Western Heights Baptist Church
Sunday 3/29/26
  • Raise A Hallelujah

      • Matthew 21:1–11ESV

  • Look To The Lamb
  • Trust In God
  • Background to passage: Right after the Philistines returned the Ark to Beth-shemesh, and they called the men of Kiriath-jearim to come get it, and then it was put in Abinadab’s house.
    Today is Palm Sunday, the day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem for the last week of his life. Therefore a time of celebration. It is also a fifth Sunday of the month, therefore we are observing the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said, when you do this, do it in remembrance of me. We are also preaching through 1 Samuel, so I am going to attempt to blend these three
    1 Samuel 7:3–4 ESV
    3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.
    1 Samuel 7:9 ESV
    9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.
    Opening illustration: Christ in every book of the OT
    Main thought: Palm Sunday, The Lord’s Supper, and what God really wants

    1) Direct Your Heart (v. 3-4)

    1 Samuel 7:3–4 ESV
    3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.

    1) Direct Your Heart (v. 3-4)

    Explanation: On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem to cheering crowds who were anticipating the arrival of a conquering King. They had loyalty for this king because they thought he would be deliverance from political oppression and reestablish the throne of David. This didn’t sit to well with the religious elite and was the first of many confrontations in the last week of his life.
    However, that is not the loyalty that Jesus wanted. The loyalty Jesus wanted was of the heart. After 20 years the people of Israel were ready to return to full commitment to the Lord, so Samuel tells them what to do: turn back to the Lord with all your heart, direct your heart to Him, and serve Him only.
    Argumentation:
    Illustration: Come Thou Fount lyrics: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. here’s my heart, Lord, come and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.”
    Application: As human beings we are created in the image of God, but after the fall of man, we are prone to wander. You may have wandered only a bit, or you may have been wandering for a while. You may have wandered to the edge of the cliff or you may have just stepped off to look more closely at a flower or a rock. But Jesus wants all of us! He wants our heart. He wants your desire, your surrender, your affections, your obedience.
    Don’t wait 20 years as Israel did. Return to the Lord today. Find that closeness to him that you thought was gone. Prepare your heart for him. Establish it firmly. Direct it towards him. Focus on him. Look at everything in life with Him in the middle of it. Serve him only. Worship him only. Work for him only. Love him only. Jesus want your heart. Have you given it to him.
    Transition to communion

    2) Offering a Lamb (v. 9)

    1 Samuel 7:9 ESV
    9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

    2) Offering a Lamb (v. 9)

    Explanation: in verse 6, they fasted and confessed sin. When Israel grew closer in their communion with God, the enemy heard, and tried to instill fear in them. So, Samuel sacrificed a lamb and prayed.
    Argumentation:
    Illustration:
    Application: As believers, just the phrase “sacrificed a lamb” probably sounds beautiful as we look to our Lord who was the Lamb of God slain for the sin of the world. Jesus the dear Lamb of God bore the sin of mankind on the cross. He paid the debt so the wrath of God might not be poured out upon us. He earned perfect righteousness to give to us by faith. He offers the free gift of salvation to all those who repent and believe in the gospel. So trust in Jesus today.
    As we look upon the elements, we are to do this in remembrance of Christ. It is an ordinance that God set up. Let us think upon the Lamb slain for us.
    Welcome, instruction, warning
    Prayer for confession
    Bread - explanation, distribute to deacons, pray, distribution to the congregation
    “The body of Christ broken for you”
    Cup - explanation, distribute to deacons, pray, distribution to congregation
    “The blood of Christ shed for you”
    Invitation: God delivered.
    Closing illustration:
    Recap

      • 1 Samuel 7:3–4ESV

      • 1 Samuel 7:9ESV

      • 1 Samuel 7:3–4ESV

      • 1 Samuel 7:9ESV

  • O Come To The Altar
Western Heights Baptist Church
7068822545
4 members