Outline:
Part 1 (Chapters 1-7) give us an account of the life of SAMUEL – the last of the judges.
Chapters 1-2 … Samuel’s background and childhood
Chapter 3 … Samuel’s calling
Chapters 4-7 … Samuel’s generation and work
Part 2 (Chapters 8-15) are essentially about SAUL – the first king of Israel
Chapters 8-10 … Saul’s appointment as king
Chapters 11-12 … Saul’s successes
Chapters 13-15 … Saul’s failures
Part 3 (Chapters 16-31) focus on the early life of DAVID – ‘a man after God’s own heart’
Chapters 16:1-13 … David is anointed king by Samuel
Chapters 16:14-20:42 … David serves King Saul
Chapters 21-31 … David becomes a fugitive from Saul
Theme: Obedience is better than sacrifice
Key Verses: 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Bryan Wheeler Pastor Bryan Wheeler was converted to Christ in 1973. For most of the 20 years that he served in the U.S. Air Force he was actively involved in church-based preaching and teaching ministries in the U.S. and overseas. Pastor Wheeler was ordained into the gospel ministry in 1987 and was called into full time ministry in 1989. He is the pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Verona, VA. He and his wife Maureen were married in 1968 and the Lord has given them 6 children and 4 grandchildren.