The Driven Church

Study 7: 1 Samuel 6: 1-21: Trent Evans

 The Ark returns

This sermon explores 1 Samuel 6 and the powerful themes of obedience, restoration, and the sovereignty of God. It underscores how delayed obedience leads to greater consequences, as seen in the Philistines’ mishandling of the Ark of the Covenant. The teaching challenges listeners to respond eagerly to God's direction, tether their actions to biblical truth, and surrender idols or disobedience that hinder intimacy with Him. The return of the Ark and the reactions of both the Philistines and Israelites illustrate how God's presence demands reverence and alignment with His commands—not cultural assumptions or human sentiment. Ultimately, the message calls believers to a life of immediate, joyful obedience, rooted deeply in Scripture and expressed through genuine transformation.

 

 

Study 6: 1 Samuel : 1-12: Trent Evans

Is there a Dagon in your Heart?     

 

In this message rooted in 1 Samuel 5, the speaker explores the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the sovereign power of God displayed even in exile. Israel had treated the Ark of the Covenant like a good-luck charm rather than a symbol of God's holy presence, bringing it into battle while their hearts remained far from Him. After their defeat and the Ark's capture, God demonstrated His supremacy—not through Israel’s strength, but by humbling the Philistine god Dagon and judging the Philistines without any human aid. The sermon challenges believers to tend the fire of their relationship with God, reject idols (our modern “Dagons”), and humbly come out of the shadows by confessing weakness, weariness, or disobedience rather than hiding behind pride or religious habits. Ultimately, it is a call to personal surrender, daily obedience, and openness to God's refining work—not confined to a church building, but in every area of life where His glory desires to be revealed.

Study 5: 1 Samuel 4: 1-22: Trent Evans

Slow Fade

 

In 1 Samuel 4, Israel suffers devastating defeat not because of the absence of religious symbols, but because of a broken intimacy with God. Rather than seeking repentance after their initial loss, Israel wrongly places their hope in the Ark of the Covenant itself, treating it as a magic object rather than pursuing genuine relationship with God. This chapter highlights the dangers of superficial religion—where religious activities and symbols are honored without true heart devotion. The failure of Eli and his sons represents leadership that is heavy with religious excess but lacking spiritual substance, culminating in the capture of the Ark and the tragic declaration of "Ichabod," meaning "the glory has departed." The message challenges believers to examine whether they have substituted outward religious practices for inward intimacy with God, warning against the slow spiritual fade that comes from compromise, pride, and misplaced trust in symbols instead of the living presence of God.

Study 4: 1 Samuel 1-21: 4-1: Trent Evans

What is your calling?        

This sermon—rooted in 1 Samuel 3—offers a rich reflection on God's call to intimacy and obedience, using the story of young Samuel to emphasize how attentiveness to God's voice transforms lives. Set against the spiritual darkness of Israel’s time, the message explores how God pierced that silence by calling Samuel, just as He calls each of us today. Through personal reflection, scriptural teaching, and the metaphor of lamplighters lighting the way, the sermon reminds listeners that God desires a relationship marked by listening, discernment, and response. The podcast invites believers to ask whether they are tuned in to hear God's voice—and challenges them to respond like Samuel: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

 

 

 

 

Study 3: 1 Samuel 2:27-36 : Trent Evans

It's not too late

In this study of 1 Samuel 2, we examine the sobering contrast between the faithfulness of young Samuel and the corruption of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Though they held priestly positions, these men had no intimacy with God—referred to in Hebrew as yada—and treated God’s offerings with contempt, leading others astray and defiling worship. Their failure, and Eli’s refusal to restrain them, invites God’s judgment and reminds us that spiritual downfall is never random; it is preceded by choices that dishonor God. In contrast, Samuel’s quiet and consistent service to the Lord, even in a spiritually toxic environment, reveals how God honors those who seek His heart. The study challenges us to evaluate whether we are reshaping God's Word to suit our preferences or submitting to it with reverence. Transformation flows from intimacy with God, not religious routine—and the faithful, like Samuel, will grow in favor with God and man, even when surrounded by failure.

 

 

 

Study 2: 1 Samuel 1: 21-28: Tent Evans

Walk the Walk

This study walks through 1 Samuel 1, highlighting the emotional and spiritual depth of Hannah’s story and what it teaches us about surrender, obedience, and trust in God. Through her anguish and prayer, Hannah models a posture of grace that doesn’t always look victorious on the outside but is deeply rooted in faith. Her vow to dedicate her future son to the Lord reveals a powerful intersection between personal desire and divine purpose—God was not only answering her cry but fulfilling His plan for Israel through Samuel. The study emphasizes that real worship is costly, obedience is often proven outside of public view, and trust in God is tested most when we have to let go. Ultimately, the story points us to God's faithfulness, the integrity of our commitments to Him, and how our lives can lead others to worship. This podcast invites listeners to dig deeper into Scripture with a heart ready to be challenged and changed by the Word.

 

Study 1: 1 Samuel: 1-20: Trent Evans

Heard by God

This study in the book of 1 Samuel, focuses not only on the historical transition from the era of judges to the rise of kings, but also on the spiritual transformation that occurs when God's people learn to trust His sovereignty and timing. Through the story of Hannah, we are invited to consider how personal heartache and unanswered prayers can shape us for God’s greater purpose. Her weeping, provocation, and eventual surrender reveal a powerful truth: God's delays are not His denials. As Hannah yields her desires to God’s will, we witness the beauty of transformation—from anguish to peace, from barrenness to life, and from personal longing to prophetic legacy. This study challenges listeners to evaluate how they respond to the struggles of others, and encourages a heart posture that aligns personal desires with God's purpose. Ultimately, the story reminds us that in seasons of silence and waiting, we are still heard by God.

Study 15: James 5: 12-20: Trent Evans

 Carriers

The study of James 5:12-20 emphasizes the weight of our words and the power of prayer. James calls believers to integrity, urging them to let their "yes" be yes and their "no" be no, mirroring Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5. The passage stresses that our words should be trustworthy, not requiring oaths to prove sincerity. Furthermore, James highlights the importance of seeking God in all circumstances—prayer in suffering, praise in joy, and intercession in sickness. The study reinforces that healing and restoration come not through the act of prayer itself but through faith in Christ, the one who forgives and restores. Confession is also encouraged, not as a means of salvation but as a practice that fosters accountability and spiritual healing within the body of believers. Ultimately, James concludes with a call to pursue those who wander from the truth, recognizing that it is Jesus who redeems, restores, and covers sin. This study reminds us that in all things, we are vessels of Christ, called to live in His righteousness and extend His grace to others.

Study 14: James 5: 7-11: Trent Evans

Patience

The study of James 5:7-11 calls believers to cultivate patience in all aspects of life—toward God, others, and in suffering—rooted in the assurance of Christ’s return. Using the metaphor of a farmer waiting for the rain, James reminds us that while we have no control over God's timing, His faithfulness is certain. Patience is not a passive endurance but a fruit of the Spirit that requires submission to God. The study emphasizes that impatience often manifests in how we treat those closest to us, urging believers to resist grumbling and instead exhibit Christlike patience, even in trials. Ultimately, the passage reassures us that God is full of compassion and mercy, calling us to persevere with the knowledge that His promises will be fulfilled.

 

Study 13: James 5: 1-6 Trent Evans

More for the Kingdom

The study of James 5:1-6 challenges believers to examine their hearts regarding wealth and possessions, emphasizing that the issue is not money itself but the love of it. James warns against hoarding wealth, oppressing others for financial gain, and placing trust in material riches rather than God. The passage urges self-reflection, calling believers to generosity, justice, and responsible stewardship. The study highlights that wealth should be a tool for God's purposes rather than an idol that corrupts the heart. Ultimately, the message calls for aligning financial decisions with faith, ensuring that possessions do not possess us.