
May 19, 2024 Service
1 Samuel 12 (Read the entire passage)
Read 1 Samuel 12
Samuel leads Israel in a final address as Saul steps in. His primary charge to them is (vs. 14-15), “If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.”
In this chapter Samuel examines himself before Israel and they find him clear as a judge over them. He examines God before Israel to show them He has been fully righteous and faithful to them. He examines Israel to show them their rebellion and sin. Samuel wants Israel to know they have sinned but God’s grace is ever present upon their acknowledgment, repentance and turning back to him. Samuel is reminding Israel they have broken covenant with God but they can renew their covenant at any time upon repentance and receiving His Hesed love, grace, and mercy that He longs for them to know and walk in.
Pastor Don helped us understand the process of sanctification.
The people SIN
God SENDS judgment
The people repent in SORROW
God provides SALVATION because he is merciful and full of grace
Our tendency is to do everything we can to avoid repentance. So we turn to earthly systems and ways of trying to save ourselves, bypassing repentance and remaining under God’s judgment. The only way to true freedom and life is within a renewed covenant with our God and King.
Reflection
Do you tend to live with a perspective of God’s mercy (not giving you what you actually deserve) or your sufficiency (I deserve God’s goodness)? What does God want you to see in relationship to this?
How do you tend to avoid repentance? What systems do you put in place to avoid repentance?
What would it look like to have a day a week to review your covenant with God and re-align your heart?
Samuel is telling Israel they can’t change their past but they can renew their covenant today. Think about the reality of trying to carry the weight of your past sins verses God’s steadfast love, mercy and grace (His Hesed) in a renewed covenant with Him? What does this mean to you today?
Share what God has done in your heart this week with your community group and/or friends.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Chad Hollowell
1. Read the full chapter (1 Samuel 12), what stands out to you most, what did you learn that was new for you?
2. What are the differences between Eli, Samuel, and Saul at this point? Discuss who they each were, what they were like, their good and bad characteristics related to their assigned roles by God.
3. What does “covenant” mean? Why is it important back then, now?
4. Discuss how Samuel leads his people in each of the 4 covenant renewal examinations. Why is this important? How does this help us?
I. Samuel in the dock (vs 1-5)
II. God in the dock (vs 6-11)
III. People in the dock (vs 12-18)
IV. God’s Hesed Grace
5. Discuss the order of sanctification (which is about covenant relationship with God)
a. The people SIN
b. God SENDS judgment
c. The people repent in SORROW
d. God provides SALVATION because he is merciful and full of grace
1) How do we tend to want a system rather than a process of sanctification and covenant renewal?
2) How can we live in light of God’s Hesed daily rather than carrying our past sins? What does Satan want us to do? Why? What does God want us to do? Why?
6. Pray Together