Unshaken Saints

When a child or a nation chooses a path you are completely against, how do you respond without losing your strength? Discover "The Samuel Principle" and find out why a faith crisis or a transition in leadership is an invitation to evaluate our hearts—not just our outward appearances.

Summary: In this episode, we unpack 1 Samuel 8–16, charting the shift from the rule of judges to the era of the kings. We navigate the messy landscape of parental grief, corporate peer pressure, and the personal conversion required to shift from a "hidden" potential to a "magnified" priesthood.

The Samuel Principle: We analyze how to implement the three-part divine formula when a loved one exercises their agency poorly: hearken to their voice, protest solemnly, and show them the long-term consequences.

Hiding Among the Stuff: We address Saul’s overwhelming sense of inadequacy and why we are tempted to bury our potential under worldly distractions when God calls us to step forward.

Turned into Another Man: We look at the spiritual alchemy that happens when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon a person, making them unrecognizable to those who only knew their "old" self.

The Jurisdiction of Authority: We analyze Saul's fatal overreach at Gilgal, exploring the difference between doing a right thing in a wrong way and why waiting on the Lord's timing is an act of covenant trust.

The Heart vs. The Stature: We conclude in Bethlehem, exploring why the Lord refused Eliab's height and chose the ruddy shepherd boy David, reminding us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

Call-to-Action: Are you currently hiding "among the stuff" because you feel inadequate for what the Lord is asking you to do? How can David’s hidden, shepherd-heart inspire you to step into the light this week? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" while we walk through the Old Testament, please like, subscribe, and share this video.

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:23 When a Loved One Makes a Choice You Don't Agree With

26:00 The Samuel Principle

40:12 The Call of Saul

52:51 Saul Anointed & Transformed

1:05:02 Israel United, Rebuked, & Reassured

1:19:46 Saul Offers Sacrifice

1:26:24 No Smiths in Israel

1:33:20 Jonathan & the Philistine Garrison

1:53:44 To Obey Is Better than Sacrifice

2:15:39 Samuel Chooses David

The Book of Judges ends in total moral chaos, with everyone doing "what is right in their own eyes." But right against that dark backdrop, a young foreign widow named Ruth and a heartbroken, barren mother named Hannah shine a brilliant light. If you feel surrounded by a spiritual famine, their stories are the ultimate anchor.

Summary: In this episode, we bridge the gap between the chaotic era of the Judges and the dawn of the Kings of Israel by studying the Book of Ruth and 1 Samuel 1–7. We move past the surface history to uncover deep covenants of loyalty, the anatomy of desperate prayer, and the power of remembering the Lord's help.

The Oasis of Ruth: We explore how the story of Ruth and Naomi serves as the absolute antithesis of pride. We look at Ruth’s radical commitment to stay on the covenant path ("whither thou goest, I will go") even when it cost her worldly security.

Famine in the House of Bread: We analyze the irony of Elimelech leaving Bethlehem—which literally means "House of Bread"—during a famine, and what it teaches us about seeking spiritual sustenance outside of the covenant.

Hannah’s Desperate Prayer: We dive into 1 Samuel 1, contrasting the shallow religion of Eli's sons with the agonizing, silent prayer of Hannah. We learn how she moved from wanting a son for her own status to vowing to "lend him to the Lord" for life.

The Call of Samuel: We study the transition of prophetic power to a young boy who simply learned to say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."

Raising Your Ebenezer: We break down the battle of Mizpeh in 1 Samuel 7. We discover what an Ebenezer—a "stone of help"—actually is, and why setting up markers of God’s past deliverance is the only way to keep our hearts from wandering.

Call-to-Action: Samuel set up a stone and declared, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." What is the "Ebenezer" or spiritual milestone in your life that reminds you of God's power when your faith feels shaky? Share your story in the comments below! To keep your eye fixed on a stable anchor and stay "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video with someone who needs a reminder of God's deliverance.

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction to the Book of Ruth

4:18 Famine & Loss

11:44 Thinking of Others or Thinking of Self

26:47 Putting Your Blessings on Hold to Bless Others

31:27 Deciding to Go or to Stay

40:15 Giving In & Going Home

45:43 Gleaning in Boaz's Field

54:17 Providing & Protecting

57:42 Honoring the Stranger

1:03:17 Trust Under the Wings

1:09:05 Going Above & Beyond the Minimum

1:18:13 A Near Kinsman

1:25:26 Gleaning in the Right Fields

1:31:33 Ruth & Boaz at the Threshingfloor

1:42:20 Spreading the Skirt

1:54:10 Redeeming Ruth

2:06:08 Hannah's Portion & Provocation

2:16:44 Comforting the Afflicted

2:21:27 Hannah's Prayer & Eli's Misjudgment

2:37:22 Hannah & Samuel

2:49:23 The Song of Hannah

2:56:47 The Sins of the Sons of Eli

3:13:32 Samuel's Call

3:27:03 Raiders of the Lost Ark

3:36:23 The Consequences of Taking the Ark Unworthily

3:50:04 Returning to the Lord

3:56:04 Conclusion: Ebenezer

In this episode, we tackle the raw and unfiltered Book of Judges. We step into an era where "there was no king in Israel" to see what happens when a society—and an individual—abandons prophetic boundaries and begins to substitute personal preference for divine law.

The Pride Cycle: We analyze the text's relentless pattern of prosperity, pride, sin, suffering, supplication, and salvation. We look at why God preserves this cycle as a warning for our day.

Gideon's Reduction: We explore why God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 down to just 300 men. We learn why the Lord intentionally puts us in positions where we cannot boast in our own strength.

The Leadership of Deborah: We study the courage of Deborah and the unexpected heroism of Jael, illustrating how God raises up faithful individuals to do what others are too fearful to attempt.

The Descent of Samson: We map out the tragic, literal "downward" geographical and spiritual journey of Samson, looking at how a man of such high potential fell victim to low achievement because of weak self-discipline.

Doing Right in Our Own Eyes: We conclude with the sobering final verse of the book, confronting the modern trap of moral relativism and discovering why true freedom requires submitting to the King of Kings.

Call-to-Action: Gideon needed a fleece to confirm his faith, but eventually had to move forward in the dark. What is a "strange strategy" the Lord is asking you to trust in your life right now? Let’s share our thoughts on overcoming personal spiritual cycles in the comments below. To keep your faith "Unshaken" through every round of life's trials, please like, subscribe, and share this video!

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction to the Book of Judges

3:01 The Pride Cycle

14:46 An Incomplete Conquest

23:29 Making the Rounds of Righteousness & Wickedness

43:25 The First Minor Judges

51:24 Deborah & Jael

1:08:06 The Song of Deborah & Mothers in Israel

1:31:45 Gideon's Doubt & Faith

1:54:49 The Sword of the Lord & of Gideon

2:17:28 Gideon's Aftermath

2:29:33 Abimelech's Reign & the Parable of the Bramble

2:44:07 Justice & Mercy, Goodness & Grief

2:52:11 Jephthah & His Daughter

3:16:15 Samson: Child of Promise

3:26:18 Samson's Strength and Weakness

3:57:39 Samson & Delilah

4:07:33 Bind and Blind

4:16:15 Micah and the Problem of Priestcraft

4:33:42 The Levite's Concubine and the Price of Virtue

5:00:52 Conclusion

Moses could get Israel to the Promised Land, but he couldn't get them in. To cross the Jordan, Israel needed a new leader with a familiar name: Joshua. Discover why the transition from the Law to Grace is the only way to claim your divine inheritance.

Summary: In this episode, we study the Book of Joshua. We move beyond the battles and the trumpets to find the deep spiritual transformation required to stop wandering and start inheriting.

Filling the Shoes of a Giant: We analyze the transition from Moses to Joshua—and from Peter to Jesus—exploring how God stays with the successor just as He was with the predecessor.

Crossing the Jordan: We look at the "dry ground" miracle at the Jordan River and how the priests had to step into the water before it parted.

Strange Strategies: We discuss the "foolish" tactics used at Jericho. Why does God ask us to do small and simple things—like family prayer or scripture study—that seem unrelated to the "walls" we are trying to bring down?

The Valley of Achor: We look at the cautionary tale of Achan and how "one man's sin" can affect an entire community, and how God turns our "valleys of trouble" into "doors of hope."

Choose You This Day: We conclude with Joshua’s final plea at Shechem. We learn that our obedience lasts only as long as our memory, and why we must choose—every single day—whom we will serve.

Call-to-Action: Joshua told the people that the stones of the altar had "heard" their promises. What "witnesses" have you set up in your life to remind you of your covenants? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" as we enter the era of the Judges, please like, subscribe, and share this video.

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

5:31 Joshua, filling shoes

16:37 Preparing for the Promised Land

34:05 Rahab in Jericho

53:34 Crossing the Jordan River

1:08:02 Magnifying, Memorializing, and Renewing Covenants

1:30:19 The Battle of Jericho

1:46:45 Achan the Accursed

2:19:53 The Battle of Ai

2:25:42 The Gibeonites' Trick

2:37:11 God Fighting Battles & Lengthening Days

2:53:11 The Conquest Continues & Caleb Stakes a Claim

3:10:28 Inheritances in Israel

3:30:15 Mainstream & Margin, Exceptions & Rules

4:12:59 Conclusion

Moses has led Israel for 40 years, and now, standing on the threshold of the Promised Land, he has one last chance to speak. Deuteronomy isn't just a "repetition of the law"—it is a masterclass in divine persuasion. How do you convince a people to stay true when you are no longer there to lead them?

Summary: In this episode, we explore the rhetorical power of Deuteronomy. We move beyond the "judicial handbook" to find a prophet’s heart pleading with his people to remember their history, internalize their identity, and, above all, love the Lord their God.

History as Foundation: We analyze why Moses begins with a history lesson. Our future obedience is rooted in how we interpret our past.

The Shema: We dive into Deuteronomy 6:4–5, exploring what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, and might, and the importance of "whetting" these truths upon the hearts of our children.

The Danger of Prosperity: We discuss the warning in chapter 8—the "peril of the full stomach." How do we avoid the pride of saying, "My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth"?

Circumcising the Heart: We look at the shift from outward ritual to inward transformation. God doesn't just want our compliance; He wants our "stiff necks" to become submissive.

The Choice: We conclude with the dramatic invitation in chapter 30: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life."

Call-to-Action: Moses used everything from history to reverse psychology to persuade Israel to stay faithful. Which of his "persuasions" resonates most with you today? Is it gratitude, fear, or love? Let’s discuss in the comments below. To keep your study of the Old Testament "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video!

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

2:33 The Book of Deuteronomy

9:53 Urgency & Obedience

23:54 Faith over Fear & Honoring Others' Territory

36:11 Learning to Accept What God Gives You

47:06 The Charge to Obey

1:00:18 A God so Nigh

1:11:51 Loving & Remembering God

1:30:55 Staying Within the Covenant

1:41:32 Learning Humility

1:56:52 Obedience, Blessings, & Curses

2:12:45 Snared by False Gods

2:23:45 Being Different & Caring for the Different

2:44:25 True Leaders & True Messengers

2:57:53 Civil Law & the Laws of Enlistment

3:26:54 Transgender

3:37:02 Immorality, Adultery, & Rape

3:47:55 The Fugitive Slave Act, Foreign Labor, & Convicts

4:04:19 Blessings & Memorials

4:12:30 Blessings & Curses

4:22:12 Choose Life

4:33:40 Final Charge & Final Blessings

4:53:22 The Passing of Moses

5:00:04 Conclusion