The Gospel Project Faith Talk - 1 Samuel 8-10
Sunday: June 1, 2025
Scripture: 1 Samuel 8-10
Scripture: 1 Samuel 8-10
Preschool
Main Idea: The Israelites Wanted a King (1 Samuel 8-10)
Summary
Review Questions
- God’s people said, “We want a king to rule over us!”
- Samuel warned them that having a king was not a good idea, but the people did not listen.
- Samuel met a man named Saul. God said Saul should be the king.
- Saul became the king of Israel.
Review Questions
- What did the people ask Samuel for?
- Why is Jesus the greatest King?
Kids
Main Idea: The Israelites Wanted a King (1 Samuel 8-10)
Summary
Samuel made his two sons judges over God’s people. Even though God promised to lead the Israelites, the leaders of Israel still wanted a king like the other nations. God chose a tall and impressive man named Saul to be the king of Israel.
Review Questions
Samuel made his two sons judges over God’s people. Even though God promised to lead the Israelites, the leaders of Israel still wanted a king like the other nations. God chose a tall and impressive man named Saul to be the king of Israel.
Review Questions
- Why did the Israelites want a king?
- Why were the people excited about Saul as king?
Students
Main Idea: When we trust Jesus, we won’t desire to look like the world. (1 Samuel 8-10)
Summary
The people of Israel asked Samuel to give them a king like other nations had, even though God warned them that kings would take their sons for armies, their daughters as servants, and their best lands and crops for themselves. God told Samuel to listen to the people but warned them about what would happen, then chose a tall, handsome young man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin to be their first king.
Review Questions
The people of Israel asked Samuel to give them a king like other nations had, even though God warned them that kings would take their sons for armies, their daughters as servants, and their best lands and crops for themselves. God told Samuel to listen to the people but warned them about what would happen, then chose a tall, handsome young man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin to be their first king.
Review Questions
- Why do we desire to look like the world if we know the things of this world will fade away?
- What are the “kings” in your life–“kings” being anything other than Christ that you’re tempted to serve or trust more than Him?
Adults
Main Idea: God sometimes allows foolishness so we recognize it. (1 Samuel 8-10)
Summary
The Israelites' demand for a king represented a fundamental rejection of God’s rule, as they sought to conform to surrounding nations rather than maintain their unique covenant relationship with God. Samuel warned the people that monarchical power would inevitably lead to oppression through military conscription, forced labor, and economic exploitation. God instructed Samuel to grant their request while clearly sharing the consequences, selecting Saul of Benjamin—a man of impressive physical stature but marked by social anxiety and self-doubt—to become Israel's first king through private anointing followed by public confirmation. The narrative reveals the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, as God accommodates the people's misguided desires while establishing the monarchy that would define Israel's political structure for centuries to come.
Review Questions
The Israelites' demand for a king represented a fundamental rejection of God’s rule, as they sought to conform to surrounding nations rather than maintain their unique covenant relationship with God. Samuel warned the people that monarchical power would inevitably lead to oppression through military conscription, forced labor, and economic exploitation. God instructed Samuel to grant their request while clearly sharing the consequences, selecting Saul of Benjamin—a man of impressive physical stature but marked by social anxiety and self-doubt—to become Israel's first king through private anointing followed by public confirmation. The narrative reveals the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency, as God accommodates the people's misguided desires while establishing the monarchy that would define Israel's political structure for centuries to come.
Review Questions
- How does Israel's desire to be "like all the nations" reflect the ongoing tension between looking like the world and maintaining a distinct faith and trust in God alone in our modern culture?
- We wouldn’t make these choices unless there seemed to be a benefit. What are the apparent “benefits” to conforming to the world, and what is the ultimate cost?
- What are some areas of your life more conformed to the world’s ways than God’s?
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