Who Are You Going to Listen To?
- Larry Osborne

- Feb 4, 2022
- 5 min read
Dr. Larry Osborne
January 29-30, 2022
Message #4 / 1 Samuel 16:13-14 & 18:5-11
northcoastchurch.com/sermons
Who You Gonna Listen To?
The Rise Of A Shepherd / The Demise Of A King
1 Samuel 15-17/ 18:5-11 & 19-30
The Turning Point:
1 Samuel 16:13-14
Two Options:
Proverbs 3:5-6/ Galatians 5:16-17
1. Trust in the LORD and respond HIS WAY
2. Trust in MYSELF and respond MY WAY
Walking In The Spirit: Five Important Observations
1. We have one big advantage David didn’t have.
The Holy Spirit is not just WITH us, He is IN us.
John 14:15-17/ 16:7-11
2. Walking in the Spirit is simply TRUSTING God enough
to DO what He SAYS no matter what.
Two Areas Where That Is Really Hard To Do:
1. Returning GOOD for EVIL
Romans 12:17-21/ 1 Peter 2:21-23 & 3:9
2. Waiting for God’s PERFECT TIMING
1 Peter 5:6/ Matthew 4:1-11/ Proverbs 20:22
3. God’s will is more like a GAME PLAN than a BLUEPRINT.
4. There will always be some STATIC on the line.
Romans 7:15-25/ Acts 16:6-10/ Daniel 9:20-23 & Daniel 10:11-14
5. The Holy Spirit will never CONTRADICT Himself.
2 Timothy 3:16-17/ Proverbs 12:15/ John 14:26/ Romans 12:2
The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info.
Dr. Larry Osborne
January 29-30, 2022
Message #4 / 1 Samuel 16:13-14 & 18:5-11
northcoastchurch.com/sermons
Who You Gonna Listen To?
The Rise Of A Shepherd / The Demise Of A King
1 Samuel 15-17/ 18:5-11 & 19-30
The Turning Point:
1 Samuel 16:13-14
Two Options:
Proverbs 3:5-6/ Galatians 5:16-17
1. Trust in the ________ and respond ___________
2. Trust in __________ and respond __________
Walking In The Spirit: Five Important Observations
1. We have one big advantage David didn’t have.
The Holy Spirit is not just ________ us, He is ______ us.
John 14:15-17/ 16:7-11
2. Walking in the Spirit is simply ___________ God enough
to ______ what He ________ no matter what.
Two Areas Where That Is Really Hard To Do:
1. Returning ________ for ________
Romans 12:17-21/ 1 Peter 2:21-23 & 3:9
2. Waiting for God’s ___________________
1 Peter 5:6/ Matthew 4:1-11/ Proverbs 20:22
3. God’s will is more like a ______________ than a ______________.
4. There will always be some __________ on the line.
Romans 7:15-25/ Acts 16:6-10/ Daniel 9:20-23 & Daniel 10:11-14
5. The Holy Spirit will never _______________ Himself.
2 Timothy 3:16-17/ Proverbs 12:15/ John 14:26/ Romans 12:2
The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info.
Life Group Study Questions
For the week of January 30, 2022
QUICK REVIEW
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or something that
caught your attention, challenged or confused you?
MY STORY
1. This weekend we learned about the importance of wise counsel in our decision-making process. What is the wisest
advice you have ever received? (Potential areas to think through: relationships, marriage, parenting, finances,
spirituality, work, etc.)
Can you think of a piece of advice you didn’t take, but in hindsight, wish you would have?
2. When we can be tempted to respond in the flesh, Pastor Larry mentioned there are many things that influence our
response (i.e., feelings, thoughts, calculations, friends, prevailing culture). Which one may be more difficult for you when
it comes to not responding in the flesh?
DIGGING DEEPER
1. As we look at Saul and David’s relationship beginning to unravel, we notice some key differences in their response to
fear and uncertainty. We notice Saul responding out of the flesh and David mostly responding out of the Spirit. All of us
face similar challenges of walking in the Spirit or responding in our own flesh. When it comes to how we respond, what
are some of the guidelines the Apostle Paul gives in Romans 12:17-21 to help us understand what a Spirit-filled response
looks like?
Romans 12:17-21 New International Version (NIV)
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on
you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is
mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.
Which one of the guidelines you identified comes most naturally to you? Which response may be more difficult
for you?
Paul’s call for us to live at peace with everyone doesn’t mean we ignore wrong behavior or become passive.
Depending on the situation, there will be times that call for us to engage in healthy conflict resolution or
confronting sinful behavior or injustice. When you know something is wrong, how do you decide whether to
remain silent or to engage in resolving the situation?
Can you think of a time when you were in the wrong and the other person, instead of returning evil for evil,
responded to you in a godly way?
2. Another area where we need to be led by the Spirit is in our decision-making. Pastor Larry taught that when we make
a decision, we need to run through the filter of God’s Word, wise counsel and promptings of the Holy Spirit. Take a look
at the Proverbs below as they help guide us into making wise decisions.
Proverbs 2:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 11:14 New International Version (NIV)
14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
but victory is won through many advisers.
Proverbs 12:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 15:22 New International Version (NIV)
22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
Do you have someone you would lean on for wise counsel? Is it the same person in every area of your life, or do
you have different people for different areas of your life?
Make a list of the characteristics you would look for in someone whom you would consider wise.
Is there a characteristic you listed above that you most want to work on to become wise counsel in
someone else’s life?
TAKING IT HOME
Which point from this weekend’s message or Life Group study is most important for you to remember?
PRAYER REQUESTS
➔
➔
➔
➔
➔
➔
➔
COMMUNITY SERVICE IMPACT
Looking to serve with your Life Group? To check out all your options, go to
It’s been said that our decisions and responses determine our destiny. As we explore the rise of David and the sad demise of King Saul, we’ll see why one of the most important decisions we’ll ever make is simply, “Who are we gonna listen to?”
Preached at North Coast Church.

