1 SAMUEL — Week 1
Welcome to the first sermon-based curriculum for 1 Samuel. Thanks to all who sent in questions, and observations, this is a group effort. Make sure and look at the suggested outline for a Sermon-based small group. I pray this is a good resource for our church.
Connection Q’s:
- What are you thankful for today?
- What are you grieving? (Group members should only respond by asking, “how did you feel?” Or “What is the hardest part about that for you?” Or simply say, “thank you for sharing with us, Lord Jesus help us.” The point is not to fix problems but hold our griefs together before the Lord.)
The book of the Bible that we know as 1st Samuel is the historical sequence to material in the book of Judges. The early chapters of 1st Samuel describe the final years of the time of the “judges” before Israel cried out to have a king. God’s intention is for the people of Israel to be united under His direct leadership. They have a theocracy, not a monarchy. They are a nation of priests – not peasants. They do not need a king or emperor. The just need a high priest.
Why is unity hard for people?
Chris talked about us being a dysfunctional family as being something that identifies us as children of God.
- How does this identity impact you? How does it affect the way you view yourself, others, God?
The New Testament is full of identity statements about God’s people. Calling one another to live according to God’s version of who we are in relation to God, one another, and the world changes how we live.
- Read Colossians 3:12-17. As a group, create 4 to 6 identity statements from this passage by completing the phrase, “We are people who…” (For example, “we are people who don’t cut one another off when wronged but forgive one another in love.”)
- After making your list of identity statements, discuss: what would be different about our lives if we lived according to these statements?
When we put ourselves against the holiness of God, we put ourselves at risk. Can you recall an account in the Bible when people did this?
How do we honor God as holy in our own lives?
Thumbing through Exodus 25 and 26, God outlines exactly how He wanted to be worshipped by His people. Where to be worshipped, when, by whom, with what and what the curtains look like in the tabernacle. Why is this important for us to consider that? What occurs when the Israelites think they have a better idea of how to worship God?
How are we to experience God when we are living through the mess of everyday life?
This book is going to unpack the right theology of God and mankind in narrative form. Read, listen and watch closely.
Here is a main one Chris does not want you to miss: What we will see is the biblically constant message that the ways of God and the ways of man are not the same.
Is 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God is going to make use of the foolish things
I Cor 1:27-29
27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Remember in John how blind people were the only ones who could see?
Predict that we will see similar patterns in the Samuels.
Are we humble enough to hear the messages? Are we aware enough of our blindness to be able to hear the melodies? God is going to give you the chance to learn about Him and you and your relationship in this book. Let us confess our pride and our confidence in our own sight.
- Who will you share these things with this week? Who needs to hear what you’ve learned about God and/or people?