1 Samuel

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1 Samuel: Lesson 3 — Bad Boys

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 

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1 Samuel: Lesson 2 — Returning The Gift

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 2 (Returning The Gift)
1 Samuel 1:21-2:11

The Text:

  1. After Samuel is born, what does Elkanah do?  What did Hannah do?  Why do you think she made the decision she did?
     
  2. What does Hannah do when she finally returns to Shiloh?
     
  3. What attitude seems to stand out in Hannah’s prayer?  What is her view of God?
     
  4. In Hannah’s prayer, how does she acknowledge God changing the circumstances of people?  What seems to determine a negative change versus a positive one? 
     
  5. Who makes the trip home?  Where is Samuel and what is he now doing?  How do you think Hannah felt about that?  

The Application:

  1. How hard is it to keep your promises to God?  What things make it easier or harder?  How do you prepare for the fulfillment of your promises to God?
     
  2. When the “Lord confirms His word”, how tempting is it to put off what you know needs done?  How is your worship and the keeping of your promises to God connected?   
     
  3. How do you think Hannah can “rejoice in the Lord” at a time when she is “giving up” the answer to her prayers?  How hard is it to rejoice when you have to give something up to keep a promise?
     
  4. What does Hannah’s prayer say to you about pride and arrogance?  Do you typically find yourself feeling crushed by God or lifted up by God?  Does this say more about God or more about you?
     
  5. In keeping your promises to God, particularly in giving something to God, how hard is it to just let go?  When you know that things you have given up are being used by God, how does that make you feel about following through with what you promised?

     

 

Next week: 1 Samuel 2:12-36
Bad Boys 

 

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1 Samuel: Lesson 1 — Not All Is As It Seems

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 1 (Not All Is As It Seems)
1 Samuel 1:1-20

The Text:

  1. Who are Peninnah and Hannah?  What do we learn about them in the opening verses of chapter 1?  How does God describe their relationship?
     
  2. Who is Elkanah?  What does he and his family have a practice of doing each year?  How does he treat Hannah?
     
  3. What does Hannah do while in Shiloh to worship?  What is her attitude or emotional state?  What is the vow she makes?
     
  4. Who is watching Hannah?  What is his occupation?  What did that mean he should be doing?  What does he assume when he confronts her? 
     
  5. How does Hannah respond to the accusations?  What is Eli’s response?  What effect does this have on Hannah?  What becomes the result of Hannah’s prayer? 

The Application:

  1. What are some things that people would say indicate God’s blessing if present or lack of blessing if absent?  Are these accurate?  How do you treat people who lack, and want, what you have?
     
  2. How important is worship to you even when living in the midst of conflict?  What are some effective ways to encourage someone who feels left out or “unblessed”?
       
  3. How hard/easy is it to pray when it feels like the world, and God, is against you?  What things have you vowed/promised to God?  Have you meant them?
     
  4. What is one role God says you have as a Christian?  What does that mean you should be doing?  How often do you find yourself making assumptions about a person or situation rather than interacting as God would have you?
     
  5. How confident are you in God’s promises?  What effect should this have on you?  What things do you need to pour out through tears in bitter, earnest prayer?

Next week: 1 Samuel 1:21-2:11
Returning The Gift