Study 1 - Choosing God as King
Theme: Courage begins long before David. It begins with people who are willing to listen to God and trust Him, even when everyone else is heading in another direction. The story of David isn't primarily about becoming a great leader. It's about discovering what courageous faith looks like in imperfect people. Remarkable victories and painful failures mark David's life, yet through it all we see a God who remains faithful. Before we meet David, we first need to understand the kind of nation he inherited and why Israel wanted a king in the first place.
Opening Question
Have you ever bought something simply because everyone else had one?
Part 1 – "Speak Lord..."
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Samuel doesn't just hear God once. As he grows, he becomes someone who consistently listens to God. By chapter 8, the elders come to Samuel asking for a king because they know he hears from God. Listening became a lifestyle, not a single moment.
Discussion
1. Why do you think Samuel struggled to recognise God's voice at first?
2. What distractions make it difficult for us to hear God today?
3. Samuel's prayer is simple: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." What would change in your life if this genuinely became your daily prayer?
Samuel offers himself before he knows what God will say. That takes courage. Sometimes we want God's guidance while quietly hoping He'll confirm what we've already decided. Samuel models something different: "Whatever You say...I'm listening."
Part 2 Israel Wants a King
Read 1 Samuel 8:1-9 and 8:19-22
Israel was unlike every surrounding nation. Every neighbouring country had a king. Israel didn't. God Himself was their King. Eventually the people say: "Give us a king..."
Discussion
Courage often looks like pre-commitment. Before temptation comes... Before pressure comes... Before everyone else heads in one direction...
We decide: "I already know who my King is and I know who I want to be.”
4. Where in your life might you need to make a decision now before you're pressured later?
Israel wasn't asking for something evil. Kings weren't inherently wrong. God would eventually provide a king. The problem was why they wanted one. Their motivation was comparison. Comparison has a way of making God's gifts seem insufficient.
5. Where do we find ourselves wishing we had what everyone else seems to have?
6. How might comparison be pulling our hearts away from trusting God?
Why Did God Say Yes?
Read again 1 Samuel 8:21-22
1. God gives them what they ask for. Why?
2. Have you ever looked back and realised God allowed you to pursue something that ultimately taught you to trust Him more?
Finish with:
1. What is God saying to me today?
2. Where am I tempted to become like everyone else?
3. What would it look like for God, not success, approval, comfort or security, to truly be my King?
4. Is there an area where I need to make a courageous pre-commitment before I'm pressured to compromise?
New Community is learning to be people who listen to God more and more. This week, challenge your group to begin each day with Samuel's simple prayer: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Worship Song idea: Build My Life
Opening Question
Have you ever bought something simply because everyone else had one?
Part 1 – "Speak Lord..."
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Samuel doesn't just hear God once. As he grows, he becomes someone who consistently listens to God. By chapter 8, the elders come to Samuel asking for a king because they know he hears from God. Listening became a lifestyle, not a single moment.
Discussion
1. Why do you think Samuel struggled to recognise God's voice at first?
2. What distractions make it difficult for us to hear God today?
3. Samuel's prayer is simple: "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." What would change in your life if this genuinely became your daily prayer?
Samuel offers himself before he knows what God will say. That takes courage. Sometimes we want God's guidance while quietly hoping He'll confirm what we've already decided. Samuel models something different: "Whatever You say...I'm listening."
Part 2 Israel Wants a King
Read 1 Samuel 8:1-9 and 8:19-22
Israel was unlike every surrounding nation. Every neighbouring country had a king. Israel didn't. God Himself was their King. Eventually the people say: "Give us a king..."
Discussion
- Why do you think Israel wanted to be like everyone else?
- Where do you think Christians today feel pressure to "fit in"?
- What are people chasing today that Christians can easily begin chasing too?
Courage often looks like pre-commitment. Before temptation comes... Before pressure comes... Before everyone else heads in one direction...
We decide: "I already know who my King is and I know who I want to be.”
4. Where in your life might you need to make a decision now before you're pressured later?
Israel wasn't asking for something evil. Kings weren't inherently wrong. God would eventually provide a king. The problem was why they wanted one. Their motivation was comparison. Comparison has a way of making God's gifts seem insufficient.
5. Where do we find ourselves wishing we had what everyone else seems to have?
6. How might comparison be pulling our hearts away from trusting God?
Why Did God Say Yes?
Read again 1 Samuel 8:21-22
1. God gives them what they ask for. Why?
2. Have you ever looked back and realised God allowed you to pursue something that ultimately taught you to trust Him more?
Finish with:
1. What is God saying to me today?
2. Where am I tempted to become like everyone else?
3. What would it look like for God, not success, approval, comfort or security, to truly be my King?
4. Is there an area where I need to make a courageous pre-commitment before I'm pressured to compromise?
New Community is learning to be people who listen to God more and more. This week, challenge your group to begin each day with Samuel's simple prayer: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."
Worship Song idea: Build My Life