Heart Over Hype: God’s Better Way

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: 1 Samuel 12.

overview

God had appointed judges as military leaders and spiritual directors over Israel, people who went before the Lord on behalf of the nation. Since Israel demanded a king, Samuel was no longer needed as a judge; here, we read his farewell speech. As he asks if he has ever done anything to hurt the nation or do anything unethical, we can almost hear the sadness and regret he has for the nation who, in rebellion, demanded a king. The nation agrees that Samuel led an innocent life as a good leader with a clean conscience, but that simply wasn’t enough for them.

question 1

Why do people often reject and mock those who act with pure and innocent hearts? How can we as Christ followers keep walking this way when we are mocked?

discussion

Read Deuteronomy 8:10-18. God asks us to constantly remember how he has provided and intervened in our lives so that we don’t become proud and think that we can handle it all on our own. Israel had forgotten God again through foreign idols and coveting what the pagan nations had, not trusting that the Lord their God was more than enough for them. When we step away from God or stray from Christian fellowship, we too are at risk of falling into sin. We must stay alert and on guard and remember that own flesh will often lead us away from God.      

question 2

It’s human nature to think that we need God plus something or someone else to make us happy. What does the rhythm of remembering God’s work in your life look like? Is this something you do often?

In their rejection of God, the nation also rejects Samuel. And yet, he continues to love them by committing to pray for them. We can see the heart of Jesus in Samuel as Jesus himself was and is repeatedly rejected by people, but is still always ready to receive the ones who repent and turn to him. In his love for them, Samuel asks God to send a sign to show his power – to send rain in a season that normally doesn’t have rain, which would then ruin their crops. Samuel cared more about their spiritual development than he did material things. God shows up, just like he continues to show up to those who cry out to him, and to those who repent, he continues to offer grace repeatedly. When we read of the Israelites’ constant disobedience, we can shake our heads at them or look at our own constant disobedience and thank God for his continued love and mercy.

question 3

How does Samuel's reaction differ from how we usually react when people wrong us? 

weekly application

Commit to recording each week the ways in which you saw God in your life – not just the big ones but also the consistent little ways. After a month, make an inventory of any changes in your own heart and mind. And keep it going.