Connect Group Discussion Guide:
Reflecting on 1 Samuel 15:7-24
Obedience and Heart Alignment
Introduction:
Begin the session with a prayer asking for wisdom, understanding, and openness to God's
Word as you delve into the passage from 1 Samuel 15:7-24.
Scripture Reading:
Select a group member to read 1 Samuel 15:7-24 aloud for the group to follow along.
Questions from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality:
1. In verses 10 and 11, what words and phrases reveal the depth of God’s and Samuel’s
feelings around the choices Saul made? Contrast that with Saul’s response in verses 12
and 13?
2. Rereading verses 12, 15 and 24, how would you describe the things Saul was unaware
of within himself?
3. Saul’s unawareness leads him to go through the motions of religious activity as enough.
The offering of sacrifices at that time would be equal to our religious activity today. Saul
makes sacrifices, but he doesn’t obey or listen to God (see v. 22). What might be one
example of how you do religious activity, but it is disconnected from your heart and life?
(e.g., I go to church but can’t stand people at work who irritate or hurt me; I serve in
church but spend little time developing my own relationship with Jesus; I say I follow
Jesus but rarely pray or consult with him before making decisions).
4. Saul pretends to be someone on the outside that he is not on the inside, (i.e., a false
self). Use the following symptoms of a false self to get an idea of where you are right
now. Next to each statement write down the number that best describes your response.
Use the following scale:
5 = Always true of me
4 = Frequently true of me
3 = Occasionally true of me
2 = Rarely true of me
1 = Never true of me
1. I compare myself a lot to other people.
2. I often say “yes” when I prefer to say “no”.
3. I often don’t speak up to avoid the disapproval of others.
4. People close to me would describe me as defensive and easily offended.
5. I have a hard time laughing at my shortcomings and failures.
6. I avoid looking weak or foolish in social situations.
7. I am always the person I appear to be.
8. I struggle with taking risks because I could fail or look foolish.
9. My sense of worth/well-being comes from what I have (possessions), what I do
(accomplishments), or what others think of me (popularity).
10. I often act like a different person when in different situations and with different people.
**Share the one that stands out the most with your group.**
5. What might be one invitation from God for you out of this entire story about Saul?
Questions for application:
1. What challenges keep you from slowing down your life to be with God?
2. What does your balance look like between “being with God” and “activity”?
3. The remaining session of the EH Spirituality Course will address ways we can make
changes in our lives. At this point, what might be one or two simple steps you can take toward beginning to slow down your life and balance your two circles?