Trivial vs. Serious Spirituality (1 Sam. 1–4)

Why Walk with God?

People say that our "spiritual walk" matters or that we should walk with God — but why? Maybe you struggle when walking with God. Maybe it's been a while since you've walked with God, or maybe you've never tried. We all know how easy it is to walk away and to wander around according to our own way, so it's worth asking the question. After all, if we don't know why, then we have no purpose or motivation to do it. So in this episode, consider three reasons for walking with God — reasons that were highlighted by George Whitefield in 1741, specifically in his Genesis 5:22-24 sermon about Enoch. (Note: This is part 3 of 3, but you are welcome to start here and later listen to the earlier episodes about "what" and "how" to walk with God.)

How to Walk with God: 7 Aspects

Walking with God involves communing with God, but very practically speaking, how do we do that? Take a few minutes to consider seven aspects of walking with God. These seven were originally suggested by George Whitefield in the 18th century, but we can take these even further and consider how to best apply them in our lives today. So take a step forward! Let's walk with God together.

What is Walking with God? (Gen. 5:22-24)

What is a "spiritual walk"? We sometimes sing about walking with the Lord, and we read about Enoch who walked with God — but what does that mean? Before we get to the how, we need to ask the what. Delve into this with us, as we reflect upon George Whitefield's seven aspects of walking with God.

Present in Worship (1 Sam. 3)

Here I am! Being "present in worship" sounds like a wonderful goal, but that can be difficult to define, and sometimes experientially elusive. Despite our lack of awareness or understanding, the people of God are called to respond — to "choose this day whom you will serve" — and that includes trustful, daily obedience. Toward this end, God calls us, but how do we respond in an appropriate way? To conclude this three-part study in 1 Samuel, let's look at the central character, Samuel, and learn from his example.

Trivial vs. Serious Spirituality (1 Sam. 1–4)

Sometimes we approach worship too casually — not in what we wear, but in the condition of our hearts. Even worse, sometimes we fail to worship at all, due to distraction, irritation, or other situations. In those cases, we treat spirituality with triviality, thinking that the motions are good enough. When that happens, what should we do? What can help?  Scripture reminds us that when we don't worship seriously, we can face serious consequences. But the solution is not ourselves (for the problem is within us), but the solution is "mediation."  Let's read 1 Samuel 1–4 and then delve into this further.