HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR

Hope is Here #6

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, December 26, 2021

(1 Samuel 2:18-20,26, NLT) But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the LORD. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest. Each year his mother made a small coat for him and brought it to him when she came with her husband for the sacrifice. Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the LORD. … Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD and with the people.”

1. MY CHILDREN BELONG TO GOD.

(1 Samuel 1:19-20, NLT )“When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea, and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”

2. GOD CONTROLS THE FUTURE.

(1 Samuel 2:12, NLT) “Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the LORD…”

3. WE GROW TOGETHER IN CHRIST.

(1 Samuel 2:26, NLT) “Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD and with the people.”

(Luke 2:52, NLT) “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.”

4. OUR CHILDREN NEED THE CHURCH.

(1 Samuel 2:1)8 “Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the LORD.”

GROWTHWORK

RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSING.

(1 Samuel 2:20, NLT) “Before they returned home, Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the LORD give you other children to take the place of this one she gave to the LORD.”

A. Choose the path of blessing. (See Psalm 1)

B. Choose to serve Christ. (See Psalm 2)

BE A FAMILY OF PRAYERFUL MINISTRY.

(1 Samuel 1:27-28, NLT) “I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And they worshiped the LORD there.”

BE FAITHFUL.

(1 Samuel 2:26, NLT) “Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD and with the people.”