Key points
1What looks like humility can actually be fear-driven pride.
Pastor Bill shares his own story of almost not planting his church because he thought avoiding leadership was humble, when it was really fear rooted in pride — making his walk with God about himself, just from the negative side rather than the arrogant side.
2Pride shows up as arrogance or as anxious, insecure pride, and both refuse to trust God.
He defines humility as thinking of yourself less, and pride as making everything about yourself, whether that's boasting in your strength or insisting you can't do what God asks because you lack enough time, money, or ability. He calls this second kind Eeyore pride.
You see, humility is not thinking less of yourself
it is pride whenever you don't trust him
3Saul's insecure pride led him to disobey God, choosing sacrifice over obedience.
Pastor Bill walks through Saul hiding among the baggage when anointed king, and later offering sacrifice the wrong way out of fear rather than waiting on God's instruction through Samuel. He notes obedience leads to sacrifice, but sacrifice does not guarantee obedience, and Saul lost his kingdom because of it.
4David stayed faithful in small, unglamorous tasks while waiting on God's timing to become king.
Even after being anointed, David kept tending sheep and running errands for his brothers rather than demanding his position, showing he trusted God's timing rather than forcing his own advancement.
Illustration
Photo from a personal visit to the Valley of Elah, showing how small and close the valley actually is
5For forty-one days Saul and Israel's army let fear win instead of trusting God's promise of victory.
Pastor Bill retells the standoff in the Valley of Elah, describing the daily cycle of battle cries followed by running in fright from Goliath, even though God had already promised Israel victory over the Philistines.
6David didn't fight from qualification, he fought from calling — and that made his confidence humility, not arrogance.
Pastor Bill contrasts Saul telling David he wasn't qualified with David's answer about killing lions and bears while shepherding, showing David knew it was the Lord who rescued him, not his own skill. He argues the enemy attacks with the true fact you're not qualified to get you to buy the lie that you therefore shouldn't trust God.
He attacks us with the truth you're not qualified in order to get us to buy the lie
A story from life
The preacher describes how he tells anxiety-ridden worship team members to stop trying to feel qualified and instead acknowledge the call
7David defeated Goliath using only what he already had, trusting God for the outcome, and the victory belonged to everyone who stayed faithful.
David refused Saul's armor because it wasn't suited to him, went out with only a sling and stones, declared the battle was the Lord's, and even said us instead of me when describing the coming victory. Pastor Bill ties this to Rock Point's own story, noting 1,200 people gave their lives to Christ the previous week because people got in the fight God called them to.
The Lord brings the power. I get to give you the throat punch
Our problem is not too many Goliaths. The problem is not enough of us are willing to be Davids
because you need to know you're in one, And I'm trying to let you out
A story from life
The preacher's father, a combat veteran, describes his home-defense philosophy — including taking an intruder's gun and using it against them
A story from life
The preacher's wife confronts him over a burrito in Big Bear, California, calling his plan to avoid church planting 'the dumbest idea ever' and naming it as fear rather than humility
Application
Pastor Bill's charge is to stop being a Saul and get in the fight God has already called you to, using what you already have.
Get baptized as a first step of obedience
If you know Jesus but have refused baptism, stop waiting to feel qualified or spiritual enough; take the simple step of obedience and trust God will meet you in the next thing.
Serve with what you already have
Stop waiting for more time, money, or resources before getting involved in the church body; take your gifts and resources as they are and step into serving now.
Give financially to the church's mission
Pull out your checkbook and start giving to support the ongoing mission of the church rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Men, stop being a Saul and lead
Men are called to go first and lead in the home and church rather than letting fear or passivity leave the work to others.
Trust God instead of talking yourself out of obedience
Identify the next wisest, most obvious obedient step and stop making excuses about past hurt or insufficiency; run back to Christ and take the step this week.
Take it into your week
Rewind AI contributed study material from the sermon transcript; church-authored wording and verified sermon quotes keep their own source. Always trust the sermon itself over anything here. How Rewind uses AI
