Week 1
The Last Judge Message Based Study
(Week 1)
Watch the Sermon
Main Idea/Summary
Trusting God With Our Desires
Icebreaker
Share a story from your childhood of a gift you really desired for your birthday or Christmas. Did you ever receive it? How did it make you feel if you did or didn’t?
Read
1 Samuel 1:1-19
Discussion Questions
In this text, we find Hannah in a heartbreaking situation—she was childless. In the context of her culture, a woman's primary purpose was to bear children, and infertility was seen as a failure. Her heart's desire was to become a mother yet God had not answered. How do you respond when God seems silent or seems to withhold what you are praying for?
All throughout Scripture, we see God’s people cry out to Him in moments of sadness or suffering. Turn to 2 Corinthians 12: 8-9 and read together. In this passage we see Paul pleading for God to remove a difficult situation from his life and we see God answer in a completely different way. What was God’s answer to Paul? How should this change the way we view difficulties or suffering?
Instead of being filled with bitterness, we see Hannah’s response was to cry out to God. Read 1 Samuel 1: 10-11 again. What do these verses reveal about Hannah’s heart and character?
In difficult moments in your life, what is your response? Where do you turn for comfort or hope? Has it helped, why or why not?
Leader Note: After your group responds, turn to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and read it together. In this passage, Paul acknowledges that God is the only and true source of comfort. When we turn to Him for our comfort not only are we consoled but we are able to share His comfort with those around us who are walking through difficult seasons.
In verse 18 we read that, after her conversation with Eli, Hannah went on her way and “her face was no longer sad.” How did Eli’s response encourage Hannah? In what ways do we see the importance of community and encouragement from others in our walk with the Lord?
After praying, Hannah goes away in peace, knowing that God heard her prayer. What can we learn from her faith in these verses, especially her trust in God's timing and His sovereignty over the situation?
Leader Note: There is something powerful that happens in our hearts when we spend genuine communion with God, through prayer. We get to experience a true peace that surpasses all understanding. Read Phil 4:6-7.
We read that Hannah surrendered what she desired most- a child- to God. Is there something you are holding onto in your life that you need to surrender to Him today?
Many of us know how this story ends, God grants Hannah the desire of her heart and gives her a son, Samuel. Sometimes God responds the way we want Him to and other times He doesn’t. In those difficult moments, we hold on to the truth that His ways are better than ours and the afflictions of this world pale in comparison to all the goodness we will experience in eternity with Him. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
Prayer
Spend some time thanking God for the prayers He has graciously answered in your life. Also, spend time surrendering to God the prayers He has not yet answered or has not answered the way you thought He would.
Announcements
Small Group Leader, here are a few church announcements we would like you to share with your group this week.
Easter Baptism - On Easter weekend, we will be baptizing after each service. Encourage those in your group who have not yet taken the step of baptism to sign up. They can sign up at cfmiami.org/baptism.
Serve for Easter- In just a few weeks, we will have hundreds of first time guests flooding our church, many of which are far away from God. We have an opportunity to be part of the work that God is going to do in the hearts of many that weekend by serving. If there are people in your group who are not currently serving in a ministry, encourage them to sign up, even if just for Easter weekend. They can sign up to serve at cfmiami.org/serve.
Connect to Mission- Lastly, we have a special opportunity to serve our community and invite our neighbors to Easter service. Choose a serving opportunity as a group together at cfmiami.org/reachbeyond.