Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
Ice-Breaker:
- Are you someone who actually likes going for a run, or is your only reason for running that something is chasing you?
Scripture
Samuel Anoints Saul as King
10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. 2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
3 “When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”
12 And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 14 “Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant.
“We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”
15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.
16 “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Saul Is Acclaimed King
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”
And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people home again.
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.
10 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession. 2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel’s tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father has stopped worrying about them and is now worried about you. He is asking, ‘Have you seen my son?’
3 “When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a wineskin full of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept.
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 7 After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.”
Samuel’s Signs Are Fulfilled
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”
12 And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 14 “Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant.
“We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”
15 “Oh? And what did he say?” his uncle asked.
16 “He told us that the donkeys had already been found,” Saul replied. But Saul didn’t tell his uncle what Samuel said about the kingdom.
Saul Is Acclaimed King
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah. 18 And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”
20 So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”
And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.” 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
24 Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”
And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent the people home again.
26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. 27 But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.
Discussion Questions:
Saul was set apart for God’s purposes before anyone else knew he had been chosen. Following Jesus means belonging to Him in the parts of our lives that nobody else sees, not just the parts we’re comfortable showing people.
God confirmed His calling to Saul through specific signs, provided what he needed, and promised the power of His Spirit. But when people started noticing that something was different about Saul, he kept quiet about what had happened. We can believe God is working in us and still hesitate to let others see it.
When it was time for Saul to step forward as king, he was hiding among the baggage. We can do the same thing when fear, insecurity, comfort, or the opinions of others keep us from doing what God has called us to do.
Israel wanted a king they could see, even though God had already been their King and had repeatedly rescued them. We do the same when we look to something besides Jesus to give us security, identity, or control. We may say Jesus is King, but still want the final say over our own lives.
Saul had God’s presence, the Spirit’s empowerment, and people around him, but his story eventually became marked by disobedience and a refusal to follow God’s Word. A strong spiritual start doesn’t guarantee a faithful finish. Following Jesus for a lifetime takes steady faithfulness.
- When you compare your private life with the faith you show others, where do you see a disconnect? What tends to pull your heart away from God when no one else is watching?
- How could growing in your relationship with Jesus begin to change what happens in those private moments?
God confirmed His calling to Saul through specific signs, provided what he needed, and promised the power of His Spirit. But when people started noticing that something was different about Saul, he kept quiet about what had happened. We can believe God is working in us and still hesitate to let others see it.
- Have you ever held back from obeying God or talking about your faith because you were worried about how people would respond? What makes it difficult to let your faith shape the way you act around friends, family, or coworkers?
- How can we encourage each other to trust God and live out our faith without being controlled by other people’s opinions?
When it was time for Saul to step forward as king, he was hiding among the baggage. We can do the same thing when fear, insecurity, comfort, or the opinions of others keep us from doing what God has called us to do.
- Where do you see people holding back from following God because they’re afraid of what it might cost them or how others might react?
- Is there an area of your own life where you know what obedience requires, but you’ve been hesitant to take that step? What makes that step difficult, and what truth about God do you need to remember as you move forward?
Israel wanted a king they could see, even though God had already been their King and had repeatedly rescued them. We do the same when we look to something besides Jesus to give us security, identity, or control. We may say Jesus is King, but still want the final say over our own lives.
- When what Jesus asks of you conflicts with what you want, how do you typically respond?
- What are some things people our age are tempted to let rule their choices, priorities, and identity?
- Where is the struggle to surrender control showing up in your life, and what might change if you trusted Jesus’ leadership in that area?
Saul had God’s presence, the Spirit’s empowerment, and people around him, but his story eventually became marked by disobedience and a refusal to follow God’s Word. A strong spiritual start doesn’t guarantee a faithful finish. Following Jesus for a lifetime takes steady faithfulness.
- What can cause someone to grow spiritually excited for a season but slowly drift away from God over time?
- As you look at your own walk with Jesus, what habits or influences are helping you grow, and what might be pulling you away from Him? What is one change you could make and how could our group help you stay faithful to it?
Prayer Topics:
- Pray that we would surrender every part of our lives to Jesus, honoring Him in the choices we make when no one else is watching.
- Ask God to help us recognize His work in our lives and give us courage to live out our faith without being controlled by others’ opinions.
- Pray that we would not hide behind fear, insecurity, or comfort, but trust God and step forward in obedience.
- Ask God to help us stop putting our desires, approval, or need for control ahead of Jesus, and trust Him as our King.
- Pray that we would remain faithful to Jesus for the long haul, that we would fight the good fight of faith together.
No Comments