There’s No Trophy for Almost

1 Samuel 15:22–23 (NASB):

22 Samuel said,
“Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice,
And to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry.
Since you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”

Intro:

Tuesday morning dropped in hot with Coach Kirk walking us straight into 1 Samuel 15:22–23. No fluff. Just the brutal truth about obedience, half-measures, and what it costs a man when he plays pretend submission with God. Saul got called out, and so did we. If you’ve ever tried to “mostly” follow God’s word while bending the rules to fit your plans, this one punched right in the gut.

Key Takeaways

1. Partial Obedience is Still Disobedience

God isn’t looking for your best effort—He’s looking for your obedience.
Saul did most of what God commanded. He followed the mission… until it got inconvenient. Sound familiar? Samuel’s words were clear: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Trying to impress God with good intentions while ignoring instructions is rebellion dressed in religion.

2. Your Excuses Don’t Sanctify Your Disobedience

“But I was going to sacrifice it to God” still means you disobeyed.
Saul tried to spin his disobedience as devotion. He kept what God told him to destroy and blamed the people. How often do we do the same? “I’m staying in this relationship/job/mindset for a good reason” doesn’t change the fact that God said no and you said maybe later.

3. Obedience is Measured in the Micro, Not the Massive

It’s not about flashy sacrifice—it’s about consistent surrender.
Coach Kirk reminded us: this isn’t a performance. God sees obedience in the little things. The call to pay attention isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being present and tuned in. Listening deeply. Responding immediately. Not delaying, not editing God’s words.

4. There’s a Crown at Stake

Disobedience doesn’t just delay blessings—it disqualifies you.
Saul lost his crown not because of murder or adultery, but because he played games with God’s command. That should stop every man in his tracks. This is about legacy. Your role, your influence, your authority—it’s all on the line when you choose comfort over command.

Participant Highlights:

• Matt Hoffman leaned in visibly—camera on, present, in the fire.

• Louis Martinez and Jonathan Morgana showed up ready and attentive, setting a tone of presence.

• Kyle Carnahan popped in from Sedona mid-call, stirred by the Spirit—proof that God prompts even when you’re off-grid.

• Fires in the chat, thumbs-up in the camera, heads bowed in reflection—every man doing his own internal inventory.

• Coach Kirk’s personal lesson hit hard: “For the called, there is no trophy for almost.”

Final Lesson from Coach Kirk:

“Saul was chosen. He was called. But when it came time to execute God’s will fully, he chose good intentions over obedience—and lost everything.”Call to Action:

Every man was challenged to map out their Start, Stop, and Sustain—

• What needs to Start in obedience now?

• What must you Stop pretending is okay?

• What truth and practice must you Sustain, even when it’s uncomfortable?

From there, each man distilled their own personal lesson and big-picture revelation—how this truth will shape their actions this week in Body, God, Relationships, and Business.

Closing Exhortation:

Coach Kirk closed with prayer that didn’t coddle—
It cut.
It reminded every man: God doesn’t speak to masks. He speaks to the real, raw man willing to stand exposed.
This verse doesn’t leave us feeling warm and fuzzy—it leaves us called up. And that’s the point.