Saul Sinned and Was Rejected (1 Samuel 13–15)

Dear families,

The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was the rhythm and practice of the people of God for many generations. It brought about reminders of the authority of God and the sin of the people. God used these sacrifices as temporary atonement for sin and a foreshadowing of the permanent sacrifice of Jesus that was to come.

Some Old Testament figures practiced these sacrifices with precision as prescribed by God. For others, the sacrifices were a good luck charm or “Get Out of Jail Free” card. In 1 Samuel 14–15, Saul built an altar and used sacrifice to try to earn back the favor of both God and Samuel.

Samuel’s response to these things cut Saul deeply. “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).

The answer to Samuel’s rhetorical question is a resounding “No!” God does not desire sacrifice more than obedience; He desires obedient sacrifice. Though it was possible to sacrifice and disobey, it was never possible to obey and not sacrifice. God’s desire was for sacrifice to come from a broken and contrite heart that understood the weight of one’s sin and the need for forgiveness before a holy and righteous God. To practice sacrifice with any other motivation was to disobey. 

Though we don’t live under the ceremonial law of the Old Testament, we do live under the authority of God. And though we don’t use the blood and meat of animals to try to satisfy God, we are certainly guilty of trying to please Him with religious practices.

For some Christians, there is a quiet hope that checking the boxes of daily disciplines will satisfy God’s wrath toward our sin. For some Christians, the applause of men drives the public display of their faith. In either instance, Christians are seeking to earn the favor of both God and man through their “sacrifice,” when God’s desire is for our whole-hearted obedience out of love for Him.

Consider today what areas you may be tempted to try and impress God or earn back His love. Confess those things and be reminded that what God wants is your love for Him above all else and your confidence that His sacrifice of Christ is sufficient to make you right before Him.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: King Jesus obeyed God in everything He did.

• Younger Preschool: God made Saul king, but King Saul did not obey God. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be king over everything. King Jesus obeyed God perfectly.

• Older Preschool: God made Saul king, but King Saul did not obey God. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be king over everything. King Jesus obeyed God perfectly and died so we can be forgiven.

• Kids: God gave the Israelites a king, but Saul did not obey God. God had a plan to send His Son, Jesus. King Jesus trusted and obeyed God perfectly and died so sinners could be forgiven and accepted.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Younger Preschool: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy.

• Older Preschool: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy.

• Kids: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy, sin has broken our relationship with God.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Babies & Toddlers: My eyes have seen the Lord. Isaiah 6:5

• Younger Preschool: My eyes have seen the Lord. Isaiah 6:5

• Older Preschool: I said: Woe is me ... because I am a man of unclean lips ... and ... my eyes have seen the ... LORD. Isaiah 6:5

• Kids: Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies. Isaiah 6:5

** Next week: God Is Good to Judge Sin (Genesis 18)

Summer Gratitude Challenge

For the Summer we'll be working with the older kids on focusing on GRATITUDE!!!

It can be so easy for kids, and us, to focus on what they DON'T have, what they didn't get, what's NOT going well, what's NOT fair, and on and on it goes. The more we let ourselves, or our kids, practice these negative thought patterns the more and more easily we'll find ourselves and kids slipping into them. Eventually find ourselves in a place where we are really discontent with what we have and feel like NOTING is going well for us.  

The hard part is breaking those negative thought patterns and replacing them with positive ones. Ones where even if things aren't going our way we can still see God's blessings in our lives. Slowly we'll start to be able to acknowledge the good gifts He HAS given us and the good things that DO happen to us. 

This doesn't mean that life will all of a sudden become sunshine and rainbow but it will help us - and our kids - to be better equipped to walk through tough times and disappointments .

How to Participate in the Challenge

• Memorize Bible Verses  - see below = one punch

• Fill out worksheets at church = one punch

• Complete the 30 Day Gratitude Challenge - no cheating - on a day for 30 days = Big Prize 

• Complete an activity from 20 Ideas to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Children . Must have and adult verify the child did the activity = two punches for each activity

Bible Verses about Gratitude

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. — James 1:17

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. — Ephesians 1:16

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. — 1 Chronicles 16:34

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! – Psalm 95:2

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. — Psalm 9:1

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. — Psalm 118:24

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! — Psalm 110:4

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. — Matthew 6:21

Israel Demanded a King (1 Samuel 8–10)

Dear families,

It can happen to any of us: We look at our circumstances, forecast a coming trial or opportunity, and act accordingly—only to find out that the situation doesn’t play out quite like we expected.

This is precisely what happened in 1 Samuel 8–10. The people of Israel, while assessing their circumstances, discerned that Samuel’s days were numbered. They recognized that his sons, Joel and Abijah, had turned to dishonesty and against the ways of their father. So, they predicted that they would soon have no one to lead them and that something must be done.

The elders of Israel believed they knew what was best and demanded that Samuel appoint a new king who would lead them “the same as all the other nations” (1 Sam 8:5).

We can do the same. With the best of intentions, we can hastily seek what we believe is best without consideration of the Lord’s plans, desires, or wisdom. This may happen in search of a new job, in response to conflict, in making family decisions, or even in determining how to best minister to people in our church or community. 

How do we know that our decisions, desires, and actions align with what God wants? Be encouraged to do three things as you seek the Lord’s wisdom in these moments of decision: Pray, read God’s Word, and seek counsel.

When we pray, we humble ourselves before the Almighty God and submit our desires to Him. When we read God’s Word, we discover His desires, plans, and will in the most clearly revealed way so that we might walk in them. And when we seek counsel, we open ourselves to the community of believers to be shaped, formed, sharpened, and corrected.

Proverbs 3:5-6 remind us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

Taking the time to pray, read the Bible, and seek the counsel of brothers and sisters in Christ is an act of refusal to rely on our own understanding, instead submitting ourselves to God’s authority and ensuring that we don’t get ahead of Him.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: God sent His Son, Jesus, to be king over the world.

• Younger Preschool: God gave the Israelites a king, but He had a plan to send His Son, Jesus, to be king over the whole world. Jesus would be the perfect King.

• Older Preschool: The Israelites did not trust God. They wanted a king. God gave the Israelites a king, but He had a plan to send His Son, Jesus, to be king over the whole world. Jesus would be the perfect King. Jesus would bring peace and save people from sin.

• Kids: God intended for a heavenly king to rule over Israel, but the Israelites did not trust God’s plan. They wanted a king like the nations around them. God had a better plan: to eventually send His Son, Jesus, to be the perfect King forever.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Younger Preschool: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy.

• Older Preschool: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy.

• Kids: Why does sin separate us from God? Because God is holy, sin has broken our relationship with God.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. 

• Babies & Toddlers: My eyes have seen the Lord. Isaiah 6:5

• Younger Preschool: My eyes have seen the Lord. Isaiah 6:5

• Older Preschool: I said: Woe is me ... because I am a man of unclean lips ... and ... my eyes have seen the ... LORD. Isaiah 6:5

• Kids: Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies. Isaiah 6:5

** Next week: God Made Saul King (1 Samuel 11)