Isn't it just like God to do the unexpected?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13 and Psalm 20  • Ezekiel 17:22-24 and Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15  • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17  • Mark 4:26-34

I titled this week's lesson "Isn't it just like God to do the unexpected?" because it seems to fit the scripture lessons from 1 Samuel, who, to the surprise of everyone, including Samuel, anoints the young shepherd boy, David, to be the second king of Israel, and Jesus' parable in the fourth chapter of Mark, about the mustard seed.

In "Just a kid. Just a seed. Just a church," Joel Shuman tells us, small and insignificant as we may think we are, God has us just where he wants us. If we have hope, faith, patience, and a willingness to see the good of God in others, our work, and in our play, great and wonderful things will be done in the furtherance of God's kingdom - not always what we think or expect, but what God expects and does - through and with us. Thanks be to God! See also, Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition" and "Reflection" on this week's lesson.