Message Title: This Is us | Calling
Series: Week 4
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Bottom Line: Hear God's voice; descern your calling.
Group Check in:
How is it with your soul?
Prayer Request? Praises?
How has God shown up in your life this week?
Ice Breaker:
What is a special gift or talent that you have?
What is your favorite hobby?
Overview:
Samuel's birth is a gift from God in response to Hannah's faithfulness and despite Eli's ineptitude.
Hannah offers back to God the blessing that He gave her, and declared Samuel a Nazirite (typically temporary way of life, but in his case, it was permanent).
Nazirite: from Hebrew nazar, “to abstain from” or “to consecrate oneself to," among the ancient Hebrews, a sacred person whose separation was most commonly distinguished by his uncut hair and his abstinence from wine.
God is constantly calling us and inviting us into a new season - the challenge is whether we listen, not whether God is speaking.
It is in verse 8-9 Eli finally gets it, even the broken and blind Eli, has a role to play. He opens Samuel’s eyes and ears to the possibility that God was calling him, and shows Samuel how to respond to God
Verse 10 - "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel was the right person at the right time to transition God's people from their lowest ebb to one of their highest peaks.
Samuel's story provides a path and guide for our own stories because each of us is positioned perfectly to do the work that God build us for in this moment. If only we can hear the voice of God calling out to us.
Listen for God's voice, his calling, by using our spiritual disciplines.
Ven Diagram: gifts, passions, and needs = our calling
The breakthrough moment most of us needs is not more activity. It is more of what Eli tells Samuel to do; speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
Discussion Questions:
How many times did God call out to Samuel before he recognized God's voice?
Why do you think it took Samuel so long to recognize that it was God speaking and not Eli?
Have you heard God speak to you before? Would you recognize His voice?
How do you think you would react and respond if you heard God audibly calling your name?
We are constantly distracted and busy. (Examples: tv, phones, work, kids, sports, ect) We are constantly hearing voices and opinions of others and being told what to do next. If we want to listen to God and follow Him, we must make sure we are able to hear His voice. What changes could you make in your life this week to help you hear God's voice more clearly?
Who has been an "Eli" in your life? Who has been a person who has helped you hear the voice of God better?
What is God calling us to do? How do we listen to God's voice?
What special gifts, needs, and passions do you have that will help you with your calling from God? (If you haven't before, take the time to take a Spiritual Gifts Inventory.)
How has this week's message challenged you?
How has this series: "This is Us" challenged you?