Each meeting covers one lesson. The passage, questions and notes are all on the lesson page, and group members can print their own copy.
Leaders need only this guide: first the flow that is the same every time, then the focus points and tips for each lesson.
A lesson takes about an hour. Meet weekly or every other week — whatever fits your group.
Each Meetingabout 55 min
Snacks and catching up
10 min
Read together
10 min
Discussion
25 min
This week
5 min
Close (prayer optional)
5 min
Opening: Start with last time’s ‘This week’: ‘Did you do it? How did it go?’ For the first lesson, ask everyone to say in one sentence why they want to read about this person. The leader goes first.
Read together: Take turns reading the passage, a few verses each. The leader reads the short notes between sections.
Discussion: You don’t need to discuss every question in ‘Think It Through.’ Pick one or two from each group, add this lesson’s focus points, and that is plenty.
This week: Read it together, and ask each person to decide on the one small thing they will do this week.
Close: You can pray using a verse from the lesson. If some aren’t used to praying aloud, a minute of silence together is fine too.
Lesson 1 · Speak; for Your Servant Hears1 Sam 3:1-21
Focus 1 (vv. 4–10): The LORD called four times; the first three times Samuel ran to Eli, and only at the third did Eli understand; the fourth time Samuel said, “Speak; for your servant hears.” Ask the group: reading these verses, what do you see?
Focus 2 (questions 7–8): Ask each person to say what comes to mind as they read verses 1, 7 and 19 — the leader does not draw the conclusion for the group, and the group does not need to agree.
Focus 3 (This week): Everyone begins each Bible reading this week with ‘Speak; for your servant hears,’ and writes down one verse afterward. Next time, anyone who wants to can read theirs aloud.
Leader tip: Samuel’s birth and his coming to Shiloh were read in Hannah, Lessons 2 and 3; they are not retold here. Don’t turn this lesson into a method for ‘how to hear God’s voice,’ and don’t say ‘if you are quiet, you will hear.’ If someone shares an experience of hearing God speak, just listen; don’t comment or compare. Read the judgment on Eli’s house (vv. 11–14) as written, with the reason only in v. 13’s own words; don’t make it a parenting lesson, and don’t judge what kind of father Eli was. Read Samuel being afraid (v. 15) as written; don’t call him timid, and don’t praise him as brave. Don’t calculate how old Samuel was; the passage says only “The child Samuel” (v. 1). There may be parents in the group whose children have gone astray, or people who feel God has never spoken to them — don’t press on questions 9 and 10; only those who want to share need to.
Focus 1 (vv. 7–9): The enemy came up, the people were afraid, and they asked Samuel to cry out for them; Samuel cried out, “and the LORD answered him.” Ask the group: reading these verses, what do you see?
Focus 2 (questions 7–8): Ask each person to say what comes to mind as they read verses 9 and 12 — the leader does not draw the conclusion for the group, and the group does not need to agree.
Focus 3 (This week): Everyone tells someone they trust one thing they are afraid of and asks for prayer, and makes their own ‘Ebenezer.’ Next time, anyone who wants to can share.
Leader tip: The ark being taken and Eli’s death are only told at the start of this lesson; they are not expanded on. Don’t turn this into ‘repent and confess, and you will win’: the passage simply records what happened, in order. Read the thunder and the pursuit (vv. 10–11) as written; don’t make it a lesson about war. Read Samuel’s burnt offering (v. 9) as written; there is no need to discuss whether he was a priest. Read ‘twenty years’ as written; don’t calculate how old Samuel was. There may be people in the group in deep fear, or who prayed a long time and still saw what they feared happen — don’t press on question 9; only those who want to share need to.
Focus 1 (vv. 5–7): The elders say, “Behold, you are old,” and ask for a king; the thing displeases Samuel, and he prays; the LORD says, “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me.” Ask the group: reading these verses, what do you see?
Focus 2 (questions 7–8): Ask each person to say what comes to mind as they read verses 7 and 22 — the leader does not draw the conclusion for the group, and the group does not need to agree.
Focus 3 (This week): Everyone writes down one thing that has displeased them and lays it before God. Next time, anyone who wants to can say what it was like to do this (without saying what the thing was).
Leader tip: Read Samuel’s sons (v. 3) as written; don’t set them beside Eli’s sons and draw a conclusion, and don’t judge whether it was right for Samuel to make them judges — this is not a parenting lesson. Read the way of the king (vv. 11–18) as written; don’t apply it to governments, monarchy or democracy today, and don’t turn it into a sermon on ‘don’t be like the world.’ Verse 7 is what the LORD said to Samuel; don’t turn it into ‘when people reject you, they are rejecting God.’ Read Samuel’s displeasure as written; don’t judge whether he was right. There may be parents in the group whose children have gone astray, or people who have been replaced at work or in church — don’t press on questions 9 and 10; only those who want to share need to.
Lesson 4 · Far Be It from Me … in Ceasing to Pray for You1 Sam 12:1-5, 16-25
Focus 1 (vv. 19–23): The people ask Samuel to pray for them; Samuel says, “Don’t be afraid,” and then, “far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.” Ask the group: reading these verses, what do you see?
Focus 2 (questions 7–8): Ask each person to say what comes to mind as they read verses 22 and 24 — the leader does not draw the conclusion for the group, and the group does not need to agree.
Focus 3 (This week): Everyone prays once for someone who has disappointed them. Next time, anyone who wants to can share (without saying who it is).
Leader tip: The anointing of Saul and his being made king are only summarized at the start of this lesson; Saul is not judged. Read the people’s witness (vv. 3–4) as written; don’t turn it into a lesson on ‘clean leadership,’ and don’t make Samuel a perfect man. Read the thunder and rain (vv. 17–18) as written; don’t explain them as weather, and don’t make them ‘God punishes people with miracles.’ In verse 23, “sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” is Samuel speaking of himself; don’t make it a rule that ‘not praying for others is sin.’ There may be people in the group struggling with someone who has hurt them, or who find it hard to pray for a certain person — don’t push; don’t press on question 9; only those who want to share need to.
Focus 1 (vv. 11, 35): “Samuel was angry; and he cried to the LORD all night”; “Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death, but Samuel mourned for Saul.” Ask the group: reading these two verses, what do you see?
Focus 2 (questions 7–8): Ask each person to say what comes to mind as they read verse 22 and 1 Sam 16:1 — the leader does not draw the conclusion for the group, and the group does not need to agree.
Focus 3 (This week): Everyone writes down the verse from Samuel’s life that has stayed with them most, and prays once for someone they are sad for. Next time, anyone who wants to can share.
Leader tip: Read “It grieves me” (v. 11) and “The LORD grieved” (v. 35) as written; there is no need to explain them or to harmonize them with other passages. Read “Samuel was angry” (v. 11) as written too; don’t guess whom or what he was angry at. The matter of Agag is passed over in one line; this lesson does not discuss it — if someone asks, say that this lesson does not go into it. Read Saul’s words as written; don’t analyse his character or make him a villain; his life is left for the lessons on Saul. Read “to obey is better than sacrifice” (v. 22) as written; don’t turn it into ‘ritual doesn’t matter.’ Read “How long will you mourn for Saul” (1 Sam 16:1) as written; don’t make it ‘God tells people to stop grieving.’ David’s anointing was read in David, Lesson 1, and is not gone over again. ‘Pointing to Christ’ only reads Acts 13:21-23 together; don’t say Samuel is a type of Christ. There may be people in the group whose children, students or friends have left the faith, or who are grieving a broken relationship — don’t press on questions 9 and 10; only those who want to share need to. Question 11 is for looking back.
Principles
The leader is not a teacher, but someone walking alongside everyone else.
Give everyone a chance to speak. If some talk a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s hear from those who haven’t spoken yet.’
Don’t rush to give answers. If there is silence, wait a few more seconds.
If you can’t answer a question, it’s fine to say, ‘I don’t know — let’s look into it together,’ and come back to it next time.
What is said in the group stays in the group.
At the start, the leader can share their own answer first. Keep it simple and honest.
In the lessons, words in double quotes with a reference are scripture. What the passage does not say, we can only guess; guessing is fine, as long as we say we are guessing.
Don’t press on painful things. If someone becomes upset, stay with them after the meeting; if needed, involve a pastor from their church or a professional counselor.