CONNECT:  As you trust in the Lord, how can you grow this week in either patience, endurance, or hope?

WARM-UP  Question

1. Why does the sincerity of heart matter so much in relationships? Why does it matter to God?

READ 1 Samuel 28:3-19

1. As the chapter begins, what is the state of the nation at this point?
2. How does the narrator of first Samuel describe how Saul was feeling about the Philistines? Considering Saul had faced enemies such as these many times before, why do you think he felt this way?
3. As Saul goes to the Lord, why does the Lord not answer? In response to not hearing God, what could have been some good options for Saul to pursue?
4. Do you ever feel like God is silent? Because of Jesus, how is our situation different? When feeling distant from God, what should be our response?
5. How does Saul respond to the silence from God? What is so tragically wrong about this?
6. Was the warning from Samuel new information to Saul? How does this show that a heart dependent only on oneself leads to destruction?
7. Do you ever think that you can do it on your own without God? What do you think encourages this sort of thinking? What might encourage us to daily express our dependence on Jesus?
8. How does Saul’s rebellion against God ultimately lead to his own destruction?

READ 1 Samuel 30:7-25

1. What is different (compared to Saul) as David seeks the Lord’s guidance? Why is David not afraid of the situation compared to Saul?
2. When you are in distress, what helps you to call out to the Lord?
3. How is David’s generosity towards even those who had not fought different to to the approach of other’s at the time? How does Jesus demonstrate a radical and undeserved generosity towards us?
4. First Samuel really charts the lives of two people who have a fundamentally different approach to God? How would you describe your heart towards God?

APPLY: How do you demonstrate a daily dependence on the Lord?

‍

On Your Frontline This Week: What does following Jesus have to do with leadership? Listen to a great talk from George Savvides from our first frontline breakfast last week: http://bit.ly/2L0RTCA

Audio and Video 

• AUDIO: Chapters 28-31 from Mark Calder and Simon Keith (Anglican Church of Noosa):
  http://anglicanchurchnoosa.org/multimedia-archive/1-samuel-18-31-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king/
  http://anglicanchurchnoosa.org/multimedia-archive/1-samuel-18-31-the-king-is-dead-long-live-the-king-2/
• AUDIO: “The Rise and Fall of Kings” by Tim Hiorns (1 Samuel 27:1-31:13)
  https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/54431/
• AUDIO: Sermons for Chapters 28, 30, and 31 by Dominic Steele (Village Church, Sydney):
  28: villagechurch.sydney/sermons/no-hope-without-god-1-samuel-28-dominic-steele/
  30: villagechurch.sydney/sermons/being-strengthened-in-the-lord/
  31: villagechurch.sydney/sermons/the-king-is-dead-the-judgement-of-god/

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”) 
• “Is Hell for Real? And other questions about judgment, eternity, and the God of love” by Erik Raymond.
  

‍