Song 1 – Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor 

Hear God call you to worship:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3

Let us worship the Lord!

Song 2 – Living Hope

Song 3 – Love Still Bids You Welcome Here

How wonderful it is that God is not reluctant to receive us; rather, in his great and perfect love he welcomes us always into deeper relationship with him. Knowing that we are invited into perfect communion with God, we join voices now in confessing the things that keep us from that fellowship. We confess our sin together with the words on the screen:

Confession of Sin
God Emmanuel, God with us, 
You see how often we fail to live
in the fullness of your love
and in the perfection of your commands.

Forgive us according to your promise, Lord. 
Hold us fast in your grace and mercy.
Help us live with kindness and love
towards you and towards one another.
Help us to want to love you and one another.
Teach us about your perfect love every day.

Renew us by your Holy Spirit.
In the name of your gentle and just Son,
Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
Psalm 86 verse 5 says:
“For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.”

Confident therefore in his steadfast love, let us pray. 

Song 4 – My Worth is Not in What I Own

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team for more info on giving online, or giving specifically towards out Stewardship Campaign.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen

A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!

If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

Our Scripture reading today is 1 Samuel 10:17-27. Hear the Word of God:

¹⁷ Now Samuel called the people together to the Lordat Mizpah. ¹⁸ And he said to the people of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, ‘Set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands.”

²⁰ Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. ²¹ He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot;^[a] and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. ²² So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” ²³ Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.²⁴ And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. ²⁶ Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Long Live the King!
– 1 Samuel 10:17-25

I. Saul’s Coronation
II. God’s Sovereignty 

Song 5 – Is He Worthy

Song 6 – Behold Our God

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. 
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. 
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

“‘The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

– Numbers 6:24-26

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Study Questions: 1 Samuel 10:17-27
Saul’s Coronation

Introduction:
1. What is it about Kings and Kingdoms that seems to intrigue us? Is there a deeper longing beyond the surface-level pageantry and history?

Intro to the Text:
1. Why did Samuel gather the people at Mizpah, and what significance does this location hold in the context of the narrative?

2. Samuel begins Saul’s coronation speech by rebuking the Israelites and reminding them in v 18, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.” Why does Samuel bring up this point in Israel’s history during his rebuke?

3. Explain the process of lot selection used to identify Saul as the king. Why might this have made the Israelites uneasy? Note: See the story of the sin of Achan in Joshua 17.

4. In what ways does Saul’s hiding among the baggage reveal aspects of his character or mindset at this critical moment of being revealed as the chosen king?

5. Read verse 25a: “Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord.” It is almost certain that Samuel would have brought forth Deuteronomy 17 where God’s instructions for kingship are. Review these and list the qualifications of a king. Reflect on what this means for those in positions of authority today.

6. Reflect on the parallels drawn between Saul’s coronation and Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. How do these parallels deepen our understanding of the biblical narrative, and what insights do they offer into the character and mission of Jesus as the true King?

Application:
1. Considering Samuel’s reminder of God’s deliverance from oppression, how might reflecting on our own personal history of deliverance influence our gratitude and obedience to God?

2. Given Saul’s initial hesitation and hiding among the baggage, how can we encourage and support those who may be hesitant or uncertain in accepting positions of responsibility or leadership, recognizing that God often calls individuals to roles that may initially seem overwhelming or unexpected?

3. Exploring the theme of divine guidance through the casting of lots, how can believers today seek and discern God’s guidance in decision-making processes, acknowledging His sovereignty over their lives and the outcomes of their choices?