step one

This Weekly Bible Passage will be the basis of next Sunday’s sermon. Spend some time studying it prior to Sunday and see what God is revealing to you in it.

1 Samuel 2:22-36 CSB

22 Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people. 24 No, my sons, the news I hear the Lord’s people spreading is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God can intercede for him, but if a person sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to their father, since the Lord intended to kill them. 26 By contrast, the boy Samuel grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.

27 A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Didn’t I reveal myself to your forefather’s family when they were in Egypt and belonged to Pharaoh’s palace? 28 Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your house to be my priests, to offer sacrifices on my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your forefather’s family all the Israelite food offerings. 29 Why, then, do all of you despise my sacrifices and offerings that I require at the place of worship? You have honored your sons more than me, by making yourselves fat with the best part of all of the offerings of my people Israel.’

30 “Therefore, this is the declaration of the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘I did say that your family and your forefather’s family would walk before me forever. But now,’ this is the Lord’s declaration, ‘no longer! For those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disgraced. 31 Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age. 32 You will see distress in the place of worship, in spite of all that is good in Israel, and no one in your family will ever again reach old age. 33 Any man from your family I do not cut off from my altar will bring grief and sadness to you. All your descendants will die violently. 34 This will be the sign that will come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: both of them will die on the same day.

35 “‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time. 36 Anyone who is left in your family will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread. He will say: Please appoint me to some priestly office so I can have a piece of bread to eat.’”

Step two

Join us on Sunday for this critical second step in encountering God through His word as we gather together as a church family.

As we work through the pages of 1 Samuel, we’ll be looking at the lives and examples of people like Hannah, Samuel, Saul, and David, and how they related to God. Some of them got it beautifully right, and others not so much. What does it mean to pursue the heart of God and live a life of full devotion and obedience, desiring His presence, His will and His ways? Let’s find out together!

step three

Questions to discuss and process as a Discipleship Group, based on the previous Weekly Bible Passage and Sunday Sermon.

Encourage one another towards a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Jesus.

Based on 1 Samuel 2:12-21, and the talk given on May 11.

1. Was there anything in the passage or the talk that strongly impacted you?

2. Are there any areas of your life where you've grown casual in your faith?

3. How does the reality that God desires to dwell with His people impact the way you understand holiness/unholiness? How does it affect the way you relate to God?

4. Is there any area of unholiness in your life that you need to confess? Would you consider confessing to your discipleship group?