Message Notes
Look Back
What did you focus on this week - the challenges that you face or God’s power and promises? How did taking time daily to thank God for what He has done impact your week?.
Look Up
Read 1 Samuel 8:1-21
- What are some of the different reasons the people gave for wanting a king? How does this compare to what people are looking for today?
- How did Samuel feel about their request for a king? What did he do? How is this different from how most people react when others do something that is “displeasing”?
- How did God respond to Samuel’s prayer in verses 7-9? What parts of God’s response do you find surprising or challenging? Why?
- How did the people respond to God’s warning? What did Samuel do? What did God do? What does this say about God and people?
Read Matthew 6:9-13 and 16:13-16
- What kind of king and kingdom does Jesus tell us to pray for in Matthew 6? What do you usually think of when you pray “thy kingdom come”? Why do you think this way?
- How is the kingdom described in these verses different from God’s warning about kings in 1 Samuel 8:10-18? Why do you think it is different?
- Why do you think Jesus gives the keys to his kingdom to Peter? What does this say about our role in the kingdom today?
Overall (Discovery Bible Study)
- What do these scriptures say about God?
- What do they say about people?
- How will I apply this to my life?
Look Ahead
Jesus was sent to be a loving king who freely invites everyone into his kingdom. What kind of king will you allow him to be in your life?
Notes
If Jesus is your king, what kind is he? When life is good, we want a limited monarchy. “I’ll stay in control of my own life.” But when life gets tough, we want to switch to an absolute monarchy, “Come and save me!” Jesus is the only King whose mission from day one was to live humbly and sacrifice himself for the benefit of those in his kingdom. He was sent to be the loving king that invites you into his kingdom. What kind of king will you allow him to be in your life? The all-powerful King of the Universe lets you decide.
