How we respond to the trials of life shows us a lot about what we fundamentally trust in.

Trials can either build faith or tear it down; push us towards God as our hope or away from him.

We see this play out in the life of King Saul. He was given a test to dig out what was truly in his inner being - a test he ultimately failed.

His trial is significant and weighty, but he responds by taking matters into his own hands, disobeying God's clear commands to him, and then attempting to make a load of excuses to point the finger of fault at everyone else.

By comparing his actions with the first man, Adam, we are pointed forward to 'a man after God's own heart,' a second Adam, fulfilled in Jesus.

Only through trust and faith in Jesus the Second Adam can we be freed from excusing away our bad decisions and faults, allowing us to be humble and accept our faults. Only then we can receive God's grace and mercy, sharing the victory of the Second Adam, Jesus.

1 Samuel 13:1-15

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family.

If you are person of faith - how do you know if your faith is real? And how do you define your faith - by your own standards, or by a higher authority?

The Bible challenges us to examine ourselves to see whether we are 'in the faith' (2 Corinthians 13:5). It seems there are plenty of religious people who think they have faith, but don't.

This sermon examines the three ways we can test if our faith is real:

1. Guilt
2. Grace
3. Gratitude

The presence or absence of these things in our lives (and how we deal with them) shows us a lot about our faith - and whether it is true faith according to God.

1 Samuel 12:1-25

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family

We sometimes pray: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done, On Earth as it is in heaven. We are praying about the kingdom of God.

But have you ever wondered what that means? What are you really praying for? And how would you know when this prayer is answered? What even is the kingdom of God?

This sermon shows how in the Old Testament we see Glimpses of the Kingdom of God, snippets of what is to come in fulness through King Jesus.

Through the experience of Israel's first king Saul, we learn about:

1. Effects of the Kingdom
2. Entering the Kingdom

We come to recognise signs of the Kingdom of God within ourselves, and are challenged to examine the conditions for entering the kingdom itself - what must we do?

1 Samuel 11:1-15

David Varney, Pastor Foundation Church Belfast

Every Sunday 10:30am - 2d Knockwood Crescent, Belfast, BT5 6GE

We are part of the Advance Movement of churches and the wider Newfrontiers family