week of 6/18

Unit 10  Session 3

SAUL, THE FAILED KING

1 SAMUEL 13 - 15

When those in authority fail to obey God, they may be disqualified.

Following Jabesh-gilead's deliverance, the people, in the Lord's presence, installed Saul as king of Israel, and Samuel gave his final public speech as the leader and judge over Israel. Saul was now the Lord's anointed man, the highest representative of the Lord's will and work. But before long, the once fearful, humble leader accumulated power and grew increasingly deaf to God's voice. Saul listened to himself, or to the people of Israel, more than to God. The Lord tested Saul's faithfulness with a series of commands, and Saul's responses revealed the condition of his heart and his unfitness for ruling God's people.

Points to consider:

✞   The people's king acts apart from the Lord.

     * What were some signs and wonders God had 

        performed that should have sustained the 

        faith of the Isralite soldiers?

✞   The people's king disobeys the instruction of the Lord.

     * What are some ways believers today might justify  

        their sinful actions?

✞   The people's king is rejected by the Lord.

     * How should Saul's downfall encourage us to think 

        differently about our own sin?

week of 6/12

Unit 10  Session 2

SAUL, THE DELIVERING KING

1 SAMUEL 11

God brings victory through His chosen leaders, who are called to express God's character in their leadership.

In response to the sinful demand for a king like those of the nations, the Lord raised up and anointed Saul, a Benjaminite, as the king over Israel. Yet a public revelation of Saul's kingship was met with Saul initially hiding in fear. Still, when the people of Israel saw this man of impressive physical stature, they proclaimed their loyalty to him, at least, most of the people did; some wicked men despised him. When we net see Saul, however, curiously, we find him once again in an agricultural context, leading a team of oxen. But the Lord was about to change Saul's circumstances significantly.

Points to consider:

✞   God's chosen king unites his people in the face 

     of an enemy.

     * What are some ways God has answered your 

        prayers in unexpected ways?

✞   God's chosen king secures victory over an enemy.

     * What are some reasons God often seems to use 

        the unlikely and undeserving to accomplish 

        His purposes?

✞   God's chosen king extends mercy after victory.

     * How does extending mercy to others help point 

        people to God, and specifically Jesus Christ?

     * What will it look like for Jesus Christ to be 

        sovereign in our lives?

week of 6/5

Unit 10  Session 1

SAUL, THE PEOPLE'S KING

1 SAMUEL 7 - 10

God is the one true King, and He alone is able to lead His people as they need.

God raised up Samuel to judge His people and to call them to repentance. Under Samuel's leadership, Israel experienced freedom from the surrounding nations, restoration of land, and revival in worship. During his lifetime, Samuel traveled throughout the nation to ensure people were faithful to the covenant the Lord had made with them. But when Samuel was old, his sons, whom he had appointed as judges, proved to be wicked leaders who took advantage of the people (1 Sam. 8:3). So the Israelites, in their discontentment, demanded to have a king like the nations around them.

Points to consider:

✞   An earthly kind is demanded by the people.

     * What are some of the lures of the world that

      attract and tempt God's people?

     * Why should we view all sin as an implicit

      rejection of God as our rightful King?

✞   An impressive king is anointed for the people.

     * How does Saul's anointing as king compare

      to a believer's qualification for service?

✞   A reluctant king is presented to the people.

     * What are some ways you have experienced

      God's discipline?

week of 5/29

Unit 9  Session 6

FOLLOWING THEIR OWN CORRUPTION

rOMANS 1 - 8

Everyone is a sinner deserving death, but God has provided the means of rescue through Jesus Christ.

In the beginning, God created everything good and perfect. But soon the choice of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden unleashed the deadly power of sin upon God's good creation. The accounts of the judges make it abundantly clear that sin is a powerful force to be reckoned with - and we don't have the power to do so. Even the bright spots of Ruth, Boaz, Hannah, and Samuel were plagued by sin personally and dealt with a world marred by sin's effects, including famine, infertility, idolatry, and death. On our own, we are helpless before sin and death, but through the Savior sent for our salvation, we overcome.

Points to consider:

✞   All are guilty of sin against God.

     * How should Christians process and understand

      the "good works" of people?

     * How would you respond to someone who says,

      "I'm not as bad as the kind of people Paul

         describes in Romans 3:10-18"?

✞   All are dead through sin against God.

     * What are some ways the gospel of Jesus

        addresses the fall of Adam and his descendants?

✞   All can be rescued from sin and death in Christ.

     * What will it look like to live according to the

        Spirit and not the flesh?

week of 5/22

Unit 9  Session 5

FOLLOWING THEIR OWN DESIRES

1 SAMUEL 2:12 - 7:1

Faithlessness brings God's righteous judgment without exception.

The story of 1 Samuel opens with a note of hope. God has not forgotten His people, and He is continuing to work out His mission to deliver them, notably through raising up a leader for them. But this theme contrasts with the reality of Israel's leaders at the time - their priests. Eli the priest and his two sons were tasked with overseeing the worship of God at the temple dwelling in Shiloh. In fact, Elkanah and his family took their sacrifices every year to the sons, Hophni and Phinehas. But in contrast to Elkanah and Hannah, these priests were a picture of rebellion. God was about to judge them, and He was raising up Samuel to take their place as the leader in Israel.

Points to consider:

✞   The priest's evil sons are contemptible.

     * What should we learn from God's response to the 

        sin of Eli's sons?

✞   The priest's evil sons are rejected.

     * What are some ways we can honor God?

     * How should believers in Jesus Christ respond to the

      severity of God's consequences for Eli and his sons?

✞   The priest's evil sons are judged.

     * What are some ways our sins impact others? 

week of 5/15

Unit 9  Session 4

FOLLOWING GOD'S TIMING

1 SAMUEL 1-3

God's people are to recognize and rejoice in His provisions while being quick to use what has been given for His purposes.

As the days of the judges were coming to a close, the people of Israel were mired in national tragedy as the downward spiral of the nation reached rock bottom. In those days, there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). But there was still reason for hope because God is faithful, so there always remains faithful people. For example, an ordinary man and his family were faithful to worship and sacrifice to the one and true living God (1 Samuel 1:3). The story that follows this man's wife Hannah shows once again that God never gives up on His mission of restoration.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord's servant pleads for a son.

     * How does prayer help us deal with our struggles?

✞   The Lord's servant dedicates a long-awaited son.

     * How have you seen God's perfect timing on

      display in your life?

✞   The Lord's servant celebrates a divinely provided son.

     * What are some things we should be able to do

        because of who God is? 

     * What are some ways God's providence in your life

       has prompted you to worship Him?

week of 5/8

 Unit 9  Session 3

FOLLOWING GOD'S GUIDANCE

RUTH

Faithful love is not focused inwardly but outwardly, seeking the welfare of others.

The Book of Ruth is a story within a story, namely, the one told in the Book of Judges (Ruth 1:1). The dominant narrative of Ruth's day was one of sin, suffering, and chaos. There was no king in Israel at the time, and everyone did what was right in their own eyes (see Judges 17:6 ; 21:25). Sin spiraled out of control and reaped severe consequences. Amid the destruction, however, the Bible reminds its readers of the mission of God to save sinners and the world. The Book of Ruth is a surprising story of redeeming love that proves God has not abandoned His mission. His faithful love will never give up.

Points to consider:

✞   Faithful love is loyal.

     * What reasons would Ruth have had to return to Moab

      with Orpah?

     * What are some ways we can model the loyal love of

      God in our relationships?

✞   Faithful love is gracious.

     * What does it mean to find refuge in God?

✞   Faithful love is redeeming.

     * What are some ways believers resemble or ought to 

      resemble Ruth?