This Is Only A Sample | Tim Rivers | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

This Is Only A Sample

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship • Aug 23, 2026

Start 5-Day Devotional

Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

God often gives us spiritual 'samples' of His goodness to test our faith and build our appetite for the full inheritance, rather than to satisfy us with temporary comfort. When we experience initial breakthroughs or provisions, we must not become complacent and settle in the 'sampling season' of life. Instead, we are called to look at these foretastes of blessing as fuel to courageously overcome obstacles, remember God's faithfulness, and step into the fullness of His promises.

Themes

Faith and PerspectiveGod's PromisesSpiritual ComplacencyRemembranceOvercoming Fear

Pastor's Points

1.

Remember what God has already done

2.

Stay focused on what God has promised

3.

Move before you feel ready

Key Points

1.
Samples are designed to entice you and create an appetite for the full product, not to satisfy your hunger completely.
2.
God will give you small 'samples' or breakthroughs in your life to test your faithfulness before He trusts you with the full inheritance.
3.
Complacency in the 'sampling season' prevents believers from fighting for the ultimate blessings and territories God has prepared for them.
4.
Your perspective determines your response; you will either focus on the scale of your obstacles or the magnitude of God's promise.
5.
The ten spies brought back an evil report because they allowed the size of the giants to minimize the glory of the grape cluster they sampled.
6.
Caleb and Joshua possessed a different spirit, letting the size of the grape cluster minimize the threat of the giants.
7.
Remembrance of past victories is a vital spiritual discipline that guards your mind against doubt during difficult transitions.
8.
Spiritual progress requires active obedience and taking steps of faith even when you do not feel fully prepared or comfortable.

Sermon Moments

“The childhood memory of moving from Germany to America at age nine and experiencing American food culture for the first time.”

“The humorous illustration of visiting Sam's Club on a Saturday to get a free '2,575-course meal of bite-sized pieces.'”

“The warning: 'Some of us want the Ferrari, but God's testing us with a bicycle.'”

“The observation that it took two grown men carrying a pole just to transport a single cluster of grapes out of the Promised Land.”

“The quote: 'Samples aren't meant to fill you up; they're meant to entice you.'”

“The insight that how you handle the sample is indicative of whether you will ever get the full thing.”

“The contrast of the ten spies letting the giants minimize the grapes, while Caleb let the grapes minimize the giants.”

“The diagnostic warning that too many believers quit and give up during their sampling season.”

This Week

Reflect on past testimonies and 'samples' of God's goodness in your life to build faith for your current trial.

Consciously guard your perspective by focusing on the size of God's promises rather than the scale of the obstacles in your path.

Identify areas where you have settled for temporary comfort instead of pursuing the full spiritual inheritance God has for you.

When voices of doubt and fear arise, replace them with Caleb-like declarations of faith and trust in God's ability.

Refuse to spread 'evil reports' or exaggerated discouragements about your situation to others.

Take a tangible step of obedience this week in an area where you have been waiting until you 'feel ready.'

Offer God active praise and worship today, thanking Him in advance for the full promise while you are still in the sampling stage.

Remember This

God's current provisions and breakthroughs in our lives are merely samples of His ultimate promises, meant to build our appetite to pursue Him fully rather than tempt us to settle for temporary comfort.

A Challenge for You

Do not settle for the sample. Let the taste of God's goodness drive you to move forward in faith, overcome the giants in your path, and claim the full, abundant inheritance He has prepared for you.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.