Walking by Faith Rather Than by Sight

A Sunday gathering opens with an invitation to connect, an offering prayer, and children leading worship. A live demonstration uses deceptive packaging and surprising tastes to make a point: appearances tempt quick choices, but true value often hides inside. Volunteers choose between items that look appealing and items that look repulsive; some bite into things that seem sweet but are disguised, while others brave items that look gross only to find them harmless or even good. The demonstration exposes how sight seduces people into shortcuts and how trust can overturn surface judgments.

The account then turns to 1 Samuel 13–14 to illustrate two contrasting responses to crisis. King Saul faces an overwhelming Philistine threat with 3,000 men against an enemy force “as numerous as the sand.” Samuel had instructed Saul to wait seven days for God’s timing, but Saul panics as soldiers desert and offers the sacrifices himself. Samuel arrives minutes too late, rebukes Saul for disobedience, and declares that the kingdom will be taken from him because fear led to a self-centered choice and blame-shifting. Saul’s decision shrinks his army to six hundred and severs the clear guidance that Samuel provided.

By contrast, Jonathan models faith that risks tactical disadvantage. Without informing his father and lacking weapons, Jonathan proposes a visible, perilous attack that removes every advantage but trusts God’s promise. He and his armor-bearer climb up on hands and feet, engage the enemy, and spark a rout that sends the Philistine army fleeing. The narrative affirms that faithful action, even under worst conditions, can trigger divine intervention.

The teaching applies these examples to contemporary life: trials often expose dependence, shape character, and create opportunities for the body of Christ to carry one another. Scripture passages remind the community to bear burdens, honor the weak, and respond with humility rather than self-sufficiency. An altar invitation encourages people to accept help, commit to communal life, and step into trusting obedience rather than choosing the easy, sight-driven path. Worship closes with an appeal to respond to God’s leading.

Key Takeaways

• 1. See beyond the packaging Trust often requires ignoring shiny covers and obvious comfort. The demonstration showed how sensory cues can mislead judgment; spiritual discernment learns to test what lies beneath. Belief trains the mind to ask whether appearances align with God’s promises before choosing. [143:56]
• 2. Fear drives disobedient shortcuts Crisis can pressure people into acting for immediate relief rather than waiting on God’s command. Saul’s sacrifice reveals how panic substitutes self-will for obedience and then seeks excuses or blame. Owning fear and submitting to God interrupts the spiral that yields long-term loss. [157:17]
• 3. Faith acts despite dire odds Jonathan chose a tactic that amplified risk, not advantage, and still expected God’s help. Faith translates divine promise into risky obedience, not strategic comfort; action in the worst position tests where reliance truly rests. Small acts of trust can catalyze outcomes far beyond human calculation. [161:49]
• 4. Suffering shapes the church body Physical or financial hardship invites the community to move from independence to mutual dependence. Scripture frames weakness as indispensable, urging the strong to bear burdens and the body to grow through care. Accepting help cultivates humility, gratitude, and a deeper practice of Christlike love. [168:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [118:06] - Prayer for Tithes and Offerings
• [142:15] - Kids Lead Worship
• [143:22] - Theme: Walk By Faith
• [144:40] - Deodorant vs. Oreos Choice
• [145:44] - Moldy Bread Surprise
• [147:55] - Doggy Doo vs. Treats
• [151:11] - Reveals: What Was Inside
• [153:20] - Read: 1 Samuel 13 Begins
• [157:17] - Saul Panics and Disobeys
• [158:31] - Samuel Arrives; Consequences
• [161:49] - Jonathan’s Bold Faith
• [168:03] - Church Care and Suffering
• [172:37] - Altar Invitation
• [173:18] - Closing Worship

1. In 1 Samuel 13, what specific command had Saul been given, and what circumstances caused him to disobey it? [02:37:17]
2. How did Saul respond when Samuel confronted him about his disobedience? What reasons or excuses did he give? [02:38:58]
3. What was Jonathan's perspective on the overwhelming odds he and his armor-bearer faced, as stated in 1 Samuel 14:6?
4. According to 1 Corinthians 12:22-26, how should the members of the body of Christ view and treat the parts that seem "weaker"?

1. Saul's decision seemed logical from a human perspective—his army was deserting, and the enemy was vast. Why was his act of offering the sacrifice himself considered such a serious failure by God? [02:40:50]
2. Jonathan proposed a sign that would confirm God's deliverance only if the Philistines invited them to attack under the worst possible tactical conditions. What does this tell us about the relationship between faith and risk? [02:44:40]
3. The passage in 1 Corinthians states that the "weaker" parts of the body are "indispensable." In what way does our weakness or inability become necessary for the health and function of the whole church? [02:48:03]
4. How can a season of personal suffering or hardship, which seems like a negative circumstance, actually create an opportunity for God to work positively within a church community?

1. What is a current situation where the "packaging" is tempting you to take a shortcut that goes against a known principle or promise from God? What would it look like to choose the less appealing but faithful path instead? [02:23:56]
2. Fear can pressure us into acting for immediate relief rather than waiting on God. When have you recently seen this pattern of panic leading to a self-willed decision in your own life? What was the outcome? [02:37:17]
3. Jonathan acted on faith despite dire odds. Is there a "small act of trust" God is calling you to take that feels risky or makes no strategic sense? What is holding you back from taking that step? [02:41:49]
4. The body of Christ is designed for mutual care, not self-sufficiency. Is it easier for you to offer help or to receive it? What makes it difficult to accept help from others when you are in need? [02:50:17]
5. Physical or financial hardship invites the community to move from independence to mutual dependence. If you are in a season of strength, who in your life or church community might need you to "bear their burdens" this week? What is one practical way you could do that? [02:48:48]
6. Reflecting on the story of Saul, what is one area of your life where you tend to shift blame onto circumstances or other people rather than owning your choices before God? What would repentance look like in that area? [02:39:33]