Break the Ice.
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What is your all time favorite movie?
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Tell about a time where you or someone else made a mistake because not all the details were known.
Bring the Word.
Read 1 Samuel 8:1-5
- What two reasons did the elders of Israel give for wanting a king?
- What is the difference between a judge and a king? (a Judge is raised up by God in a time of need or crisis. Once the need is met or the crises subsides they go back to their regular life. A king sets up a government, is the head of that government for his lifetime, and passes the role to his heirs.)
- Did Samuel have a right to appoint his sons as leaders or judges?
- Did the people have a right to request his sons not be judges?
- Is there an example of when God gave you something when you asked for another thing?
Read 1 Samuel 8:6-9
- Who is supposed to be king of Israel?
- Did Israel have the right to ask for a king?
- Why does God tell Samuel to give them what they asked for?
- What is a modern example of outsourcing the role of God in our world today?
- What is an example of this in your own personal life?
Read 1 Samuel 8:10-22
- Among other things, this section serves as a pros and cons list for having a king. What are the cons? What are the pros?
- Where did Samuel get his list? Where did the people get their list?
- Although the people list three things, two of them are already being fulfilled by God. Which two are being fulfilled by God?
Bring it Home.
- In hindsight, it’s easy to see Israel’s mistake, but in what ways do we put blinders on and ignore what God is telling us in order to pursue what we want?
Read Romans 12:1-2 and Ephesians 6:12.
- Should we as Christians or the church as a whole try to be like the world? Why or why not?
- In what ways do you see yourself trying to be like the world?
- What steps can you take this week to show true and proper worship?
- How can we pray for you?