Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
Ice-Breaker:
- What is the most ridiculous fake rule or childhood warning (like swallowing gum or turning on the car’s dome light) that your parents actually convinced you was real?
Scripture
1 Samuel 14:24-52
Saul’s Foolish Oath
24 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, 25 even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.[f] 28 But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29 “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
31 They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”
“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”
So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.
38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40 Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.”
And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”
41 Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.[g]” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
42 Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.
43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”
44 “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
Saul’s Military Successes
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.[h] 48 He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth,[i] and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
Saul’s Foolish Oath
24 Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day, 25 even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.
27 But Jonathan had not heard his father’s command, and he dipped the end of his stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt refreshed.[f] 28 But one of the men saw him and said, “Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint.”
29 “My father has made trouble for us all!” Jonathan exclaimed. “A command like that only hurts us. See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more Philistines we could have killed!”
31 They chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they rushed for the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, goats, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, “Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that still has blood in it.”
“That is very wrong,” Saul said. “Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, ‘Bring the cattle, sheep, and goats here to me. Kill them here, and drain the blood before you eat them. Do not sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it.’”
So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first of the altars he built to the Lord.
36 Then Saul said, “Let’s chase the Philistines all night and plunder them until sunrise. Let’s destroy every last one of them.” His men replied, “We’ll do whatever you think is best.” But the priest said, “Let’s ask God first.”
37 So Saul asked God, “Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?” But God made no reply that day.
38 Then Saul said to the leaders, “Something’s wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the Lord who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!” But no one would tell him what the trouble was.
40 Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.”
And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”
41 Then Saul prayed, “O Lord, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.[g]” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.
42 Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.
43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul demanded of Jonathan. “I tasted a little honey,” Jonathan admitted. “It was only a little bit on the end of my stick. Does that deserve death?”
44 “Yes, Jonathan,” Saul said, “you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this.”
45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, “Jonathan has won this great victory for Israel. Should he die? Far from it! As surely as the Lord lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for God helped him do a great deed today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death.
46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
Saul’s Military Successes
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel’s throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction—against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious.[h] 48 He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
49 Saul’s sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth,[i] and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51 Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
Discussion Questions:
Saul made a rule that God never gave the army. He told the soldiers they couldn't eat until the battle was over. They became so hungry and exhausted that when they finally ate, they broke one of God's actual commands. Saul's extra rule made it harder for the people to obey God.
Saul's rule left his soldiers exhausted and made their job harder. Jonathan recognized the damage it had caused. Brandon connected this to our relationships, especially marriage and parenting. He used the picture of a hummingbird looking for signs of life to draw out versus a vulture searching for something wrong to point out. God gives us boundaries to protect us, and our words should help people grow rather than make them feel like they can never get it right.
When Saul asked God whether he should continue pursuing the Philistines, God didn't answer (1 Samuel 14:36–39). Saul realized something was wrong and began looking for someone to blame. But he failed to consider his own repeated disobedience. Brandon challenged us to examine our hearts when God seems distant, especially when we're asking Him for direction while ignoring something He's already told us to do.
The end of the chapter lists Saul's military victories and accomplishments. From the outside, he looked like a successful king, but Saul's heart was in poor shape. Brandon compared it to a tree that looks healthy on the outside while rotting on the inside. We can be busy, successful, and even involved in church while our relationship with Jesus is being neglected.
Brandon closed with three warning signs from Saul's life: Punishment for Thee but Pardon for Me, expecting grace for ourselves while being harsh toward others; My Wants over His Word, choosing what we want instead of following what God says; and Losing my Soul despite my Success, giving so much attention to worldly accomplishments that we neglect our relationship with Jesus. Saul's story reminds us how easy it is to drift when we stop paying attention to our hearts.
- Have you ever felt like you had to follow certain rules or meet certain expectations to be considered a good Christian, even though those things aren't actually required in Scripture? How did that affect the way you viewed God or your relationship with Him? Have you ever expected others to follow rules you've made for yourself?
- Are there things we expect from people in our families, church, or group that God never actually asks of them? How can we encourage one another to follow what the Bible says without making people feel like they have to live up to our personal standards?
Saul's rule left his soldiers exhausted and made their job harder. Jonathan recognized the damage it had caused. Brandon connected this to our relationships, especially marriage and parenting. He used the picture of a hummingbird looking for signs of life to draw out versus a vulture searching for something wrong to point out. God gives us boundaries to protect us, and our words should help people grow rather than make them feel like they can never get it right.
- Think about how you respond when someone close to you makes a mistake, forgets something, or doesn't meet your expectations. Are you quick to point out what they did wrong? Do you notice the good they're doing, or does your attention usually go straight to what needs fixing? Think of a recent example.
- Is there someone in your life who hears more correction from you than encouragement? What is one thing you could change about the way you speak to them this week so they feel supported and encouraged to grow rather than constantly criticized?
When Saul asked God whether he should continue pursuing the Philistines, God didn't answer (1 Samuel 14:36–39). Saul realized something was wrong and began looking for someone to blame. But he failed to consider his own repeated disobedience. Brandon challenged us to examine our hearts when God seems distant, especially when we're asking Him for direction while ignoring something He's already told us to do.
- When you feel distant from God or your prayers seem unanswered, do you ever stop to examine your own heart? Is there something God has already told you to stop doing, start doing, confess, or make right that you've been putting off?
- Think about your prayer life. Do you spend more time asking God to change your circumstances than asking Him to change your heart? What is one thing you need to confess or make right with God before moving on to your next request?
The end of the chapter lists Saul's military victories and accomplishments. From the outside, he looked like a successful king, but Saul's heart was in poor shape. Brandon compared it to a tree that looks healthy on the outside while rotting on the inside. We can be busy, successful, and even involved in church while our relationship with Jesus is being neglected.
- Take an honest look at where your time and energy go. What gets the best of your attention right now: work, family responsibilities, sports, hobbies, money, recognition, or your relationship with Jesus? Are you giving God your attention and energy, or mostly whatever is left over after everything else?
- We can all look like we're doing well on the outside while moving farther and farther from God. What are some signs in your own life that your relationship with Jesus is being pushed aside? What needs to change in your schedule or priorities so that spending time with Him isn't always the first thing to get crowded out?
Brandon closed with three warning signs from Saul's life: Punishment for Thee but Pardon for Me, expecting grace for ourselves while being harsh toward others; My Wants over His Word, choosing what we want instead of following what God says; and Losing my Soul despite my Success, giving so much attention to worldly accomplishments that we neglect our relationship with Jesus. Saul's story reminds us how easy it is to drift when we stop paying attention to our hearts.
- Of those three warning signs, which one do you see most often in yourself? Think of a recent example. Have you been harder on someone else's mistakes than your own, chosen what you wanted over what Scripture says, or put more effort into being successful than growing in your relationship with Jesus?
- Who in this group could help you recognize when that pattern is showing up? What is one question you would give them permission to ask you, or one area where you need them to challenge you? How can we help one another stay focused on following Jesus?
Prayer Topics:
- Pray that God would free us from expectations and rules that go beyond His Word.
- Ask God to change the way we treat the people closest to us. Pray that we would be quick to notice their growth, slow to criticize, and intentional about building them up.
- Pray that we would seek God's wisdom before making decisions.
- Ask God to protect our hearts from becoming so consumed with work, accomplishments, responsibilities, or recognition that our relationship with Jesus gets pushed aside.
- Pray that God would expose pride in our lives, help us extend the grace we have received to others, and make our group a place where we can challenge one another honestly and keep growing in our walk with Jesus.
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