The Marks of a True Father: 1 Samuel 3

 

Study Guide for Week of June 18, 2023 

This Week's Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21 and Judges 21:25

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: Potters Hand   (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                  

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you want to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• Has would you describe you relationship with your father growing up and at present? 

H. Background Information for this study: 

This true story of the young boy Samuel takes place in the time of the Judges when there was no King - no authority figure. Eli is the priest for the people of Israel. He has appointed his sons to be priests also but they are doing evil. They are taking the people's offrings for themselves and sleeping with the women who come to worship. Eli has done nothing to restrain or stop them but let his sons do whatever they wanted. 

Samuel's mother Hannah had prayed for a child for many years since she was childless. God heard her prayers and she became pregnant with Samuel. She decided to dedicate him to the Lord completely. So when Samuel was weaned she brought him to Eli the priest and left Samuel in his care for him to be trained. The story of Hannah, Samuel's mother can be found in 1 Samuel chapter 1.

As you go through this true story make an application to situations today.

 

First Section: Judges 21:25 and 1 Samuel 3:1

Second Section: 1 Samuel 3:2-10

Third Section: 1 Samuel 3:11-21

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of