced true obedience with religious formalism. This passage stands as a warning of sin’s deceitfulness—and also the steadfastness of God and His purposes. As Alistair ... Continue Reading