Day 1
We encourage you to follow along with the sermon series by reading through some of the stories and taking time to think through and answer some basic questions. This will be a great daily habit to get into so that you are spending time in God's word.
Since we covered the first of the story, let's make sure we are caught up and get the context of what we are talking about on Sunday's.
Today, read 1 Samuel 12
What seems to be the story that is told in this chapter?
What do you think of verse 19 and what does Samuel seem to tell the people to do in admitting they were wrong?
What do you think we are supposed to learn from what this chapter is teaching?
Since we covered the first of the story, let's make sure we are caught up and get the context of what we are talking about on Sunday's.
Today, read 1 Samuel 12
What seems to be the story that is told in this chapter?
What do you think of verse 19 and what does Samuel seem to tell the people to do in admitting they were wrong?
What do you think we are supposed to learn from what this chapter is teaching?
Day 2
Read 1 Samuel 13
Everything seems to be going great with the new king Saul, up until verse 8. What do you see as the problem that Saul walked into that was such a big deal?
Does that seem like a bit of a jump in severity when you read verse 14?
What do you see as the main problem here?
What does this make you think about your life, the decisions that you make, and the people that you are leading?
How can you turn this thought into a prayer about all of the things that you are facing right now?
Everything seems to be going great with the new king Saul, up until verse 8. What do you see as the problem that Saul walked into that was such a big deal?
Does that seem like a bit of a jump in severity when you read verse 14?
What do you see as the main problem here?
What does this make you think about your life, the decisions that you make, and the people that you are leading?
How can you turn this thought into a prayer about all of the things that you are facing right now?
Day 3
Read 1 Samuel 14
Things in this chapter seem to get a bit strange. Saul will start to look way different now than what everyone expected or even hoped for him to be as a king. Note that the story is taking you on that journey and trying to show that idea. So as you are reading this chapter, and probably struggling to make any real sense of it, why not start a discussion with other people about what they are seeing in it?
What do you think is important to learn in this story?
Johnathan will play an important role in this story as we go, but what kind of a person do you imagine him to be after reading this story?
What is something that you will take away from this chapter?
How can you turn that into a prayer for your week?
Things in this chapter seem to get a bit strange. Saul will start to look way different now than what everyone expected or even hoped for him to be as a king. Note that the story is taking you on that journey and trying to show that idea. So as you are reading this chapter, and probably struggling to make any real sense of it, why not start a discussion with other people about what they are seeing in it?
What do you think is important to learn in this story?
Johnathan will play an important role in this story as we go, but what kind of a person do you imagine him to be after reading this story?
What is something that you will take away from this chapter?
How can you turn that into a prayer for your week?
Day 4
Read 1 Samuel 15
How do you explain verse 11 after reading this story? Why not start a conversation (text, call, or meet up with someone) about what this says about God and see if you are understanding it the same as them?
What are you to learn from Samuel's speech in verses 22-23?
What do you think of Saul's admission of guilt in verse 24? What parts of what he says are important?
How can you turn this into a prayer for your life today?
How do you explain verse 11 after reading this story? Why not start a conversation (text, call, or meet up with someone) about what this says about God and see if you are understanding it the same as them?
What are you to learn from Samuel's speech in verses 22-23?
What do you think of Saul's admission of guilt in verse 24? What parts of what he says are important?
How can you turn this into a prayer for your life today?
Day 5
Read 1 Samuel 15 (again)
Count how many times the phrase "the word of the Lord" or some variation of it shows up in this chapter.
Take the time today to notice what Saul says in verse 30. What strikes you as interesting or off putting about these words?
Do you think Saul was genuine in his repentance? Why or why not?
How do you turn this into a prayer for your life today?
Count how many times the phrase "the word of the Lord" or some variation of it shows up in this chapter.
Take the time today to notice what Saul says in verse 30. What strikes you as interesting or off putting about these words?
Do you think Saul was genuine in his repentance? Why or why not?
How do you turn this into a prayer for your life today?