The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 3 (Bad Boys)
1 Samuel 2:12-36

The Text:

1. How does the Bible describe Eli’s sons?  Why was this?
    
2. What were the priests doing when people would come to sacrifice?  What was God’s view of their actions?  Why?
    
3. What blessing would Eli tell Elkanah and Hannah each year when they would travel to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice?  How did God fulfill that blessing?
    
4. What reports came back to Eli about his sons?  What did he do about it?  How did they respond? 
    
5. What message did God send to Eli?  What did God want Eli to remember?  Did God lay all of the blame on the sons?  How was God going to make known His displeasure with Eli’s sons?  In the midst of this rebuke, what promise does God give for the future?

The Application:

1. On a practical level, what does it look like in your life to “have regard for the LORD?
    
2. How might the sinful actions of the priests look today?  What would it look like to “treat the LORD’s offering with contempt”?
        
3. What do you think it means that “the LORD was gracious to Hannah?  How hard is it to give up something of great value not knowing if it will ever be replaced?  Is faithfulness always rewarded in this manner?
    
4. How do you respond when you hear bad reports of people close to you?  Is there anything that can be done other than confront them?  How does it feel when they choose not to respond or change?
    
5. How easy is it to forget God’s calling of you to Himself?  Are there times that your silence or cooperation may aid another person’s misconduct?  Who is the faithful priest God has raised up for Himself?

Next week: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Hearing Voices