Thesis
True humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less — and it is proven by whether you trust God. Both arrogant pride (I know better than God) and insecure pride (I can't do what God asks because I'm not qualified) are forms of self-centeredness that lead to disobedience. The story of David and Goliath shows that God does not ask us to be qualified; He asks us to be obedient, to take what He has given us, and to get into the fight He has called us to — trusting that where He guides, He will provide.
Key points
- 1
What looks like humility can actually be fear-driven pride — making it all about yourself whether positively or negatively.
- 2
Saul's insecure pride kept him from doing what God had specifically called and equipped him to do, costing him his kingdom.
- 3
God does not look at outward qualifications the way people do; He looks at the heart, as seen in His choice of David over his more impressive older brothers.
- 4
Faithfulness in small, unglamorous things — like David watching sheep — prepares and qualifies us for the bigger things God has planned.
- 5
The enemy uses the truth 'you're not qualified' to sell the lie 'therefore don't trust God' — the answer is to accept you're not qualified and obey anyway.
- 6
David faced Goliath not in arrogance but in the authority of God's calling, crediting the Lord for the victory while still personally entering the fight.
- 7
God calls us to obedience over sacrifice — you can sacrifice (show up, go through rituals) without obeying, but you cannot truly obey without sacrificing.
Outline
Introduction: Fear Disguised as Humility
Pastor Bill shares how he almost refused to plant Rock Point, believing it was humility, only to realize it was fear-driven pride. He introduces the big idea: humility is the byproduct of trusting God.
Series Setup: Kings
Pastor Bill introduces the new series Kings, contrasting Saul's insecure pride with David's trusting heart, and explaining why David is called a man after God's own heart despite his imperfections.
Saul: Obedience Over Sacrifice
Through Saul's hiding at his own anointing and his disobedient sacrifice, Pastor Bill shows that insecure pride leads to performing religious ritual while still disobeying God in the ways that matter.
David Anointed: Faithfulness in Small Things
Samuel bypasses all of Jesse's impressive sons and anoints the overlooked youngest shepherd boy David, who accepts the calling without demanding anything and returns faithfully to his ordinary duties.
The Valley of Elah: Forty-One Days of Fear
Pastor Bill walks through 1 Samuel 17, describing Israel's paralysis before Goliath, Saul's failure to fulfill his God-given role as king and champion, and the family tension David encounters when he arrives.
Qualified vs. Called
David's conversation with Saul reveals the core truth: the enemy uses the fact of our disqualification to sell the lie that we should not trust God. The solution is to embrace being unqualified and step into the fight God called you to — using what He has already given you.
David vs. Goliath: Humble Courage in Action
David runs at Goliath armed only with a sling and stone, declares the battle belongs to the Lord, kills Goliath with Goliath's own sword, and the whole army rallies — demonstrating that courageous trust in God produces decisive, God-glorifying victory.
Application: Get in the Fight
Pastor Bill calls the congregation to stop making excuses rooted in insecure pride and take the next obedient step — whether baptism, serving, giving, or leading at home — sharing how his wife's challenge helped him stop hiding and start the church.
Memorable moments
humility is the byproduct of trusting God. Meaning, you wanna know if you're humble or not, is are you trusting God right now? If you're not trusting God, you ain't humble
He attacks us with the truth you're not qualified in order to get us to buy the lie. Since you're not qualified, you shouldn't trust God
I'm not qualified. Tell me something else I don't already know. Now get the HE double hockey sticks out of my way because I gotta go do what God called me to do
Our problem is not too many Goliaths. The problem is not enough of us are willing to be Davids
You can sacrifice without obeying. You can't obey without sacrificing
I'm rattling your cage on purpose. You know why I'm rattling your cage on purpose? It's because you need to know you're in one, And I'm trying to let you out
Application
Pastor Bill's challenge is direct: identify the next wisest, most obedient thing God is asking you to do — and stop talking yourself out of it. For some, that is getting baptized as a first step of public faith. For others, it is showing up to serve, starting to give, or leading their family with courage instead of passivity. The point is not to wait until you feel qualified; God does not ask for qualification, He asks for obedience. Take what He has already given you — your time, your gifts, your resources, your story — and get into the fight He has called you to. Where He guides, He will provide. The harvest is plentiful; the question is whether you will be one of the workers.
