Bible Stories for Adults
Israel's First King
1 Samuel 4-11
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - God Chooses David (1 Samuel 13, 15-17)
Bible Words to Remember:
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
Opening Prayer
The Lost Ark (1 Samuel 4-6)
What major loss did Israel experience at Ebenezer?
1 Samuel 4:10-11
What happened when the Philistines put the ark beside their god Dagon in Ashdod?
1 Samuel 5:4, 6
What did the Philistines do after the ark also caused tumors in Gath and Ekron?
1 Samuel 6:8
How did the Israelites in Beth Shemesh respond to the return of the ark?
1 Samuel 6:14
Why did the men of Beth Shemesh send the ark to Kiriath Jearim?
1 Samuel 6:19-21
Samuel the Judge (1 Samuel 7)
What did Samuel tell the people to do to be delivered from the Philistines?
1 Samuel 7:2-4
How did God then deliver His people?
1 Samuel 7:5, 10
Did Israel have peace under Samuel as they had under other judges?
1 Samuel 7:13-14
How long did Samuel serve as judge and from where?
1 Samuel 7:15-17
Who Picks the Judge? (1 Samuel 8:1-3)
How did Samuel try to continue his leadership even beyond death?
1 Samuel 8:1
How had judges been appointed for Israel?
Judges 2:16
What had been the opinion about rulers during the time of the judges?
Judges 8:22-23
What happened when one of Gideon's sons set himself up as king?
Judges 9:22-23 (1-57)
What kind of judges were Samuel's sons?
1 Samuel 8:3
Israel Asks for a King (1 Samuel 8:4-20)
What did Israel ask of Samuel?
1 Samuel 8:4-5
How did Samuel respond to the thought that his sons weren't fit as judges?
1 Samuel 8:6
How did God respond to Samuel's feelings of rejection?
1 Samuel 8:7-9
How did Samuel try to change the people's minds about wanting a king?
1 Samuel 8:10-18
Why did Israel really want a king?
1 Samuel 8:19-20
God's View of a King (1 Samuel 8:21-22)
Did God oppose appointing a king?
1 Samuel 8:21-22
Is God against government?
Romans 13:1-7
As a Roman citizen, Paul might be more accepting of Roman rule. What did Peter say?
1 Peter 2:13-14
So how should we respond when we disagree with those in authority?
1 Timothy 2:1-3
A King Who Can't Find His Donkeys (1 Samuel 9)
What do we first learn about Saul?
1 Samuel 9:1-2
Why did Saul go wandering through Ephraim and Benjamin?
1 Samuel 9:3-4
What idea of last hope did Saul's servant suggest?
1 Samuel 9:6
Did Saul agree with this idea? Who was the man of God?
1 Samuel 9:10, 14
How was Saul unknowingly fulfilling a prophesy to Samuel?
1 Samuel 9:15-17
How did Samuel answer Saul's questions even before they were asked?
1 Samuel 9:18-20
How did Saul respond to the idea that he was chosen for something special?
1 Samuel 9:21
Signs For the Anointed (1 Samuel 10:1-16)
How many people were present when Samuel anointed Saul as king the next day?
1 Samuel 9:27-10:1
How would Saul know that he really was the Lord's anointed leader?
1 Samuel 10:2
1 Samuel 10:3-4
1 Samuel 10:5-7
Did these signs occur?
1 Samuel 10:9-10
What did those who knew Saul think when they saw him with the prophets?
1 Samuel 10:11
Did Saul tell others what had happened?
1 Samuel 10:14-16
Saul Made King (1 Samuel 10:17-23)
Why did Samuel gather the people of Israel at Mizpah?
1 Samuel 10:17-19
How did Samuel show that this king was chosen by God?
1 Samuel 10:20-21
How eager was Saul to be presented as the first king of Israel?
1 Samuel 10:22-23
Inadequate Leaders (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Was this feeling of inadequacy rare for those chosen by God?
Exodus 3:11 (13; 4:1, 10, 13)
Judges 6:15 (17, 36-40)
Jeremiah 1:6
Luke 5:8
Ephesians 3:8
How were these inadequate men able to become great leaders of God's people?
Exodus 4:11-12
What should we remember when we feel inadequate to share our faith with others?
1 Corinthians 2:13
What should we remember when we feel inadequate to do the work God has for us?
2 Corinthians 12:9
Response to the King (1 Samuel 10:24-27)
Did the people accept their new king?
1 Samuel 10:24, 27
What did Saul do after this momentous historic event?
1 Samuel 10:25-26
Saul Begins to Act Like a King (1 Samuel 11:1-8)
What provided the occasion for Saul to begin acting as king?
1 Samuel 11:1-3
How did Saul learn of this attack?
1 Samuel 11:4-5
How did Saul react to this news?
1 Samuel 11:6-8
Saul Confirmed as King (1 Samuel 11:11-15)
What did Saul do with the army God brought to him?
1 Samuel 11:11
Now that Saul had proven his leadership, how did he handle those who had opposed him?
1 Samuel 11:12-13
How did Israel celebrate their victory?
1 Samuel 11:14-15
How old was Saul when he became king?
1 Samuel 13:1
Closing Prayer
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:
kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com