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Who Are You Going to Listen To?


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.


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