FCC sermon on Sunday

I heard the rehearsal for worship on Saturday and decided I wanted to go for the full service @ FCC on Sunday. Worship was good. For the sermon, Clarence brought up a few points which I find serve as very good reminders for me in regards ro relationships.

As usual, he would say things that sounds different from what I normally know, but I don't think it's wrong, maybe incomplete but not totally wrong. I know some people think otherwise. :)

Passage was taken from 1 Sam 1 which he says is one of the few passages which relate in details the relationship between 2 persons.

The Birth of Samuel

1:1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

3 Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. 4 On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. [1] 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

9 After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. 10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

12 As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” 18 And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”


Clarence drew some parallels pretty well but I can't really replicate that but these are my takeaways from the sermon.

1) Tend to the 3rd person in the relationship. He didn't say the 3rd person is God, something which I always know. He said when we are in a relationship, there is Person A, there is Person B and there is this 3rd person in between who is a little of Person A and a little of Person B plus a mix of everything. And we need to take time to nurture and grow the 3rd person. I agree.

2) The coping mechanisms you used when you are growing up are the things that hinder the growth of your relationship. I agree too. He said to pray for enlightenment to know what our blind spots are so we are aware. And awareness is the first step to change!

3) Give partner spare time to meet their own needs.

Other takeaways:
- There should be change so there is growth but do not lose yourself.
- There is only love when there is risk of loss.
- There should be a balance between intimacy and space for each other.
.