On April 26, 2026, the Malaysian members attended the last Sunday service of the month at Kuala Lumpur Immanuel Church and prepared for the new month with renewed resolve.

Pastor Samuel Chang, who delivered a sermon titled “To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice” based on 1 Samuel 15:22–23, urged the congregation to place God’s Word at the center of their lives and to live in obedience to it.

The sermon explored the rise and fall of Israel’s first king, emphasizing a central truth: God values obedience above all forms of outward religious expression. Though Saul was initially chosen by God and experienced great victories, his failure to fully obey God’s command ultimately led to his rejection as king.

According to Pastor Chang, Saul’s mistake was not outright rebellion, but selective obedience. After defeating the Amalekites, Saul spared the best livestock and preserved the enemy king, justifying his actions as preparation for sacrifice to God. However, the prophet Samuel’s response was clear and direct: obedience is better than sacrifice.

“Even the most beautiful offering becomes meaningless when it is built on disobedience,” Pastor Chang explained. He warned that many believers today fall into the same pattern—modifying God’s word according to their own reasoning while offering spiritual excuses.

The sermon also highlighted the root of Saul’s failure: arrogance. Forgetting that his victories came from God, Saul began to rely on his own judgment and even erected a monument in his own honor. This shift from humility to pride ultimately distanced him from God.

In contrast, Pastor Chang pointed to David, who was later chosen as king. Unlike Saul, David was selected not for his outward appearance but for his heart—a heart marked by faith, humility, and obedience. David’s confidence was not in his own strength, but in God’s power, as seen in his victory over Goliath.

“God does not look at outward appearance, but at the heart,” Pastor Chang emphasized, urging believers to reflect on their own spiritual condition.

This message concluded with a powerful call to action, urging the congregation to set aside arrogance, reject self-centered thinking, and return to wholehearted obedience. Pastor Jang reminded the congregation that disobedience is not merely a mistake, but an act of rejecting God’s instructions.

Ultimately, the sermon challenges believers to pursue a faith that is not based on appearances or excuses, but on sincere obedience—because in the eyes of God, obedience is always greater than sacrifice.