Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
Ice-Breaker:
- Have you ever had a meal, bought a product, or went on vacation somewhere that looked incredible on the outside, but turned out to be a complete letdown once you experienced it?
Scripture
1 Samuel 4:1-11
1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
1 And Samuel’s words went out to all the people of Israel.
The Philistines Capture the Ark
At that time Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelite army was camped near Ebenezer, and the Philistines were at Aphek. 2 The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men. 3 After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.”
4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake!
6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.
Discussion Questions:
Israel had lived in ongoing rebellion against God, but when things went wrong, they seemed shocked that God would allow them to experience the consequences of their sin. Brandon emphasized that sin doesn't simply disappear because we identify ourselves as God's people.
After losing the first battle, Israel didn't stop and seek God. Instead, they came up with their own solution: bring the ark into battle and make God work on their behalf. They were looking to the ark to save them rather than looking to the Lord Himself.
The Israelites wanted God's presence to give them victory, but they weren't interested in submitting themselves to the God whose presence they wanted. BLESSINGS without BOWING. We can also find ourselves desiring God's blessings while resisting God's authority.
Israel had the right object, the Ark of the Covenant, but they had the wrong relationship with the God it represented. They had religious symbols, religious leaders, religious history, and religious activity, yet their hearts were far from God. RELIGION without RELATIONSHIP.
Brandon challenged us to examine whether what is happening on the outside matches what is happening on the inside. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY or RELATIONAL PROXIMITY.
- Have you ever been tempted to minimize the seriousness of sin because you assume God's grace means there won't be consequences?
- Can you think of a time that you saw God’s discipline as loving protection and care and not a harsh punishment or anger toward you?
After losing the first battle, Israel didn't stop and seek God. Instead, they came up with their own solution: bring the ark into battle and make God work on their behalf. They were looking to the ark to save them rather than looking to the Lord Himself.
- What areas of your life (job, family, relationships) do you tend to take control rather than seek God's wisdom and direction?
The Israelites wanted God's presence to give them victory, but they weren't interested in submitting themselves to the God whose presence they wanted. BLESSINGS without BOWING. We can also find ourselves desiring God's blessings while resisting God's authority.
- Where do you see people wanting God’s protection or blessings without actually wanting His authority show up most clearly in everyday culture?
- Where do you see it in your own life?
Israel had the right object, the Ark of the Covenant, but they had the wrong relationship with the God it represented. They had religious symbols, religious leaders, religious history, and religious activity, yet their hearts were far from God. RELIGION without RELATIONSHIP.
- What are some things that can make a person look spiritually healthy to other Christians while hiding the reality that their heart is becoming distant from God?
- Why do you think outward religion can sometimes feel safer than genuine relationship with God?
Brandon challenged us to examine whether what is happening on the outside matches what is happening on the inside. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY or RELATIONAL PROXIMITY.
- If you removed the visible markers of your Christianity: church attendance, serving, Bible reading, giving, ministry involvement, Christian vocabulary, etc. what evidence would remain that you actually love, trust, and treasure Christ?
- What do you think relational proximity to Christ produces in a person's life that religious activity alone cannot?
Prayer Topics:
- Pray that God would expose the places where you have become casual about sin, and minimized disobedience.
- Pray that God would reveal where you are trying to control your circumstances, your future, or even God Himself. Ask Him to teach you to trust His sovereignty, even when His answer isn't what you want.
- Ask God to deepen your desire for Christ Himself so that obedience, worship, prayer, and service flow from knowing and loving Him rather than trying to earn His favor.
- Pray for genuine spiritual transformation in ourselves, our families, and our church.
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