Community UM Church of Oldsmar

06/07/2026

June 7, 2026
The Giant Killer

06/04/2026

Who Is This Boy?

David just wouldn’t stop.

He said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, NIV)

You can almost hear the confidence in his voice — not prideful, not cocky — just full of faith.
Now his older brother Eliab, the one who looked like a king but wasn’t chosen by God, starts lecturing him. “David, what are you doing here? Go back to those few sheep in the wilderness.” But David doesn’t back down. Word spreads quickly, and before long, David is standing in front of King Saul himself.

And here’s the beautiful part — none of it intimidates him. Listen to the conversation in your mind:
“Your servant will go and fight this Philistine,” David says.

Saul shakes his head. “You’re too young. He’s been a warrior since his youth.”

But David looks him in the eye and says, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul is stunned. He’s looking at a boy — maybe 16, maybe 17 years old — but speaking with the confidence of a man who has seen the hand of God at work.

And notice this — David never once calls Goliath a giant. To David, he’s not a towering monster. He’s just an unbelieving menace, standing in the way of God’s glory. Another Philistine. Another obstacle God is about to remove.

So Saul agrees. “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

They try to dress David up — armor, helmet, sword. But it’s too heavy. It’s not his style. He takes it all off. He picks up his staff, chooses five smooth stones from the brook, and heads out to face the enemy.
It looks ridiculous, doesn’t it?

A shepherd boy with a stick and a few rocks. But that’s exactly how God works — winning battles not by might, not by muscle, not by military power, but by His Spirit.

As David approaches, Goliath tries to intimidate him — shouting, mocking, cursing him by his gods. But David’s faith doesn’t waver. His courage stands firm.

Then David shouts back:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty — the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied! This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45–46, NIV)

And then — David runs. Not away — toward the giant!

He runs with faith fueling every step. He swings that sling, releases one stone, and down goes the giant — face-first into the ground.

The battlefield falls silent. The soldiers can hardly breathe. Did that really just happen?

The giant is gone. The fear is gone. And victory — victory came through a boy, empowered by the Lord.
So let me ask you — what giants stand towering over your life today?

Don’t face them in your own strength. Don’t let fear control you. Pick up your faith, trust the Lord, and watch the giants fall.

Not by sight. Not by strength. But by faith in the living God who fights for you.

Watch today’s video based on 1 Samuel 17.

06/03/2026

Who Is This Man?

It took a boy — just a boy — with faith as his weapon to see past the threats.

While everyone else was trembling, David’s thoughts were steady on God. I can almost see him now — out in those green valleys, harp in hand, writing another psalm. I can picture him lying down in those green pastures, letting the Lord restore his strength.

But the soldiers — the men who made up Israel’s army — they were blinded by “the worries of this world.” They listened to their fear more than their faith. They let the panic of their friends drown out the promises of God.

So David shows up. Just a shepherd boy, carrying bread and cheese for his brothers. He’s not there to fight; he’s there to serve. But when he arrives, he hears it — that booming voice from Goliath, taunting, mocking, defying the living God.

The army is silent. The king is terrified. But David… sees things differently.
He says — 1 Samuel 17:26 (NIV):

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Did you catch that? David doesn’t talk about Goliath’s size. He doesn’t mention his armor, his sword, his experience.

David looks deeper.
He sees a man without God.
A man who is immoral and defiant.
A man who is challenging the army of the living God.

That’s the difference. David saw what everyone else missed — this wasn’t a battle of weapons or size. It was a matter of the heart, a matter of faith.

Israel had forgotten their history.
They forgot how God split the Red Sea and destroyed Egypt’s power.
They forgot how the walls of Jericho crumbled with a shout.
They forgot Gideon — who took three hundred men and, with God’s power, overwhelmed an entire army.
They had forgotten the one thing that had always made them strong — the presence of God.

But David remembered.
He knew — this man isn’t just insulting an army, he’s defying the Lord Himself.
And if God is for us, who can stand against us?
So David wasn’t afraid. His faith drove out fear. He believed God would fight the battle.
But David didn’t stop at belief — faith moved him to act.

He started talking.
He asked questions.
He reminded people who their God is.

And of course, his brothers didn’t like it. They thought he was being proud, unrealistic, maybe even reckless. They were trapped — stuck staring at appearances, stuck focusing on how strong the giant looked instead of how strong their God is.

But David—David knew.
His God was bigger.
His God was stronger.
His God was amazing.

So let me ask you today:
When you face the giants in your life — the fears, the doubts, the struggles that seem too big to beat — do you see them through the eyes of everyone around you?

Or do you see them through the eyes of the living God, who is bigger than every giant you’ll ever face?
Watch today’s video based on 1 Samuel 17:12–32.

06/02/2026

Dismayed and Terrified

This week, we’re looking at a story almost everyone knows — David and Goliath.

Now, before David ever swung that sling, there was fear — deep, paralyzing fear.

Remember, even the prophet Samuel once judged King Saul by his height and appearance. Saul looked like a king. He had the stature, the presence… the kind of man who seemed ready for a fight. But faith isn’t measured in inches.

The story begins with this massive Philistine warrior — Goliath. This man stood higher, stronger, and broader than anyone in sight. Taller than the tallest player in the NBA — by about ten inches! He was enormous.

So when he stepped onto that battlefield and shouted his challenge, no one wanted to move. Here’s what the Bible says in 1 Samuel 17:10–11 (NIV):
“This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.”

On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

Dismayed… and terrified. Have you ever been there?

When fear hits, your mind fogs up. When dismay settles in, your will to act just… stops. You can’t think straight, you can’t move forward.

They could have tried something — shoot arrows, throw spears, rush him together — but they didn’t. Fear had already won in their hearts before the first blow was struck.

And that’s what happens when we live by sight instead of faith. The Israelite army forgot the one thing that mattered most — God was still with them. They were so focused on the size of the giant that they missed the greatness of their God.

The problem wasn’t Goliath’s height. It was a lack of faith in their hearts.
And that’s where we often find ourselves, isn’t it? Looking at the giants in front of us — the diagnosis, the debt, the conflict — and forgetting the One who stands behind us.
James 1:5 (NIV) says:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

When the world grabs your attention — when confusion, hurt, or fear start shouting louder than your faith — pause. Turn your eyes toward the One who gives wisdom. The One who brings peace. The One who reminds you that no giant is greater than His power in your life.

Don’t be dismayed. Don’t be terrified. Faith may look small — like a boy with a sling — but when it’s placed in God’s hands, it’s unstoppable.

Watch today’s video on 1 Samuel 17:1–11.

06/02/2026

Two weeks from today!! Monday the 15th, we kick off Emerald Crossing Vacation Bible School @ Community!!! Let's get ready with one of our Top O' the Mornin' tunes!!!

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05/31/2026

Service -- May 31, 2026
Not by Appearance

05/28/2026

The Eighth Son: Frustration and Faith

There are moments in life when we obey God, follow His leading, and still find ourselves waiting—confused, frustrated, and wondering what He is doing. Samuel knew that feeling well.

God had given him a clear assignment: Go to Bethlehem. Find Jesse. Anoint one of his sons as king. Samuel obeyed without hesitation (1 Samuel 16:1–4).

Then came the moment of selection.

Jesse’s sons were brought before Samuel one by one. Eliab, the oldest, stepped forward first. Strong, tall, impressive—surely this was the one. But God said no (1 Samuel 16:6–7).

The second son came. Then the third. Then the fourth. Seven sons in total.

And every time, God said, “Not him.”

You can almost feel Samuel’s tension rising. Lord, You told me it would be one of Jesse’s sons… but I’m out of sons! What are You doing?

We’ve all been there. We think we see God’s path clearly—only to be redirected. We expect a quick answer—only to wait longer than we planned. We feel frustration—but God invites us to turn that frustration into faith.

Samuel does exactly that. Instead of giving up, he asks the right question:
“Are these all the sons you have?” — 1 Samuel 16:11 (NIV)

Jesse replies almost as an afterthought: “There is still the youngest… he is tending the sheep.”
The forgotten son. The overlooked son. The eighth son.

When David finally walks in—young, healthy, but hardly king like—God speaks with clarity:
“Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” — 1 Samuel 16:12 (NIV)

David didn’t look the part. He didn’t have the résumé. He didn’t have the stature of a king.
But he had what God was searching for:
• A heart after God (1 Samuel 13:14)
• A faith that produced courage (1 Samuel 17:37)
• A love for God that shaped his life (Psalm 18:1)

He wasn’t perfect—but he was God’s choice.

And that is the lesson for us.
When God’s timing confuses you… When His path seems unclear… When frustration rises…
Hold on in faith. God may be preparing an “eighth son” moment—something unexpected, something better, something aligned with His heart rather than your expectations.

Let your frustration become faith. Let your questions lead you to seek God more deeply. Let your waiting prepare you for what God already sees.

Watch today’s video based on 1 Samuel 16:8–13, and let God strengthen your heart as you wait on Him.

05/27/2026

A Look at the Heart

Years ago, my wife and I were searching for a home. After months of looking, we decided one afternoon to rollerblade through a new neighborhood. As we rounded a corner, we saw a cul de sac overlooking a large pond—and an Open House sign waiting for us. We slipped off our rollerblades and stepped inside. Immediately, both of us sensed it: This was going to be our home.

But the realtor didn’t sense that at all.

She looked us over—sweaty, wearing rollerblades, not exactly dressed to impress—and quickly judged us. “Well, you know you have to have the money and the credit,” she blurted out. Her tone made it clear she didn’t think we belonged there. Imagine her surprise when she learned our credit was just fine. Imagine our surprise when we learned she lived next door! Yet in time, we became close friends for many years.

Before we judge her too harshly, we should admit something: we all fall into the trap of judging by outward appearance. Even the prophet Samuel did.

When God sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the next king of Israel, Samuel saw Eliab—tall, strong, impressive—and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” (1 Samuel 16:6, NIV)

But God corrected him:
“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

God sees what we cannot. He is never fooled by outward polish, religious language, or Christian looking behavior. You can look like a Christian, talk like a Christian, and still not belong to Christ—because God looks at the heart.

Scripture makes this unmistakably clear:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” — Romans 10:9–10 (NIV)

True faith begins in the heart. True salvation flows from the heart. True transformation is measured by the heart.

And when it comes to judging the motives of others—don’t. We cannot see what God sees. We cannot read intentions. But we can examine our own hearts.

So today, let God search your heart. Let Him cleanse it, shape it, and fill it. Let Him make it fully His.
Get your heart right with God today.

Watch today’s video based on 1 Samuel 16:2–7.

05/26/2026

How Can I Go?

1 Samuel 16:1–3

Samuel, the prophet of God and a friend to Saul, was conflicted. Saul was not his son, but he had mentored him—guided him—loved him like a father. And now Saul’s heart had drifted. He no longer listened to God, or even to the old man who had once anointed him.

Samuel grieved. Deeply. Daily.

“Samuel mourned for Saul” (1 Samuel 15:35).

That kind of grief reflects the heart of God. The Lord loves His people, even when they wander. Samuel’s sorrow was not weakness—it was love.

But grief has a way of inviting fear. As Saul unraveled, Samuel became afraid of him. So when God said, “Stop mourning and go anoint a new king,” Samuel hesitated:

“How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” (1 Samuel 16:2)
It’s an honest question. And a familiar one.

When you’re weighed down—discouraged, grieving—don’t new fears seem to show up uninvited? The what ifs creep in. The mind starts spinning. Faith feels distant. Even strong believers can feel paralyzed.
Before we judge Samuel, we should recognize ourselves.

Notice something important: God doesn’t rebuke Samuel for his fear, nor does He give a long explanation. Instead, He gives him something to do:

“Take a heifer… and go… I will show you what to do” (1 Samuel 16:2–3).

In other words: Get up. Take the next step. I’ll guide you from there.

There is wisdom here. God often meets us not in our overthinking, but in our obedience. A clear mission can begin to lift both fear and sorrow. As we move forward in faith, our faith is strengthened.

And this is where Samuel stands out.
He didn’t say, “I’m too old.”
He didn’t stay home and nurse his grief.
He got up and obeyed.

“Samuel did what the Lord said and went to Bethlehem” (1 Samuel 16:4).

And the fear that once seemed so real? It never came to pass. Samuel lived out his days under God’s hand (1 Samuel 25:1).

God still leads His people “beside still waters” (Psalms 23:2). But we have to follow.
So what do you do with your hurt… your fears… your how can I go?

Bring them to Jesus.
Give them honestly.
And then take the next step He puts in front of you.
Not the whole journey—just the next step.

And as you go, you may find that what once held you back begins to lose its grip.
(Based on 1 Samuel 16:1–3)

05/25/2026