SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Week of 1/21/2024

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Turnarounds

Cheering for a Generation

1 Samuel

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The future of the Church has always been and will continue to be about feeding the next generation. This particular message in our Turnarounds series is focused on the younger generation. But, everything talked about applies to each generation. Also, those who are older have a responsibility to mentor and encourage those who are coming behind.

Before we get into the main discussion, let's talk about the trouble that can come when parents take an overly passive or overly protective approach to parenting. Start by reading 1 Samuel 8:1-3 and then discuss. (It’s probable that there are individuals in the group that range from not having children, to parents with kids in the home, to empty nesters. It’s important to hear from each of these perspectives).

• Read 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 21-22a. Samuel was offended by Israel’s desire to have a King. But the Lord said, “they have rejected me, not you. Give them what they want.”

• Is it possible for the Lord to give us what we want, even if it means settling for second best? Do you have an example of this in your own life?
• How can we reject the world’s way and receive the best that the Lord has for us?

• Read 1 Samuel 9:2,17 and 1 Samuel 10:5-6. Saul knew he would be king, but he needed the power of the Holy Spirit to fall on him. The same is in our lives: it is important that we balance the intellectual and the experiential in our faith.

• Do you lean more to the intellectual or experiential in your faith?
• What do you think the downside is to leaning only on the intellectual? What is the downside to leaning only on the experiential?

• Read 1 Samuel 10:21b-22. Sometimes we allow our insecurities to dictate our obedience to Jesus. Discuss how this has played out in your life and what you can do to keep this from happening.

Prayer Focus: Pray for the younger generations. That they wouldn’t cave to the world’s way, that they would find balance in their faith, and that they wouldn’t allow their insecurities to keep them from the fullness of life the Lord has for them.