CONNECT: How is your trust in God, fear of God, and listening to God going?

WARM-UP  Questions

1. Have you ever been chosen for a special role or task? How did you respond? If you have time, watch this short clip from Surf’s Up.
2. Why are we so fascinated with the Royal Family? What do we expect from earthly kings and queens?

READ 1 Samuel 4:1-11

1. Why were the Israelites defeated in the first battle? How should they have approached the battle?
2. How did the Israelites respond after the first defeat? What was their solution?
3. Why was the ark of the covenant important? What did the Israelites hope would be achieved by bringing the ark of the covenant to the battle?
4. Why did the Israelites lose the second battle? Why was the ark lost to the Philistines?
5. Can you think of a time when you have wanted God’s power or intervention but not God?

READ 1 Samuel 5:1-9

1. Why did the Philistines place the ark of the covenant next to the statue of Dagon?
2. Dagon’s statue fell before the ark of the covenant and was damaged. What did this signify?
3. Many people in the town’s when the ark was taken died or were afflicted with tumours. What did this signify?
4. When the ark was returned, 70 of the Israelites were punished for looking into the ark (see 6:19-20). Why did God punish them so severely?
5. We worship a living God. What difference does this make?

READ 1 Samuel 7:2-11

1. Once the ark is returned, how do the people respond? What is Samuel’s role?
2. How can we tell if the Israelite’s repentance is genuine?
3. What does Israel’s victory tell us about God? Who won the battle?
4. The Israelites experienced peace under the leadership of Samuel. How can we experience peace? How is it different to the peace experienced by Israel?

APPLY This Week:  What situation do you need to bring before God this week?

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On Your Frontline This Week: God uses our prayers to transform us, our families, our work, our city and world. Come along to our Prayer Night on 13 May to partner as a church to pray for these places.

Audio and Video 

• VIDEO: Introduction to 1 Samuel by the Bible Project:
• ‘God is King: Like it or Not’ by Mark Calder
• ‘The Ark is Lost’ by Chase Kuhn
• ‘Draw Near to God’ by Tom Schreiner
• ‘You Can’t Put God in A Box’ by Aaron Roberts

Key Resource

• “1 Samuel For You” by Tim Chester is an excellent introduction to 1 Samuel that will be suitable for people reading at a range of levels. The guide includes helpful discussion of the content of 1 Samuel, along with plenty of practical and devotional application. Watch an introduction to the book by Tim Chester. 

Other Helpful Books, Articles, and Courses

• “1 and 2 Samuel: Hope for the Helpless” by Andrew Reid (“Reading the Bible Today Series”) 
• “1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart” by Dale Ralph Davis (“Focus on the Bible Series”) 
  

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